“Where’s your daughter now?”
“She’s at school,” I tell him. “On Monday, I went out and bought her some new clothes because everything she owns is at her mother’s, and she doesn’t have a key to get in and get her stuff.”
He makes more notes and excuses himself for a minute. My leg bounces and to pass the seconds, I go through the emails on my phone. Most of them are about my return home, my flight, work out plan, team meetings — my career is going to consume me from the moment I touchdown in Boston while my mind is going to be here in Richfield, wondering and agonizing over my daughter and what’s going to happen to her.
“Sorry about that,” he says when he comes back into the room. He takes a seat behind his desk and shuffles a few papers. “I asked my secretary to schedule you and Matty for the clinic today. She’s also asking for an emergency custody hearing with the judge, but I need some more information before I file.”
“Okay.”
“Has Matty had any contact with her mother?”
I shake my head. “She doesn’t have a cell phone and she hasn’t said anything to me or Bellamy whether Annie called the school or anything.”
“What kind of house do you live in?”
“I have a two-bedroom apartment.”
“School district?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I know there’s a school nearby, I’ve been there a few times for fundraisers. I can find out.”
“Do it, it’s important. How long is your contract with your current team?”
“Three years, why?”
He scribbles on his notepad. “I want to show stability.”
I adjust in my seat, a bit uncomfortable. “I know I’m not a parent now, but many guys in the league have children and they adjust.”
Smith puts his pen down and looks at me. “You’re requesting to uproot a ten-year-old who has only known Richfield as her home, to move across country, to a place she’s never been, with a parent she doesn’t know. The more I can throw at the judge, the better.”
I nod, understanding everything he’s saying. “My parents are willing to take her, if need be.”
He writes that down.
“And I’ve asked Bellamy to move with me — she has a son who is friends with Matty.”
“What will you do when you have a road trip?”
I don’t know. I stare out the window behind his desk. His office is in a residential neighborhood and there’s a man walking his dog outside. No traffic. It’s calm and peaceful which is a stark contrast to my life. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I don’t know what I’m doing or what tomorrow brings. All I know is that I’m Matty’s father and I have to do whatever it takes to protect her. “Honestly, I’m hoping Bellamy moves. If she does, she will be home with Matty. If not, I can hire someone or there are team wives she can stay with. I believe I have options. She won’t be alone.”
“Game nights?”
This one is easy. “Games are family affairs. All the kids come, they have reserved seats or can stay in the owner’s luxury box. Knowing Matty, she’ll want to be where the action is. I’d make arrangements so she’s with the other families. I have friends who will look out for her. She wouldn’t be alone in the ballpark. Plus, there’s security.”
Again, he makes notes. “If we can get a hearing before you leave, can you be there?”
“Yes, but what would it be for?” I ask, feeling completely stupid.
“It’s a stretch, but I think we can show abandonment.”
“Okay.”
“At the very least, we get in front of a judge and get an order for visitation. In the meantime, spend as much time with Matty, without her missing school, and continue to try and reach her parents. Establishing a connection with her is going to be key.”
“We have a connection,” I tell him. “She’s very smart and is the one who figured out I’m her dad.”
He looks up and smiles. “The judge will want to speak with her.”
I nod and make a mental note to talk to Bellamy. She knows more about this stuff than I do. “If he needs to, I’ll tell her.”
Peter Smith and I stand and shake hands. He tells me that he’ll be in touch in a few hours and not to worry. Easier said than done. He doesn’t have a job to get back to, thousands of people depending on him, a girlfriend he’s trying to convince to move, and a daughter to protect. Nope, nothing about my life right now is easy, but I’m hoping this lawyer can at least solve a few of my problems before I head home.
Thirty-Two
Bellamy
Hawk leans against the wall, dressed in a navy-blue suit with a red tie. Chase laughed this morning when he saw him, saying Hawk was dressed for game day because those were the Renegade colors. I hadn’t thought much about it when we went shopping, but it makes sense Hawk would gravitate toward the colors he’s familiar with. Matty stands next to him, dressed similar, although in a dress, with her hair curled and pinned back.
