By law, TJ belonged to his mom. There was nothing he could do at this point. Nothing he could do but reassure TJ that he loved him, and would always love him. “I can’t take you now, son,” he murmured, “but one day it’ll be different. One day we will be together and do fun stuff together. Hiking and fishing and camping. Sports, too—”

“Not one day. Now,” TJ said, arms squeezing tighter.

“I can’t,” Trey said.

“Why not?” TJ pulled his head back to look at Trey.

McKenna was there now, in the street, shivering, teeth chattering. “TJ, get out of the truck right now. I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve tried to be understanding, but I can’t do it anymore. You can’t do this now. We have everybody waiting. Lawrence is waiting—”

“I don’t care!” TJ shouted at her. “I don’t like Lawrence. I don’t want Lawrence. I want my dad. He’s my real dad.”

McKenna paled. Her gaze lifted. She stared into Trey’s eyes. “Trey, tell him he has to come with me. Make him listen to you. I’m sure he’ll listen to you. Tell him he has no choice.”

McKenna’s eyes were a brilliant green, shimmering with emotion. She was angry and scared and he understood, he did. But at the same time, she had no idea what he’d been through, living without TJ these past four years. She had no idea what it was like to love someone so much and then be completely cut out…

Trey held her gaze, his voice soft. “Why doesn’t he have a choice?”

Her lips quivered. She pressed down, thinning them. “He’s five.