by Toni Aleo
“That’s nice, Angela. Thank you,” the judge said before looking to Mark. “But your client did not know about this?”
Mark looked to Lucy and she swallowed hard. “No, sir, I didn’t.”
Benji’s heart was knocking against his ribs as the judge looked over to Benji. “Did you open this account, Mr. Paxton?”
Benji nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Is what Angela said true?”
“Yes, sir. We opened it about three months ago.”
“How much is in there?”
“Almost seven thousand. Her mother is renting an office from me, for which we have a contract. The money she pays me in rent, I put in the account for Angie, I mean, Angela.”
The judge nodded as Lucy gawked back at him, her eyes narrowing, and he knew he had just fucked up. He should have told her so she could have told Mark, but he had honestly forgotten about it.
“I do not see this as evidence that Mr. Paxton is trying to buy the child off—which is a downright silly thought anyway. I see no problem here, and it’s obvious Angela cares for Mr. Paxton, so unless you have something else, I’d like to move on.”
“We have nothing else.”
“Okay, well, I deny your petition for full custody. I would like to approve these changes if you agree.”
Holloway leaned to Rick, but he was already shaking his head. “I want full custody.”
The lawyer said something Benji couldn’t hear, but Rick shook his head. Looking back to the judge, Rick’s lawyer said, “Judge, we do not agree, and we would like to further seek full custody of the child.”
But the judge shook his head before looking to Angie. “Angela, how old are you? Seven?”
“Almost eight,” she said with a smile and he smiled back at her.
“Oh, a big girl, then.”
Angie beamed. “Yes, sir. I’m almost strong enough to hit the puck like Benji.”
Benji grinned as the judge nodded. “Good. So tell me, who do you want to live with?”
Her legs stopped kicking. “I live with my mommy and Benji.”
“Do you want to live with your dad?”
“No, sir,” she said simply. “I don’t want to leave my mom or Benji. Mommy, I don’t have to, do I? Am I going to live with Dad?” She looked to Lucy, her voice panicked.
Lucy shook her head quickly. “No, honey, he’s just asking you what you want.”
“I don’t want to leave you or Benji.”
“I know, baby. It’s okay,” Lucy said, wrapping her arm around Angie and kissing her head. Glancing back up at the judge, who was writing some things down as he nodded, Benji held his breath as the judge looked back to Rick and his lawyer.
“I usually don’t ask children their wishes, but I wanted you to hear her response, Mr. Hart. I urge you to not proceed for full custody because that isn’t what your child wants. She seems happy, and unless you can come to me with real evidence that Ms. Sinclair is mistreating her, especially when the evidence seems to indicate your misdeeds, or that Mr. Paxton is a negative influence, then, I’m sorry, I have no other choice but to deny your request and approve the changes to the current parenting plan.”
Everyone looked to Rick as he shook his head. “I want to proceed with the full custody part.”
The judge’s face changed to displeasure as he looked down. “Fine, I want everyone back here in two weeks. Maybe that will give you all time to think. Mainly you, Mr. Hart. At that time, if nothing further has been brought to my attention, then I will decide what is best for Angela Hart, since I’m sure we won’t come to an agreement otherwise.”
“Judge, Angela is to go to her father’s this weekend. Can we request that she does not go until after the next court date?” Mark asked quickly before the judge stood.
He took in a long breath and then looked to Rick. “Do you want to see your child, Mr. Hart?”
“Yes.”
“Then we will honor the current parenting plan. Maybe he’ll see that putting Angela through this isn’t something a seven- almost eight-year-old should have to deal with,” he stressed before standing up.
“Sir, I’m sorry, but I’d like to request that you reconsider,” Mark tried and Benji was hopeful. He had to leave with the Assassins this week for a four-day stint before the All-Star break and had been hoping that Lucy wouldn’t have to deal with the handover, but the judge shook his head.
