by Pandora Pine
Bronson watched while Nash opened two Styrofoam containers. One held enchiladas and the other had squares of deep fried cheese. His mother must have told Nash what his favorite foods were at Loco Taqueria. Nash had another thing coming if he thought some food could cure the rift between them.
“The artwork is from Tucker.” Nash pointed to the stack of paper he’d left face down on the table before making a plate for Bronson and then for himself.
“I don’t remember asking you in or to share dinner with me for that matter.” God, Bronson sounded like a queen, but he was hurt and he was going to stay hurt until Nash gave him a reason not to be, which of course made him sound like a bigger queen.
Nash dug into the bag, pulling out plastic containers of sour cream and salsa. He set a couple in front of Bronson and kept two for himself. “You’re right. You didn’t. I thought you might want to hear about Tucker and maybe talk about what to do next.”
“Next? You think there’s a next, Nash?” Bronson fisted his hands on his hips.
“Eat first. Yell at me later.” Nash raised an eyebrow in challenge and dug in to his enchilada.
Bronson frowned at Nash who was chewing a bite of chicken and looking like he was in heaven. Under other circumstances, he’d guess this would have been heaven for Nash, dinner alone with Bronson with a lot to talk about. He shook his head and gave in to the hypnotic smell of the food.
“I met Doctor Wagner last night,” Nash offered between bites.
“Why did you meet Tucker’s pediatrician?” Bronson liked Ben Wagner. He’d always been good to Tucker and had offered him a lot of good advice about being a single father.
“He was there to put Tucker at ease at the hospital. The ER docs thought it would help Tucker to have a familiar face with him. While your parents were getting Tucker dressed after Ben gave the all-clear, he showed me the pictures of Tucker’s back and said something amazing.”
Bronson rolled his eyes in spite of how good the fried cheese tasted. “What? Did he ask you out?”
Nash sighed heavily. “No, if you must know, he’s had a crush on you for years. What he showed me was a handprint on Tucker’s back. I held my hand up to it and the hand that did this to Tucker is much smaller than mine. Your hands are much bigger than mine, which is how Ben and I both came to the conclusion that you weren’t the one who hurt Tucker.”
Bronson dropped his fork with a loud clank against his plate. “It took a picture for you to be convinced that I didn’t hurt Tucker?” Defeat etched Bronson’s voice. If the man that he loved had needed physical proof of his innocence, then that meant Nash had considered him a suspect too. Bronson didn’t know whether to cry or kick Nash out of his apartment.
He stood up from the table so forcefully that his chair turned over and crashed to the floor. “You actually thought I could do this to Tucker?” Bronson could feel his control slipping away. Anger burned in his gut which felt like it was twisting around itself.
Nash set his fork down gently and looked up at Bronson. His blue eyes looked muddy and sad. “I never thought you hurt Tucker. It’s just not in you to do anything like this to your son. The police need more than glowing words from your boyfriend. They need hard proof of your innocence and this is it, Bronson.”
Bronson stood watching Nash. His boyfriend didn’t look like he’d gotten a lot of sleep last night. Nash looked ten years older than he had at the hospital. As angry as he was right now, he could see the toll all of this was taking on Nash.
Standing up from the table, Nash pushed his chair back in. “Don’t forget to look at the pictures Tucker painted for you.”
“I don’t want pity artwork from my son.” He did, but he wasn’t going to tell Nash how much it meant to him that his son was thinking of him today.
“For Christ’s sake, it isn’t pity artwork. Tucker loves you. He misses you.” Nash folded his hands into his back pockets and rocked back on his heels. “We both do.”
Bronson’s green eyes swam in tears. His father had told him last night that Nash was taking personal time off work to be with Tucker. It meant the world to him that Nash was there for his son, but damn it, why couldn’t Nash have said something, anything to that cop?
“I read to him last night before bed, all of the books that are his favorites to read with you. Tucker keeps telling me I’m reading the stories wrong. He says I keep leaving out the dinosaur roars.” Nash roared.
Bronson swiped at his tears, unmoved by Nash’s story.
