by Ann Omasta
I gently took Scout from her arms and placed him on the soft blanket on the carpet with a few of his colorful toys before I rushed over to my friend and pulled her in for a hug. After a long embrace, I asked, “They aren’t suggesting you sign that agreement, are they?”
Molly let out a quiet sob before answering, “They think it is likely the best deal we are going to get. They are afraid if we go to court, the judge is going to demand that we move to California in order to have any visitation with our son.”
“That can’t be right,” I murmured quietly, not quite able to believe this was actually happening.
“Grant just got off the phone with them, and they sent the contract over for our signatures, but I wanted to talk to you before signing anything,” Molly said.
Suddenly feeling outraged on her behalf, I yelled, “That isn’t fair! You two are his parents. You’ve been taking care of him all of this time. Where has she been? She doesn’t deserve to saunter in now and steal him away.”
My outburst evidently startled Scout because he stared up at me with enormous blue eyes. I didn’t want the child to be frightened, so I plastered on a fake smile and said, “It’s okay, sweet boy. You can keep playing with your toys.”
My calm assurance did the trick, and he went back to banging on his toy cell phone––obviously having no idea that his life might be getting ready to be completely turned upside down.
“Do you think we should sign it?” Molly asked me with wide eyes before quickly rushing on. “With this deal, at least Scout would get to spend some time here with my family. If we lose in court and the judge makes us relocate to California to spend time with him, we would, of course, but my family would hardly ever get to see him.”
Molly was looking up at me with complete trust visible in her gaze, like I had all of the answers. The only problem with that was… I didn’t actually have any of the answers.
Trying to be rational, I ran my fingers through my bobbed hair as I said, “Okay, this deal is their first offer, right? We can always counter-offer.”
Molly shook her head sadly, “No, the lawyers have been hammering it out for a while, and this is the final result of their negotiations.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of shoddy negotiators these overpriced lawyers were.
“They said the birth mother’s rights tend to trump almost anything else when these cases go to court,” Molly murmured quietly.
“But you’ve been raising him and taking wonderful care of him for all of this time. He’s obviously very loved and well-adjusted,” I weighed in as I pointed at the happy child.
Molly nodded before saying, “But I didn’t carry him in my stomach or give birth to him, so evidently that’s all that usually matters in these types of cases. Unless we are able to prove that she’s an unfit mother, she will likely get full custody of him.”
“She abandoned him and signed away her parental rights. If that doesn’t make her unfit, I don’t know what does.” I worked hard to keep my tone from escalating, despite my outrage, because I didn’t want to upset Scout.
“Her lawyers are claiming she had postpartum depression and wasn’t in her right state of mind when she signed that document. Our attorneys believe the court will find in her favor regarding that claim, since she did seek treatment from a counselor during the months following his birth.”
I wanted to scream in frustration for Molly. This wasn’t fair, and it didn’t look good for their chances of keeping their child. My significant concerns must have shown on my face because Molly asked in a squeaky voice, “Do you think we should sign the agreement?”
After thinking long and hard about my answer, I said, “They aren’t conceding much. The risks of going to court are that you’ll end up with less visitation or have to relocate to California, but the potential rewards are much greater. I think we should take our chances in court.”
Molly nodded in my direction as if my words made sense before saying with finality, “Then that is what we’ll do.”
After helping her pack Scout’s belongings, I watched her heft the diaper bag onto her shoulder and pick up her little boy. Once she solemnly walked out of my room, I silently prayed that my decision wasn’t dooming her family to even more heartbreak.
12
Avery
I was still reeling from the devastating conversation with Molly about the shitty custody arrangement that was being pushed onto them when Noah called. I glanced at the screen, saw his name, and considered ignoring the call.
I justified my reluctance to speak to him by telling myself that I wasn’t in any mood to chat with a romantic interest. However, I knew that if the screen had read ‘Gage,’ rather than ‘Noah,’ I would have been falling all over myself to answer it.
Deciding I had officially lost my normally-rational mind, I stabbed at the button to answer the call. “Hi, Noah. Are you calling to give me an update on the kitten?”
“Oh, sure.” Noah quickly shifted into doctor mode. He told me the kitten was doing well and should be ready to go home in a few days. While he was speaking, I found myself looking forward to the kitten’s homecoming because it would give me a valid excuse to see Gage again.
The mere idea that I was much more excited about the opportunity to see a possible murderer than the handsome doctor on the phone had me questioning my sanity. I shook my head as I tried to figure out what the hell was wrong with me.
“Avery?” Noah asked, sounding a bit perturbed as he pulled me back into the conversation.
“Oh, sorry. What was that?” I asked, since I had no idea what the man had said after the kitten update.
“I asked you when we could go out on another date,” Noah reminded me with irritation edging his tone.
“Oh, umm… I don’t know.” I stalled, hoping he would take the hint and drop it.
Instead, he pushed onward. “Are you busy with the custody case? Perhaps I could bring you a pizza while you work one evening?”
