For a moment, I almost laughed.
In Thomas’s version, every action began with someone else’s mistake and ended with my responsibility.
Brenda pushed him.
I left.
The tuition disappeared.
The family suffered.
He stood in the middle of every consequence claiming none of the choices belonged to him.
“We should talk without lawyers,” he said.
“No.”
“Emma, there is a child involved.”
My hand moved instinctively toward my stomach.
“Yes,” I said.
“There is.”
He hesitated.
“I meant Tyler.”
Amanda looked up.
That single correction told me more than hours of explanation could have.
Our unborn child was still an abstraction to him.
Tyler’s tuition was immediate.
“You should speak to your attorney,” Amanda said.
“Further financial requests need to go through counsel.”
Thomas went silent.
Then he said, “This is ridiculous.
Emma doesn’t even work.”
Amanda’s expression changed.
“Mr.Carter,” she said, “that statement may become relevant.
