After ushering Ashley inside, Gabi asked her to sit down while she approached a fortyish-looking, blonde receptionist she didn’t recognize. She looked at the nameplate. “Good morning, Mrs. Carey. I have a ten o’clock appointment with Mr. Steel. My name is Gabi Rafferty.”
“You’re right on time, Mrs. Rafferty.”
“I had to bring my daughter,” she said in a low voice. “Ashley doesn’t know what this is about yet. She’ll just sit in the chair and draw until I come out. I hope that’s all right.”
“No problem.” The woman winked. “We keep orange sodas on hand.”
“That’s very nice of you.”
The receptionist smiled. “Mr. Steel told me to send you right in when you arrived.”
“Thank you.” Gabi walked back to Ashley. “I shouldn’t be long, honey.”
“Okay. But hurry.”
“I promise.”
After giving her a kiss on top of her head, she hurried to the door at the right of the reception area and went inside. The man behind the desk got to his feet.
“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Rafferty.” They shook hands. “You’re looking well. Please sit down.”
“Thank you.”
Gabi took a seat opposite his desk. In his sixties by now, Mr. Steel had lost some hair over the past eight years, and what little he had left had gone pure silver. But he still had the aura of a man she could trust. “You seem unchanged, which is very reassuring to me.”
His gray eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Your lie is most welcome. Now to get down to business.” He put on his glasses. “Yesterday a courier delivered papers from your ex-husband’s attorney, Mr. Durham. He’s seeking joint custody of Ashley.”
“He can’t!” she cried, shooting to her feet. “He signed away his parental rights at the time of the divorce.”
“I understand how you feel. Sit down and calm yourself so we can talk this through.”
“I’m sorry.” She did his bidding, but the trembling wouldn’t stop. “Why didn’t the final divorce decree prevent this?”
“Because those orders pertained to the divorce. Since then his circumstances have changed, and he thinks he can win by opening up a new case.”
“How have they changed?” she cried.
“For one thing, your ex-husband has remarried and is living in an apartment in Pasadena.”
“What?” she gasped. Her knuckles turned white as she clung to the arms of the armchair. When Bev had told her Ryan was looking for her, Gabi hadn’t considered he might have a wife.
“I’ll read what’s been dictated here by Mr. Durham.” The lawyer cleared his throat. “‘After joining the military, my client, Mr. Ryan Rafferty, discovered he and his first wife were expecting a child. He had fears he might not survive the war and didn’t want to leave his widow burdened, thus the reason he wanted her to get an abortion. When she refused, they divorced and he was deployed.’
“‘During the war he received an injury that prevents him from impregnating a woman again. He has been given an honorable discharge from the service and is now married and employed at Ersher’s Aviation in Pasadena as a hydraulics specialist.’
“‘The couple is childless and wants to make a beautiful home for his daughter. Said couple is prepared to buy a house in Rosemead to be near said child and make up for the lost years.’”
Gabi shook her head. “He lied to his attorney about the reason he wanted me to get an abortion. I can’t believe this is happening.” Tears gushed down her face. “He couldn’t possibly win, could he? What about the abuse?”
He removed his glasses. “I’ll get to that in a minute. Naturally, I can’t predict an outcome of any court case, so it will depend on all the circumstances involved. But let me say this. Since he signed away all his rights the first time, it’s possible the court will consider it final and deny him any rights. It will be up to them to decide.”
Gabi buried her face in her hands.
“In my opinion, for what it’s worth, it’s doubtful he could get joint custody, considering his past history and knowing what we do about his abuse problem, which I will bring up and have thoroughly investigated. I’ll be subpoenaing anything that shows up on his military record. Rest assured no court is just going to send a seven-year-old child to a stranger because he happens to be the biological father.
“However, it’s possible that, because of his inability to impregnate his wife due to his injuries, he could sway the court enough to get some form of supervised visitation. But before that happens, your daughter would have to talk to the judge, and strict guidelines would be followed.
“If your ex-husband and your daughter were to establish a relationship, it might be possible he could get regular visitation rights. At that point he would be liable for child support.”
Gabi lifted her head. “I don’t want his money. I don’t want him anywhere near Ashley.”
Mr. Steel sat back in his swivel chair. “Bear with me for a moment, Mrs. Rafferty. I’ll be the one to reveal his real reasons for not wanting a baby in the first place. After both sides have given testimony, Mr. Durham will sum up the case. It will go something like this. ‘I’d like to remind you that this wounded vet’s life has dramatically changed since the time he was married before being deployed, that he has had an epiphany during the war and wants a relationship with his flesh-and-blood daughter. That he’s now home, having been honorably discharged, and has a solid job, has remarried and has agreed to go to counseling for his past spousal-abuse problem. Search your heart and conscience before rendering a verdict.’”
Gabi’s jaw hardened. “No doubt there’ll be some jurors who’ll want to give him a second chance.”
“That’s right. It will be up to me to represent your concern over his intolerance of your wanting to keep the baby, the discrepancy in his lies and, of course, his abuse. Those issues run deep. I intend to have them examined by an expert to learn why your ex-husband had such a violent reaction to the pregnancy. I’m convinced there are underlying problems that must be dealt with.”
