Page 75 of At His Beck & Call

“Would you take him to the see-saw, please?” I say, turning to Oliver. I look up at him imploringly, and in an instant, his stance softens, and he nods, walking up to James, who sidesteps him with a smirk.

All the confidence James lacked in their first encounter seems to have returned. He’s back to being the smug, arrogant man I know too well.

“Hi, Oliver,” Henry says brightly, and some of the bravado drops from James’s face. Oliver helps my son gently down from the swing, walking slowly over to the see-saw, and James turns to me, his jaw set.

“Why does Henry know your boss?”

“Why did you take him out of the hospital?” I ask, inhaling sharply as James advances on me. Oliver is watching from a distance, his fists clenched at his sides.

James comes to stand opposite me; his handsome face twisted into a sneer of triumph.

“Not a good feeling, is it? Finding out your son has disappeared. Now you know how it felt to find out he was battlingcancerwhen you didn’t have the decency to tell me. I wanted to give you a taste of what it’s going to be like, Lissa. I’ve hired lawyers. You’ll be served, I’ll win custody after this shit you pulled, and you’ll never see Henry again.”

He laughs, the sound a rattling, unpleasant noise that echoes around the park.

How did I ever love this man?

“Henry deserves to be with his father, not his unhinged whore of a mother who can’t even look after herself, let alone a child.” He looks me over, the same derision in his eyes I’ve come to expect. “You’re a train wreck, Lissa, and once everyone knows it, I’ll have my son, and in a few years, he won’t even remember your name.”

He walks past me, the smell of his cologne making me want to throw up as I stand there frozen, wondering if he can really take my son away from me forever.

I watch until he’s out of sight, my heart hammering, and walk over to Oliver and Henry.

I touch Oliver’s arm without thinking, but he doesn’t flinch, looking back at me sorrowfully and then at James’s retreating back.

“Are you alright?” he asks me, and my chest aches at the concern in his eyes.

I wish you could truly care for us and protect us. I’m tired of doing it all alone. But I need to distance myself, or I won’t be able to carry on without you.

I nod, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Hen? We need to get you back inside, sweetie.”

Chapter 26

Oliver

Once we are back in the hospital, I accompany Lissa and Henry to his room.

I’m surprised by how much Henry talks to me as we ascend the elevator, pointing things out and asking me about them. He doesn’t seem to be intimidated by me at all this time.

As we get to his room, I find myself placing my hand on Lissa’s back to escort her inside, and the innocent gesture feels so right and so wrong at the same time.

Stop treating her as if she’s yours. She doesn’t belong to you. Nor would she ever want to.

“I’m going to the cafeteria to get a drink. Do you want anything?” I ask, not meeting her eyes as she turns back to me.

“Oh, no. You’ve done so much already,” she says, her eyes going wide as I shake my head.

“I wouldn’t offer unless I meant it, Lissa. Can I get you something?”

She fidgets, unwinding the scarf she’s wearing from around her neck. “A decaf latte would be great, thanks.”

“Henry, would you like anything?” I ask, as Henry gets back into bed and Lissa settles him in.

“Can I have some juice?” he asks, looking at his mom for approval, and Lissa gives me a grateful half-smile as she shrugs.

“Apple juice if they have it,” she mutters, and I leave, walking through the hallways of the hospital, following the signs until I reach the cafeteria.

My palms are sweating when I arrive, and I brush them against my suit pants.