The Pieces

Chapter 8

October 2028

“Hey Becca sorry for suddenly leaving last time it’s just I figured out who Thea’s father was and I needed to get the final confirmation on that” I said for the fourth time.

“You’re fine I was dead tired that day” she laughed “so you and Peyton almost kissed?”

“Yes” I said in a droning voice my eyes went wide but I still couldn't help but smile a little bit.

“So has he told Emily about this near encounter?”she c***s her eyebrow

“I didn’t tell him not to or to but he’s probably already told her, he is a pretty upstanding guy. I bet Emily hates me!” I groan

“You’re probably not her favorite but just make sure she knows about the encounter first and then apologize take full responsibility and she shouldn’t hate you. Also limit all interactions with Peyton where you two are the only adults” she takes a sip of her coffee.

“That’s actually really good advice apologize and then set up boundaries to show you actually mean it.”

“But she may not accept it first because she’ll be a little hurt or betrayed because he fiance still nearly kissed you but play your cards right and you guys should end up on okay terms.”

“Thank-you Becca I really needed a mom friend all the girls at the salon are early 20’s single or dating.”

November 18, 2033

I was in my office when I got a knock thinking it’s a student I said “Come in” while grading the tests on etiquette.

“Miss Brown do you really think you can just steal him!” I heard a female voice scream I look up and see Emily and I grab my phone.

“Emily, what are you doing here?”

“To tell you back down you may be pregnant with his baby but he is mine!” she yells and slams her hands on my desk I can see she’s still wearing her engagement ring.

“I thought you would have taken that off by now it’s been about 4 to 5 years” I stare at it mesmerized.

“He choose me I don’t see your ring” she pulls her hands off my desk “back off or else” she walks out of my office as I stare at my hands and rub together a little bit and unlock my and quickly text Peyton “Emily just visited me in my office and seems pretty P.O.ed! BE CAREFUL!!!” I look at my hands again but then continue grading papers.

October 2028

After calling Peyton to make sure he had told Emily and it was time for me to pick up Thea after my chat with Becca. I could hear her she was inside and was talking to Peyton who was thankfully more focused on Thea. I knocked at the door and Emily answered but she looked happy to see me. “Here to pick up Thea” I said smiling back at her.

“Hey you’re good at doing hair right?” Emily asked pointing at me as if she had just connected two dots together.

“Yes I manage a hair salon downtow…”

“Great do you think you do hair for our wedding?”

“Like style and cut or is there going to be any coloring?”

“Like style for me and my bridesmaids and stuff you could do that right?” she smiled as I walked in

“Yeah I could but how much do you guys have budgeted for hair and make-up?” and she just laughed when I said that.

“I was thinking pro-bono”

“Why would I do it pro-bono?”

“Because you hurt my feelings when you made moves on my fiance and with court and a wedding that’s a lot of money” she bats her eyelashes at me as she sits down next to Peyton.

“Well I’m still out 30 minutes of my life and I’m not charging you so I don’t think services and money is a way to apologize I prefer words”

“What do you mean?” Peyton asked looking up at me

“Well it’s not exactly equivalent to make someone do a job that usually quite costly over something that didn’t actually happen” I replied trying to explain my point further.

“No what do you mean about the 30 minutes?”

“She was 30 minutes late to our meet-up last week and then left after like a minute because she got a phone call” I pause “did she not tell you?”

“Even then you were pining for my Fiance” she said as soon as I finished talking.

“But you said Kenzie didn’t show up” Peyton retorts

“I didn’t want you to think lesser of her because of what she said” Emily rubs his shoulder while she talks “sorry that I lied but I knew you were going to ask what we talked about and since you and Kenzie have the custody battle and all I wanted you guys to still be able to be friends.”

I whispered to my daughter “get your stuff together we’re heading out soon” and she went off and started to gather her stuff while I put some of her toys away. “Well we should get going but if you would like to talk just text or call me” I smiled at them and left with Thea.

