Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 45

Chapter 32

+25 Pointe

Chapter 32

(Sabrina’s POV)

The laptop screen blurs in front of me. I blink hard, but the words still swim together like they’re

mocking me.

Creative Director position at Bennett & Associates. Experience required: 7+ years.

I click submit and watch the little circle spin. Then the automated response pops up/cheerful and

impersonal.

Thank you for your interest. Due to high volume of applications, only selected candidates will be

contacted.

Right. Selected candidates. Not desperate divorcees burning through their savings in a budget

hotel.

I close the laptop before I throw it across the room.

Forty-seven applications. That’s how many I’ve sent out since we checked into this place yesterday. Forty-seven companies who will probably take one look at my resume-fired from my last position, no current employment, living situation “in transition”-and delete my application without a second thought.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I ignore it.

It’s been buzzing all day. Sophia. Richard. Unknown numbers that might be Jason. I don’t want to talk to any of them. Talking means explaining, and explaining means admitting that maybe, just maybe, I’m drowning.

“Mom?”

Jake’s voice pulls me back. He’s on the bed, coloring with that intense concentration only five-year-olds can manage. His tongue sticks out slightly, and he’s pressing the red crayon so hard it’s leaving angry marks on the paper.

I force my face into something that might pass for a smile. “Yeah, baby?”

“When are we going home?”

The question shouldn’t hurt this much. It’s innocent. Simple. But it lands like a punch to my gut. “We are home.” I gesture around the cramped room with its generic landscape painting and sad little coffee maker. “Remember? But this is only temporary. We’ll move soon.”

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Chapter 32

+25 Points

“But when?” He’s not whining. That would be easier. He’s just asking, those brown eyes-Dustin’s eyes, damn it-fixed on me with that look that says he knows I’m lying. “Tommy says hotels are for vacations. This doesn’t feel like a vacation.””

No. It doesn’t.

I think about the number in my bank account. The one that gets smaller every day we stay here The savings I built up over seven years of marriage, meant for emergencies. Turns out my entire life falling apart counts as an emergency.

At this rate, I have maybe three weeks before I’m completely broke.

“Soon,” I say, and the word tastes like ash. “Very soon, baby.”

He nods, but he doesn’t believe me. He goes back to coloring, and I open the laptop again because sitting here drowning in guilt won’t pay for this room.

The job boards mock me with their bright layouts and empty promises.

Marketing Manager-3 years experience required.

Brand Strategist-Bachelor’s degree minimum.

Art Director-Must relocate to New York.

I’m overqualified for some. Underqualified for others. And for the ones that are perfect? I’m competing with people who didn’t just storm out of their best friend’s apartment in a fit of pride.

My phone buzzes again.

I grab it this time, ready to turn it off completely, but the name on the screen stops me.

Richard Hill. My lawyer.

The custody hearing. God, I forgot to call him back.

I swipe to answer, my heart already racing. “Richard?”

“Sabrina. Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been-”

“Job hunting. I know. But we need to talk. Now. Can I come to you?”

I glance around the hotel room. The unmade beds. The clothes scattered across the chair. Jake’s toys covering every available surface.

“I’m at the Budget Inn on Riverside. Room 247.”

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Chapter 32

“I know. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

He hangs up before I can ask how he knows where I am.

+25 Points

Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door. I check through the peephole-years of living alone taught me that much-and see Richard standing in the hallway with his leather briefcase and tired eyes.

I open the door.

“How did you find me?” I ask.

“Credit card transaction. I’m sorry for the invasion of privacy, but you weren’t answering your phone and we have a hearing in two days.” He glances past me at Jake, who’s watching us with wide eyes. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“The bathroom’s the only other room.”

“That’ll work.”

I tell Jake to keep coloring and follow Richard into the tiny bathroom. We both lean against opposite walls because there’s barely enough space to breathe.

“This is bad, Sabrina.” Richard pulls papers from his briefcase. “Dustin filed for emergency custody this morning. The hearing’s been moved up to Wednesday. That’s the day after tomorrow.”

The words hit me like ice water. “Emergency custody? On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that you’re currently homeless, unemployed, and exposing Jake to unstable relationships and inappropriate social media content.” He hands me the filing. “Read it. Tell me what’s false.”

My hands shake as I scan the document.

“The mother has demonstrated a pattern of unstable behavior including but not limited to: engaging in inappropriate relationships during divorce proceedings, exposing the minor child to adult content via social media, prioritizing personal gratification over parental responsibilities…”

I want to hurl the papers across the room. But…

“It’s all true,” I whisper.

“What?”

“Not the way he’s framing it, but I was on a cruise. I did kiss someone. And Jake did post the videos.” My voice cracks.”

“You were on a vacation that you didn’t know was being filmed.” Richard’s voice is firm. “There’s a

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