Instant Parents with My Enemy

Chapter 05

Jasmine's POV

“Good to see you again, Ms. Jasmine Jones and Mr. Nate Davis. Since I take it you've already discussed the situation and signed the necessary paperwork to release the twins from the facility, may I now proceed with reading the last will and testament of Mr. and Mrs. Smith?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, completely unsure of how to react. Nate gave a stiff nod; I followed.

Nate and I had hashed everything out last night. Neither of us wanted to place the twins into the adoption system. Doing so felt like a direct betrayal of Karen, and I refused to let her children become strangers to the only people they still knew.

So we'd made a decision. We would try… at least for now.

We had both stayed at the twins' house that night. I didn't want to be there alone, and Nate clearly didn't want to leave the kids by themselves either.

To keep things fair, I slept beside the twins in their bedroom while Nate got stuck with the living room sofa.

When I saw him early this morning, I almost laughed. He looked terrible. His hair was a mess, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his shirt was wrinkled from spending the entire night on an uncomfortable couch.

“You didn't sleep, did you?” I had asked.

“No.”

Just one word. I probably should have felt bad. Instead, a tiny, incredibly petty part of me felt satisfied.

Serves him right.

I was already feeling like a terrible person, so I decided to commit to it. I left him alone with the twins while I took my time getting ready.

By the time I returned to the house, Keith and Kitty were already awake, sitting at the kitchen table and quietly eating breakfast.

Nate, meanwhile, looked like he had aged ten years. He immediately disappeared; he went home afterward. The entire morning had been a silent war of glares between us.

Neither of us said much. Neither of us needed to. One look was enough to start another argument.

The funniest part?

The twins didn't seem to notice the invisible wall of tension between us at all. They were too busy arguing over who got the last piece of toast.

“Are you both still with me?” Attorney Williams' voice pulled me back to reality.

I straightened in my chair.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Yeah,” Nate muttered.

Attorney Williams nodded solemnly and adjusted the papers in front of him.

“I know the two of you lead very separate lives. Karen and Jerry made that clear to me. However, they chose you because the twins have known you since they were babies.” His gaze moved between us. “They trusted you.”

I swallowed.

“They didn't want their children placed with strangers when they had two people they already considered family.”

The word family hit me harder than I expected. I looked down at my hands. Karen had trusted me with her children.

How could I possibly walk away from that?

Attorney Williams continued. “They have also made provisions to ensure the twins are financially secure. Their education fund is fully established, and there are sufficient assets set aside for their healthcare and other essential needs.”

I nodded slowly.

“At the same time,” he added, “the primary concern will be your ability to provide a stable home environment while maintaining your professional responsibilities.”

Stable.

That word almost made me laugh.

Nothing about my life felt stable anymore. My best friend was dead. Her husband was dead. Two children were suddenly my responsibility.

And I was apparently going to raise them with the man I had spent years trying to avoid.

Stable?

That was the biggest joke I'd heard all week.

“Now,” Attorney Williams said, opening the heavy folder in front of him, “I will read the specific directives your friends left.”

I intertwined my fingers tightly in my lap. My stomach twisted.

“First, Karen and Jerry requested that the two of you reside in their family home with the twins.”

I stopped breathing. I immediately looked at Nate, his expression mirrored mine. He looked so disbelief, then irritation, then pure fury.

Oh, hell no.

Attorney Williams continued as though he hadn't just dropped a bomb on us.

“They believed remaining in the home they grew up in would provide the twins with familiarity and emotional stability during this transition. Therefore, neither guardian may relocate the children without the written agreement of the other guardian and approval from the appropriate legal authority.”

Nate's jaw clenched. I could practically hear his thoughts.

Absolutely not.

“Second,” Attorney Williams continued, “the twins' educational fund and necessary financial provisions are fully secured. Neither guardian will be required to personally shoulder the children's education expenses, although both remain responsible for their daily care and reasonable living needs.”

I nodded. That part, at least, was manageable.

“Third, Keith and Kitty must remain together at all times. Neither guardian may separate the twins or assume sole custody of only one child without a court order.”

My chest tightened. That one made sense; they had already lost their parents. The last thing they needed was to lose each other.

“Fourth, a court-appointed social worker will conduct monthly welfare visits for the first year of the guardianship.”

Nate finally spoke.

“Monthly?”

Attorney Williams nodded.

“They will assess the children's physical and emotional well-being, the condition of the household, their adjustment to the new living arrangement, and whether both guardians are fulfilling their responsibilities.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

“And if they aren't?”

Attorney Williams looked directly at me.

“Then the court has the authority to modify or revoke the guardianship.”

I froze. So that was it.

This wasn't just about whether Nate and I could tolerate each other. If we failed, the twins could lose us, too.

I lowered my gaze. There was no way I was letting that happen.

Not after losing Karen. Not after promising Kitty and Keith that we were taking them home. I would figure this out…somehow.

“How long are we expected to live under one roof?” Nate suddenly asked.

Of course.

Out of everything Attorney Williams had just said, that was the part that bothered him most.

Then again, I couldn't blame him.

I didn't exactly dream of sharing a house with Nate Davis either.

Attorney Williams glanced down at the document. “Three years.”

My mouth fell open. Nate sat upright so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.

“Three years?”

“Yes.”

“You're telling me we have to live together for three years?”

Attorney Williams calmly adjusted his glasses.

“That is what the document states.”

“Why the hell would they make it three years?”

I turned toward him. For once, I didn't even disagree. Three years sounded insane.

Attorney Williams folded his hands on the desk.

“The arrangement is designed around the twins' age and stability. By the time they turn seven, the court may evaluate their long-term guardianship arrangement, including their emotional adjustment and, where legally appropriate, their preferences.”

He paused.

“Until then, the two of you will remain joint temporary guardians.”

Nate stared at him.

“And if one of us wants out before then?”

“You may petition the court.”

“So I can leave?”

Attorney Williams' expression remained serious.

“You can request to relinquish your guardianship.”

Relief briefly flashed across Nate's face. But Attorney Williams wasn't finished.

“However, doing so would trigger a new custody evaluation. And given the circumstances, the court would first determine whether the remaining guardian is capable of assuming sole responsibility.”

I glanced at Nate. He looked at me. Neither of us said anything. Because suddenly, this wasn't just about escaping each other.

If either of us walked away, the other would be left to raise the twins alone. And neither of us had signed up for that.

Attorney Williams returned his attention to the document.

“There is one final provision.”

My stomach sank.

“One final provision?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Karen and Jerry specifically requested that you two cooperate in good faith. They understood that you have... differences.”

Nate scoffed.

“That's one way to put it.”

I shot him a glare. Attorney Williams ignored us.

“They didn't expect you to become friends. They didn't even expect you to like one another.”

I raised an eyebrow.

At least they knew us.

“But they wanted the twins to see cooperation between the two people raising them. No hostile behavior in front of the children. No attempts to undermine the other guardian. And above all, no using the children as leverage against one another.”

The room fell silent. I slowly exhaled.

Three years.

Three years living with Nate.

Three years raising two children together.

Three years of sharing the same kitchen, the same living room, the same responsibilities… And apparently, the same roof.

I turned toward Nate. He was already looking at me; neither of us spoke.

Then Attorney Williams closed the folder.

“Congratulations, Mr. Davis and Ms. Jones.”

He gave us a sympathetic smile.

“You're parents now.”

I stared at him.

Parents.

Instant parents…

The word felt terrifying.

And somehow, it felt even more terrifying knowing I had to do it with Nate Davis.