Jess sat, partly to annoy Libby, but mostly because seeing her friend again after all these weeks had unexpectedly affected her legs. “I want to talk to Nick about his support payments.’

Libby’s eyes chilled to Antarctic blue. “That is never going to happen.”

“Talking or support payments?”

“Both.”

Jess took in a couple of deep breaths and tried to stay calm. “I did what you asked. You’ve had the results of the paternity test for a week. You now have the unequivocal scientific evidence you wanted, proving what we already knew. Leo is Nick’s son. I want the support payments reinstated and back pay for the weeks you’ve …” she swallowed the word spitefully, “… withheld it.”

“I don’t care what you want.”

The statement stung with the same bite of lime juice in a cut. “This isn’t between me and you. It’s between me and Nick.”

“Like hell it is. Nick’s my husband, not yours.”

Jess’s control frayed around the edges. “But I wonder for how much longer? With you controlling where he can go and who he can talk to, life with you must be so much fun for him.”

Libby jerked in her chair. “I hate you so much.”

“I think you established that weeks ago. I’m here to remind you that Nick’s Leo’s father and the law states he must provide financial support.”

“So, you’re suddenly citing the law now it suits you? You don’t have that right when you’ve broken every social more in the book! Nick never wanted that child, you did. You tricked him to get what you wanted.”

“I didn’t trick him.” She ground out the words between clenched teeth. “But I imagine it’s convenient for Nick to tell you that.”

Libby stood so fast her chair skated back and hit the wall. “Get out.”

Jess stayed seated. “You know what? For a caring professional and a friend who insisted we share everything until it suddenly wasn’t convenient to you, you have a filthy malevolent streak.”

“You’re deluded if you thought sharing included Nick!”

It was tempting to tell Libby she was reinventing history but Jess stayed focused on Leo. “Punish me and punish Nick all you like, but don’t punish Leo. He’s an innocent child.”

“He’s absolutely nothing to do with me. And if you come here again, I’ll take out a restraining order against you.”

“Empty words, Lib.”

“I don’t think so. Pip Beyers is a good friend of mine.”

The circuit court magistrate was good friends with them both. “Your memory’s conveniently faulty.”