Dev grumbled, but nodded. “Fine. I have to head back to the office, but I’ll be home before dinner.”

He climbed into his Porsche, waving as he left. Every set of eyes in the parking lot watched him go, including Margaret Sullivan’s. I gave her the coldest look I could muster and then turned my back on her forever.

I climbed back into my own car, and as soon as my phone connected to the car's speakers, I made some calls. First to Julieta, and then to Corporate. I was going to throw my weight around and make sure that woman never got close to Nova again.

Chapter Sixteen

NOVA

I was still mad at myself as I pulled into the driveway of the house. My cheeks flushed hot if I even so much as thought about my mini-meltdown in River’s arms. I was stronger than this, goddammit. I wasn’t someone who had a breakdown about the words of some bitter old bitch. I stood up for myself. I’d stand up for Huey too.

But not today. Today, that woman had pressed her fingers right into new wounds. She’d made me bleed as easily as if she was wielding a knife. And then I’d cried all over River. So fucking embarrassing. I wanted to crawl into a dark hole and not come out for a week. Long enough to forget all about today.

I looked down at Huey, who was happily sucking on his fist as I unclicked his car seat from the base. He didn’t look sunburned. He was fine. I knew he was. We’d only been in the sun for about ten minutes. He was clean and happy, and I was doing a good job.

I repeated that mantra in my head over and over. I just had a minor crisis of confidence, I can do this. I’d look up a list of things to do before you took your baby out, and then I’d follow that list every time.

I needed a shower. I needed to wash all this damn angst down the drain and start again. I carried Huey up the stairs, moving his baby rocker into my room. It swayed gently from side to side and had tiny zoo animals along the top of it.

Putting it outside the bathroom door, I set it to a gentle sway and gave him his pacifier. Leaving the door to my ensuite open a bit just in case, I climbed into a cool shower and just breathed. I centered myself on the feel of the water on my skin, on the things I was thankful for. Resting my head on the cold tiles, I just let my body relax.