And that was enough for you? He asked. No, she said it was never enough. But I convinced myself that what I needed didn't matter as much as what you had. She looked up.
And then everything fell apart in Atlanta. And I was sitting in my car outside a Walgreens indicator with $23 and a baby and no plan. And I did the thing I had been not doing for 6 years. What thing? I let myself want something.
She held his gaze. I let myself want to come back. Not because I needed to be saved. Because I wanted to be somewhere real, somewhere that had never been performance, never been maintenance, never been me trying to be the version of myself that was acceptable to someone. She exhaled.
I wanted to be somewhere that knew what I actually was. And for better or worse, James, the only place that has ever been is with you. The kitchen was very quiet. Noah made a small sound and James shifted him automatically, patted his back without looking, kept his eyes on Sophia. That's the rest, he asked.
She hesitated. He saw it. Sophia, there's one more thing. He waited. David, she said, Noah's father, he found out where I am.
The temperature in the kitchen changed. James moved Noah to his other shoulder. What do you mean he found out? I mean, he's been calling. He started calling about 3 weeks ago before I came here.
He must have gotten my number from someone. I don't know who. He says he wants to be involved. That he made a mistake. That he wants to.
She pressed her lips together. He used the word rights. He used the word rights in reference to Noah. He wants custody. James said flat.
He says he wants to talk about arrangements. But the way he said it, she shook her head. It didn't feel like a conversation. It felt like a setup. Is he the reason you left Atlanta?
Sophia didn't answer immediately. And in that pause, James had his answer before she gave it. Partly, she said. What's the other part? He showed up at my apartment.
She said twice. The first time I didn't answer the door. The second time he left a letter. The letter said that if I didn't agree to discuss arrangements, he was going to pursue legal action. She set her mug down because her hands weren't quite steady.
He has money, James. His family has money and I had $23 and no job and I couldn't. She stopped. I couldn't fight that from where I was. James stood in his kitchen holding this 8-month-old baby and felt something rise in him that was cold and clear and very focused, which was a specific kind of anger he rarely let out because once it was out, it tended to move things.
You should have told me this the first night. He said, "I know, Sophia. If this man is a threat, he's not. I don't think he'd actually. You don't know what a man with money and lawyers will do when he decides he wants something." James's voice was level, but it had an edge to it now.
Does he know where you are? I don't think so. I got a new number when I left Atlanta. I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I didn't post anything.
She met his eyes. I was careful. How careful? Very careful. He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said, "I know someone, family law attorney, Marcus's sister-in-law. She's good and she's aggressive and she will tell you exactly what you're dealing with." He shifted Noah again. You are not going to handle this alone. You understand me? Sophia stared at him.
James, you don't have to. I know I don't have to. His voice didn't leave room for negotiation. I'm telling you how it is. You and Noah are in my house.
That means what happens to you is something I am involved in. That's not charity. That's just how it works. Something broke open in her face. Not tears, she controlled that.
But something behind the eyes, something that had been held rigid for a very long time, loosened by one degree. Okay, she said. Okay. He put Noah in the bouncy seat because the baby was getting heavy and because he needed his hands for a moment. He pulled out his phone, texted Marcus, "Need Sandra's number.
Family law today if possible." Marcus's response came back in 4 minutes. You okay? And then before James could answer, sending it. James forwarded the number to Sophia. She looked at her phone and then at him.
Today it's Saturday. Call anyway. Leave a message. Sandra will call back. Sophia nodded.