Risking Fate (Mitchell Family #4)(20)
Author: Jennifer Foor

She got a big smile on her face. “Can I help change their diapers?”

“You can change as many diapers as you want.” That wasn’t going to last long. I needed to get that in writing.

“Are you excited about being a big sister?” Colt asked.

She shook her head. “Uncle Colt, Noah says that when he gets big we are going to get married too.”

Colt let out a gasp, while I just sat there, not having any idea whether to laugh or cry. “Is that right?”

I patted her on the head. “Iz, you and Noah can’t get married to each other. You’re related.”

“Like cousins?” She asked.

“That’s right. You’re cousins.” I agreed.

“You and Mommy are cousins.”

Colt started laughing. I left him and Izzy sitting in the living room. “Miranda, I need you in here for a sec.”

She met me at the doorway and came walking in the room with me. We crouched down in front of Izzy, who was busy holding the baby. “Our daughter claims that her and Noah are going to get married when they grow up because they are cousins like we are.”

She looked from Iz to me. “Oh!” Miranda looked to Colt who was beside himself with laughter. She smacked him in the leg before turning her attention back to our daughter. “Honey, Daddy and I aren’t really cousins. We’re not blood related. We just have the same cousin, which is your uncle Colt. Mommy and Daddy aren’t related at all. You and Noah are first cousins and you share the same blood. First cousins can’t get married, Baby.”

“That’s not fair. Other boys are stupid.”

Us adults laughed. I put my hand on her little knee. “One day you won’t feel that way. I hope it is when you are thirty or older, but I promise you will find someone else to love.”

“What about Noah?”

Colt stepped into the conversation. “Noah will meet someone too. Then you can let your kids play together like you and Noah play. You and Noah don’t need to get married to be family, Bella, because you already are.”

I wasn’t sure she understood any of what we were saying, but I surely didn’t want her telling people that Miranda and I were cousins. Obviously, we needed to do a better job about cracking jokes around her.

Shortly after breakfast, we took the kids outside and let them ride the golf carts around. We were standing outside watching them when a strange car pulled up at the house. A man approached the house and Colt walked toward him.

“Can I help you?”

He held up a paper and looked at it. “Can you tell me where to find a Miranda Healy Mitchell?”

Miranda stood up and started walking toward the guy. Just out of habit, I followed her.

“I’m Miranda.”

He handed her an envelope. “You’ve been served.”

I started to go after the guy for having the nerve to come here on today of all days, but Colt grabbed my arm and held it until the guy took off down the road. As soon as he let me go, I walked over to Miranda. She had pulled the paperwork out of the envelope and sank down to the ground, crying. I rushed to her side and reached my arms around her as I grabbed the papers and read them for myself.

My worst fears were confirmed as I read them.

“What is it?” Colt asked.

My heart was beating so fast, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I reached my arms around Miranda tighter and held her as she cried, trying to hold my own tears in.

“Dammit Ty, start talkin’.”

I handed him the papers. “Tucker’s mom is petitioning for visitation of Izzy.”

Just saying it out loud made me feel sick. Miranda was balling in my arms and I didn’t know what to say or do to make things better.

I thought we were past this ever happening. I was the only father Izzy had ever known. How could I be okay with some woman trying to take that away from me. I didn’t know what to say.

“Jesus Christ.” Colt handed Van the papers and crouched down in front of Miranda. “Randa, we will get this figured out. There is no way in hell the courts will give that woman any kind of custody. I will hire the best lawyer in Kentucky, Darlin’.”

It was important for Miranda to calm down. She was too pregnant to be this upset. We couldn’t have her going into early labor over this. “Baby, please calm down. We will fight this. I won’t let her take our baby. I promise, I will do whatever I have to do.”

“I’m goin’ inside to call my lawyer right now. Sit tight. We will put an end to this.” Colt walked into the house with a determined look on his face. Van followed behind him, leaving me and Miranda outside alone.

“Baby, please look at me.”

She buried herself into my chest. “What are we goin’ to do Ty?”

“Whatever it takes. If we have to leave the damn country, we will.” I meant it too. I would drop everything to keep my family safe.

“We can’t just leave everything. You know that’s not practical.” She pulled away from me and looked into my eyes. I’d tried so hard not to get emotional, but seeing her face did me in.

I pressed my lips against my wife’s forehead. “I won’t let anyone take away my daughter. I don’t care what I have to do. I can’t lose her, Miranda. God, I can’t lose her.”

A little while passed before both of our mothers came running out of the house. Colt wasn’t able to reach his lawyer directly, but left a message that it was urgent for him to get back to us. I didn’t care what I had to do, or what it cost. I needed to protect my family.

We tried to relax enough to enjoy dinner with the family, but the room was filled with concern. What happened didn’t just affect me and Miranda, it affected our whole family. Lots of hugs were exchanged, along with even more tears.

It wasn’t a life or death situation, but it felt that way for me. I felt like someone was taking my heart and ripping it out of my body while I stood there and watched. That child was my life. I’d loved her since she took her first breath of air. I was the only father she ever knew. Every day of my life revolved around my love for her. How could someone be able to just rip that away from me?

She would always be Miranda’s child, but this woman threatened my whole relationship that I had built with her. I’d never felt pain and fear like this.

After dinner, Miranda went upstairs to take a nap. She needed to try to relax. It wasn’t helping that it was all the whole family was talking about. Conner had even asked if I wanted him to make the woman disappear. As much as I did, I couldn’t imagine him committing acts of violence to protect us.