Chapter 21: Sit Down, Brett

Brett called me unfit to raise Theo in front of the employees. He said my son needed a mother who could manage alone.

He pointed at Theo's carrier beside my chair.

'You can't raise him without help,' Brett said. 'Everyone here knows that.'

The employees filled the company hall, watching a man who no longer led them try to make me look helpless.

My fingers shook against Theo's blanket.

I pressed both palms flat on my knees, but they would not stay still.

Brett glanced at the clock while I tried to answer.

He wanted people to see me stumble over a reply to the accusation he had made in front of them.

'You're making a scene,' he said. 'I'm trying to keep Theo safe.'

'You used him to shame me,' I said. 'Don't call that keeping him safe.'

A few employees looked toward the chair at the front.

Brett's mouth tightened.

'You can't even answer a question without turning it into an attack.'

Wes stepped beside me, leaving enough space that I could still reach Theo's carrier.

'Would you like me to take him?' he asked.

He kept his voice low, but Brett heard him anyway.

I looked down at Theo's sleeping face, with one hand tucked against his blanket.

'No. Thank you.'

Wes stayed beside me without reaching for the carrier.

I was glad he had asked, and I hated that Brett had made the question sound like evidence against me.

Brett looked from Wes to me.

'This is exactly what I mean. You can't manage a meeting without someone stepping in.'

'He asked me a question,' I said. 'I answered it.'

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