The Deal

41- If She Did

Twisting the key, JJ heard the box unlock. Neil walked by her, kissing her cheek. "Can you get the letters for me too please?" He handed the keys to her. "I'm gonna get the packages."

"Do you think they've been getting annoyed at how many packages we've been getting?" she asked as her hand reached into the mailbox.

"Well that's your fault, honey. I thought you moving in would be just moving your stuff, I didn't know you needed to order so much shit." Neil took a step back with a laugh before she could hit his shoulder. "I love you too."

After entering through the door, JJ scanned through the letters and gave Neil all addressed to him. He kissed her cheek to thank her before she walked into the bedroom to change. By the time Neil had joined her, he had a frown on his face and was intently reading the letter.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Lara's mother. She wants custody." JJ tilt her head to the side as he handed the letter to her. "It's there. She actually wants custody of our little girl after abandoning her when she was just a couple days old?"

Without taking her eyes off the letter, she reached a hand out to Neil's, feeling him immediately squeeze onto hers. "Calm down, honey. We'll make some coffee and took at this properly, okay? We'll call your dad and-"

"For fuck sake!" he groaned as he walked out the room. She quickly finished the letter and then went to find him. As expected, he was in the balcony, glancing onto the busy streets.

"Do you want some time to be by yourself?"

"No...I just....I'm sorry. I shouldn't have walked away like that."

"That's okay. I finished the letter. She's put forth an argument that she's married and works from home. Has more kids in private education. Has a husband who earns plenty. I get why you're frustrated." When she saw him look down, she slowly walked towards him. Her hand gently ran through his hair. "I'll go and make you a cup of coffee, yeah?"

Before she could walk away, he pulled her into a tight hug, burying his head into her shoulder. "I love you. I love you so much." She ran her hand through his hair as she sighed.

"I know honey. I love you too. Let me go and make you some coffee and you can have some time to yourself okay?"

"No," he mumbled. "No." He straightened up and gently placed his hands on her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"To hell you are. You can be upset too, she's our daughter."

"I'm not though am I? This is her real mum and I-"

"I better not hear you say that again, you hear me?" Neil leaned his forehead against hers. "You are her mother and no one else is going to take that place. I don't care how good she is or if she's changed but no one is taking that place. You have loved her from the beginning. You have accepted her and put her first and I will be damned if I find another woman to love her the way you do. You're my everything, Cara." He pecked her lips softly. "I'll call my lawyer and solicitor. If she wants to take this straight to court then she's got another thing coming."

* * *

Neil stood in the mirror as he straightened his collar. He heard the door open and glanced in the mirror to see JJ standing still and watching him.

"I'm fine, cara." She scoffed as she walked up to him. Her hands wrapped around his waist and she rest her head against his back. Neil slowly placed his hands on top of hers. "It's going to be okay, Jay. We're going to the meeting and Lara will be honest about what she wants. If she wants to get to know Penny then she can, I'm not against that. I'm just against the fact that she wants full custody."