Chapter 106

"Daddy! You're here!" Abby yelled as he walked into the house the next morning, New Year's Eve. She ran toward him and he scooped her up into his arms. "Want to go sled riding?"
He gave her a smile. Abby was the one thing that he and Scarlett had done right, and he was grateful for every second he had with her.
"We will in a little while. It's a little too early yet. Let Daddy rest for a bit." He carried her into the living room and sat with her on his lap as the bright morning sunshine streamed in through the windows. It was rare that the sun was so bright this time of year.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. "I love you, Daddy."
His mother walked in, carrying a cup of coffee and sat on the chair kitty-corner from them.
Taren pulled his daughter close and gave her a hug. "I love you, too, pumpkin." Then he set her on her feet. "Now, go play and I'll take you sled riding in a little while."
"Yeah!" she shouted, running off to her room to play.
His mother moved to the couch next to him. "You know she's not going to let you off the hook from taking her sled riding, don't you?"
He smiled. "Yeah, I know."
"Want some coffee?"
He nodded. "Thanks. I'll get it."
She placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. "No, I'll get it. Just sit here and relax. I'll be right back."
Taren smiled, nodding. "Thanks, Mom."
A crease formed between her eyes as she studied him, and then walked into the kitchen.
He closed his eyes for a minute and leaned his head against the back of the couch, thinking. How could he be in this mess?
"What's wrong?" his mother asked. When he sat up and opened his eyes, his mother handed him a cup of coffee. He knew that he must have dozed off for a second.
"Thanks, Mom." He took a sip and let the warmth fill him.
"You didn't answer my question."
"I know." Taren let out a deep breath. "Scarlett's back."
"I kind of figured that after your text last night." Her voice rose several octaves. "Needless to say, I didn't sleep a wink last night."
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be." She patted his arm. "What's going on?"
He nodded, looking toward the doorway to make sure that Abby was out of earshot. "She wants custody of Abby."
"No!" his mother stood. "You're not going to give Abby to her, are you?"
"She'll get her over my dead body." Taren let out a deep breath.
His mother smirked. "Don't tell her that. She may try to arrange it."
"No, I don't think so." Taren shook his head. "I don't think she really even wants custody."
"Oh?" Evelyn took a sip of her coffee.
Taren shook his head. "I think what she really wanted was an excuse to come by and ask me to take her to the Fireman's Ball."
"You've got to be kidding me!" His mother's face turned red with fury.
"No, I wish I were." Taren let out a deep breath. "She said she had a lawyer and had papers drawn up, but I'll believe her when I see it."
"I'm sure she doesn't want to go to court," Evelyn replied. "No court would give her custody after her leaving both of you like she did."
"I wouldn't bet on it," Taren replied.
"But you have full custody--"
"I'm not going to take the chance. Not with Abby."
His mother nodded. "I don't blame you." She thought for a moment and then asked, "You don't think she'll actually show up at the ball tonight, do you?"
He nodded. "Yes, I think she just might."
Evelyn let out a deep breath. "What about Kiki? Does she know?"
"Kiki said that she came by the fire station yesterday and saw me and Scarlett." He bit his lower lip and then released it.
Evelyn let out a deep breath. "She put two and two together and came up with forty, right?"
Taren nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"Didn't you tell her what Scarlett's doing?" His mother took a sip of her coffee.
He shook his head. "No, but I told her that there was no way that I was going to get back with Scarlett."
Evelyn's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "What did she say?"
"Kiki said that she couldn't blame me if I got back with her. After all, we have a child together."
His mother raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously thinking about it, are you?"
"Hell no!" Taren said a bit louder than he had intended, but immediately lowered his voice. The last thing he wanted was for Abby to hear their conversation. "No. When Scarlett came to the station, I could see her for who she really was, and she's not someone I want Abby to be around. Not if I have anything to say about it."
"Then tell Kiki!" Evelyn replied. "Go! Get in your car right now and tell her."
Taren shook his head. "No, right now I'm tired. I'm going to take Abby sled riding and then I'm going to take a nap. We had a big fire yesterday, and then I had to go by to see Liam last night to make sure that everything was set for tonight."
His mother laughed. "So, you drew the short straw this year, huh?"
He nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She hit him playfully on the shoulder. "I could have helped you. I could have made centerpieces or something."
Taren shook his head. "I didn't want to bother you. You have enough on your plate." Taren took another sip of his coffee and swallowed. "I asked Liam and he was happy to help. Or, he was happy to have Ms. Bennet help."
"She's still there? I thought she'd be long gone by now." Evelyn laughed. "She's been there for years."
"Yes, she sure is." A broad smile spread across his lips. "She's just as eccentric as ever, but she's very smart. And Liam relies on her a lot."
Her eyebrows rose almost into her hairline. "Really?"
He nodded. "Do you know that she was the one who set up Kiki's apartment?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I didn't."
"She was also the party planner for tonight's party, too."
"Really?" his mother asked. "Liam really must have a lot of faith in her."
"And rightfully so," Taren agreed. "She did a wonderful job on Kiki's apartment, and I'm sure she'll do the same with the party tonight."
His mother nodded. From the way she took a sip of her coffee, he knew she was thinking, which was dangerous for her. "Taren, why don't you go and ask Kiki again?"
Taren let out a deep breath as he stood. "Mom, let it go- please." He took one last swig of his coffee and set the cup in the kitchen sink. "I'm going to take Abby sled riding for a while. Then I'll take a nap when I come in, if you don't mind watching Abby." He raised his eyebrows. "Mom, I'm sorry you have to watch Abby so much, but thank you. If I didn't have to go tonight, I wouldn't."
His mother squeezed his arms as she looked into his eyes. "It's my pleasure. Abby's a joy to keep. I'm really going to miss her when she goes back to school." Abby got out for the holidays a few days before Christmas, and didn't have to go back until a week after, because of how the holidays fell.
"Yeah, me too."
"Son, I have to go to the store for a few things."
Taren raised an eyebrow. "Would you like me to go?"
She shook her head. "No. I'll go now, while you're outside with Abby, if that's okay."
Taran smiled. "Not at all. It'll give me some time to spend with Abby. You take your time. I don't have to leave until later tonight."
"Perfect!" Evelyn quickly slipped on her coat and hat, and grabbed her purse. "I'll be right back."
She seemed to be in a hurry for some reason, other than if she just needed to get out for a bit. And who could blame her? She had been watching Abby every day that he was working, but he tried to give her time to herself when he was off. As she darted out the door, he couldn't help but wonder what she was up to.