Dare to Hold (Dare to Love 4)

“Then let’s get some sleep.”

* * *

Monday morning came way too fast. Scott stayed the weekend, and Meg couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed just hanging around and relaxing quite so much. He liked action movies and so did she, which meant they were able to agree on what to watch. They viewed The Expendables on Netflix, so he got his action, and she got her fill of Jason Statham, and moved on to the Taken series, which she’d missed in theaters. Liam Neeson certainly wasn’t hard on the eyes either.

Before she left for work, Scott reminded her that Rick would be following her to school and waiting in the parking lot just in case her ex decided to make an appearance. Scott was heading over to his brother’s so they could hammer out business details and talk to a lawyer to make his partnership and ownership of Double Down Security official.

He left her with a kiss and, “Have a good day, baby.”

Her heart fluttered at that, and she set out for work. Maybe because her mood was good, the kids were on their best behavior and the morning flew by. When she sent them off to the music teacher for half an hour, she headed back to her classroom for a brief break but didn’t get much time before the intercom sounded in her room. Allie asked her to come to the office, and Meg headed down the long hallway lined with children’s artwork on various class bulletin boards before arriving at the office.

Allie’s desk was directly in front of the doorway. “Hi,” she said to her friend.

“Hi.” Allie smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Meg, these people would like to speak with you.” She gestured to an elegant blonde with a classic bob hairstyle and light makeup, wearing a dressy pants suit. By her side was a gentleman with graying hair and a well-fitting suit.

Meg didn’t know them, and if they’d been the parents of her students, she would have. In a shocking change of pace, they’d all shown up for parent-teacher night. She didn’t recognize either of these people.

“Ms. Thompson?” the man asked.

Meg nodded warily. “How can I help you?”

The woman stepped closer and spoke in a low tone. “I’m Lydia Ashton and this is my husband, Walter.”

“Ashton? As in Mike Ashton?” Meg asked, as lights began to flicker in front of her eyes. She was suddenly dizzy. She reached for the wall behind her, seeking support.

The woman gave her a slight nod. “We’re Mike’s parents.”

Meg drew a forced breath. She wasn’t about to have a conversation with them here, where, heaven forbid, the principal could overhear. He was already upset with her pregnant single mother status. She had no desire for him to find her having personal meetings during school time.

Meg pulled herself up to her full height. “Let’s go talk somewhere private. I only have another twenty minutes before my students return.” She led them away from Allie’s curious stare to a quiet part of the hallway where no classrooms were located. “Why are you here? What do you want?” Meg asked.

“Mike tells us you refuse to see him,” his mother said.

Rick, her bodyguard, sat in his car, watching for Mike, who, thanks to online photos, he’d recognize on sight. Were his parents here because he couldn’t show up himself?

Meg curled her hands into fists. “I have a restraining order against him, which means I don’t have to see him. And he’s already violated that order once. If the police catch him near me, they’ll arrest him.” Meg’s legs shook, and she leaned against the wall to steady herself.

“Yes, that is unfortunate. My son is … a disappointment, to say the least.”

Meg’s eyes opened wide at that unexpected statement.

“That’s why we’re here. We”—the older woman pointed between herself and her husband—“want to know we’ll be able to see our grandchild.”

Meg shook her head in disbelief. “You do realize, when I told your son he was going to be a father, he questioned paternity,” she said, still offended by his insinuation. “I’m happy to take any damned test. It’s his. He was furious and he pushed me, hard. I fell and nearly lost the baby.” She swallowed hard. “Your son is an abuser.”

Her voice cracked, and she rested her hands on her stomach. “All I want is for Mike to sign away his parental rights. My lawyer sent him the papers, and based on his initial reaction, I don’t understand why he hasn’t done it already.”

A terrifying thought occurred to her as she stared at the couple. “Has he changed his mind? Because I don’t want him anywhere near me or my child.”

A surprising look of regret and compassion passed over the other woman’s face. “As I said, Mike is a disappointment. He isn’t interested in being a father.”

“Then why won’t he sign the papers?” Meg asked.

Lydia Ashton turned, and a look passed between her and her husband, one Meg couldn’t begin to decipher. “We don’t know why Mike behaves the way he does,” she said when she turned back to Meg. “He was always a trying child. He tested us at every turn, and when he found alcohol, we lost all semblance of control.”

“You threw him out,” Meg said, repeating what Mike had told her.

The other woman winced. “More than once, hoping he’d hit rock bottom and want help.”