Wow, that was a thoughtful suggestion. Why can’t I like him?
For whatever reason, the mental image of him showing up at my doorstep with a pizza didn’t bring me any joy, and it wasn’t just because of the wedding planning frenzy it would send my mother into. There was something not quite right about him for me, so I decided it was better to rip the bandage off quickly than to drag out the process.
“No, thank you. I think it’s best if we remain just friends and don’t date.” I had intended to let him down easily, but the words came out sounding harsher than I wanted. I cringed at the sound of them emerging from my lips, but didn’t back down from their meaning.
“I see.” His words were clipped, making it obvious that I was abundantly clear.
I wasn’t sure what else to say, so it was almost a relief when he said, “Good day, then,” and hung up on me.
“Well, took care of that problem,” I said to the empty room before tossing my cell on the bed.
As if she had some type of recording device in my room, my mother rapped on my door. I wasn’t ready to explain to her why I just dumped a perfectly eligible bachelor doctor because I wasn’t completely clear on the reasoning behind that myself.
After I called out for her to come in, my mother peeked her head through the crack she made in the door. Her mouth was pinched into a purse of distaste when she said, “You have a visitor.”
I looked around the room to see if Molly forgot any of Scout’s belongings. I didn’t see anything, but answered, “Tell Molly to come on back.”
“It’s not Molly,” my mother hinted in a prim tone.
I just got off the phone with Noah, so I was fairly certain that he hadn’t raced over here. As the thought that it might be Gage emerged in my brain, my hand went up involuntarily to smooth my hair.
My mother narrowed her eyes at me before hissing, “It’s that criminal.”
I almost couldn’t believe my ears as my eyes glanced around the childish bedroom trying to picture what Gage would see
when he entered. After deciding it really didn’t matter, since there was no way I was going to send him away without finding out what he wanted, I said to my mom, “Great, send him back.”
She left in a snit, while I scurried around to pick up the few items of dirty clothing strewn on my floor. My heart raced as I wondered why Gage was here.
He tentatively peeked his head through the opening in the bedroom door, and I grinned down at the lovely flower pot he was holding.
When he remained frozen in the doorway, I prompted him, “Is that for me?”
“Yes.” He brightened as he held the purple potted flowers out toward me. “They are hydrangeas, which are generally given to express heartfelt emotions. I brought them to you to show my sincere gratitude for your help with the kitten the other night.”
Feeling delighted by the sweet gesture, I stepped forward to accept the lovely hand-painted pot. I tipped my face down to breathe in their scent.
Gage quickly said, “They aren’t the most aromatic flowers, but they have lovely blooms.”
I turned to set them on my desk, happy for some time to catch my breath. He seemed to take up all of the available air in my bedroom, even though he was still hovering in the doorway.
“She would do best over by the window where she can get some morning sunshine and afternoon shade,” he advised me.
I found it utterly charming that he referred to the plant as ‘she.’ I grinned down at the floor as I moved to place the flowers in the spot he suggested. After getting ‘her’ settled, I turned to Gage and said, “She’s truly lovely. Thank you.”
He nodded, then splayed his hands and said, “Nice room.”
My gaze traveled around, taking in the immature décor. “It hasn’t changed much in the last several years. That’s part of the problem with moving back in with your parents.”
“I wouldn’t know,” he commented quietly.
It made me even more curious about his family situation, but I sensed that it would be better to let him tell me things in his own time, rather than to push him for answers. Instead, I said, “My life is just like a romantic comedy movie, except there’s no romance and it’s mostly just me laughing at my own jokes.”
He chuckled, but then the silence began to stretch into awkward territory. I feared that he might try to leave, so I said, “I’m glad you’re here.”
His expression brightened before he asked, “Really?”
“Yes, I wanted to talk with you about the kitten. Noah––err, Dr. James––said that he’s doing well and should be ready to come home soon.”
I could have sworn Gage’s eyes darkened slightly when I mentioned his half-brother’s name, but it might have just been wishful thinking on my part.
“I’m glad to hear he’s recovering nicely,” Gage said noncommittally, still hovering near the doorway as if he was ready to make a run for it at a moment’s notice.
Since the bed was the only place to sit, other than my desk chair, I plopped down on the long side of the mattress and patted the spot beside me before offering, “Have a seat.”
Gage seemed especially awkward as he stalked across the room and sat down beside me. The too-small bed made him look like a giant as he pressed his palms together and stared at my shag carpet.
Seizing the moment, I launched into my pitch. “As you can see, I’m living with my parents at the moment. My dad is severely allergic to cats––or at least, he claims to be––so I was hoping that you could take the little guy.”
“Oh, I’m staying at the inn on the outskirts of town right now. I don’t think they allow pets, but I guess I could rent an apartment.”
The thought of him staying in town long enough to make renting an apartment a viable option made my heartbeat jump into overdrive.
