“God, Mom, weren’t you listening to me? He’s being a dick like always and not bringing her ’cause it’s not in the parenting plan,” she spat out as she called once more, again going to voice mail. Benji’s arm came around her waist, pulling her into his side before kissing her temple.

“Breathe,” he whispered against her ear. “Calm down. It isn’t her fault.”

“I know that,” she bit out, only seeing red. “But I don’t know if you know, but my daughter is not here when she is supposed to be.”

Meeting her gaze, he held it as he nodded. The man had the patience of a saint because even she knew she was being a little hostile. “I know, but we knew there could be a chance he wouldn’t show. Breathe.”

Sucking in a breath, she let it out and then nodded. He was right. They had hoped Rick wouldn’t do this, but she was pretty sure she’d always known he wouldn’t show. He was more concerned with hurting Lucy than he was about caring for Angie’s needs, and she was fucking done.

Her eyes still locked with Benji’s, she said, “Sorry, Mom.”

“Oh, it’s fine, honey. I know you’re stressed. I just wish that son of a bitch would answer the damn phone,” she said, sounding as frazzled, if not more, than Lucy. Her mom was more than just a grandma to Angie; she was basically her second mom. She had cared for Angie since she was a tiny thing, when Lucy was going to school and work. She was a huge pillar of Angie’s life, hell, of Lucy’s life. Lucy needed to remember that and not snap at everyone. Before she could apologize once more, though, her phone vibrated in her hand. Lucy looked down to see it was a text.

Rick: Jesus. I’m busy. What do you want?

Lucy: Answer the phone.

Rick: Busy.

Lucy: Where are you?

Rick: Out.

Lucy: Are you on your way to the rink?

Rick: No

She made a sound of distress as Benji hugged her. “Just breathe.”

Lucy: And why not?

Rick: We are taking Nina and Angie to Chuck E. Cheese instead.

Lucy: Angie wanted that?

Rick: Yes.

Lucy: Call me, let me talk to her.

Rick: No.

“Motherfuckingasshole,” she grumbled, dialing his number once more, but it went straight to voice mail. Looking to Benji, her eyes wide and full of tears, she asked, “What do I do?”

He shook his head, his eyes full of apprehension. “You call your dad.”

She nodded, looking to her mom first. “He isn’t bringing her. Says she wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese, which I’m sure is a fucking lie!”

River struck his hips in frustration as Autumn muttered a curse. “He can’t do stuff like that. I let the boys go early this morning so I could be here. People make plans for her. He can’t just decide when she has somewhere to be,” River barked and then he held his hand up. “I don’t mean that at you, honey. I’m just fucking pissed.”

Lucy’s lip wobbled as she nodded.

“We all are,” Benji said then, his arm snaking around Lucy tighter. “But it will get figured out.”

Reaching out, Autumn pulled Lucy into her arms, hugging her tightly as she squeezed her eyes shut. “It’s okay. He wouldn’t hurt her. And if he does, I swear to God, I will kill him so you never have to see him again, Lucy Lane. I’ll do the damn time to be rid of that filth. He’s doing this to hurt you, I just know it.”

“I know,” Lucy mumbled, hugging her mother close.

“Don’t you worry. It’s gonna be okay. Okay?”

“I just know that he’s lying,” she said, holding back her tears.

“He probably is,” River said. “Son of a bitch.”

Pulling away from her mom, she looked at both of them. “I’m sorry to have had y’all come out. I should have called.”

“No. No worries,” her mom said, kissing her cheek before letting her go. “We don’t mind.”

“No, we want to be here to see her play,” River said then, shaking his head. “I look forward to it, and it makes me sick that he doesn’t realize how important this is to her. You need to get this fixed, Lucy. You need to just cut ties with him.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, but she knew she could never fully get rid of him.

“Well, let’s just drop it. It’ll get fixed. Angie is fine. Plus, we have a cake tasting for the wedding. Y’all should come. Free cake!”

Oh, God, no.

“We would love to,” Benji said, his arm coming around her shoulders as she looked up at him, wide-eyed. “I love cake. Don’t you love cake?”

She tried to tell him with her face that she’d rather eat a bullet than go taste testing with the almost newlyweds, but apparently Benji didn’t know how to read her face. “Yes. I love cake.”

“Great! It’s at noon, over at Audrey Jane’s. Jayden raves about her, and she is just cute as a button,” Autumn gushed, taking Lucy’s hands. “This will be good. Get your mind off of that trash and try to salvage your weekend.”

“Nothing will salvage this weekend until I know Angie is okay,” she said morosely, and Autumn begged her with her eyes.

“My heart can’t take it, Lucy Lane. I need you to believe with me that our baby is okay.”

“She’s fine,” Benji said then, lacing his fingers with Lucy’s. “But maybe we can get your dad to call Rick’s lawyer and demand a phone call.”