by Lydia Rowan
“I’ve said all I need to,” Ariel said.
Then she turned and walked back to the hard, uncomfortable bench, and sat.
“Looks like this conversation is over,” Matt said.
The time for peace was over. They were about to go to war.
Chapter Twenty-Two
In the days after, Matt tried to comfort Ariel, tried to show as best he could that he would be there, that Matilda’s suggestion was beyond ridiculous. Ariel had nodded, seemed to agree, but Matt couldn’t shake the feeling that her leaving him wasn’t completely off the table.
There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Dani. He’d known the girl for less than a year and knew he would do the same. But the thought of losing them so soon after he found them, and missing the chance to be with Ariel and the new baby, was too much to bear.
“How are you and the new bride holding up?” his dad asked as he walked up the front steps of the old house, where Matt had come to pick up a few things.
Matt hadn’t spoken to his father, but the looming custody battle was no secret, so he wasn’t surprised that his father knew.
Matt sifted through the box on the porch and then shrugged. “She’s all right. Scared as hell, though.”
“It’s a terrible thing, trying to take a child away from her mother. But nothing that woman does surprises me anymore,” his father said, settling on the porch swing.
Matt settled beside him, and they swung in silence before he said suddenly, “What if she wins?”
He hadn’t discussed that possibility with Ariel, didn’t even want her to know that he’d considered that it could happen, and what they would do if it did.
“She won’t, son.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because it’s not right and because you’re on her side. And I know you’ll move heaven and earth to make sure that little girl stays where she belongs.”
He looked at his father, who, for the first time in as long as Matt could remember, didn’t look sad or angry. Only pure conviction shone on his face.
And for reasons he didn’t understand and couldn’t explain, his father’s confidence buoyed him.
“Yes, I will,” Matt said, and then he and his father lapsed into silence.
••••
“Part of me still can’t believe this is happening,” Ariel said.
“Me either. But we will get through this,” Matt said, reaching over and entwining his fingers with hers.
She squeezed his hand, probably too tight, but he didn’t flinch, didn’t even move. And she was again reminded of what made him so special, and she thanked God she had someone beside her for this, even though this situation was entirely of her own making.
“Don’t look like that, Ariel,” Matt said.
“Like what?” she responded.
“Like this is your fault,” he said and something in his voice made her turn.
She’d always thought herself a little bit distant, but it seemed nothing escaped Matt. “But it is, it is my fault. I know that she tried to goad me, and I played right into her hands.”
“You can’t be responsible for Matilda’s actions. And if it hadn’t been that it would have been something else. She will not be satisfied until she has Dani, and that’s not your fault. All we can do now is do whatever it takes to make sure our girl stays home where she belongs.”
He squeezed her hand again, held her gaze and she felt the tears welling in her eyes. He loved Dani, and he was willing to fight for her. And through the fear and uncertainty, Ariel reflected on how incredibly lucky she was.
“Right this way,” the receptionist said.
They’d been waiting for about ten minutes, and now it was time to meet with the family lawyer from Charlotte. Matt had assured her that this guy had a great reputation. And she trusted him.
“Dr. and Mrs. Poole, I presume,” the small man who sat at the conference room table said.
It took a second for her to realize that he was referencing her. She’d heard it more than once, but being referred to as Mrs. Poole was still something of a novelty.
“Yes. Pleased to meet you, Frank. You come highly recommended,” Matt said as he shook the man’s hand.
“Pleased to meet you as well. Have a seat. I’m sure you’re anxious to get to the matter at hand,” he said.
He wasn’t rushed, but he was no nonsense either, something Ariel greatly appreciated.
“Have you looked at the paperwork we submitted?” Matt said.
The lawyer nodded and then opened a folder that sat in front of him on the conference table. “We’re putting together the adoption papers, but I’m more concerned about the custody issue. I’ll be honest, this whole suit is completely cockamamie,” he said.
Ariel’s heart soared.
“But don’t get your hopes up just yet,” Frank said in the next breath.
Ariel narrowed her eyes at the man, wondering if he was intentionally messing with them.
“If it’s crap, why not get my hopes up?” Ariel said.
“Because these little country judges do whatever they want. Grandparents’ rights is an evolving area of the law, but they rarely come into play, and usually in the context of a heated divorce or custody battle, and only after a judge has determined that it’s in the child’s best interest to have a meaningful relationship with her grandparents. That doesn’t apply here, and as far as I’m concerned, the Mallick family has no standing to sue for custody of Danielle. But”—he paused and looked from her to Matt—“this can and probably will proceed. My plan is to work to get it tossed, but you need to be prepared for any eventuality, up to and including losing Dani.”
“That’s not an option,” Matt said, voice firm.
“I know you feel that way, but it is an option, and it can happen. If this gets in front of the judge, there’s no way to predict what he or she might do, and while I’m confident an unfavorable order would get thrown out on appeal, do you really want to wrangle for years and risk Dani being permanently removed from your home?”
“That’s not an option either,” Matt said, voice now steely.
