Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

RYDER

O n Sunday, there was a family meeting in the morning to discuss the farm. When I arrived, Faith joined Izzy who was playing with Colson. They adored him.

The rest of the family was seated at the dining room table.

Stacy kept texting to see if I'd convinced Faith, so I turned off the ringer.

It didn't do anything to settle my stomach. I hadn't slept well last night. Stacy wasn't giving up on this idea of me convincing Faith to move in with her and Phil. I didn't agree with it, and it wasn't what Faith wanted.

I hadn't broached the subject with Faith yet, but I was sure she was aware that I was upset.

Daphne's brow furrowed. "What happened to you yesterday? One minute you were getting the girls funnel cake, and the next we couldn't find you."

"Something came up."

My screen lit up with the name Stacy again, and Daphne raised a brow.

"Does it have anything to do with that?" She pointed at the screen.

I turned my phone over so no one would have to see how often she was calling. If I didn't answer soon, her next call would be to her attorney, where she would ask for increased custody. Right now, we had agreed to joint. Both of us made decisions on education and living arrangements.

But nothing was final until the divorce petition was signed, and even then changes could be made from time to time. "Stacy wants to move in with her boyfriend."

"What does that have to do with you?" Daphne asked.

No one in my family liked how Stacy kept me and Faith from visiting over the years. I might have made the ultimate decision to keep my distance rather than risk Stacy's wrath, but they'd accurately assumed she was the culprit.

"She wants me to convince Faith to go along with it."

Daphne sucked in a breath. "What does Faith want?"

"She hates Phil. She wants me to talk to her mother about living with me and going to school here. She likes being near the family."

Daphne's eyes shined. "That would be lovely. But Stacy would never go for it."

"Tell me about it." I wondered on and off last night if I should volunteer to move into our old house. That way, Faith could stay in the house with me. But it would mean fighting for more custody because Stacy would never go for it. She probably wanted to sell the house and get the equity out of it.

"What are you going to do?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I haven't talked to Faith about it yet."

"What does Violet think?"

That was the part that bugged me. I hadn't told her about it until last night, and things between us felt distant. It was my fault for pulling away when Stacy started blowing up my phone. I sensed that Violet didn't approve of how I was handling things. "That I should talk to my lawyer."

"Have you?"

"I left him a message for him to contact me first thing on Monday."

"Good."

"I mean, Stacy's threatening to go for full custody so she doesn't need my go-ahead for things like this. I think me moving into our house would be the easiest way to handle it. Faith would get to live with me, and we'd be closer to Stacy."

Daphne let out a disgusted huff. "What if she moved to another state? Would you follow her there too?"

I frowned. "Why would I do that?"

"Because this plan of yours is giving into her whims. What happens when things between her and Phil sour. Will you have to move out so Stacy can have the house again?"

My chest tightened. "I hadn't thought about that."

"You need be sure about your next move. Make sure it's good for you and Faith."

"It's whatever's best for Faith." I gripped the glass of water Fiona poured for me.

"You're part of the equation too."

"You've never had to deal with anything like this. Trent wanted nothing to do with Izzy."

Daphne winced, and I immediately regretted my words.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"I didn't have to deal with custody battles. But I learned that I had to factor into any decision made, or I'd lose myself and any chance of happiness. Sure, we want to do right by our kids, but they can't be happy if we're not."

Her words were important, but I couldn't take them in, not when I knew the pressure was building from Stacy to make a decision. I wanted to give into my usual desire to placate her, to avoid the fight. So that Faith didn't have to be in the middle.

Dad sat at the head of the table, and everyone quieted. "Yesterday was a great success. We had more tree sales at the cut lot, including wreaths and greenery. The vendors also shared with me that they were happy with sales. Even Violet mentioned that she sold her ice cream despite the cold weather."

When Dad's gaze met mine, I shifted on my chair because I should have known how successful Violet was yesterday, but we hadn't talked about that. Just my situation with Stacy. I didn't feel great about that reminder.

Teddy sat on the opposite end of the table, his expression stony.

"I thought everyone had fun," Daphne said. "I sold a ton of pies and took orders for more. I think it was great for some of the smaller vendors to give their brands more visibility. The farmer's market is only open in the warmer months, and they were happy to have another place to sell their wares."

"You think we should do it again?" Dad asked her. "Charlotte suggested we make it a farmer's market of sorts throughout the holiday season. We don't have a year-round shop like the Monroes. It would be similar yet different."

"I like that idea," Fiona said. "We'd be supporting local artists and businesses, while bringing people onto the farm. It only makes sense they'll purchase a wreath or a tree. Tell their friends about our farm."

Dad nodded. "We can't forget that we have a slight advantage over the Monroes. Even though our farm is smaller, we're closer to town."

"So, we're calling it a success?" Teddy asked carefully, and a hush came over the table.

Wes handed out a spreadsheet with the numbers for the weekend. "Just look at how much we brought in with the Santa photos. We took pictures with their phones and charged a flat fee of ten dollars per family, and still made a nice sum."