Today is odd. We woke up to the sun shining, birds chirping, and still no word from Annie or Brett. Neither of them has been heard from or seen around town. Brett, not since he coached on Saturday and Annie, not since she left my house on Sunday. Vanished, gone, and done so without a word to their daughter. I’m afraid something has happened to both or either of them. One of the worst things I’ve ever had to do was pump Matty for information about Brett’s family. She told me they live in Florida and she rarely sees them and has no other family in town. We finally went to the police station and filed a missing person’s report, which was an ordeal unto itself because they’re Matty’s legal guardians. Hawk had to prove he had a court date seeking custody before the police would let her come home with us.
Court is where we are today to determine if Hawk can gain custody of Matty, even if only temporarily until the police can find her parents. Today will also tell us if Hawk can take Matty to Boston with him or if she must stay in Richfield. If she stays, I’ve told Hawk that I’ll stay too. We don’t want her to feel more abandoned than she already is.
Peter Smith held true to his word, not that I expected anything less of him. He’s been a real champion for me when it’s come to forcing Greg to act like a parent. He promised Hawk a quick turnaround on his and Matty’s DNA test and within twenty-four hours, he had confirmation that he was a father. I wanted to give him a party, yell “Congratulations, it’s a girl!” but the timing and the situation isn’t right. It’s not often you see a man cry, but he did. He hugged Matty tightly and they cried together. I have to say, for being ten, she’s a strong young lady, especially when people are around. At night, she lays next to me and asks me questions about her mom — things I can’t answer — because I don’t get it. There isn’t a single person or reason that would force me to leave Chase behind. He’s my life, and I can already see a similar shift in Hawk — Matty is now his.
Matty mimics the way Hawk stands. They look at each other, smile and start talking. As slyly as I can, I snap a picture, something for me to look back on in the next couple of days when I’m missing him and worried about her. My motherly instinct has kicked in where she’s concerned. She’s going to need another female she can trust, and someone to count on. With Hawk’s schedule, she’s going to be alone or with strangers unless I move. It’s not that I don’t think Hawk can take care of her, I know he can. Because of him, I’ve seen a difference in Chase. My once shy, reserved son, is now out-going, happy and tells crude boy jokes at the table to embarrass me. The worst part is, I laugh, so I can’t really scold him, but I do give him a stern look. When Hawk first asked me to move with him, there wasn’t any pressure. Stay until the end of summer, once Chase finished baseball, and consider it. Now, I feel this weight on my shoulders even though he’s told me to make the best decision for myself. I’ve asked Chase, who wants to move, and then Greg . . . he agreed, saying he’s going to do what’s best for our son. I think that was a veiled threat, but who knows with him.
Hawk looks up and catches me taking pic
tures of him and Matty. He smiles, looks at Matty and points to the camera. They move closer to each other and he puts his arm around her. It’s uncanny how much they look alike, minus their hair color.
“Did you get a good one?” he asks as he pushes off the wall and comes toward me with Matty following. I hold my phone out and he swipes through, pressing the heart icon on the ones he likes. He leans down and kisses me. “Thank you,” he whispers against my lips.
“You’re welcome.” Although, I’m not sure exactly what he’s thanking me for. I took the pictures for myself, to give me something to look at later when they’re gone.
Hawk’s name is called, and we turn and find his parents and sisters scurrying down the hallway. “Are we late?” his mom asks.
“No, we’re still waiting for our names to be called.” He kisses his mom on the cheek and hugs his sisters and father. One of us is leaving the courtroom today as temporary guardian. I hope beyond hope, it’s Hawk. If not, his parents or myself. We’ll all step up to keep her out of foster care.