“Mr. Sinclair, as much as I agree with you and believe what I’m certain you’re thinking, I want to give Mr. Hart a chance to do right by his child. But I will say this, if Angela wants to speak to her mother, you must allow her.”
Rick rolled his eyes and let out a long breath. “Fine.”
“Don’t make me regret this choice,” the judge warned before slamming his gavel to the desk. “See everyone in two weeks.”
Mark turned to Angie and picked her up, kissing her cheek before looking over at Lucy. “It’s fine. We’ll have this taken care of in two weeks. No big deal.”
Lucy didn’t look convinced as she slowly nodded and reached for her purse. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Anytime, honey,” he said, squeezing her arm. “Don’t worry, okay? He has nothing on you guys.”
“Okay,” she said as Angie took her hand. “Let’s go.”
“Benji! Let’s go to lunch,” Angie decided as she broke free from Lucy, going for him. He picked her up, kissing her cheek as he nodded.
“Sounds good to me, and then we gotta go home so I can pack. Gotta leave this afternoon.”
She made a face as they walked down the aisle, Lucy and Mark behind them. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, but it’s only six days, and then we leave for Florida.”
“Woo-hoo!” she cheered, laying her head against his shoulder as they walked out to the truck. “Grandpa, wanna come with us?”
“Sorry, love bug, I can’t. I’ve got another case,” he said almost automatically. Benji wasn’t sure if he was being truthful, but he knew that Lucy didn’t want him to go. He could see it all over her face. She was still holding him at arm’s length, which Benji guessed she always would. He had done some major damage to his children.
“Aw, okay, I’ll see you soon,” she said, wiggling out of Benji’s arms and going to Mark to hug him.
Moving around all of them, Lucy went to stand by the truck, opening the door before saying, “All right, Dad, thanks again. I’ll be in touch.”
Benji looked back at Mark as Angie got into the truck. He looked sad as he nodded. “Of course, honey. Talk to you soon. Benji, good to see you again.”
“You too,” he said before turning and getting into the truck himself. When he started to put his seat belt on, though, he could see that Lucy was mad and he was pretty sure it was directed at him. He looked over at her and she had her legs crossed, leaning into the door, the farthest she could be from him as she stared out the window. “That went really well,” he tried, and she just nodded her head.
“Yeah.”
Okay, then.
“Do you want to go to lunch?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Angie went to protest, but Benji stopped her. “Honey, Mom is tired. That was exhausting. Let’s go on home. I’ll make you a peanut butter sandwich.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
His stomach was uneasy as he drove back to the house. When Lucy went in without a word to him, he bit into his cheek as he went into the kitchen to make Angie some lunch. He really didn’t want to fight with her before he left, but it was looking like that was exactly what was about to happen. As Angie popped around being her usually silly self, Benji made her a sandwich and then set it on the island. Climbing up into the chair, she put her iPad on the counter and then looked to him.
“Am I going back to school?”
“Probably not.”
“Cool, can we shoot around some before you leave?”
He nodded. “Yeah, sunshine. Let me go and make sure Mom is okay.”
“Okay,” she said before hitting play and starting a movie. Washing his hands, he wiped them off before heading upstairs where Lucy had gone. When he hit the hallway, he could see her sitting on the bed, her eyes on him.
“So I’m apparently in the dog house,” he said as he headed down the hall, his eyes on hers.
“Yeah,” she said, her sass in full force.
“Because of the savings account?” he asked, shutting the door, and she stood.
“Yes! What were you thinking? Why didn’t you tell me? And I can send my kid to college, myself. You don’t have to do it. I’m not helpless!”
He nodded, pressing his palms into his hips. “You’re absolutely right. I should have told you, and I know you can put her through school. But I told you when we signed the contract for the office that I would do with the money what I wanted. So I opened Angie an account, and I have the money you deposit transferred every month. I also put the five thousand dollar design fee that you wouldn’t let me pay in there too,” he said. That made her brows go to her forehead, steam all but coming out of her ears. “I did it for no other reason than to help put her through school.”