“I know you’re mad at me, but our love is stronger than your anger. We’re gonna get through this and be a family when it’s over.” Nash turned toward the door.
“A family?” Bronson sounded incredulous. “You hung me out to dry with that cop when he was accusing me of hurting Tucker. You stood there like a stump and didn’t say a word to stick up for me or defend me.”
Nash turned back, reaching out for Bronson’s hand, not letting go when his lover tried to pull away. “I was just as angry as you were. I wanted to punch that cop out for even thinking you could have hurt Tucker. More than that, I wanted to wrap my hands around Alicia’s neck and choke that bitch out, but one of us had to be there for Tucker.”
“Oh, and you thought that would be you?” Bronson’s free hand fisted at his side. He was really being petty treating Nash like this, but he was hurting and wanted Nash to hurt too.
“You’re not thinking with your right mind.” Nash let Bronson go this time when he jerked his hand away.
“Oh no?” Anger burned so hot in Bronson’s gut he thought he could breathe fire like one of Nash’s dragons.
“No,” Nash agreed. “Since Tucker won’t say who hurt him, there was no way the cops were going to send him home with either one of you. They needed statements from you and Alicia. I don’t know if you know this, but another officer showed up a few minutes after you left and he took Alicia with him. I would also assume they want to talk to Ashton since he was with Tucker all weekend.”
“That fucking bastard. I bet it was him. Why would another man want to raise my son?”
“I do,” Nash said simply. “I love you, Bronson. I’ll be here for as long as you’ll let me. All I want to do is start our life together and it seems like one roadblock after another keeps getting thrown in our way.”
Bronson raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t that tell you we’re not meant to be?”
Nash shook his head sadly. “No, it means our love is worth fighting for. I’ll see you when you come to that conclusion for yourself.”
Bronson watched Nash walk away from him and shut the door on his way out. He wanted to believe Nash’s words, but right now his heart was so broken over the loss of Tucker, that he just didn’t have the strength to fight for their love.
24
It was the morning of the temporary custody hearing. Tucker still had not told anyone who’d hit him. Nash had tried every devious trick he could think of to get Tucker to open up, but each time, the little boy climbed into his lap and started asking him if his Daddy was safe.
After the fourth time he got that reaction from Tucker, he’d stopped. He couldn’t bear to see the pain in his green eyes. What he was left with, instead, was an icy fist squeezing his heart. Nothing meant more to Bronson than his son and it could very well be Tucker’s closed lips that tore them apart forever.
Tucker was sitting on the bed in what had been his father’s room when he was growing up in this house. He was dressed in black pants and a white button down shirt that Peg had gone out to get him yesterday.
It had been a battle to keep Tucker from wearing his Rex Rules tee-shirt, but Nash had saved the day when he suggested Tucker could wear the Rex shirt under the white shirt. Tucker had agreed and getting him dressed from there had been a snap.
Nash knew that the only reason Tucker was adamant about wearing that shirt was because it was his comfort item. Some kids had a baby blanket or a stuffed animal they kept with them all the time. For Tucker, that was his beloved shi
rt. Once all this madness calmed down, Nash was going to buy him more in different sizes so that when he outgrew one shirt, he’d have an identical one to take its place.
“When can I see my Daddy?” Tucker was kicking his foot back against the side rail of the bed.
Nash stopped tying his tie and turned around to look at the little boy. It was the first time in three days he’d asked to see Bronson rather than asking if his father was safe.
“Knock, knock!” a cheery voice called from the bedroom door.
“Doctor Ben!” Tucker hopped off the bed and ran to the doctor who scooped the little boy up in his arms.
Thankfully, time at home to rest and the children’s Tylenol seemed to have Tucker almost back to normal, physically. It did Nash’s heart good to see Tucker moving so effortlessly. Lately, Tucker had more mobility and energy early on in the day. He started to flag after lunch and had gotten in the habit of taking afternoon naps. Nash knew that was his little body’s way of healing.
Finishing his tie in the mirror, Nash turned around to greet the doctor. “It’s good to see you, Doctor Wagner.”
