Wade felt a twinge of guilt. Locke was making him out to be a saint, when he had rarely taken the kids to church after Starr’s death. He wondered if Parnell and his fiancée were involved in a church.
Frank Locke continued, “Let’s look, Your Honor, at the factors Kansas statute considers in deciding custody”––he ticked them off on his fingers––“the considerable length of time the children have already been in Mr. Sullivan’s care, the desires the children have expressed to remain with Mr. Sullivan, the positive interaction and interrelationship these children have with Wade Sullivan, the admirable adjustment the children made––under his guidance––to their home, school, and community after their mother’s death.”
Locke stopped and cleared his throat. He studied the floor for a moment, then his gaze rose with purpose. “Unfortunately, Your Honor, another factor in Kansas statute––one that can’t be ignored in this case––is evidence of spousal abuse. As police records in two different Minneapolis jurisdictions testify, Mr. Parnell has a history of abuse toward the children’s mother.”
At that, Parnell and his attorney immediately put their heads together. Hinson raised a hand and the judge nodded.
Hinson spoke through clenched jaws. “Your Honor, this has no bearing on the case we are discussing. It happened years ago under a very stressful, unique set of circumstances. Mr. Parnell has successfully completed anger management classes, and he has never––not even one time––laid a hand on his children. This is irrelevant to this case and should not be a factor in this decision whatsoever, Your Honor.”
The judge picked up a pen and scratched something on a notepad before motioning for Frank Locke to continue.
Locke moved ahead as though he hadn’t noticed the interruption. “Always, first and foremost in a case such as this, the ultimate consideration must be ‘What is in the best interest of the children?’ I don’t believe it could be any more clear that, in the case of Beau and Lacey and Danica Parnell, their best interest is served by having them remain permanently in the care and custody of the man who has been a father to them in the best sense of the word for as long as any of them can remember. Their memories of their mother are invested in the home they shared with Wade Sullivan. Their friends from elementary school and Sunday School, and from the community, are here in Coyote. Their only other living relative, their mother’s sister Sophia Braden, lives here and has helped Mr. Sullivan in various ways with the children’s upbringing.”
Again, Hinson waved a hand, asking the judge to recognize him.
Judge Paxton nodded. “Mr. Hinson?”
“Your honor, it’s unfortunate this has to be brought up, but I believe it is important to note that Sophia Braden is anything but a good role model for the children––and especially for Mr. Parnell’s daughters. She has a history of drug abuse and”––he hesitated, dropping his head for a moment––“well, let’s just say that her morals––as a woman––leave much to be desired.”
A wave of nausea rolled over Wade. It was all he could do not to turn around and scan the courtroom to see if Sophie had come after all. Now he prayed she wasn’t there. It would kill her if she knew her past was being used against him and the kids this way.
Wade waited for Locke to speak in Sophie’s defense, to argue that Sophie’s sins, too, were in the past and irrelevant to this case. But of course, he’d never told Locke about Sophie’s history. It had seemed too deep a breach of loyalty, especially when it was in the past. He felt hot anger rise in him. He sent up a prayer that Parnell’s attorney wouldn’t take his comments any further.
Wade let out a grateful sigh when the judge nodded, motioning for Locke to continue.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Locke said. “I will counter by saying that Mr. Sullivan has seen to it that the children have many positive female influences in their lives. They spend a good deal of time with female teachers and daycare givers, women much like Carma Weist.” He glanced pointedly back toward Darrin’s fiancée. “As well, they have spent many hours with the wife of Mr. Sullivan’s business partner.” He turned to Wade. “I’m sorry, her name slips my mind…”
“Margie…Margaret Dolecek,” Wade filled in.