I whistled through my lips. "This is impressive." I wouldn't have thought that Santa photos would be lucrative, especially when we didn't hire a professional photographer.

Dad held the spreadsheet in the air to emphasize his point. "This is what people want from their Christmas tree farms. An experience."

"Now you sound like Charlotte," Teddy said with a disgusted tone.

Dad gave him a droll look. "Charlotte is the expert at this kind of thing."

Teddy's jaw tightened. "We could have done this on our own."

Wes threw up his hands. "You're against doing any of this. You wouldn't have planned a festival."

"And look at how much revenue we brought in on vendor fees and Santa photos. Not to mention the tree side of the business. It's not even quantifiable because the repercussions of this weekend could be felt for the rest of the season and into next. People will remember their experience here, and want to come back," Jameson added.

"They might not want the grumpy Santa," Fiona said lightly.

Teddy shot her a look but didn't respond.

Dad held up his hands. "We're past this. I hired Charlotte. She's living in the cottage."

"What happened with your house? Did you deal with insurance yet?" Fiona asked Teddy.

"They're trying to salvage the floors so there's fans everywhere, and I'm not supposed to walk on them while they're drying out."

"If you need a place to stay Jameson's apartment above the garage is available," Dad offered.

Teddy shook his head. "I'll find something."

I exchanged a look with Fiona. I could just imagine Teddy and Charlotte living so close together on the farm. Sparks would fly, and probably not the good kind.

"It was Charlotte's suggestion to make the festival more of a weekly thing, and I'd like to keep you in the loop. It would give people a reason to stop by the farm once a week. We won't have the usual produce and veggies, but we'll substitute like we did this weekend with baked goods and holiday gifts and decor."

Fiona leaned forward. "I think it's a great idea. People are looking for holiday things to do. Just look at the light display at the Monroes'. It brings in a ton of traffic, and it would be nice for us to have something here."

I held up my hands. "I'm glad you included me, but I'm not sure I should have a say. I might be moving back to Virginia soon."

"What? Why?" Dad asked.

"Stacy wants to move in with her boyfriend. The house will be empty. Faith wants to live with me. This will solve all our problems."

Dad frowned. "I thought you liked living closer to family."

"Faith is my family, Dad. I don't like being this far from her." I hated that my words hurt him, but it was my reality.

"I can understand that. I was just hoping that you and her would be closer, even if it was only every other weekend that she could visit," Dad said.

I spread my hands in the air. "I don't know what's going to happen. I'm just considering the options."

"It's not like Stacy will let you make a decision anyway. She holds all the cards," Daphne said.

My jaw tightened. "I make the decisions."

"Did you agree to the separation, or did she tell you that's what was happening?" Daphne asked.

That's why I'd felt so hopeless and out of control. No matter how much I begged, she wouldn't reconsider or go to marriage counseling. Looking back, I'm certain she'd already moved on with Phil. But the fact remained; it was her decision. "I don't see why that matters."

"When are you going to stop letting that woman dictate your life?" Daphne asked before pushing her chair away from the table and walking out.

A hush fell over the table.

"She's concerned about you. We all are," Dad said.

"You don't have to be. I can handle this." I picked up my phone, which had three missed calls from Stacy. I didn't have time for family meetings even though I wanted to be a part of this. My place was with Faith and, unfortunately, Stacy. We had six more years that we needed to figure out this coparenting thing before Faith went to college.

But was Daphne right? Was I bending to Stacy's will?

I was concerned about Stacy limiting my time with Faith. I had to do everything I could to protect my role in her life.

In the living room, Faith and Izzy were playing tea with Colson. He sat on one of the small chairs at the kids' table holding the cup up to his mouth.

"Put your finger like this," Faith said, her pinkie finger pointed in the air.

Izzy giggled.

"How's your tea, darling?" Faith asked Colson.

"Mmm," Colson said, delighted to have their attention.

My heart contracted at the sight. Would Faith be this good with a little baby sister or brother? She wasn't this patient with Phil's kids, but then they'd never be her brothers.

Not like if I had a child with Violet.

"Faith, we need to go."

Her face fell. "We're still playing."

"I know. But I have some things that need to be taken care of, and we need to head back to your mother's."

Faith's shoulders fell. "I don't want to leave."

"I know. I'm sorry." I hated ripping her away from her cousins, but Stacy didn't wait for anyone. If I didn't start answering her calls, she'd do something worse than she was already threatening.

I waited for Faith to say her goodbyes to Colson. She hugged and kissed him, then Izzy, the two girls promising to call each other. I wished this was our life. That we spent every Sunday with my family.

I didn't have to drive Faith home every other Sunday night to her mother where there was constant upheaval with Phil and Stacy.

But that was a dream. It wasn't my reality.

My life felt complicated and heavy. I didn't even have time to spend with Violet like I wanted to this weekend. I didn't want Stacy touching her life.

I wondered if it would be better to distance myself from Violet, at least until this custody business was settled with Stacy.

