by K. L. Myers
Paisley's head snapped in his direction.
Paxton quickly rose from his chair. “Excuse me? What the hell is your problem? You haven’t called me once.” He glanced over to his sister. “Did your phone ring?”
Paisley walked over to her desk and reached into the drawer. “I don’t know; my phone isn’t in my bag.” She shuffled the papers around on her desk and found the cellular device underneath a contract she was working on. “Oops. Looks like I left it behind. I’m sorry, Braxton.”
Braxton turned to Paxton. “Did you leave your phone on your desk as well?”
Paxton dug in his pocket, pulling out his mobile and showing it to Braxton. “Nope. Mine is right where it was ten minutes ago when I took a call from a client.” He made a point of checking his call history and showing Braxton. “No missed calls from you, brother.”
Braxton opened his call log to show Paxton the ten calls he’d placed to him over the last hour and thirty minutes, and shoved it in his face.
Paxton took the phone from Braxton and glanced at it before tossing it back. “You called my office phone, asshole. Now apologize to your wife for your misplaced anger.”
“She’s not my wife. Our family is a joke.” Braxton immediately regretted the words the moment he’d let them spew out. He had been angry, and he hadn’t thought it through before he’d responded.
Paxton’s fist flew through the air, connecting with Braxton’s face. He stumbled backward, trying to right himself from the blow.
“If I ever hear you say that again, you can consider this partnership over, along with our friendship.” Paxton marched toward Paisley’s door but stopped just before he exited. “She may not be the woman you chose as your wife, but she’s accepted you and your child into her life. And hasn’t asked a single thing of you other than your respect. So, show it.” Paxton slammed the office door behind him, leaving Braxton alone with Paisley.
Braxton stood before Paisley, ready to offer up his soul if that was what it took to make amends. There was anguish in her eyes and the tears waiting to spill over. “I’m sorry, butterfly. I didn’t mean it to come out that way.”
Paisley raised her hand to him, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t; you don’t get to call me butterfly or apologize for your cruel words and expect me to forgive you instantly. Whether you meant to say it or not, the heart speaks what it feels.”
Paisley turned her back on Braxton and walked to the window. She wiped a single tear from her face as it fell and focused on the people moving about on the street below. “I know I’m not your wife. At least not in the way a wife should be and that’s alright; neither of us feels that way about one another.”
She paused, seemingly at war with herself, perhaps trying to find the right words.
“But, I am entitled to respect. I’m sure not being able to get ahold of me worried you, but you should already know that I’d never let anything happen to Emmy.” She turned to face Braxton. “I think you should go before either one of us says anything further that we can’t ever take back.”
Braxton nodded in acknowledgment before he lowered his head and strolled out of her office.
Things had been tense in the Michaels home over the last three weeks. She’d been sure the final two home visits would reveal to the social worker that they weren’t truly husband and wife. Yet they passed their last visit with flying colors.
It seemed all the years Paisley had pretended she didn’t have feelings for Braxton were just the prerequisite she had needed to pull off the best acting job ever.
Today, as they sat in front of the judge, they hid their nervousness behind smiles. Paisley had decided to let her hurt go. It hadn’t been the first time Braxton had eviscerated her heart and she was sure it wouldn’t be the last. She squeezed Braxton’s arm as she leaned into him. He tugged her closer as they waited for the judge to advise the court of his decision.
Richard and Bonnie had flown into town for the hearing and arrived last night. Through this whole hearing process, they had never once asked to see their granddaughter. This was something that our attorney had pointed out several times in letters to the judge. Braxton and told Samuel he believed Bonnie was trying to hold on to daughter by having Emmy with her.
“All rise. The honorable Judge Adkins now presides,” the court clerk announced as the stout older man took a seat behind his bench.
“Before I announce my decision, I want to say a few words.” His eyes bore directly into Braxton and Paisley. “At first, I was certain that your marriage was of convenience and solely for the purpose of this court hearing. But over the last several months, I’ve read reports from child services that, frankly, have amazed me. The dedication both of you have applied to ensuring the minor in question is protected and loved is equal to that of any pair of birth parents. I’ve read the depositions from all parties and I can’t disagree that this arrangement is unorthodox. The Iveys are both natural grandparents to the minor and can provide for her financially and physically. Their home would be a safe and sound environment which the minor would be able to grow and prosper in.”
Braxton leaned over and whispered in Paisley’s ear. “He’s going to side in favor of Alissa’s parents. I can feel it.”
Paisley narrowed her eyes at him. She hoped he’d be quiet, so she could hear the judge. She would have told him so, but tears pooled in his eyes. As worried as Paisley was about the same outcome, she couldn’t let on to her fears. Brax needed her strength.
“But…” The judge annunciated and spoke louder, his voice sterner than before as he glanced at both attorneys. “I can’t help but believe that both Mr. and Mrs. Michaels can provide an environment equal to that of Mr. and Mrs. Ivey.”
“No!” Bonnie cried out. “You can’t give her custody of our baby girl.”
The judge looked directly at the now crying grandmother. “Mrs. Ivey, I will ask you to hold your comments and only speak when you are spoken to.”