“That would work,” I said, trying not to let my significant excitement over that prospect show. Wanting to do my part, I offered, “Maybe I could keep him here until you get settled.”
Gage didn’t consider it long before answering, “No, I don’t want him to set off your dad’s allergies. I can probably sneak him into the inn, until we get settled into a more permanent place.”
He was quiet for a moment before adding with a mischievous grin, “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve broken a rule.”
My mouth smiled back at him of its own accord, even though I was secretly wondering if he was joking about committing a murder. Surely, he wouldn’t do that. Right?
I wanted to be angry with my mother for planting the seed in my mind that Gage might be a murderer. I truly couldn’t imagine the kitten-loving, boy-swinging, plant-giving man, who was concerned about causing my father’s allergies to flare up, murdering someone. It simply didn’t compute in my mind that he could ever do something like that.
The rational side of my brain reminded me that serial killer Ted Bundy was also handsome, charismatic, and likable. As much as I liked to think I could trust my gut about such things, there was no denying that I had lived in the same town with Kevin Durley while growing up and never had any inkling of the horrors he was capable of committing.
Gage seemed to sense my discomfort because he suddenly stood and said, “I should go.”
I didn’t want him to leave, yet I knew it would be for the best… if nothing else to set my mother’s mind at ease. Without a further word, the man rushed out of my room, but he occupied my mind for the rest of the night.
13
Avery
Grant’s high-priced, overrated legal team balked at the couple’s decision not to sign the negotiated custody agreement. We all suffered through an awkward in-person meeting where Grant had to sternly remind them that he was the client, so they needed to comply with his wishes.
The lead counsel glared at me so hard from across the table that I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, but we held our ground and insisted that we take the matter to court. This was too important of a life-altering decision to cut any corners. I just hoped that I wasn’t putting the visitation they’d been offered at risk.
The day they announced which judge had been assigned to the case, I cringed. Of all the rotten luck, Judge McCreery would be sitting on the bench during the proceedings. The stern woman was known for being especially tough on men––having been left at the altar… twice. I just hoped her sense of fairness would shine through and allow her to see that Grant and Molly were and should remain Scout’s parents and guardians.
We spent every waking moment for weeks preparing for the case. The white-haired men that comprised Grant’s legal team didn’t respect me or my opinions, but I refused to let them intimidate me. Molly wanted me to have a seat at the table, so I belonged there as much as they did.
Grant and Molly worked tirelessly as we grilled them in preparation to take the stand. Their entire lives would be on trial, so they would need to be ready to explain anything from their pasts. Molly’s life had been pretty tame, since she had lived her entire life in this small town, but Grant went through a wild stage during the height of his fame. We needed to make sure the judge saw the loving, responsible family man he was now, rather than the partying movie star he’d been back then.
As the court date approached, the worry lines now etched onto Molly’s face deepened. I wanted to reassure my best friend that everything would work out for the best, but I wasn’t at all sure that was the case. At this point, it could easily go either way, and that realization sent a chill of terror down my spine. If they lost the time with Scout that we could have agreed to in the beginning, Molly would never recover from the loss––and I would never forgive myself.
The night before the proceedings were set to begin, we decided to stop our preparations in the early evening. Everyone needed a decent dinner and a good night’s sleep––not that Molly, Grant, or I would likely be getting any rest tonight. We had done all we could to get ready, so there wasn’t anything left to do but wait and try not to let the nervous energy consume us.
I didn’t want to go home and face my p
arents’ anxious stares, so I decided to go for a walk out to Captain’s Point Lighthouse to enjoy the fresh air coming in from the sea. The bright red structure that was such a well-known landmark had always had a calming effect on me, and I could definitely use some relaxing energy right now.
It was easy to recognize Gage, even from behind. Seeing his broad shoulders and dark hair that fell just below his shoulders made heat tingle deep in my belly as if I’d just taken a shot of Fireball whiskey. I hadn’t seen the man in weeks, since I’d been so busy with preparations for the case, but he’d never been far from my mind.
“Fancy meeting you here,” I said as I walked up and stood beside him, allowing my arm to brush against his. Even though we were both wearing jackets, that simple touch sent a zinging spark down my spine.
He was leaning on the stone wall looking out at the ocean, so I mirrored his stance.
Although he didn’t turn in my direction, he seemed to know it was me because he said, “I haven’t seen you around town lately.”
“I’ve been super busy with work, but I’ve been meaning to reach out to you.”
This news made him look my way just before he asked with interest, “Oh?”
“Yes, I wanted to see how our little kitten friend is doing.”
If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn a look of disappointment flashed on his face before he was able to cover it. “He’s doing great, but he’s an ornery little scamp, so that’s what I named him.”
“Scamp?” I asked, smiling. At his nod, I said sincerely, “That’s perfect.”
The waves crashing onto the rocks below were the only sound as the silence between us stretched to the point of becoming awkward. Finally, I said, “I’d love to come visit him sometime.”