“The children are not lacking for a feminine influence in their lives, as anyone who has spent any amount of time with them could testify.” Locke pointed a stern finger at no one in particular. “As I was saying, if this is truly about what is best for the children, it would take a stretch of the imagination to see how it could possibly be in Beau and Lacey and Danica Parnell’s best interest to move them from their home in the country to a faraway city with two people they barely know. To take them away from the only man they have ever known as a father, and the house where so many memories of their mother reside. To take them away from the friends and teachers at their schools and church. Away from their beloved pet dog. Away from everything dear and familiar to them. I pray the court will see that the only decision that can possibly be in the best interest of these children is for them to remain here in Coyote with Wade Sullivan.”
When Frank Locke sat down, Wade let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He was pleased with Locke’s speech. If the judge was listening at all, surely he was convinced. Wade risked a glance over his shoulder to see Dee’s reaction. She met his gaze, then looked away quickly, her expression divulging no emotion.
The judge pushed his reading glasses back up on his nose and shuffled the papers on his desk. “I’d like to ask a few questions of Ms. Thackery, the foster care social worker.”
Everyone turned to the gallery to look at Dee. She straightened and sat forward in her seat. “Could you describe for me the children’s interaction with Mr. Parnell during visitation?”
Dee hesitated, clearing her throat. “Well, those visitations have taken place at St. Joe’s––St. Joseph’s. Usually the kids work on puzzles or play games, look at magazines, that type of thing. Mr. Parnell usually…tries to talk with them about whatever they’re doing. They…they’re pretty quiet––shy, I guess––with him. But they seem to get along okay.”
“And Ms. Weist?” the judge asked.
Dee wrung her hands in her lap. “They seem to like her. She…she’s very good with them, trying to draw them out…” She shrugged, letting her words hang in the air.
“And Mr. Sullivan? Can you describe his relationship with the children?”
Wade watched Dee closely. Did the others see the way her face brightened, the spark that flickered in her eyes? Or was he imagining it?
“Well, it’s obvious the children feel very much at home with Wade––Sullivan …Mr. Sullivan.” She looked at her lap and cleared her throat again. “Usually he plays games with the kids…card games, or they do puzzles. A lot of times they play outside. He’ll throw the baseball with them, or they throw the Frisbee for the dog. The kids are always eager to go to visitation with him. They laugh a lot when they’re with him. It’s like…well, it’s like they’re home.”
The judge nodded slowly. “So, from what you’ve observed, you would not have reservations about the children being in the care of either Mr. Parnell or Mr. Sullivan.”
Her gaze flitted in Wade’s direction. Before their eyes met, she looked quickly to the judge, but Wade didn’t miss her slight hesitation.
“No, Your Honor… I wouldn’t have reservations…about either of them.”
Chapter 38
Dee parked behind Wade’s pickup in front of the house, and stepped out of the car to help the kids with their seatbelts. As soon as she turned them loose, Beau and Lacey raced to greet Wade, who was waiting for them on the porch. Going around to the other side of the car to help Danica, Dee heard Shadow’s happy yipping and the older kids cooing at the dog as though it were a new baby.
Dee knelt by the car door and started to unbuckle Danica from the child safety seat. The sun felt good on her back, and she thought what a happy routine this had become for her. She heard Wade’s voice behind her and turned to
glance over her shoulder at him.
“Good morning.” He gave a quick wave and flashed her a smile––a smile she knew she’d spend the rest of the day chasing from her thoughts.
He bent beside her. “Need some help there?”
She moved out of the way and let him lift Dani from the car seat.
“Hey there, Dani Banany! How are you?” He gave the little girl a quick hug, then swooped her over his shoulder, blowing raspberries on her neck.
“Wade! That tickles!” Dani’s squeals of glee floated away on the newly crisp autumn breeze.
Dee stood by the car and watched them, thinking how sharp the contrast between Wade’s way with the children and Darrin Parnell’s. Darrin’s interactions with his children were more like business meetings, with him giving polite lectures or interviewing them about their activities.
A shadow of guilt moved over her, and she wished for the hundredth time that she’d been more specific when the judge asked her about the children’s interactions with Darrin Parnell. But she’d been afraid. Afraid that her feelings for Wade would be exposed. Afraid that her prejudice for Wade had colored her judgment of Darrin. Clay had been so right. Why hadn’t she listened to him?
