On Sunday night, Bethany curled up on the couch with Garrett reading him stories. The kid was insatiable. Every time she stopped reading, he would beg for her to read another one. Of course she couldn’t refuse.
The doorbell rang, and Jamie answered it. Bethany continued reading The Cat in the Hat and looked up only when Zoe cleared her throat.
“Come on, Garrett, time to go.”
“After this story.” He patted Bethany’s arm. “Keep going.”
“I think you need to go home with your mom.”
“No.” He started to sniff.
Zoe crossed the room in two strides and grabbed Garrett’s hand. “Let’s go.”
He jerked his hand out of hers. “No. You can’t make me. I’m going to stay here forever.”
Garrett’s tears started then. Hexa jumped on the couch between Garrett and Zoe and growled at Zoe with bared teeth. Bethany had never seen Hexa act that way.
“Get that thing away from my son,” Zoe said.
“She’s protecting him. She thinks you’re going to hurt him.”
Bethany looked past Zoe and saw Jamie come into the room holding Garrett’s bag. He took one look at Hexa, dropped the bag, and raced for the dog, who was still growling like mad. He grabbed her collar.
“Sorry, Zoe.” He dragged Hexa out of the room, ears pressed flat against her head as she continued to growl.
Bethany wrung her hands. “Really, she’s very fond of Garrett.”
“Looks like she’s a little dangerous. My attorney will hear about this.”
Garrett’s tears had turned into a bawl. “No, Mama. I love Hexa more than I love you.”
Zoe reached down and grabbed Garrett by the arm and dragged him off the couch. His hip hit the ground with a thump, and Bethany reached for him, but Zoe stopped her.
“Don’t you dare touch my son.”
“You’re hurting him. Let him go.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” She pulled Garrett so hard, Bethany was surprised she didn’t dislocate his shoulder.
Bethany’d had enough. She hauled off and slapped Zoe across the face. Zoe released Garrett and put her hand to her face. Bethany reached for Garrett, and he climbed into her arms. He clenched his arms around her neck and buried his face in her shoulder. “Don’t make me go home with her.”
“Garrett, you have to. I wish we could keep you here, but she’s your mom. You live with her.”
“But I don’t wanna. I want to live with you and Jamie. You can be my mom.”
Bethany squeezed her eyes shut. She had no idea how to explain to a six-year-old that he was making it worse. Especially a sobbing, sad six-year-old.
Zoe glared at Bethany. “Lots of things to tell my lawyer about. Now give me my son.”
Bethany put Garrett gently on the floor. He held tighter.
“Listen, your dad and I will see you on Wednesday. We’ll make cookies. Would you like that?”
He nodded into her shoulder.
“Okay, but I need you to be a good boy for your mom and go home with her now.”
He let go and looked at her with his face still screwed up. Zoe grabbed his hand and dragged a sobbing Garrett out of the house.
Bethany’s heart broke watching him go. But she didn’t know how she could stop her. Bethany waited until they were gone before she went and found Hexa and Jamie.
“I’ve done something bad.”
“What’s that?” Jamie asked, not taking his eyes off Hexa, who was finally starting to relax. At least the ridge on her back had gone down.
“I hit Zoe.”
Jamie jerked his head up. “What? Why?”
“Because she was manhandling Garrett. I got mad. I’m sorry. I don’t usually behave like that.”
“You and Hexa both. I’ve never seen her so protective.”
“Well, now you have. Hopefully this won’t hurt too bad in the case.”
He put his arm around her shoulder. “I’m glad you two look out for him. If Zoe wants to bring it up, she’ll have to explain why. I don’t think she’ll do that. Come on, let’s go to bed. We’ve had too much excitement for one day.”
“I’ll say.”