“What was Daddy and Emmy talking about?” Thea asked as we loaded up in my car.

“Well Emmy lied to Daddy and she was just explaining why.” I smiled at Thea

“Why did she lie?”

“I don’t really know sweetie I wasn’t listening in on their conversation after a little while”

“Why did Daddy try to kiss you when he loves Emmy?”

“How did you know he tried to kiss me?”

“Emmy told me but she thinks he just pity you” she replied

I laughed a bit but after I shut the passenger door I looked up at the porch where Peyton and Emily were waving goodbye as I got into my SUV and drove off. I felt this pit in my stomach as I drove home, it was probably just guilt I had tried to kiss a man who was engaged to another woman the same man who was trying to take my daughter away from me. I could feel the tears roll down my cheek the longer my mind dwelled on the situation.

November 21, 2028

I fixed up my appearance as I prepared for the first meeting with the lawyers where we would try to agree on some custody agreement. I hear a knock on my door and dash to get it. A girl with dark hair pulled back into a clean bun and a pantsuit staring at her phone turns to the open door “Veronica Russo and I don’t believe we’ve met before but Matt Kingsley got switched to another client so I will be working with you.”

“Pleasure to…”

“Enough of the pleasantries we need to focus on how you are going to abstain the desired result and judging on your apartment it might actually save you money that you seem to desperately need.” She gestures to enter and I open the door more allowing her in she sets her briefcase on my coffee table and places her phone down next to it “So the best way to win is going to be emotions you have to think of Peyton like your enemy and you need to look like the victim.”

“But who am I playing the victim for its just a meeting with me and Peyton and our attorney” I interject quite confused by what she was asking.

“Okay so here’s the deal I went to law school I know what I’m doing and I’m paid by the hour and you’re paying me which looks like something you can’t exactly afford and Dr. Kennedy can afford good lawyers and time for pleasantries and questions.”

“Yes but I still need…”

“Okay so here’s a brief script I wrote for you just hit the keynotes and you should be fine now I need to fix my make-up before we go so which way is your bathroom” I look at her perplexed and point down the hallway she grabs her briefcase and knocks her phone onto the floor and it slips under my couch.

I crouch down and pick it up and when I lift it up I can see her wallpaper is a classic wedding photo including the whole entourage it looked strange to see her so happy I heard her walking back and I walked towards saying “You dropped your phone” and I handed it to her smiling. “I saw your wallpaper how was your wedding”

She smiles for a brief second and shows me the full size image and I feel as if I recognize one of the bridesmaids but I can't quite get a good enough look at because she abruptly turns off her phone after getting a message. “Well that’s enough of that we need to focus on your case and not on my personal life.”

“Yeah sorry lets focus on winning this”

“Or getting a compromise that is beneficial for all parties”

“Well that’s a victory in my book as long as I get a fair amount of time with my daughter” I reply as I read over her points for the meeting.

We review and she stays with her beginning points strong saying Peyton is the enemy and I’m the victim. When we start to move onto the next part I hear another knock on the door and answer it to see Peyton and his Lawyer.

“Hector Blair?” Veronica said moving over to the door for proper introduction.

“Veronica Sif..” Hector begins

“Russo I married Mark remember” she finishes correcting him

“Yes but I’m quite surprised you’d take this case”

“Wait why?” I interjected quite confused

“That’s not relevant to current matter and we need to get down to business.” Veronica and I led them to the dining area where the lawyers pulled out files and I stared at Peyton who had seemed to be texting Emily while the lawyers set up. “Mr. Blair my client is merely asking for fair visitation with her daughter and understands that the other parent may want to see their daughter.”

“Well Mrs. Russo my client wants his daughter to be raised in stable household one with a representation of each parent as you are aware Dr. Kennedy is engaged to Emily Cifarelli and together they could offer stability is it wrong for Dr. Kennedy to want his daughter to not have to go through the back and forth between the two parents homes.”

