You Can't Live on Reluctance Alone

My daughter was in her third year of preschool, and on the day of the parent-child field day, the sign-in sheet listed two children with the same name in the father's column.

One was my daughter. The other was a boy named Finn James.

The teacher smiled and teased, The James family is blessed. A son and a daughter, both here with us.

I sent my brother the photo. He replied in seconds.

"Sis, just turn a blind eye."

"Finn is James blood too, after all."

Even my mother called. "She's just had a baby and has no one to help her through the confinement. You're her big sister give a little."

I held the pen and slowly signed my own name in the events column beside my daughter's row.

So it turned out that no matter the relationship, the one cut loose first was always me.

...

"Honey, today is Finn's first group activity."

Glen James was carrying a boy of about three.

The boy's brows and eyes were the exact image of Glen's.

Glen came to my side. "As the lady of the James house, you should be generous. Don't give outsiders anything to laugh at."

Cheating and fathering a child, and he'd quietly swapped it out for a family that had simply grown larger.

Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I didn't pull away from his hand.

I smiled, my tone mild.

"We're one family. Of course we should be gracious."

At my words, Polly Gilbert's eyes reddened instantly.

She took a step forward and caught the hem of my clothes, the picture of humility.

"Thank you, sister."

"Raising Finn alone has been so hard. He's always crying for his father."

"Thank you for letting the two of us live in your home. I promise, I won't break up your family."

"All I ask is for Finn to have a whole childhood."

Glen looked at Polly, a flicker of pity in his eyes.

"Polly is so understanding. Don't take it too much to heart." Glen turned to look at me. "Tonight I'll take you to that French restaurant you love best, to make it up to you. How about it?"

That was exactly his way. A slap, then a piece of candy.

The phone in my bag buzzed.

I ignored Glen and looked down to take it out.

It was a message in the family group chat.

My brother had sent a long voice memo.

I tapped to convert it to text.

"Sis, my brother-in-law just approved a five-million-dollar project for me. Don't you dare throw a fit right now!"

"It's normal for a man to have a little fun outside, and besides, Finn is a boy, the James family's heir."

"You gave birth to a daughter, so you're already in the wrong. Now Polly has carried on the James line for them. You should be thanking her."

Then my mother sent one too.

"Your brother is getting married soon and needs money for all sorts of things. Keep Glen happy and don't let Polly get the upper hand."

"At the field day today, look after Finn a little. Don't make people think you, the proper wife, are petty."

Looking at the screen, I felt sick.

This was my own flesh and blood.

For a five-million-dollar project, for my brother's wedding house.

They sold me out without a second thought, and forced me to play nanny to the mistress's son.

The human heart really does lean one way.

Back when my brother got married and bought his place, the down payment came up short, so I took my own money and covered it for him.

All these years, the monthly mortgage came out of what I scraped and saved.

For now they only cared about the resources in Glen's hands.

I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Mia Abbott tugged at my hand, her little face tilted up, watching me with worry.

I crouched down and stroked my daughter's head.

"Mommy's fine."

When I stood back up, I met Glen's searching look.

"Skip the French dinner. Mia's worn out from running today. I want to take her home to rest early."

Glen's brows drew together slightly, as if my refusal displeased him.

But they smoothed again just as quickly, probably because he thought I was playing hard to get.

"That works. I'll go with Polly to the single-parent interactive session. Finn can't be without a father."

He made the choice like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Go ahead."

Glen carried Finn and led Polly off to the other side of the field.

I watched the three of them from behind, this little family, and I didn't cry and I didn't make a scene.

I held Mia's hand and walked with her to the school gate.

I took out my phone and called the real estate agent.

"Manager Finch, list the school-district home in my name. The faster, the better."

After I hung up, I made one more call.

"Lawyer Lambert, the asset list I sent you before, you can start the process now."