Owen is the next to arrive. He’s another character witness on behalf of Hawk, and probably the best one out of all us. We’re biased, Owen isn’t. He has nothing to gain or lose in this matter. When I suggested him, Hawk scoffed, saying Owen doesn’t know him. I countered with, “He does. He’s seen you coach for the past few months. He knows your character around children better than anyone else right now.” Peter agreed and put him down as a character witness.
Peter steps out of the courtroom and joins our growing crowd. “Are we ready?”
I look at everyone, trying to decipher the feelings of our group. It’s Matty that I pay the most attention to. She’s quiet, somber and her eyes are downcast. I go to her and clasp her hand in mine. She says nothing as she looks at me, and that’s okay. I have a good feeling I know what she’s thinking right now, “Where’s my mom?” Over this past week, I’ve waited for a sighting, a phone call from Annie, Brett or the police. Anyone, who could tell us something.
Peter tells us it’s time and we follow him into the courtroom. Hawk, Matty and I are last to enter. Matty and I take a seat in the front row while Hawk follows Pete through the swinging half door. The courthouse and subsequent courtrooms are old, dating back into the twenties or thirties. Truth be told, we don’t have a lot of crime here, mostly speeding tickets and the occasional rancher squabble. Richfield and its surrounding towns keep a laid-back lifestyle, and the only reason we come to the courthouse is to file documents, get a marriage license or file for divorce.
The judge enters the courtroom, we stand and then sit once we’re instructed to do so. Peter told us earlier the judge is Jan Mash. He assured us this is a good thing, saying she’s fair and a single mom. How he knew about her life outside the courtroom is a mystery, but if his knowledge works in Hawk’s favor, I’ll take it. Jan sits behind her massive desk and looks out over the galley. I’m curious as to what she sees. Does she see a man desperately trying to protect a little girl who he just found out was his daughter or does she see the state of Montana and a social worker trying to do what they think is right for a girl they know nothing about. The social worker came to my house, sat with Matty for a half-hour and left. How someone can determine a child’s fate after such little time is beyond me.
“It seems we have a temporary guardianship on the table. Mr. Smith, you’re up.”
Peter stands and gives a detailed summation of Hawk, Matty, their lives and the situation they’re in. He’s eloquent, poised and passionate. The whole time he’s speaking, Matty’s hand is clutching mine. She knows her fate lies within his words and the judge’s decision. When Peter finishes, Judge Mash instructs the state to present their case.
The lawyer for the state, Ms. Harold, stands and speaks. She focuses on how Hawk and Matty met only months ago, how his schedule isn’t conducive to raising a child, how she’d be shuttled from sitter to sitter, and kept out late on school nights due to his games. Each word she says is a hole in Hawk’s case. She’s painting him as an absentee father, when he hasn’t even had a chance to prove otherwise. When she sits down, she looks smug, almost as if she knows she’s succeeded in putting a child into foster care and that’s a good thing.
“I see that the young woman in question is in the courtroom?”
Peter stands and says, “Yes, your honor.”
“Please have her come forward.”
I let go of Matty’s hand and whisper for her to go sit by the judge. We talked about this last night and went over some of the questions that Peter thought the judge might ask. Matty stands tall, looks at her dad as she walks to the front of the courtroom and takes a seat.
“How are you today, Mattingly?” The judge asks.
“I’m good,” she says.
“Do you like to be called Mattingly or Matty?”
“Matty, please,” she replies softly.
“Okay. I know this is difficult. You’re going through a lot of stuff right now, but can you tell me why you want to live with Hawk?”
She nods and turns her head in Hawk’s direction. “He’s my dad,” she states proudly.
“You’ve only known him for a short period of time.”
“I know.” Her voice is quiet. “But his job is in Boston and if he leaves without me, how will I get to know him better?” She looks at Judge Mash for an answer. There isn’t one given. “Hawk has taught me so much since I met him. We’re a family with Bellamy and Chase.”
Now I have tears falling from my eyes.