“Dee? You coming?”
Wade’s shout drew her from her musings. He was standing on the front porch, waiting for her.
“I’ll be right there.” She slammed the car door and pressed the lock mechanism on the keychain.
“Okay with you if we stay outside today?” he asked as she came up the walk.
“Sure. It’d be a shame to waste this beautiful weather.”
He shaded his eyes and looked up at the sky. “We had almost two inches of rain yesterday.”
“That’s great. Ought to make the farmers happy.”
“Well, it sure makes me happy. Hang on a sec…” He disappeared around the side of the house and came back with his hands behind his back. He winked at Dee, then hollered for the kids. “Hey, you guys!”
All three came running, Shadow in tow.
“Looky what I found,” he said, grinning and producing a brand-new soccer ball with a twist of his wrist.
“Cool!” Beau said, reaching for it.
“Here…” Wade motioned for him to go long and winged the ball in the air. Beau’s gaze followed the ball’s path, and he ran after it, leaping in the air to bounce it neatly off his head.
Wade gave a whoop. “Great shot, buddy!”
The girls dashed onto the lawn, and the game was on.
Dee plopped onto the porch steps and watched, laughing at their antics, cheering when one of them managed to put the ball between the two old elm trees Wade had designated as goal posts.
With Wade at goalie, Beau dribbled the ball down the lawn for a third score.
“Oh, man! Not again!” Wade moaned as the ball sailed between the trees. “That’s it for me, buddy. You’re too good for this old man.” He tackled Beau, and they wrestled on the ground for a minute.
Groaning, Wade struggled to his feet, brushed the grass off his jeans, and lumbered over to the porch. “Gee, thanks for all your help,” he told Dee, plopping down beside her on the steps.
“Sorry, but soccer is definitely not my game. Now if it was Spoons, we’d be in business.”
He gave her a sidewise smile and turned back to watch the kids.
Feeling suddenly vulnerable at his nearness, she rubbed her arms and changed the subject. “It’s chilly sitting out here. That’s sure a switch.”
“Here, you can have this…” He stood and peeled off his sweatshirt, tugging at the white T-shirt he wore underneath. “I’m burning up after all that running.” Before she could protest, he lopped the sweatshirt over her shoulders and ran back to join the kids on the lawn.
Dee brought one sleeve of the sweatshirt to her face and breathed in the heady mixture of autumn grass and laundry soap. And Wade’s aftershave. The slightest tremor whispered through her. She wrapped both sleeves around her, then felt almost guilty, as though it were Wade’s very arms embracing her instead of a silly sweatshirt.
The girls’ shrieks and laughter made her look up. The soccer ball sat in the middle of a puddle at the edge of the driveway. Beau and Wade attempted to fish it out with a forked tree branch. Lacey and Dani stirred the smaller rain puddles with sticks, splashing and giggling together.
After a minute, Dee noticed Dani shivering, standing rigid with her arms folded over her midsection, hands tucked under her chin. Dee eased off the porch and pulled Wade’s sweatshirt from her shoulders. “Here, sweetie, let’s wrap this around you.” She draped the thick sweatshirt over Dani’s slender shoulders. It engulfed her, reaching below her knees. Dee crossed the sleeves in front and pulled them snug, giving the little girl a quick hug. She looked up to find Wade’s eyes on her.
He quickly went back to helping Beau wash off the ball. But in that instant, a memory from her childhood pierced Dee’s mind.
She must have been about eight or nine. They were living in Michigan then, and a thunderstorm had turned their backyard into a minefield of puddles. She’d fallen into one and started to cry. But her dad ran to help her up. Then, to her surprise, he stepped into the puddle beside her. Before she knew it, her mother joined them, and soon all three of them were splashing and laughing together.