“It isn’t your job, Benji! It’s mine. I’m her mother. You’re not—”
She paused, her eyes widening, and he watched her. He knew what she was going to say, and he tried not to let it hurt his feelings. But he knew he failed a bit as he held her gaze. “What? Not her dad, just the boyfriend? Yeah, I know that.”
She looked away, her lips trembling as she shook. “I don’t need anyone helping me with my kid.”
“I wasn’t trying to help you. I was doing it for Angie.”
She shook her head, a tear running down her cheek, and he waited. He knew how she worked. She needed a second, and as he expected, she soon looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m just mad because Rick tried to use that against you like the foul asshole he is, and I hate that I didn’t know what was going on. I was completely surprised, and I hate that. I need to know what is coming at me so I can fight it. I couldn’t fight that, and for a second there, I thought I was losing everything.”
“I completely understand, and I’m sorry for not telling you. I honestly forgot about it.”
She looked up at him, tears spilling out of her eyes as she threw her hands up. “Why are you staying around? I’m an asshole—”
“Because I love you,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her to him. “Your stress level is borderline 2007 Britney Spears right now, and I get it. But, Lucy, I want to help you. I want to be there for you.” He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple as she leaned into him.
“I didn’t mean what I said to you. You don’t deserve that. I’m sorry. You know I hate handouts. I’m just so fucking scared, so mad at Rick, not you. Fuck, I’m sorry.”
“I know, baby,” he whispered against her head as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. “It’s going to be okay. But I won’t lie, Lucy, you almost broke my heart there. You really need to think before you speak.”
She nodded against his chest, moving her nose against him as she hugged him tighter, almost like she didn’t want him to let her go. He wouldn’t. Not every man could deal with her tantrums, but then not every woman could deal with the shit she dealt with daily. If he couldn’t love her through her hard times, why should he be allowed to love her during her good ones? So he would cut her a little slack. It wasn’t easy for her right now, but it would be soon.
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“Forgiven.”
“I don’t deserve that forgiveness,” she whispered and he kissed her nose. “I just hate how I feel so helpless. I never needed anyone. Not my dad, not a man, but now I need him and I fucking need you. I’m starting to need you to keep me grounded. I’m used to being so independent, only worrying about Angie. But you…I can’t let anything hurt you or mess up what we have.” She paused, sucking in a breath as a sob burst from her. “I want him to go away so it can just be us. So you can one day be Angie’s dad. I just have so many fucking feelings and I hate them. I hate feeling like this.”
“Do you want to go back to the way it was before?” he asked, and she looked up at him. “Lonely, only worried about Angie? ’Cause I sure as hell don’t want that for you. I love you. I don’t want anything but for you to be happy.”
She shook her head. “For once in my life, I don’t have to fake like I’m happy or force myself to feel that way. When I’m with you, I’m just blissful and I feel like nothing can touch me. So, no, I don’t want to go back to my life before, because that life wasn’t something I wanted. You are something I want in my life.”
Looking deep into her eyes as they swam in her tears, he smiled. She didn’t share much, but when she did, it hit him straight in the gut. “Then why are we still talking? Kiss me.”
She cried out before his mouth came crashing against hers, and he got lost in her kisses as he held her close, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this wasn’t easy now, and while he hoped, in two weeks, Rick would be gone, he knew he wouldn’t be.
No, Rick would always be a thorn in their sides.
But like he had been doing since the beginning, he’d be there for Lucy.
Because he loved her, and he knew there was no other love like hers out there.
Sitting at her desk, Lucy leaned against her hand as she read through emails. She was supposed to be at the house packing, so when Benji got home that night, they could meet him before heading to the airport. But Lucy was dragging ass. Not only had she not slept much that weekend with Angie and Benji both being gone, she was stressed with work. The other designer had fucked up on a job and Lucy had had to refund the client, which sucked ass. Now, she was considering letting Meg go and hiring someone else, but she had three open jobs right now. Lucy sure as hell didn’t have time to take them on, so she’d have to let Meg finish them.