“I agree.”
“Therefore, at the show-cause hearing, I’ll insist that Mr. Rafferty undergo psychiatric counseling for anger management and other deep-seated issues for a period of one year before he petitions the court again to see his daughter. During that period, we’re asking for a gag order to prevent him from coming anywhere near you or Ashley.”
“What if he tries anyway?”
“Then the judge will throw out the case. After that, if your ex-husband tried to come near, we would have him arrested.”
Gabi clasped her hands nervously. She had a lot to think about. Even with a restraining order, Mr. Steel couldn’t guarantee that Ryan wouldn’t try to approach Ashley. That meant Gabi had to have a serious talk with her daughter after they went out to the car.
For all she knew, Ryan could be waiting for them when they drove up to the apartment in Rosemead. Under the circumstances, Gabi had no choice but to prepare Ashley. She dreaded it, but the time had come.
“Will the judge honor your request that Ryan get psychiatric help for a year?”
“I wish I could give you an unequivocal yes.”
“In other words, he can rule the way he wants,” she said in a wooden voice.
“When your ex-husband’s first attorney is deposed to get his testimony about the abuse, depending on the findings, the judge might feel that six months rather than a year will be sufficient time to decide if supervised visitation is indicated. Then again, he may decide to rule in your favor and the case will be closed.”
“Until the next time,” she muttered heatedly.
“No. Be assured there can’t be a next time. The good news is you won’t have to appear at the first hearing, which is scheduled for next Monday. Mr. Durham pushed hard to get this early date.”
Gabi swallowed hard. “Thank heaven for that. It would be horrible to be in this kind of limbo much longer.”
“I know. Is there anythin
g else you want to ask me?”
“Can we stop him from bothering my former foster mother?”
“That’s already been written in. Is there anything else you want me to add to our response before I send the papers to Mr. Durham? He’ll receive them today and notify your ex-husband within the next twelve hours. That’s the agreement.”
“As far as I can tell, you’ve covered everything I’ve been worried about except your fee,” she murmured. “Could I work out a payment schedule with you?” If not, she would have to apply for a loan at her credit union.
“Why don’t we use the same one as before?”
“That’s incredibly generous of you.”
“You’re a courageous woman and mother. I’m on your side. Keep up that fighting spirit.”
“I will. Thank you, Mr. Steel.”
“After the hearing, I’ll phone you immediately and let you know what transpired.”
“I can’t ask for more than that.”
She said goodbye and walked out of his office, trying to prepare herself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead with Ashley. But she took only a few steps before she saw that her daughter wasn’t alone.
The hunky male seated next to her, coloring just as madly on his own drawing pad, was unmistakable, but there was no uniform today. He’d dressed in a navy crew-neck shirt and white cargo pants.
Gabi gasped. “Jeff?”
“Mommy!” her daughter cried, her blue eyes radiating happiness. “He decided to surprise us. Look at my baby bear! Jeff drew a moose!”
On legs that felt like jelly, Gabi managed to reach them without toppling over. Jeff lifted his handsome head and their gazes fused. “I figured you needed someone to keep Ashley company while you conducted important business.”
Joy exploded inside her, breaking through the darkness. “You’ve been out here all this time?”
Ashley nodded. “He came after you went in that other room. We’ve done pictures of Sergei and frogs and beavers.”
“Do you mind?” he asked quietly, his question obviously meant for Gabi.
Her eyelids prickled from too much emotion. “How can you even ask that question?”
His expression sobered. “Because you didn’t invite me to come here.”
She pressed a hand against her heart, which was thudding hard. “H-how did you get the time off?” she stammered, absolutely shocked he’d shown up like this.
“Ranger Jarvis told him he could come, Mommy. That’s his boss. He’s taking care of Sergei.” Her daughter seemed to know a lot more about Jeff than Gabi did. “Do you like my baby bear?”
It was almost impossible to tear her eyes away from Jeff’s long enough to concentrate on anything else. “He’s very cute.”
Jeff lifted his moose for her perusal. “What do you think about mine? I came across him at the park and named him Bullwinkle.” Ashley started giggling.
One look at his picture and Gabi burst into laughter. Jeff had always been a good draftsman, like his father. He’d drawn a big black male moose with a huge rack. The animal was caught in the front seat of a car with his head sticking out the broken windshield. The steering wheel dangled from the right side of his antlers.
“Jeff said the moose ran into a parked car and couldn’t get out. Isn’t that funny, Mommy?”
“Hilarious.”
“Did you know they can get really mean? His friend Cal had to tranquilize it and it took four rangers to pull him into the woods. When he woke up, he ran away.”
By now Mrs. Carey was laughing, too. Gabi introduced her to Jeff, explaining that he was a ranger at Yosemite Park.
The two shook hands. “That’s one of my favorite places.”
“Mine, too!” Ashley piped up.
“Uh-oh. There’s the phone. It was nice to meet all of you.”
While the receptionist dashed back to her desk, Gabi started putting all the art supplies into the bag. As Jeff helped her, their hands brushed, sending rivulets of delight through her body.