It was a rare, sweet memory, before the bad times had started. She hadn’t thought of it in years. But now, watching Wade play with the kids, feeling such a part of his little family, she realized how badly she wanted this for herself, and for any children she might someday be blessed to have.
“Are you okay?” Wade bent to peer into her face.
She shook away the wistful thoughts and gave a little laugh. “I’m fine. I was just remembering…playing in the puddles when I was little.”
“It’s kind of fun, isn’t it?”
She nodded, then looked pointedly at the kids. “Except…maybe we’d better start drying everybody off. I need to take them to school in about fifteen minutes.”
He checked his watch and shook his head. “Is it my imagination, or does this hour go by faster every week?”
And now it’s almost over. Oh, Wade. Tears came abruptly to her eyes, and she turned away, pretending to brush some imaginary bit of dirt or grass from her slacks. She squeezed her eyelids tight, struggling to compose herself.
Wade ran to the house for towels, and Dee remembered another day they’d romped in the water and laughed together. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She could hardly remember a time when this man and these children had not filled her thoughts, her heart. She’d had some clients over the years who tugged at her heartstrings a little more than others. But this family––for they were a family, in the best sense of the word––had captured her heart and changed her forever.
She heard the back door slam. Wade came jogging around the corner of the house with a stack of towels. He tossed one to each of the kids and handed one to Dee.
Looking at Beau, Wade laughed. “Man, you look like you’ve been swimming. How did you manage to get that soaked?”
Beau shrugged, then grinned. “Makin’ all those goals, I guess.”
Wade gave a growl, threw a towel over Beau’s head, and started rubbing.
“Hey!” Beau yelled. But Dee noticed he wasn’t trying too hard to get away.
She started in on the girls, who had at least managed to keep their hair dry. She gave one last rub of the towel and stood back to inspect Lacey. “Not bad, kiddo, but I think you’re going to have to lose the socks. They’re soaked.”
Dee helped her untie the shoes and peel off the damp cotton anklets, then moved to Dani, who was already tugging at her shoelaces. Dee helped her with her socks and ordered both girls up to the porch to dry their feet and put their shoes back on.
Wade sent Beau to the house with the dirty towels, then turned to Dee, his gaze seeking hers. She saw desperation in his eyes, and it nearly tore her apart.
“Will I…if things don’t go like I
hope on Monday…at the courthouse…will I get a chance to tell the kids good-bye?”
“Yes. Yes, you will, Wade. I’ll make sure of that.” If anyone dared to refuse Wade that, she would personally tear them limb from limb.
Wade reached out and touched her arm briefly. “Dee…whatever happens on Monday, I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done to make it possible for me to…be with the kids like this. You’ve made a terrible time bearable, even happy, for me. I…I appreciate that more than you could ever know.”
The tears came again, and she could only nod over the lump in her throat.
He looked down, rubbing circles in the grass with the toe of his tennis shoe. “You’ve made a difference in my life at a very rough time. You’ve been a bright spot…a blessing. In spite of everything, I’d like to think…we’ve become friends. And I hope…I hope I can see you again and––”
She held up a hand. “Wade…please. Don’t. Thank you…thank you for telling me, but…I can’t think about that right now.”
“I know…I know.” He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I just…I didn’t want you to leave without knowing how I feel.”
She nodded. “I have to go. The kids are going to be late for school.”
He stepped back and turned to the porch, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Come on, guys. It’s time to go. Hustle up.”
They came running. While Dee buckled Dani in, Wade helped the other two with their seatbelts. It was a routine they’d developed over the weeks. After the first few visits, the kids had seemed to accept that their time with Wade would be short. They’d adjusted amazingly well and rarely complained anymore when it was time to go.
She looked from Beau’s face, to Lacey’s, to Dani’s. What would their lives be like this time next week? She looked up at the house where the sun reflected off the windows. Next Tuesday morning before school, would they be waking up in their bedrooms here––the rooms their mama had painted special for each of them? Or would they be on their way to Minneapolis?
A Nest of Sparrows Page 27