“Please call me Ben.” The doctor gave Tucker a tight squeeze. “How’s my favorite patient doing this morning? Are you still sore?”
Tucker shook his head and hopped off Ben’s lap. He ran to Nash and clung to his legs. Nash picked up the little boy and carried him over to what had been Bronson’s bed and set the little boy down. Instead of sitting next to him, Nash sat cross-legged on the floor. He wanted to be on the same level as Tucker for what he had to say next.
He’d stayed up half the night trying to figure out what to say to Tucker that could possibly make the little boy open up and trust him with the secret of who hurt him. The answer finally came to him around 5:00am when the sky was turning pink. “Tucker, do you know why we’re getting all dressed up today?”
“Grams said we had to go somewhere special, but I didn’t have to dress in a monkey suit to go visit Cliff the Triceratops.” His face scrunched into a grumpy frown.
Nash burst out laughing. Mitch had been complaining last night about having to wear a damn monkey suit. Nash was just glad Tucker had left “damn” out.
“Who’s Cliff the Triceratops?” Ben asked, moving to take a seat on the floor next to Nash.
“We sawed his bones at the museum. He was huge, Doctor Ben! Bigger than you!”
Ben reached out to shake Tucker’s bare foot. “Well, thank goodness for that or my clothes would be too small.”
Nash grinned at the pediatrician. He was glad the doctor had come over this morning before they headed to court. If his plan to get Tucker to talk went off the rails, maybe Ben could help him out. “I need you to put on your listening ears. Can you do that for me?”
Tucker nodded and made a motion like he was putting on a pair of headphones. Nash almost burst out laughing when Ben mimicked the motion.
“Adults aren’t allowed to hit kids. Do you know that, Tucker?” Nash had figured this was the best way to start the conversation. Tucker was very mature for his age and the only thing Nash hadn’t tried so far to get him to talk was to be honest with the little boy.
Tucker shook his head no.
“It’s true,” Ben chimed in. “It’s a very naughty thing to do.”
Nash nodded. “And what happens when someone is naughty in my class?”
“They get a time out,” Tucker answered proudly.
“That’s right. Whoever breaks one of our rules has to sit in the naughty seat, right?” Nash was thrilled that Tucker was answering his questions.
“Yup! But I never have to sit in the naughty seat!” Tucker beamed at Ben. “I’m a good boy.”
“You are a good boy, Tucker, the best boy, which is why I want to tell you all about today. We’re going to court today to see a judge. Do you know what a judge is?”
Tucker nodded, sending his blond hair flying around his head. “I watch Judge Judy with Grams and she bangs her gravel and tells people to shut up.”
Ben and Nash burst out laughing. “At least he’s familiar with how court works, sort of,” Ben leaned over to whisper to Nash.
“Only this judge won’t be telling anyone to shut up. At least I hope not.” Nash shrugged and focused his attention back on Tucker. “What this judge has to decide is who you should live with, Mommy or Daddy. The problem is, he doesn’t have all the information he needs to decide.”
“What information does he need?” Tucker looked down at the floor, breaking eye contact with Nash.
Nash exchanged an uneasy look with Ben, who simply nodded. “He needs to know who hurt you, Tucker.” Nash paused for a few seconds waiting for his words to sink in. “If the judge doesn’t know who hurt you, he could send you to live with that bad person.”
Tucker’s chin dropped open and his eyeballs threatened to bug out of his head. He looked like he was starting to panic.
Nash resisted the urge to pull Tucker into his arms. “Do you see now why knowing who hurt you is so important?”
Tucker nodded as tears started forming in his sea-green eyes. “I want to tell you, Nash, but I can’t.”
Now they were getting somewhere. What Nash had to do now was earn Tucker’s trust.
“Did the person who hurt you tell you they would hurt your Daddy if you told?” Ben asked gently.
Tucker nodded, tears spilling from his eyes to splatter on his white shirt.
“You’re very brave for keeping that secret to keep your Daddy safe.” Christ, Nash had thought someone threatened him, but hearing it from Tucker’s own lips was devastating.
“You think I’m brave?” Tucker’s eyes lit up with pride. “You’re not mad at me?”