“Then you need to work it out with the Mallicks,” Frank said.
“Work it out? That woman is entirely unreasonable. I can’t work anything out with her,” Ariel said.
“Well, attacking her and trashing her house definitely doesn’t help your cause,” he said, looking at Ariel with contempt.
“We’re done. Let’s go, Ariel,” Matt said.
“You can leave, but anyone else you find is gonna tell you exactly the same thing, and no one you find will be as good as me. I don’t like to waste time or mince words, and I suspect you don’t either.”
Ariel was furious, but some part of her saw reason.
“So why are you goading me?” Ariel asked.
“You think this is goading?” Frank said. “I know the Mallicks’ lawyer, and she’s a bulldog. Every little thing about you is going to be examined and found lacking. You’re little temper is the least of your concerns.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean you’re already starting off in a terrible place with open charges, which I suggest you get taken care of immediately. Then there’s the little shotgun wedding. Any reason for the rush?” he asked, looking back and forth between Matt and Ariel as if they were guilty of a grave conspiracy.
“We’re expecting,” Matt said.
“I figured as much.” He turned his focus to Ariel. “So what kind of example could you set? Are we sure about the child’s parentage? How many men have you seen, Mrs. Poole? Was it just Dr. Poole? Others? How many? Did Dani know about them?”
She felt Matt tense, but she squeezed his hand, hoping to calm him.
“I get your point. This is a shit show. I get that. Now what do we do?”
“All things being equal, getting married was probably smart, though it’s going to be clear to the judge why you did it. Still, we can paint that as you both being responsible and c
ommitted to family values.”
Ariel huffed and Frank, who had looked over at Matt, turned back to her. “Hey, it’s not politically correct, but it’s the truth, and depending on the judge you appear in front of, you will be at the mercy of their own biases, and trust me, the Mallicks are going to paint you with a letter of the deepest scarlet. So keep living the straight and narrow, and if I were you, I would go to the Mallicks and grovel.”
Matt tensed again, and Ariel’s mind immediately rebelled against the idea.
“Why grovel?”
“You want her to dismiss the charges, so get back on her good side. I assume you don’t have a problem with the girl seeing her grandparents?”
Ariel shook her head.
“Then smooth it over, get her to dismiss this case and drop the charges. It’ll be easier for everyone and you’ll get a better outcome. Litigation ensures hard feelings, and I don’t think she understands that. But once you do this, there’s no going back. And as much of an asshole as I may seem, I want every one of my clients to be happy. In this case, I see a way to resolve this. You’ll have to swallow some pride, but you should take it.”
“Matt, you know Matilda won’t listen. She smells blood and thinks she has me right where she wants me. She won’t cooperate.”
Matt’s silence and his stony expression was more than enough confirmation. “She won’t,” he finally said.
Then he looked toward Frank. “As awful as it sounds, I don’t think either of us would be above begging if we thought it had a chance in hell of working. But it won’t. So what’s our next option?”
“Mediation. We’ll get everybody in the room and try to talk this out.”
“And how is that different from groveling?”
“It makes it a little more formal. She may feel like she has the upper hand, but things might look a little different if someone else is delivering the message.”
“Okay, mediation, then. Are they obligated to come?” Matt asked.
“No. But when I present my motion to dismiss and the draft of the letter I’m going to send to the bar, I think they’ll be willing to come to the table.”
Ariel felt her hope rising again but tried to temper herself. “And when can this happen?”
“It’ll take two or three weeks to get everything in place,” Frank said.
She looked to Matt, who stared back, eyes calm with resolve.
“Let’s do it.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
It turned out to be more like four weeks, each of which felt like a month, but it was finally time.
Dani was in school, and Mandy would bring her home if the meeting ran long.
The ride to Frank’s office was tense, but Matt tried to hold it together for Ariel.
The mediation would be at a separate location, but they were going to Frank’s early to prepare. The thirty-minute ride was too long but not nearly long enough, and by the time they arrived, Matt could see that Ariel was flagging. She got out of the car, but before she started to walk, he pulled her in for a tight embrace, the crush of her breasts against his chest, the hard protrusion of her belly, the softness of her thighs against him perfect.
“We’re not going to lose her, Ariel,” he said, whispering into her ear. He punctuated the words with clenched fists and then relaxed and let his hands roam up and down her back. “We’re not going to lose her.”
And they wouldn’t. Matt would fight with everything he had, every dime, every contact, every breath. They would stay together.
Ariel practically melted into him, breathing deep, shuddering breaths, and after a few moments she stood straight.
Her gaze centered on his, her eyes now bright with fight and love and not the sadness that had been haunting her. She nodded. “Let’s go.”
Heartened by her renewed spirit, Matt grasped her hand and led her into the office, where Frank was waiting.
