Brenda’s frenzy only intensified as the wedding date loomed closer. Every detail had to be perfect, every moment staged for maximum impact.
“This is going to put every other wedding to shame,” she declared, sweeping into a luxury venue to inspect the ballroom. She spun in a circle, envisioning the glittering chandeliers and cascading floral arrangements. “The media will eat this up.”
Ryan followed her in silence, his shoulders slumped. He’d tried to carve out time for the twins, but Brenda had a knack for pulling him back into her web.
“Ryan!” Brenda’s sharp voice broke through his thoughts. She was standing at the altar, her arms outstretched. “Doesn’t this feel like destiny?”
He hesitated, his gaze drifting to the ornate decor. “It feels like... a lot,” he muttered.
Brenda’s expression darkened, but she quickly masked it with a saccharine smile. “It’s a celebration of us, Ryan. Don’t you want Caleb to grow up knowing his parents are solid, unbreakable?”
Ryan sighed. “This isn’t just about Caleb, is it?”
Brenda’s eyes flashed with something sharp and dangerous. She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “You’re right. It’s about showing everyone—everyone—that I won. That we won.”
***
Amelia paced the brightly lit room where the co-parenting meeting was about to take place. She adjusted the strap of her watch, her anxiety bubbling beneath her calm exterior. The twins were at school, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing between their parents.
Ryan arrived moments later, his expression carefully neutral but his posture tense. He carried a folder tucked under his arm, though he didn’t seem to have much confidence in whatever argument he planned to present.
“Amelia,” he greeted tersely, taking a seat across from her.
“Ryan.” Her tone was equally clipped, her arms crossing tightly over her chest.
The mediator, a middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense air, adjusted her glasses and started the session. “Today, we’ll discuss how to navigate recent changes in your personal lives while maintaining stability for Damien and Debby.”
Amelia leaned forward, her voice sharp. “Stability? How can they have stability when their father is more focused on building a new life with Brenda than being there for his children?”
Ryan’s jaw tightened. “I’m here, aren’t I? I’ve been trying to be part of their lives. You can’t deny that.”
“You show up sporadically and expect that to erase everything?” Amelia shot back, her voice rising. “They’re confused, Ryan. Damien doesn’t know if he can trust you, and Debby keeps asking why you’re not like other dads. What am I supposed to tell them?”
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the folder. “I’m doing this for Caleb,” he said, his tone quieter but no less firm.
Amelia’s eyes flashed with anger. “And what about Damien and Debby? Do they even factor into your decisions anymore?” Her words cut like a knife, and for a moment, the room fell silent.
The mediator cleared her throat, her voice carefully neutral. “It’s important to consider how changes in one household impact the entire family dynamic.”
Ryan didn’t respond immediately, but when he finally spoke, his voice was strained. “I’m trying to balance everything. Caleb’s just a baby—he needs me.”
“And what about the twins?” Amelia demanded, leaning forward. “Do they not need you? Or have you decided they’re old enough to fend for themselves while you play house with Brenda?”
Ryan’s face darkened, his frustration evident. “That’s not fair, Amelia. You don’t know what it’s like to be pulled in every direction.”
Her laugh was sharp and bitter. “Don’t I? I’ve been juggling everything alone for years, Ryan. You don’t get to play the victim now.”
The tension between them was suffocating, neither willing to back down. The mediator intervened, suggesting a break to cool off.
As Amelia gathered her things, Ryan reached out, his voice softer. “I’m doing the best I can.”
She paused, her shoulders stiff. Without looking at him, she said, “Your best isn’t good enough for them. Not anymore.”