“When my mom left me at Bellamy’s, they could’ve sent me away but they didn’t. They made it seem like I’ve always been there. Chase and I have chores, a bedtime, they sit with us while we do our homework, and then my dad takes us to baseball practice.”
“Are you prepared to move away from your friends?”
She nods.
“Okay, you can step down.” Judge Mash watches and Matty rushes back to my side. I pull her close and kiss the top of her head. “Mr. Sinclair, the State of Montana has concerns that your daughter will be shuffled back and forth, that you can’t create a stable environment for her.”
I don’t know what possesses me, but I stand up and blurt out, “My son and I are also moving to Boston, Your Honor. I’ll be taking care of Matty while Mr. Sinclair travels for his games.”
Hawk turns and looks at me while the judge slams her gavel down. I slink back in my chair, completely aware that I may have ruined any chance he has at gaining custody.
“Your Honor,” Peters says as he stands. “It’s just come to my attention that Bellamy Patrick is intending to relocate to Boston as well. In your paperwork, she is also listed as a potential temporary guardian in this case, in the event custody isn’t awarded to Mr. Sinclair.”
“I do not like outbursts in my courtroom, Mr. Smith.”
“I apologize. Emotions are high right now.”
As she’s looking over the papers, her side door opens and the police chief walks in. My heartbeat increases as he leans down and says something in her ear. “Mr. Smith, Mr. Sinclair, and Ms. Harold, in my chambers, now.” Hawk and I exchange looks as he follows Peter into the other room.
“What’s going on?” Matty asks.
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t know, sweetie. Your dad will tell us when he comes back.”
Hawk’s family is on edge, as am I. We’re watching the door, waiting for it to open, and when it finally does, Hawk’s face is white. Peter and the attorney for the State, Mr. Harold, are expressionless.
Judge Mash sits back down and says, “I have come to the decision, in light of new information, that it is in the best interest of the child to remain in the temporary custody of her biological father, Hawk Sinclair, for a period of one year after which we will reconvene to determine permanent custody of the minor child. The State of Montana will work with the State of Massachusetts to set up a home study and to periodically check on the minor child. Mr. Sinclair, you are free to take your daughter out of state, bu
t if you need to leave the country, you’ll need permission from this court.” She slams her gavel down, stands and exits.
I’m stunned, although I shouldn’t be. Hawk is the better choice, especially over foster care, but I want to know what the hell just happened. Matty leaves my side and rushes to Hawk. He picks her up and twirls her around before setting her back down. They hold hands as they walk toward us, but he still says nothing except that it feels good to win.
It’s later that night, when we’re alone in the living room and the kids are fast asleep that he starts talking. “Did you mean it?”
“I did. Chase and I want to be in Boston with you. We’ll leave after he finishes the season. I think it’s important for him to stay. Matty can stay as well.”
He shakes his head. “I’m taking her with me.”
“Okay.”
Hawk goes quiet for a minute before turning to look at me. “They found Annie and Brett.”
“Where?”
“In Bozeman, off the slide of a cliff. Preliminary reports show Annie was intoxicated. She was driving and neither were wearing a seatbelt. Their bodies were found on Monday, but the car was registered to some rental company and neither of them had any identification on them. Once we filed the missing person’s report, the medical examiner got the alert and called it in.” He pauses and looks away from me for a few seconds before continuing. “I have to tell Matty. I’m not sure how, but in the morning, we’re going over to her house to get her things. The police are meeting us there, so I have to talk to her beforehand. She’s ten and has to make a decision on where to put her parents’ belongings.”
“No, she doesn’t,” I say. “We’ll put them in storage until she’s ready. No child should have to make this type of decision. I’ll organize everything, hire packers, and you focus on getting back to Boston and getting Matty acclimated. It may be a good idea to get her started in some type of therapy or support group because I think she’s going to need to talk to someone who isn’t us.”
Hawk: The Boys of Summer #4 Page 22