In a low aside, he said, “Why don’t I follow you back to your motel?”
She shook her head. “I already checked out before we drove over here.”
“Then we’ll go to lunch, where we can talk. There’s an In and Out Burger across the street. Unless, of course, you’ve already made plans with Don or Greg.”
“We don’t have any plans, do we, Mommy?”
He’d been talking with Ashley, who was a treasure trove of knowledge when she wanted to be. You just had to possess the right key, turn the lock and voilà.
“Not until after we’ve eaten. A hamburger sounds good.”
By tacit agreement they left the building and made their way to the restaurant on the other side of the busy street. Ashley monopolized the conversation throughout lunch. When it was over Jeff pulled three quarters from his pocket and handed them to her.
“Over by the door I saw a machine that holds jawbreakers.”
“I know. I love them.”
“So do I. Would you like to get us both one?”
She nodded. “Thanks, but what about Mommy?”
“She doesn’t like them.” His gaze flicked to Gabi’s. “At least she didn’t use to. Ask the cashier for a couple of chocolate mints.”
“Okay.” Ashley slid off the chair. “I’ll be right back.”
The second she ran off, Jeff looked at Gabi. “Quick, before she returns. Are you going back to Rosemead now?”
“Yes.”
He grimaced. “I don’t care what happened in that meeting this morning. It’s still not safe for you and Ashley, otherwise you wouldn’t have stayed at a motel last night.”
“I can’t keep hiding, Jeff. As soon as we get home, I plan to tell her everything. We have to live our lives.”
“When’s your first court hearing?”
“Next Monday, but I don’t have to appear.”
“In that amount of time your ex-husband could come around and harass you, or worse.”
He wasn’t about to let this go. “Ryan is being put under a restraining order. If he should show up, Mr. Steel says he’ll be arrested and the case dropped for good.”
Jeff shook his head. “Whatever happened in the meeting with your attorney, I know for a fact it won’t be safe for you to return to Rosemead yet. I don’t care what kind of restraining order is in place. We’re talking about what’s best for your daughter.”
Her jaw clenched. “Jeff, I—”
“Come back to Yosemite and stay with me, where you have protection,” he urged. “You told me yourself you don’t have to start school for close to three weeks. Look at this as a long holiday. Ashley and Nicky will have the time of their lives.”
“I couldn’t do it to you.”
“That’s absurd.” His voice brooked no argument. “I have a whole house going to waste. Most of the time I’m not even there. When I return my rental car to the L.A. airport, we’ll put yours in long-term parking and fly back to Merced. From there we’ll head back to the park in the Volvo. It’s settled.”
“No, Jeff…”
His jaw tightened. “That isn’t what you would have said to me once.”
An adrenaline rush kept her from being able to sit still. “The situation is different now.”
“You’re right.” A bleak look had entered his eyes, bewildering her. “We’re both free and over eighteen. Bev’s no longer a threat to either of us.”
His words stopped her cold. “What do you mean? Your father was the one who—”
“Shh. I’ll explain later. Your daughter’s coming.”
Before she knew it, Jeff had gotten out of the booth and swept Ashley up in his strong arms. “Where are our jawbreakers?”
“Right here, but they didn’t have any mints, Mommy.”
“That’s all right, honey.”
Jeff looked at the two balls. “Which color do you want?”
“Blue.”
“Good, because I like green. Can I have it now?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s stick them in our mouths together. One, two, three!” With a little laugh, she put one in his, the other in her own.
Gabi remembered him pulling that trick on her with cinnamon hots before kissing her without stopping. So many memories were streaming back unbidden.
“Do you still have the last quarter?”
“Yes.” Ashley’s cheek bulged.
“Let’s get one for Nicky on our way out.”
“But he’s not here.”
“I thought you could take it to him. How would you and your mother like to go back to the park with me?”
Ashley’s eyes rounded. “You mean now?”
“I mean right now.”
The explosion of excitement in those blue depths before her daughter hugged Jeff haunted Gabi, because the one thing she’d hoped wouldn’t happen had. Ashley had bonded with Jeff in a very real way. Gabi didn’t want to think about how painful life would be when it came time for them to leave him and the park a second time.
“CAN WE CALL NICKY and see if he can come over?”
Ashley’s question couldn’t have been more welcome. Jeff had just pulled in the garage after their drive from Merced. Gabi had insisted on paying for her and Ashley’s flight from L.A. He’d decided not to argue with her. She’d come back to the park with him, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.
“Sure we can, just as soon as we get your bags inside the house.”
“It’s dinnertime, honey,” Gabi reminded her. “His parents might have other plans for him.”
“If he can’t come, can we go get Sergei?”
Jeff climbed out of the car. He went around to help Gabi, then opened the back door for Ashley. “I’ll call Chase and find out.” After pulling the bags from the trunk, he opened the door into the house and the three of them walked through to the kitchen.
He liked the feeling of togetherness so much he could taste it. The knowledge that Gabi and her daughter would be his guests for the next few weeks—unless, heaven forbid, something unforeseen happened—gave him a brand-new reason to be alive. The woman he’d thought lost to him forever had turned up again. He wasn’t about to lose her a second time.
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