“True but should a mother be cut off from her own daughter to achieve this keep in mind Dr. Kennedy didn’t know Thea was his daughter until recently while Miss Brown has been raising Thea on her own from the beginning but you want to just rip her daughter from her arms. Is that right?”

“Mrs. Russo…”

“No, Miss Brown is perfectly understanding that you would like to see your daughter and even told me that a victory in her books is both of you coming to a fair comprise on visitations and custody.” I looked up at her quite shocked “Mr. Kennedy would have her taken from her and she’d never be her own daughter’s mother and she loves her daughter and wants to be her mother.”

“Please Mrs. Russo do not make this personal or take it personally considering what happened to Danver.” Mr. Blair said while attempting to calm her down. “Go take a breath and come back when you have calmed down and can explain how your client could better raise my client’s daughter.” With a slight huff she pushed back against the table and ran to the bathroom.

“Excuse me for asking but who is Danver?”

“That is personal information I cannot disclose to her client” she said calmly while he put out papers “When she comes back we will be discussing your ability to parent verses my client I hope you have all of that in order.”

When I saw the look on Mrs. Russo’s when she came back it was dead serious and I got some chills. “As we know Dr. Kennedy is a doctor which is demanding job and he works an average of 46 hours a week while Emily is Business Associate at Greater View Co. and works an average of 50 hours a week since she can do her job outside of her office. Though she make significantly less than Dr. Kennedy together they have an annual income of $300,000 a year. While yes they have financial stability and the ability to provide both parents Miss Brown works 40 hours a week and is capped at 40 at her job she makes about $36,000 a year and makes due with a 2 bedroom apartment and pretty decent SUV. She has a very good credit score and no current debt while Emily has a low credit score and lots of debt from having retail therapy. Miss Brown can provide for her daughter and still have time to be with her and her babysitter would be Thea’s grandmother Deborah Brown.” She laid down the papers supporting her claim.

“Emily is not important in this battle so don’t let her bad credit affect your decision” Mr. Blair replied

“Oh but I thought the reason Dr. Kennedy wanted Thea was because him and Emily could provide her a house with both representations of parents making Emily matter in this discussion after all.” She didn’t even falter just retorted as soon as he ad finished. “So with that you can pull your point involving Emily and I will pull mine or both points can stay.”

Mr. Blair turns to Peyton “I stand strong on my point” he replied taken a little off guard. The lawyers argued for awhile and I could Peyton’s fall a little bit when Mrs. Russo would mention the fact that Thea would be taken away from me. After an hour had passed and the discussions ended each side presented a proposition to the amount of custody time.

“Even custody switching houses every week or every other week” Mrs. Russo presented

“Full Custody to Dr. Kennedy” Mr. Blair countered

“Well then I’ll see you next week and perhaps you’ll reach fairer conclusion” she packed her stuff away and stood up.

“Or you’ll see that my client is better fit to raise the young Miss Kennedy” His retort was quick just like hers but she smiled and gestured to the door and the two left.

“I’ll be in touch with details on how we are going to get the victory you want” my lawyer said before leaving as well. After she left I sank into the couch and I don’t know why but I just cried.

November 25, 2033

We sat in a cafe I had a smoothie and he was drinking coffee when Emily walked up and without invitation sat next to us. She sat on Peyton’s side of the table. “Hey guys how it going” she said smiling and looked up Peyton who looked distressed.

“Emily how can I help you” I ask

“How’s the baby?” She asked and when I started to answer “Are you going to move in with Peyton after its born or have you not talked about that” she grabbed a piece of the croissant I had on the table “Well that’s what you want right Kenzie?”

“Emily please just go” I replied, staring her down but she crossed her and glared at me.

“Baby, let’s go” she picked up her monogrammed E.J.K. bag off the ground.

“Emily why don’t you just leave” he replied and I reached across the table and lightly caressed his hand as Emily contorted her face.

“You think you’ve got him don’t you but so did I and you saw how that turned out.” She said her words full of venom and she turned and walked away in a huff. I offered Peyton a small smile to try and lift his mood after the encounter.