I stopped but didn’t approach.
Vanessa glanced at the boys.
“Can I talk to them?”
Rachel said quietly, “That decision should follow the court’s contact order.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
This time I couldn’t tell whether the tears were real.
Maybe they were.
Jeffrey looked at her.
Then he did something I didn’t expect.
He walked two steps closer.
“I’m not saying never.”
Vanessa stared at him.
Jeffrey’s voice remained soft.
“But you can’t come back and act like the last ten years didn’t happen.”
George stepped beside him.
“And don’t ask us about the company again.”
For the first time all day, Vanessa had no answer.