Then maybe she’d fire her.
It was a mess, and she couldn’t wait to be on the beach. While, yes, she would be working, she would also get to just hang and bum it in the sun. A nice, relaxing vacation before court with Rick the following week. It was just what she needed. Surrounded by the people she loved with her toes in the sand. Glancing at the picture on her desk of Angie and Benji, of course, making silly faces—she swore they couldn’t take a picture of themselves actually looking normal—she smiled. Even though Angie was only at school, she missed her dearly.
The past weekend had been hell once more. Rick had brought Heidi, for what reason, she wasn’t sure, but she stood by as Angie threw a fit, not wanting to go at all. Angie begged him not to make her, but he was hell-bent and made her leave, ignoring her bag with her medication. Even when Lucy tried to give it to him, he just drove off. Lucy had always hated him, but she was really starting to loathe him, and she really didn’t like that.
She wanted that co-parenting thing that everyone on Facebook raved about. She had never even had an ounce of that. Rick had been a dick since the beginning, but Lucy had wanted to believe that maybe she could have that. That they could be adults. She had hoped he wanted to be a father, a good one, but she was starting to realize that Rick Hart would never be a father to Angie.
But Benji could be.
She knew it was insane to think about it, but he was just so great with her. Yes, the bank account thing pissed her off, but it was sweet. It was Benji. Always wanting to help, be there for everyone. But his main concern was always Lucy and Angie. He loved her girl as much, if not more than she did—not that that was possible—and she couldn’t ask for more than that. Because Benji didn’t have to love Angie. Hell, Heidi sure as hell didn’t love her, but Benji did. With all of himself.
God, she missed him. She couldn’t understand how she’d gotten so lucky to meet a man like him. But she loved him more than she could ever express. The way he understood her, was so patient with her—she swore he deserved a medal. She sure as hell didn’t deserve him, but somehow, she had him.
&n
bsp; He was hers.
As she leaned back in the chair, a knock came and then the door opened. Rayne smiled as she came to the desk, laying a piece of paper down in front of her. Picking it up, Lucy looked it over as Rayne said, “Nikky Jiggler has not said anything about Benji since that post. It has since been deleted, so I emailed her and asked when that article would be published. She wrote that back.”
Lucy looked down and shook her head as she read.
Rayne,
I didn’t sleep with Benji Paxton. I was paid to put his name on the blog by someone. Because of that, no article will be posted. It’s dumb, but hey, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks. Especially when I still got paid after having to take it down. Thanks for asking, tho!
Love,
Nikky
“Well, that was short and to the point.”
“Yeah, so at least you know,” she said, and Lucy nodded. She was pretty sure she knew who had paid Nikky, and she would fax this to her dad just in case. She didn’t understand what Rick thought he was doing. Why couldn’t he just leave them alone? Let them be happy.
“Thanks,” she said as her phone started to ring. “You rock.” Rayne flashed her a grin as Lucy reached for the phone, seeing that it was Rick.
What the hell?
Answering it as Rayne left, she said, “Hello?
“I need to see you. Where are you?”
She paused. His voice was hard, to the point. Quickly, uneasiness settled in her stomach. “At my office.”
“Text me the address.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I need to talk to you. Now.”
He hung up and Lucy’s heart was in her throat. She dialed her dad’s number on the landline, and he answered right away, “Hello?”
“Dad, Rick just called me, wanting to come to my office.”
“Did he say why?”
“No.”
“Okay, stall him a bit, and I’ll be right over. What’s the address?”
She told him and then hung up, waiting a few minutes before texting Rick her address. As she waited, she paced. She wanted to call Benji, but he had press and wouldn’t be able to talk. Thankfully, though, her dad arrived quickly. But before they could even really talk about anything, Rick walked in.