Chapter 185

I immediately hold Violet close as her sobs shake her body. Iris is more mad than sad, but her voice still shakes as she adds, “Dad’s going to leave us behind.”

That’s news to me. Loving our daughters is the only thing Garnar and I have in common.

“What makes you say that?” I ask.

“Rachel,” Iris says with disgust, “doesn’t like kids.”

Odd of a woman who doesn’t like children to agree to marry a man that has split custody with two of his own. I want to think that Garnar will choose his children over a woman, but with how much she is worth… His love for money might trump all else.

I will need to speak with him about this. But first, I have to comfort my daughters, who seem certain that their father is about to leave them for a terribly woman.

“Has she said that to you?” I ask Iris.

“Yes,” Iris says.

“She doesn’t like hugs,” Violet says. “She says I’m sticky and I smell.”

“You don’t,” I tell her. “Maybe she’s thinking of toddlers. You girls are out of your random stickiness stage.”

“She doesn’t care,” Iris says. “It’s all the same to her. She makes us go to bed at 7, Mom. 7! Because she says anything after is her time with Dad. She’s treating us like we are babies.”

“She got rid of my stuffed animals,” Violet says.

Iris slumps. “Oh, yeah.”

“What happened?” I prompt.

“She took them all…” Violet says, sobbing again. “She said I was too old for them.”

Oh, I’m definitely having a conversation with Garnar, and hopefully with his fiancé too.

“Well the animals you left here are safe,” I tell her.

“Good,” she sniffles. “I’ll keep them here… where she can’t get them.”

“Anything you leave here will be safe,” I assure them.

Eventually, I’m able to convince them out of their room and they join me for snacks and games. We have a good evening, no more tears.

I stay dedicated to the girls all evening, making sure they have the best time possible. They have all my attention, and all of my love.

Yet, at the very back of my mind, I’m thinking about all the things I’m going to say to Garnar the minute the girls go to sleep.

When they start to yawn, I usher them to their rooms and tuck them in. I even read them both stories, though they are both a little old for it. They are still kids. Kids should be allowed to be kids for as long as they can.

Violet holds her stuffed animals close, and it breaks my heart all over again. After kissing her on the forehead, I step into the hall with new determination. I don’t storm into the kitchen, but it’s a near thing. I grab my phone out of my purse and punch in Garnar’s number, each digit more aggressively punched than the last.

I tap my foot, impatient, as the phone rings and rings. Finally, it picks up. I take a breath, ready to lay in.

“Who the fuck is this?” comes a woman’s voice.

Pulling my face away from the phone, I check the number I dialed. This is definitely Garnar’s phone. Does that make this person Rachel? I’ve met her before but I can’t recognize the voice. I didn’t really speak with her long enough and it had been late.

“Where’s Garnar?” I ask.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she snaps. “Tell me who you are first.”

“This is Esther,” I say.

“Sounds like Fester,” she replies.

How original. What are we, in second grade?

I rub my forehead. “Please put Garnar on the phone. This involves his children.”

“His children are at his ex’s. Nice try though, slut.”

“I am his ex,” I tell her.

“Oh.” She pauses a moment. Just as I hope I’ll finally have some civility now, she says, “That must be why you are in his phone as bitch.”

“Great. Thanks for that. Please put Garnar on the phone now.”

“I don’t think I will,” Rachel says. “I know how you exes are. It starts with conversations about children and then shifts into you trying to win him back.”

“I have no intention of trying to win Garnar back,” I say. The idea makes me want to be sick. “If anything, you can have him, and good luck to you.”

“You are just saying that so I lower my guard.”

“Whatever. Now please tell Garnar that I need to speak to him about his children. Is he there?”

“He’s in the shower,” she says. “We just had some mind-blowing sex.”

I roll my eyes. People who really had mind-blowing sex don’t generally feel the need to rub it in afterwards. I bet they had missionary, same as always. Garnar’s favorite.

Ug. Why did I put that thought into my own head? Stop letting her get under your skin, Esther!

“Listen. I don’t care about any of this. What I do care about is what’s best for my girls. So maybe I should just ask you. Is it true that you told them you don’t like them?”

“Why would I like them? They are not mine,” Rachel scoffs. “They are leeches, stealing all of Garnar’s time and money. He has plenty more important things to worry about.”

“There is nothing more important than his children,” I tell her, righteous motherly fury rising up within me.

“Sure there is,” she says. Then laughs. “Me. But don’t worry, soon enough I’ll make sure Garnar gives up custody of those brats and he and I can start our own, perfect family.”

“My daughters are perfect,” I snap.

“They are little bitches.”

Rage flares so hot and fast inside of me that I would jump through the phone to wrangle this woman’s throat if I could. “What the hell did you just say?”

“Rachel? Where are you?” calls a voice in the background.

“Garnar!” I call, hoping he will hear my voice through the phone.

“Just some telemarketer,” Rachel says and hangs up.

The line goes dead.

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I stare at it in disbelief. How could Garnar possibly think this woman was not only okay to marry, but to be around his children! Does he not see the way she treats them? I find that so hard to believe.

At least the girls will be safe here in my house, but I still can’t believe Garnar would be okay with everything Rachel said. If I could speak to him alone…

Right now, however, there’s nowhere for my anger to go.

It’s so frustrating!

Not knowing what else to do, I head into the living room to binge watch some reality television.

On Monday, I drop the girls at school and then head to work.

“Do you have that list I asked for?” I ask Crystal as I come in.

“It’s on your desk,” she says. She also has a coffee for me, and hands it to me as I walk by.

“Thank you, Crystal,” I tell her. She really is a godsend.

Entering my office, I set down my things and then sit down to look at the list. Last week, I’d ask Crystal to compile a list of all the donors backing Edward.

We need to know who is supporting this monster, to know how to properly strike against him.

I pause near the top of the list. Three down from the top.

One of Edward’s biggest supporters is the local candy moguls, the Perens.

Rachel’s family.