35
1012 Words
Shelly POV
The warmth of Shaina’s drawing stayed with me throughout the night. It wasn’t just the innocence of her little hands crafting a picture of us with Spencer; it was the way she had unknowingly captured something I wasn’t ready to admit to myself.
Spencer had already found a way into her heart. And maybe into mine, too.
But shadows have a way of creeping back, even when the light feels strong.
I was washing the breakfast dishes the next morning when my phone buzzed on the counter. I dried my hands and picked it up, my heart sinking as I read the name on the screen.
Veer.
My ex. Shaina’s father.
I hesitated for a second before answering, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Hello?”
“Shelly.” His voice was smooth, practiced. The same tone he used when he wanted something.
“What do you want?” I asked, cutting straight to the point.
“Can’t I call to see how my daughter is doing?”
“You haven’t called in months,” I shot back. “So, no. I don’t believe that’s why you’re calling.”
There was a pause, a faint sound of him exhaling smoke. He still smoked. Of course he did.
“I want to see her,” he finally said.
My grip on the phone tightened. “You’ve never cared about seeing her before. What’s changed?”
“Don’t make this difficult, Shelly,” he replied, his tone hardening. “I have rights, you know.”
The pit in my stomach grew. The last time he had pulled the “rights” card, it had been a nightmare. Lawyers, courtrooms, and Shaina stuck in the middle.
“She’s fine,” I said sharply. “She’s happy. Don’t ruin that.”
“Shelly…” His voice turned low, dangerous. “You don’t want to do this the hard way.”
I hung up before he could say anything else, my hands trembling.
---
Later that morning, I took Shaina to the park, hoping the fresh air and laughter would distract me from Veer’s threat. She was climbing the monkey bars, her face glowing with determination, when Spencer’s voice startled me.
“Hey.”
I turned to find him standing a few feet away, holding two steaming cups of coffee. His presence was like a calm anchor against the storm raging in my head.
“I figured you might need this,” he said, handing me one of the cups.
I managed a small smile. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“You mentioned Shaina liked this park,” he replied, his gaze flickering to where she was now hanging upside down, giggling. “Lucky guess.”
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Shaina play. But Spencer wasn’t one to let things slide.
“You seem… off,” he said, his voice gentle. “What’s going on?”
I wanted to brush him off, to tell him it was nothing. But the weight of Veer’s call was too much to carry alone.
“It’s Shaina’s dad,” I admitted quietly. “He called this morning. He says he wants to see her.”
Spencer’s jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. “Does he have a right to?”
“Legally, yes,” I said, my voice trembling. “But he hasn’t been involved in her life. He’s… he’s not a good person, Spencer.”
He didn’t push me for details, but I could tell he wanted to. Instead, he reached out and gently touched my arm.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
Shaina’s laughter rang out, and I forced myself to smile as she ran over to us.
“Look, Mommy! I made it all the way across the bars!” she said, her face flushed with pride.
“That’s amazing, sweetheart!” I said, pulling her into a hug.
Spencer crouched down to her level, grinning. “You’re pretty strong, huh? Think you can beat me in a monkey bar race?”
Shaina giggled. “You’re too big!”
He laughed, ruffling her hair. For a moment, everything felt normal.
But as I watched him interact with her, my heart ached. I wanted this. I wanted him. I wanted us to be a family. But Veer’s shadow loomed too large.
---
Spencer POV
I couldn’t get Shelly’s words out of my head as I walked back to my truck. The idea of Shaina’s dad showing up and disrupting their lives made my blood boil.
Shelly was strong—stronger than she gave herself credit for—but no one should have to face something like this alone.
I didn’t know much about Veer, but I didn’t like what I was hearing.
After pacing around my apartment for an hour, I grabbed my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t used in years.
“Detective Perez,” the voice on the other end said.
“Hey, it’s Spencer,” I replied. “I need a favor.”
---
Shelly POV
That evening, after Shaina went to bed, I sat on the couch staring at my phone. I knew I should call my lawyer, but the thought of reopening that chapter of my life made me feel sick.
A knock at the door startled me. I wasn’t expecting anyone.
When I opened it, Spencer was standing there, a look of quiet determination on his face.
“Hey,” I said, confused. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you told me,” he said, stepping inside. “About Veer.”
“Spencer, I—”
“I want to help,” he interrupted. “But I need to know the truth, Shelly. All of it.”
His eyes searched mine, and I knew he wasn’t going to let this go.
The truth. The whole messy, painful truth.
Could I trust him with it?
I didn’t know. But I was running out of options.
---
- Writer