I wouldn't be able to relax until she stopped sending messages and calling so often. There was a tightness in my chest.

When Faith was in the truck, we headed back to my house so she could pack up her things. I slipped into my bedroom and shut the door so I could talk to Stacy.

"Finally! Where've you been?"

I waited a beat, my heart pounding in my ears. "Stacy, it's my weekend with Violet. You've called dozens of times."

"Why aren't you answering?"

"I want to have time with my daughter. I shouldn't be fielding your frantic phone calls." I ran a hand through my hair.

"I need to know that you've convinced Faith to move in with Phil."

"Why the urgency?" The blood was pumping hard in my veins as if I was gearing up for a race. "I thought you were going to slow down and take your time."

"No. That's what you said I should do."

I curled my hand into a fist. "What did you do?"

"It was the perfect opportunity to move our things while Faith wasn't here."

A chill ran down my spine. "You thought it would be a good idea to move Faith without telling her, and then what? When she shows up tonight, I have to be the one to break the news to her. I have to drop her off at Phil's house?"

"You just don't want me to move on with Phil. You haven't liked him from the beginning."

"Stacy, be reasonable. You can't just move our daughter because you want to."

"I have custody of her."

"We have joint custody. We have to agree on any decisions."

"I'm talking to my lawyer about that. Remember?"

"I remember you threatening all kinds of things. But we're talking about today and where Faith will be living. Does she even have a room in that house?"

"We don't have the boys moved around yet, but she can sleep in a sleeping bag in one of their rooms."

"Do you hear yourself? I asked you to slow down, and you sped everything up. Faith is moving from her childhood home into someone else's, and she doesn't even have a room by herself. She's a girl, and Phil has all boys."

"She can sleep with a boy. They're kids."

"She's twelve. She's close to the age where she'll hit puberty and need her privacy." I'd been increasingly worried about this as a single dad. Stacy tended to be so self-involved; I worried I'd be left having these conversations with Faith.

But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be the one that Faith could rely on. Even if I wasn't her same-gender parent, I vowed to research whatever I needed to, to be informed.

"She's going to get her own room. That's the plan."

"I called my lawyer."

"On a Sunday?" Stacy asked, knowing I usually waited until the weekday to avoid the exorbitant after-hour fees.

Had she planned this on purpose? Move her in while Faith was out of town. Then do it on the weekend so I wouldn't call my attorney. "I need to know what my options are."

"The custody agreement states that you bring her home on Sunday evening."

"Yeah, home. We agreed you'd stay in the family home for the foreseeable future."

"Well, plans change."

Did people change too? Or had Stacy always been like this, and I didn't see how selfish she could be. Right now, she wasn't thinking about Faith; she was only thinking about herself.

"I have to go." I needed to call my attorney again, but I knew there was nothing we could do about this tonight. Stacy had won this round.

Faith would be forced to go to Phil's house, and I'd have to deal with the fallout. I hated this for her.

I left a message with my attorney's after-hours answering service. When Boone called, he asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Stacy moved into her boyfriend's house over the weekend without telling anyone. We agreed she'd stay in the family home. Faith doesn't even have a room in that house. She'll be sleeping on the floor. Not to mention that there are three boys there, and she'll be rooming with one of them."

Boone cleared his throat. "That's not ideal."

"I don't like any of this. It's not the best thing for Faith. She's going to be upset. But I'm wondering whether I have any choice here?"

"You are supposed to agree on living arrangements. You have joint custody. Now, you can't prevent her from moving in with a boyfriend. It's kind of a gray area. But I think we can demand that this be done a bit more slowly, and that Faith have her own room. I can file an emergency motion tomorrow morning with the court."

I let out a breath. "What about tonight?"

"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do tonight. You have to drop her off with her mother."

"Should I offer to move into the family home?"

"Is that what you want to do?"

"I'd be closer to Faith and petition the court for more time. Maybe even fifty-fifty."

"What about your job? I thought you were working in Maryland."

"I can talk to my boss. See if I can transfer back to Virginia." I knew that was unlikely. "Worst case scenario, I can commute."

Boone whistled. "That's quite the commute."

"I'll do whatever I need to to make this easier on Faith."

"I have to be honest. A judge won't like what Stacy pulled this weekend, but you won't be able to stop her from moving in with Phil. Unless he's abusive?"

"Not that I've heard or seen. Faith wants to live with me, but I think that has more to do with gaining three new stepbrothers than anything else."

"The plan is for you to drop off Faith as scheduled. I'll file the motion tomorrow."

"I'm not looking forward to telling Faith about tonight or dropping her off at a different home."

"I can't get this in front of a judge tonight. Not unless there's a domestic violence issue."

"There isn't."

"I'll work on the motion. You stay calm. You do the hand-off, and don't tell her what we're doing."

"I can do that."

"Hang in there. Hopefully, this is Stacy throwing her weight around, and once she realizes you're not a pushover, she might back off on some of these things. I've seen it before."

Stacy was flexing her muscles, like she had through our marriage. And I'd always let her do whatever she wanted before. But things had to change.