Park Avenue Secrets. Barbara Dunlop

      “I’ll tell you everything I remember.”

      His eyes narrowed, and he peered at her.

      “What on earth is the matter?” she demanded.

      He was acting as though he were jealous of Collin.

      Reed was stonily silent for a long beat. “I don’t like being replaced by my lawyer. This is our problem, not your problem alone.”

      “I can take care of it, Reed. I’ll have professional help.”

      His complexion turned ruddy. “So, you don’t need me? Is that what you’re saying?”

      “Isn’t that exactly what you said to me?” Even as she lobbed the volley, Elizabeth silently acknowledged that she didn’t want to have this fight. Lucas was what mattered. All of her energy and emotional resources needed to be directed at him for the time being.

      Reed turned sharply, and marched down the hall into his office.

      Now she’d done it. The closeness they’d shared in France was officially a distant memory, and the cool formality from before their trip had turned to hurt and anger. And it was her fault. Fawning over Collin’s presence had been a passive-aggressive slam at Reed’s absence.

      She screwed up her courage and followed him down the hall, carefully sliding open the door.

      “Reed?” she ventured.

      Without looking up, he grunted an acknowledgment.

      “I’m sorry.”

      That got his attention.

      “We should work on this together,” she said calmly. “And I do appreciate your perspective.”

      “He’s my son, too, you know.”

      Her eyes clouded, and she blinked rapidly. “Of course. I thought you were too busy. I was trying …”

      Reed let the sheaf of papers flatten on the desk. “I’m sorry I was late.” His jaw tightened. “Things are complicated … at the office right now.”

      She nodded, even though she didn’t understand what he meant. But then she never had been privy to the intricacies and machinations of Wellington International. “Lucas is what matters.”

      “Yes, he is. We’re his parents now, Elizabeth, and we need to ensure his well-being. On all fronts.”

      A tear slipped down her cheek. “Why are they doing this?”

      Reed shook his head. “Grief over Heather? Maybe a desire to cling to a little piece of her?”

      “But Brandon and Heather chose us.” Elizabeth didn’t know the Vances. They could be selfish or mean-spirited, they might even be fanatical about something. There was a reason her brother and sister-in-law had entrusted Lucas to her care, and she wasn’t going to let them down.

      “And the court will see it that way,” said Reed. “We’ll talk to Ned Landers together.”

      “Together,” Elizabeth agreed. But a little part of her couldn’t help wondering if Reed would make the meeting.