Nash stood up and pulled Tucker into his arms. “I could never be mad at you. I love you too much to ever be mad.” He gave Tucker a big squeeze.
“I love you too, Nash.”
“Nash and your Daddy need you to be even braver today,” Ben took up the conversation while Nash cuddled Tucker.
“How can I be more brave?” Tucker looked up at Nash.
“By telling the judge who hurt you.” Nash hated putting it in those terms, but they were almost out of time. The court hearing started in an hour.
Tucker gasped and burrowed into Nash’s chest.
Nash held him tighter, wishing this could be easier on Tucker. “Is there a bailiff on Judge Judy?”
“Yup! Byrd! He’s funny.” Tucker smiled through his tears.
“Do you know what the bailiff’s job is?” Ben asked.
“He hands Judge Judy papers and stuff.”
“That’s a very important job, but the bailiff’s other job is to keep people safe.” Ben shot Nash a calm look.
“Just like police officers,” Nash chimed in.
“So it’s safe to tell the judge who did this to you since there are so many people who will be in the court to protect your Daddy.” Ben offered Tucker a bright smile.
“Can you be a brave boy for your Daddy today, Tucker?” Nash held his breath. This was the last shot they had at getting Tucker to fess up.
Tucker nodded. “I can be brave.”
XX
Bronson was a complete wreck. He was sitting in the courtroom at a table next to Rainier, while Alicia and her glam squad of high-priced attorneys sat across the aisle.
He’d slept for about ten minutes last night, managing to doze off during a riveting episode of Cupcake Wars on the food channel. He’d woken up when the winners of the war were announced and started screaming in victory.
After that, he’d sat through episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and one annoying episode of Beat Bobby Flay. That man could cook, but his New York accent was annoying as hell.
The hearing was scheduled to start in a few minutes. Rainier wore a calm look like he was about to order pancakes instead of argue reasons why Bronson should be allowed to keep custody of his son. Meanwhile, his heart was hammering so hard he felt like it was about to beat out of his chest.
Bronson wanted to believe his lawyer but how could he when his entire life could change today?
“All rise,” the bailiff shouted out as Judge Masterson walked into the courtroom and took his seat at the bench. Rainier had told him this judge was a huge advocate for kids and was big on fathers’ rights.
Standing up, Bronson couldn’t help sizing up the judge. This was the man who was going to make or break his family.
“We’re here today for a temporary custody hearing for the minor child, Tucker McKinnon. I see that both of his parents are here. Where is Nash Spencer?”
With all the anxiety of the morning, Bronson hadn’t given his lover a single thought. He turned around to see Nash sitting with the principal of Little Wonders, Remington James, sitting on his left, while Doctor Ben Wagner sat to his right. Nash was so handsome in his suit.
“I’m here, your honor.” Nash stood, buttoning his suit jacket.
“I understand you are the child’s Guardian ad Litem.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good, we’ll get to you in a moment.” The judge leveled his gaze at Bronson before moving over to Alicia who was sitting at the table and Ashton, who was sitting in the row behind her. “What troubles me about this hearing is that we have a five year old boy with severe bruises and neither of his parents can tell me how the boy was injured.”
Bronson ducked his head. He’d been beating himself up over not having checked Tucker out when he got back from the weekend with Alicia and now here was the judge calling him out as a shit father. He had never felt lower in his life.
“Here are the facts as they’ve been presented to me. Tucker was at school on Friday, under the supervision of Mr. Spencer until 3:00pm when he was picked up by his grandparents, the McKinnons. Bronson McKinnon picked him up from his parents’ house at 5:00pm and was taken home where Mr. Spencer joined them for pizza and a movie at 6:00pm. Around 6:30pm, Alicia McKinnon arrived to pick Tucker up for her scheduled custody at which time a verbal disagreement broke out and she took the child with her, where he remained until Sunday evening when he was returned to the custody of Mr. McKinnon. The bruises were discovered by Mr. Spencer and Principal James around 1:00pm on Monday. Does anyone have anything to contribute to the timeline of events?”