“Then it’s time he learned about them and got over that,” Harvey replied huffily.
“Stop judging them and trying to change them! That’s why they didn’t warm to you. You were telling them they weren’t good enough!” she messaged back.
“You don’t get to tell me how to relate to my kids after you hid them from me.”
“Try being nice to them. They’re kids, and they’re confused.”
“They’re picky and rude,” he shot back. “I would’ve never raised my kids to be this way.”
His phone rang. He answered, knowing it was Bella and she was pissed, “How DARE you call them rude and picky when you were so critical and unkind to them, and they are only five.”
“You have no right to keep them from me.”
“You have no right to act like a nasty little shit because you expect them to leap into your arms and do whatever you say.”
“They should behave and listen.”
“If you want to get into ‘should’, I’d be happy to give you some suggestions. I’ve seen you be a better person than this and I felt so guilty so many times because I thought you’d be wonderful with the twins and relate to them, and make them feel safe, and now here you are making them feel bad and criticizing them. You need to listen and be calm and kind and take an interest in them if you want a relationship, not just demand that they fall in line. Gosh, Harvey, how have you succeeded in business if this is how you really treat people? I thought when you were a jackass to Dave Gibbons that you were just off your game. Maybe I was wrong to think you were a good guy.”
“I’m not some boy next door you can push around. You have to share these children, and you don’t get to dictate how and when and what I do.”
“Actually, since I’m the one interested in their physical and emotional well-being, yes, I do get a say in what is done. Possession is nine-tenths of the law, Harvey.”
“Then we’ll have to do something about that. I’ll have my attorneys look into a temporary custody agreement. I won’t be supervised like some criminal who should not be alone with children. I have a right to be with them.”
“What about their rights? To feel safe and secure, to be comforted by a familiar adult instead of snatched away by some egomaniac. I don’t think there’s a family court judge who will give a pair of five-year-olds to a stranger for the weekend. If you calm down and think you can manage four hours on Saturday with the three of us, let me know. Otherwise, this conversation is over,” Bella said and hung up.
Harvey stared at his phone. It was time.
Chapter 12
On Saturday, they met him at the park. He pushed Corinne on the swings while Caden stayed close to his mother and played on her phone. Harvey tried to get the kid to go down a slide or climb something, but he only clung to Bella more.
After about forty-five minutes, he suggested a change of venue and ushered them into a cab. They arrived at his gym where there was an indoor pool.
When Bella mentioned that they didn’t have suits, he handed her his credit card and pointed to the shop. With a reluctant shrug, she took the kids in and emerged with suits and water wings. His kids couldn’t even swim? He’d been swimming since he was three! His brother had swum even earlier. This was beyond absurd, that she would neglect such an obvious skill. He told her to take off the water wings, he’d be teaching them to swim today. She set her jaw, and he knew the look.
“You are not throwing them into a swimming pool without floaties. I don’t care if you were raised in goddamn Sparta to be a competitive swimmer. Forget it,” she hissed, “You wanted to bring them to the pool now let them play.”
He glared at her, questioning his judgment again. He changed in the locker room and joined them at the pool. Caden, normally clinging to his mother and either whining or ignoring everyone else, was splashing happily and chasing his sister. Corinne squealed and splashed away from him. Bella was close enough to referee if the splashing got out of hand, but she was clearly enjoying this.
She had the most beautiful smile. And she was so good with the children. He stopped and stared, watching them laugh and play, having so much fun.
He threw the kids up in the air, and they laughed as they splashed into the water. Bella splashed him, and he playfully dunked her. She burst from the water in a fit of laughter. They were having a blast and connecting.
She laughed. “That’s it! Kids, we’re taking down Harvey!”
Ganging up, they all jumped on him and dunked him. When he came up for air, he tickled them.
Corinne smiled at him, and he about melted. She was so adorable.
He could almost pretend they were his family, playing joyously and waiting for him. He could almost pretend he was part of it. But he wasn’t.
When they got out of the water, Bella smiled at him.
“I’m having a great time,” he said.
“Me too.”