Thea was letting her kids paint and write a small story about their painting.
"Thea", Nattie called from her classroom door.
Thea walked over.
"Hey, everything okay, Nat?", she whispered.
"There is a woman in the office asking for you. I didn't want to let her in till I knew that you knew her", Nattie replied.
Thea was confused. Nattie knew her sisters and her sister in law.
"Who?", she asked.
"A woman named, Patricia", Nattie replied.
Thea bit her lip.
"Did she tell you what she wanted?", Thea asked.
"No, just that she needed to speak to you. She's very rude if you asked me.", Nattie rolled her eyes.
Thea smirked and nodded.
"Trust me, I know", Thea sighed.
She looked at her kids and then back at Nattie.
"Mind watching them for me?", she asked.
"Of course, but who is that woman?", Nattie asked.
"My mother in law, or ex now I guess", Thea replied.
Nattie nodded. She had heard many times about the infamous mother in law.
"I've got your kids, don't worry", Nattie smiled.
Thea made her way to the office. She was pretty sure she knew why she was here. Thea didn't mind giving in to the paternity test, she had nothing to hide.
Joey was Roman's child. No matter how hard his mother didn't want her to be.
Thea walked into the office and waved to the other women there. Patricia stood.
"Is there somewhere private we can talk?", Patricia asked.
Thea nodded and directed her to their meeting room. She let her walk in first before Thea closed the door behind her.
She sat across from her mother in law.
"What can I do for you, Patricia?", Thea asked.
"I and my husband want a paternity test done on your child before we write her into our will like our other grandchildren", she said.
Thea almost forgot Patricia always got straight to the point. Thea smiled at her.
"I would never deny one. I know with every bone and fiber in my body, that she is his. I never cheated on my husband, still haven't.", Thea said.
"He's not your husband anymore", Patricia smiled.
Thea tried not to let her see how much that hurt.
"I mean, he's been with other women since", Patricia shrugged.
"You'll get the paternity test, and she doesn't need your will. You want to be in her life, that's fine. I would never keep her from you", Thea said.
"But you did.", she replied.
"And you know why. You don't think I don't know you? As soon as you found out you would have done anything to take her from me.", Thea replied.
"Because you don't have the means to take care of her. You lost your house and everything in it.", Patricia said.
"But she hasn't gone a day without eating or love. You forget, I have family too and they would never leave me to fend for myself. Only your family does that", Thea replied.
She knew she hit a nerve. Patricia flinched at that. Thea sighed.
"For Joey, I hope you can learn to get along with me, because she is Roman's child. I will not allow you and your family to disrespect me anymore. You want in her life, show me some respect", Thea said, before walking out of the room.
She couldn't believe she just did that, but she was proud of herself and she knew Roman would have been too.
But this Roman, would he be? Shit. Did she just ruin everything before it even got somewhere?
Her shoulders fell.
"Great", she mumbled.
Roman was in class when he got a phone call from his mom, leaving a very lengthy and loud voicemail.
A few times he had to move the phone from his ear. He sighed before calling her back.
"Did you get my message?", wasn't the hello he was expecting.
"Yes mom, I did.", he sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"See, I told you she was rude. I just wanted to talk. So disrespectful.", his mom said.
"I will talk to her", he replied.
"She's just going to lie to you. Once it comes out that her daughter is yours too, we will fight for custody.", his mom said.
"Why did you feel the need to go and see her? This is between me and her. Secondly, we aren't fighting for custody, Joey is staying with Thea. I am not taking my child away from her mother", Roman said.
"Because, we needed to know if we are going to insert her into our will. She isn't fit to be a mom, she can't afford it", his mom replied.
"That's why I will be helping her with Joey's expenses. Whatever she needs for our baby, I will give her", Roman said.
"Roman…", he cut his mom off.
"No. I have to go, I have another class to attend before I go home.", Roman said, before hanging up on her.
No one was going to tell him and Thea how and what to do with their daughter.
Thea had wanted to text Roman about his mom, but she didn't know how to go about it.
Hey, I yelled at your mom, didn't come off as good.
"Knock knock", Thea set her phone down at the sound of her sister Nikki's voice.
Her kids running past them to play with Joey. Nikki hugged her.
"Brie isn't home yet?", she asked.
"Not yet, but soon", Thea replied.
Nikki nodded.
"Seth and Renee?", she asked.
"Should be here soon. Seth must have just gotten home", Thea replied.
"Are we ordering take out or making?", Nikki asked.
"I have a few steaks in the fridge. Hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids", Thea shrugged.
"I like it. Lets wait for Dean or Seth to get here and make them.", Nikki said.
"Sounds good. They don't burn the food", Thea replied.
Nikki giggled.
"So, how are things with Roman going? Living with him I mean. It can't be easy", Nikki asked.
Thea bit her lip before telling her older sister everything. Nikki brushed a curl away from Thea's face and smiled at her.
"Just know we are rooting for you two. I just want you to be happy again hun", Nikki said.
"Me too", Thea replied.
Nikki hugged her sister before pulling away a bit.
"And if you need anyone to handle that evil woman, I will. I've been wanting to give her a piece of my mind.", Nikki said.
Roman arrived home to two new cars in his driveway. Walking into the house, the sound of kids playing made him smile.
He almost forgot Thea's family was coming over.
"Uncle Roman", a young boy said, hugging him.
He smiled.
"Hi", was his reply.
"Hey kids, go wash up. Now that uncle Roman is here, we can eat", a woman, who looked a lot like Brie said.
Joey ran over to him and hugged him before following her cousins. He looked at this woman.
"Nikki", she reminded.
"Sorry, I'll remember it. Promise", he chuckled.
"Its okay. The guys are in the back if you want to join them", she said.
"Sounds good. I'm gonna change first", he said, before making his way up.
He hoped things went smoothly with Thea's family. He got along with Brie, and he liked Seth for the few moments he was around him and his wife.