Adopted by Liam Payne - *Editing in Progress*

Chapter 43

I stare across the table at Danielle in total silence, the both of us waiting for someone to say something. She's still angry and I am too. It's nearly awkward in here, nothing but the sound of the tv in the room over.

"You shouldn't have left." Her voice shakes.

I take a sharp breath, "you aren't exactly innocent either."

She chuckles dryly, "I'm stressed out. You know this. My mother just died and you still want to point fingers at me."

My blood starts to simmer, "you said it yourself, You didn't want Laci or Maci. So maybe you should just go stay with your brother or something. I'm sure you two would be great for each other."

She stands up from her chair, it tipping back as she does. "What is your fucking problem Liam! I'm trying the best I can, but when you leave me with my kids alone after something so terrible just happened." She pauses and breaths, "there's only so much that I can take!"

I stand up to, "watch your mouth with my kids in this house!"

She paces, "so they're just your kids now!?"

"You said it yourself! You didn't even want Laci!" At this point I'm screaming.

Tears run down her face, "You know I didn't mean that Liam! I was stressed out! You know that I didn't mean it! You just don't get it!"

It was my turn to chuckle, "no I understand, but no level of stressed or upset is going to make me say that I regret my children!"

"Daddy." Maci's small voice silences the storm.q

My shoulder ease and I take a breath. She looks clearly upset, almost ready to cry. I turn back to Danielle and she is still staring at me, a face full of hatred.

"I think that you should go." I say calmly, rubbing my face.

She looks at me in almost disbelief, "you're putting me out?"

I take a deep breath, "no I'm not kicking you out, but I think you should go and take some time away."

"Fine, Maci put your shoes on." She says walking towards the stairs where Laci is upstairs sleeping, but I quickly stepped in her path.

"You really think you're taking my kids." I scoff, "Maci go upstairs and check on your sister. When I said take some time away, I meant by yourself."

I was just in disbelief. She really thinks that I was gonna let her take my kids after she said she didn't even want them. I just started laughing lightly. It's all I could do.

She grabs her purse, phone, and keys and turns to me. As she's walking out she snaps, "go to hell, Liam."

Danielle walked out, slamming the door. I groan and sit back down in my chair and massage my temples. I must be lost in my thoughts because next thing I know I have a head laying on my shoulder. I look up to see Maci in her adorable jammies, snuggling up to me. 

"Hey baby." I say, scooping her up into my arms.

I peak at my phone and it's late, "it's time for bed." I stand up and carry Maci up the stairs and she snuggles up to me.

"Can I sleep with you." Maci looks at me with her wide eyes.

I set her down on the soft carpet, "yes. Go pee and brush your teeth, then get in bed. I'm gonna get your sister and we're gonna have a sleepover."

She nods and I enter Laci's room. She's sleeping peacefully, but I need my girls with me. Carefully I pick her and walk into my bedroom and lay her down in the crib. She stays asleep and I enter the bathroom that's connected to the room. 

By the time I changed into some comfy clothes and brushed my teeth, Maci as already in my and under the covers. I get into bed next to her and I turn on a movie for her, except she wasn't paying any attention to the movie. 

"Did mommy really mean what she said?" Maci says, sitting up.

I sigh, "Maci, you're mom is angry with me, not you. She didn't mean what she said. She loves you, but she is upset."

I hope she didn't really mean what she said.

"It hurt my feelings." Maci says, playing with my fingers.

I look and her and pick her up and set her down on my stomach so she's looking at me. "Listen to me, your mom did not mean what she said. She loves you and your sister so much. Okay. She just needs some time to get herself together." 

Maci nods and lays down on my chest. I don't move her and she falls asleep as I rub her hair. All I could do is pray that it blows over soon.