Hoops & Harmonies

35.

Angel sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the car rolled down the quiet streets toward her next physical therapy session. It had become a routine over the past few weeks, her wrist slowly healing after the injury, but the process was exhausting, both physically and mentally. Monica drove, her hands gripping the wheel tightly, a distant look in her eyes. Angel could tell something was bothering her. The silence in the car was heavy, far different from their usual lighthearted conversations.

Angel flexed her wrist gently, the dull ache reminding her of the work that lay ahead in the session. She glanced over at Monica, hoping to pull her out of her thoughts.

"You okay, babe?" Angel asked softly, reaching over to place her hand on Monica's thigh. "You seem... distracted."

Monica blinked, as if snapping back to reality, and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just a lot on my mind."

Angel didn't buy it, but she knew better than to push right now. Monica had been under stress lately, and Angel could feel it radiating off her in waves. She wasn't just dealing with Angel's injury; there was something deeper going on.

They pulled into the parking lot of the rehabilitation center, and Monica killed the engine, her fingers still wrapped around the steering wheel for a moment before she finally released her grip. Angel unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Monica again.

"Are you sure everything's okay?" she asked, her tone more insistent this time.

Monica sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. "It's just... Shannon."

Angel's stomach dropped at the mention of Monica's ex-husband, Shannon Brown. She had sensed tension around him lately, but Monica had been vague whenever Angel tried to bring it up. Angel knew their co-parenting situation had its bumps, but something about the way Monica said his name this time felt different.

"What's he done now?" Angel asked, her voice low, already bracing herself.

Monica leaned her head back against the car seat, staring at the ceiling for a long moment before speaking. "He's trying to get custody of Laiyah."

Angel's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why? Laiyah's been with you the whole time! Why would he do that?"

Monica sighed deeply, her frustration evident as she rubbed her temples. "He's angry that I've moved on and got married," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "And he's even more angry because I'm married to you."

Angel felt her stomach flip. "He's doing all of this just because of us? Because you married me?"

Monica nodded, her jaw clenched. "Yeah. He can't handle it. I mean, it's one thing that I moved on, but to marry a woman — and a younger woman at that — it's like he can't let it go. And now he's trying to hurt me in the worst way possible by going after Laiyah."

Angel's chest tightened with anger and concern. Laiyah was only eight years old, and the idea of Shannon using her as a weapon in some twisted revenge plot felt beyond cruel. "Has he actually filed something, or is he just threatening?"

"He's filed," Monica said, her voice soft but bitter. "I got the papers a couple of days ago. He's claiming I'm unfit — that our marriage isn't a healthy environment for her. Can you believe that? He's going to try to drag you into this, too. Paint you as the reason everything went wrong."

Angel's anger flared. "He's going to lose. He can't just come in and disrupt Laiyah's life because he's bitter."

Monica nodded, her expression firm but weary. "I know. But this is going to be a fight. He's got money, connections, and he's a smooth talker. He's already started twisting things, making it seem like I've been neglecting Laiyah because I'm too focused on my new life with you. It's all lies, but he's going to make this ugly."