Good Thing She Didn't Care

Good Thing She Didn't Care

Tessa’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she pulled into Jordan’s quiet, manicured neighborhood. Every turn of the road made her pulse spike harder. The anger was still hot inside her, a steady burn that refused to cool since Roderick’s words replayed themselves in her head.

He had crossed so many lines. But this one? This one was the limit.

She parked by the curb, slammed the car door, and marched toward the front porch of his house. She pressed the doorbell. The chime echoed inside.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Jordan’s mother stood there with a pleasant smile that instantly fell the moment she saw Tessa on her porch. Her eyes narrowed just slightly, not enough to be obvious, but enough for Tessa to notice.

“What a surprise,” she said stiffly. “Tessa.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Troope,” Tessa said, jaw tight. “I need to see Jordan.”

His mother hesitated only for a heartbeat before stepping aside. “Well, come in.”

Tessa walked past her, catching a whiff of expensive perfume and vanilla essence, like she was in the kitchen. The older woman shut the door, clasping her hands together in an exaggeratedly calm gesture. “What brings you here? Is everything okay with Naya?”

Tessa turned slowly, her expression flat. “My child is fine.”

Jordan’s mother smiled the kind of smile meant to provoke. “Good. You know, I always say children thrive better when both parents are involved. Speaking of which” she tilted her head “Jordan is out to pick up some things from the supermarket, he met someone. A lovely girl, she'll be coming over for dinner.” Tessa stared at her, unblinking.

Jordan’s mother’s smile faltered when she didn’t react. She clearly wanted a flinch, a crack, a sign of jealousy. She got nothing.

“If you brought me inside to give me updates on your son’s dating life,” Tessa said calmly, “save it. I don’t care who he’s cooking noodles for.”

The woman’s lips twitched, offended but trying to mask it. “Well… he’s not home anyway. He went to the store to get a few things. You just missed him.”

“That’s fine,” Tessa said, removing her jacket and placing it on the arm of the couch. “I’ll wait.”

Jordan’s mother blinked. “Wait? Here?”

“Yes.”

“Well,” she said tightly, “suit yourself.”

She left the room with a stiff gait, probably annoyed Tessa wasn’t reacting the way she imagined. Tessa sat, and waited.

Every second made her angrier. Every minute tightened something inside her chest. Thirty minutes later, the door opened.

Jordan walked in holding grocery bags, humming to himself. He didn’t notice her immediately.

But the moment he did, he froze.

“Tessa?” he said, startled. “What are you doing here?”

She stood.

“We need to talk.”

Jordan glanced toward the hallway his mother eavesdropping, obviously but nodded and set the bags down.

“…Okay,” he said cautiously. “What’s going on?”

Tessa stepped forward. “Why did you show up at my house talking about lawyers?”

Jordan blinked. “What?”

“Don’t lie,” Tessa snapped. “You came to my house. You talked to my neighbor. You told him I’m trying to take your daughter. You asked him for lawyers. Who gave you that audacity?”

Jordan’s face hardened instantly. “I had every right to ask. You cut me out of her life.”

“She is not your child, you moron!” Tessa shot back. “Get that through your head!”

Jordan scoffed. “Tessa drop the act, you got pregnant when we were together, and from my calculations, I'm very right.”

Tessa gave him a humourless laughter. “You’re not just delusional, you're also dumb.”

Jordan cut her off. “I don’t care, if I'm not her dad, then where is he?”

Tessa stared at him like he’d grown another head. “You don’t get to claim ownership over a child that doesn’t belong to you.”

Jordan’s voice rose. “I asked you a question, who is Naya’s dad?”

“Who are you to ask me such a question?” Tessa shouted. “This is about you barging into my life again like you didn’t destroy it the first time!”

Jordan stepped closer.

“I’m not letting you take her from me.”

“I would love to see you dare me, I just pray for your sake that you're ready to dance to the tones you're playing.”

Jordan’s jaw was clenching so hard a vein pulsed on his forehead. “You’re threatening me?”

“I’m trying to protect my child!” she shot back. “And if it means bringing heaven down, I'll do it. I'll fuck your life up, if you push me.”

Jordan’s eyes darkened. “Watch your mouth.”

Tessa stepped closer, her voice icy. “Why? So you can pretend to be the victim? So you can manipulate whoever listens? You think I’m scared of you?”

His nostrils flared. “You should be.”

The air went still.

For a second, Tessa thought he might actually hit her. His fist tightened at his side. He stepped closer, towering over her as if trying to intimidate her with height.

Tessa didn’t back down.

“Put your hand on me,” she whispered, “and I swear to God, I’ll bury you.”

He froze. His eyes widened a little, not in fear, but in shock. Tessa had never spoken to him like that before.

“Tessa.”

“No,” she cut him off. “Don’t ‘Tessa’ me. You don’t get access to me. Not anymore. And certainly not to my daughter.”

“She’s my daughter,” he repeated stubbornly, almost like a child refusing to accept the truth.

Tessa laughed. “Get your lawyers then, because you'll be paying for emotional damages. Get your money up Mr Troope.”

His mother stepped out into the hallway. “Jordan, maybe we should all calm down and…”

“Stay out of it!” Tessa snapped without even looking at her. The woman fell silent, shocked.

Back to Jordan, she said, “If you ever come near my house again… if you ever show up at her school… if you ever try to contact us…”

She leaned forward, voice dropping to a razor-sharp whisper. “I will go to the police. I will file for a restraining order. And if you still don’t get it, Jordan, if you still decide to be stupid I will finish this the way I should have years ago.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re threatening me again, in front of my mum?”

“No,” Tessa said calmly. “I’m promising you.”

Jordan inhaled sharply, rage twisting his features. “You think you can scare me?”

“I don’t need to scare you,” she said. “Reality will.”

She picked up her bag.

“Tessa, you're just being childish, how do you expect to take care of the child all by yourself? You're a selfish mother.”

“Coming from you? I'll make sure my child never knows a mother like you.” She walked towards the door, she knew Jordan's mum would be loosing her mind. Good thing she didn't care.