Bonnie nodded at the judge. She needed to tread lightly at this point. A scowl sat on her attorney’s face. You clearly didn’t want to get on his bad side.
Judge Adkins then continued to address Braxton and Paisley, “As I was saying, even though Mrs. Michaels is not the natural mother of the minor”—he glanced toward Bonnie Ivey once again with a stern look on his face—“all reports have demonstrated that Mrs. Michaels has the best interest of the minor in mind.” The judge shifted the papers on his bench, glancing at the document before him before continuing. “The mother has shown a bond with the minor regardless that she is not the natural mother. I see no reason to assume the environment in which the minor will be raised would be detrimental to the minor’s well-being.”
The judge laid the paper to his right. “Based on this final report, the court finds in favor of Mr. and Mrs. Michaels. The minor will remain in their household. However, the court does require that reasonable visitation rights are to be provided to Mr. and Mrs. Ivey, as they are the natural grandparents.”
Braxton had been holding his breath, and with the sound of the gavel making contact with the wooden plaque he was able to breathe a sigh of relief. They had won. He didn’t need to worry if Emmersyn would be ripped from his heart or his home any longer. Though a small pang ached in his heart for the loss of Alissa, he knew he’d never truly be without her. After all, she’d always be in his memory and a part of his life as long as he had Emmy with him.
Chapter 24
Paisley woke with the same dull pain she’d had since the court hearing ended several days ago. She had felt a bit nauseous after they celebrated with sushi and sake, but she had thought nothing of it.
But this morning, the pain was a little stronger than it had been yesterday. She had an important meeting this afternoon that couldn’t be put off, so a trip to the doctor's office was out of the question.
She and Braxton were still on uneasy ground. Her pride had kept her from sharing with him that she had been feeling ill for the last several days. She didn’t n
eed his help or his pity—she wasn’t his real wife.
As she dressed, the pain in her abdomen became piercing, but she forced herself to finish getting ready and ride to work with Braxton.
She was able to hide her discomfort from him the whole car ride in. But when she sat behind her desk, she could no longer ignore that it had gotten to a point where she might not be able to attend her scheduled meeting.
Braxton settled Emmersyn into the playpen in the corner. He turned toward Paisley and suddenly called her name, “Butterfly!”
Beads of sweat collected on her forehead and her blouse was damp with perspiration. She was hot and her limbs were heavy.
He rushed to her side, placing his palm on her forehead. “Butterfly,” he said again.
But she couldn’t reply.
Then he screamed her name. “PAISLEY.
That caught her attention. She glanced at him, her eyes void of any emotion. She attempted to stand but fell from her chair, clutching her hand against her abdomen.
“Christ, it hurts,” she cried out as she rolled from side to side. “Something is wrong, Brax.”
It seemed like forever as they waited for the paramedics to arrive. Braxton sat on the floor, holding Paisley in his arms as he brushed away the hair from her face and attempted to calm her crying. He was about to scream for their assistant when Rachel escorted a team of paramedics into Paisley’s office.
It didn’t take them very long to identify the symptoms. Without hesitation, the paramedics strapped her to a gurney and quickly moved her toward the waiting ambulance.
Braxton stood, unsure of what to do. An elderly man placed a hand on Braxton’s shoulder. “I’m Sergeant Garcia. Do you know if she has been feeling ill in any way recently?”
Braxton thought for a moment; to him, everything had seemed fine. “She hasn’t. At least, if she has, she’s kept it to herself.”
“I see.” the Sergeant scribbled in his notebook. “So, you’ve noticed nothing at all out of the ordinary? Has she been eating like normal?”
Braxton briefly closed his eyes, recounting the last several days. “Come to think of it, she hasn’t been eating as much as she normally does. How serious is this?”
“Son, once an appendix ruptures it becomes life-threatening. The boys are transporting her to Kaiser North Hollywood; I would suggest you head that way as they’ll be rushing her into surgery. ”
Braxton was about to tell the Sergeant that he didn’t have anyone to drive him when Paxton came rushing into the room.
“Where’s Paisley? Rachel called and said she was taken away in an ambulance.” Paxton’s voice cracked as he spoke. His chest rose and fell quickly from the sprint he’d obviously made to the office. “Braxton, where is she?” His eyes moved from his friend to the sergeant.
“Kaiser, North Hollywood,” Braxton told him as he reached into the playpen to pick up Emmersyn. “You drive my car; the car seat is already in place.” Braxton pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Paxton.
“Wait,” a tiny voice called from outside his office. Rachel raced with a look of terror on her face. “You can’t take Emmersyn to a hospital full of germs. She’ll get sick.”
Braxton hadn’t thought of that at all; he was more worried about Paisley. “You watch her then.” He hadn’t meant for the statement to come out like an order, but time was of the essence and he couldn’t debate the topic any longer. Plus he fully trusted Rachel with his daughter. After all, she was more than their assistant. Over the years, she’d become very close with Paisley—girl power and all.
Just as though they were playing a game of hot potato, Paxton tossed Braxton’s keys at Rachel. “Car seat, house keys, and we’ll call you when we know something more.”