“Okay, so this is how it’s going to go. I’m gonna give my little spiel about working together, and then their lawyer is going to give hers, and then the mediator will take over. She is good, did about twenty years with CPS before she retired, and she knows how important it is to keep things stable. She’s gonna be impartial, but expect her to grill you about those charges. All things being equal, I think she’s sympathetic to our side. Oh, and they’re gonna play up the dead-son angle, but don’t fall for it. It’s a tragedy, and everyone feels sorry for her and regrets her loss, but that’s beside the point, so stick to Dani and making sure her life is as it should be.”
He looked at Matt. “Same with you. Focus on the fact that you’re the best of the best, and when she digs up all the gossip about your unstable upbringing and your mentally unstable father, don’t fall for it.”
“Still not mincing words, Frank,” Matt said, and the humor in his voice was something he actually felt.
“No time. Ariel here has her issues, and they’re going to try to make you one as well. It’s nothing personal, but if they start digging into ancient history, I’m going to shut it down, so don’t react. Have you reconciled with your father?”
“Is that important?” Matt almost choked on the words, but he’d meant it when he said he’d do anything to protect Dani.
“Couldn’t hurt. And bottom line is we’re going to present a happy, perfect, and completely sane nuclear family. Anything that keeps us on point there is good. So don’t get distracted and be natural. You are in the right here, she’s in the wrong, so no matter what they throw at you, no matter how much she tries to rattle you—Do. Not. Fall. For. It.”
“And this is all off the record though, right? I mean God forbid if this doesn’t work out, is the judge going to consider it?”
Frank nodded. “That’s right. The judge won’t consider or be privy to anything we discuss, but if their lawyer sees an area she can mine, she’ll go for it. It’s time,” Frank said as he stood.
They followed behind him and crossed the busy street to enter another office building, and as they rode the elevator, Matt felt tension fill the small space. But when the bell dinged and the doors opened, he felt nothing.
The battle was on.
••••
“I want to start by thanking everyone for being here,” the mediator said. She seemed nice, fair, but as Ariel stared across the table at Reverend and Mrs. Mallick and the stern-looking warrior lawyer beside them, the bravado that had been her default only moments ago was spent. Matilda was disapproving as always, so that was nothing new, but the fact that she was even here, that Dani was at risk, was still somewhat unbelievable. That it had come to this…
Matt squeezed her knee, and almost mindlessly, she covered his hand with hers.
Matilda couldn’t have seen the motion through the table, but she scowled, and Ariel wondered how she’d been so blind to the depths of Matilda’s disdain for so long.
“So, now that everybody understands what our goals are, let’s start with the Mallicks,” the mediator said.
Ariel realized that she had been so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t heard even a fraction of what the woman had said. But it probably wasn’t important anyway. Matilda wasn’t here to compromise.
“I just want to say that I love my granddaughter and I’m sure that Ariel does too in her own way. But she is not creating a good environment for Dani to grow up in, and I would be doing a disservice to her and my son if I let Danielle stay where she is. Ariel, I know that it’s difficult for you to believe it, but I only have Danielle’s best interests at heart, and if you could look inside my heart, I think you’d see that as well. Don’t think of this as me taking her away from you. I’m just trying to do the right thing by her.”
Matilda paused, exhaled, and then continued. “You’ve moved on, and that’s fine, I understand—I do. I just want to do what’s best for Danielle and give you a chance to live your life free from the past.”
Ariel’s heart started to race—she could barely believe what she’d heard. She didn’t know if Matild
a believed what she’d said, but that she even said it was appalling. To think that she would give her daughter away to start some new life…
“Matilda,” Ariel started, remembering Frank’s admonishment and trying to keep herself calm, though it was difficult given what she’d just heard. “I know you love Dani and only want what’s best for her. I hope that…”
The words died in Ariel’s throat.
“I hope that you’re ready for what’s coming,” Matt said, picking up where Ariel had left off. She glanced at Matt, shocked by the impressive scowl on his face and after glancing at Matilda, even more shocked that she seemed to be retreating from it.
“We came here with the intention of working with you, of trying to do something to keep things from getting more out of hand. But I can see now we’ve wasted all of our time. That you would even suggest we get rid of Dani and live some fantasy life without her shows me that. We love that little girl, and she belongs at home with us, with her mother and—as soon as I can sign the papers—her father.”
Matilda flinched like she’d been punched, but Matt continued, undeterred.
“You have a choice, Matilda. If you want to be a part of Dani’s life, you’re going to drop this. Because if you pursue it, we will fight you until the end of time, and you won’t see her again. Ever. So think quickly and think wisely. You’ve done enough damage. Ask yourself how far you’re willing to go. Because if we leave this room, you will not like what’s going to happen.”
The room fell silent, everyone else seemingly as surprised as Ariel was. At no point had Matt raised his voice or even spoken with anything beyond his usual calm. But underneath, she heard how deadly serious he was and believed him when he said they would fight it. And was extremely glad he was on her side.
She glanced over at Frank, who watched them passively. This had gone very far off script, but he didn’t seem too upset by that.
“It’s not fair!” Matilda said suddenly, vehemently.
She shot Ariel a look that chilled her to her very core.