Without waiting for Rachel to acknowledge them, Braxton and Paxton blew out of the office and headed toward the elevator.
When they arrived at the hospital, Paisley was already in surgery but they were able to speak with the physician who had quickly examined her before she was rushed her into surgery. Both men had looked at him as if he was speaking a foreign language, and it wasn’t long before the physician had realized he needed to dumb down his explanation some. “Mrs. Michaels’ appendix ruptured. This led to bacteria filling her abdomen and making the situation life-threatening. Ideally, we prefer to catch it before it ruptures.” He paused for a moment, ensuring everyone was following him so far. “If everything goes well, Mrs. Michaels will remain here for about a week while she undergoes a series of antibiotics. The first few doses will be intravenously, and we’ll encourage her to be up and moving within a day or two as we’ll need her intestines to start working properly again. Once she actually has a bowel movement, she’ll be able to return home. But she’ll still need to take antibiotics for several weeks afterwards.”
Once they’d assured the physician that they both fully understood the seriousness of what the next few hours held, he had a nurse escort them to the surgical waiting room where they sat for more than an hour. Feeling helpless as they awaited an update.
Chapter 25
It had been five days since they’d rushed Paisley to the hospital. Five long days where Braxton was required to provide twenty-four- attention to his daughter. He didn’t mind the responsibility, but he’d come to realize how much of an important part Paisley played in his day-to-day life.
He’d never considered that she was, for all intents and purposes, his wife. Saying the words and believing them were two different things. She wasn’t just in this in name only, no, she truly lived the role day in and day out. She made his meals, did their laundry, and provided for their child even though she hadn’t given birth to Emmersyn. The only thing that they didn’t share was a bank account or his bed. How had he been so blind to all of this for so long?
When she’d said I do, she’d embraced the meaning of those words fully. Yet he had said the words without considering what they really meant. He had been focused on keeping his daughter and not what being husband and wife meant. After all, he’d never had feelings for Paisley in that way. But now, after assessing his life during the last week, he’d come to learn that he relied on her more than he should have. He’d taken her for granted, and whether or not he’d intended to, he’d willingly let her take control of his life and manage their routines.
Now, as he sat in his car outside of the hospital, he was forced to assess his true feelings. He’d always had a special connection to her when they were kids. As he reflected back on those times, he’d come to see that he was closer to her than Paxton. She was the first one he’d share news with. Not that he didn’t tell Paxton things as well, but guys didn’t get all emotional the way girls did. And he’d wanted to share the ups and downs with someone who felt as equally excited or disappointed as he did—and that had always been Paisley.
As he strolled through his memories of them growing up, he recalled a time in middle school when she’d stirred feelings within him. But he’d quickly shut those feelings out. He’d tucked them away in the recesses of his mind and forced himself to forget about them because there was no way he could feel that way about her.
Now he saw that he’d subconsciously acted upon some of those feelings blindly. Like the times when he’d spend hours staring across the street, watching her like a stalker in the dark. How had he not recalled all those nights? Or the time he’d decided to change her nickname from caterpillar to butterfly because he’d noticed how she’d filled out and become a woman who any man would desire.
Yes, he’d dated a few girls, even screwed a few faceless names. But until then, he’d never assessed the reason that those events had never bloomed into anything more, and it was because he’d always compared them to Paisley. They hadn’t listened to him as intently as she had or they hadn’t gotten as excited over things as she had. Subconsciously, he’d thought this about them when he’d determined whether they were dating material or not. He even went as far as thinking about the few one-night stands he’d had, an
d even though it hadn’t registered back then, he now recalled thinking their tits weren’t as perky or their bodies were not as shapely as Paisley’s. Again, why hadn’t he noticed this back then?
Hell, his relationship with Alissa hadn’t had the same emotional connection he’d had with Paisley; maybe that was why he’d proposed, but could never set a date. Internally, his heart hadn’t been ready to bind itself to Alissa when it clearly wanted someone else.
He contemplated his life for what it truly was, he came to see all the moments he’d probably hurt Paisley by not reciprocating her feelings. She’d opened up to him on that one drunken night, and he’d chosen to ignore her admission. Rather than calling her out on them the next morning, he’d allowed himself to accept her story about blacking out.
All the times she’d seemed angry when she went out with him and Alissa started to make sense. She had been jealous. That was the reason she’d separated herself from him once they’d graduated from college and moved back home. She hadn’t wanted to see him and Alissa together. It had nothing to do with not wanting to be around him; it had everything to do with protecting her heart. Then there was Pete.
Braxton reached for the keys in the ignition, and as he began to turn them, he stopped to listen to the Brad Paisley song that had just started playing. The words tugged at his heart as they described a woman he couldn’t live without. “Looking great in cheap sunglasses” fit Paisley to a T. She’d always bought dime-store glasses because she was forever losing them. Wearing holey jeans was also something Paisley loved to do. As the song progressed and Brad crooned out that she was everything he ever wanted and everything he ever needed, Braxton knew it was exactly how he felt.
His hand fell to his leg as his head rested against the seat and he listened to the rest of the song. The words to “she’s everything” danced around in his head and he saw only Paisley as he visualized what the girl in the song would look like.