Sealing the Deal (26 page)

The judge flipped her hand as though impatient for the other shoe to drop.

“Ms. Dalton works at the Black Stiletto, a gentleman’s club. I believe she was employed as a stripper—”

“Exotic dancer,” Mr. Lindstrom interjected.

Alexis gave him a chilling smile. “My sincere apologies. She was an
exotic dancer
and now that she’s expecting Mr. Brown’s child, she waits tables. As far as I’ve been able to determine, she has plans to go back to her, um, dancing career after the birth.”

No wonder Darren hadn’t wanted Kelly to be part of the petition.

Lindstrom swept his jacket aside and set his hands against his hips. “If we’re lowering ourselves to slinging mud, then what about Mr. Ashford’s history of drug use?”

Beth gasped and snatched her hand back. She faced him, wide-eyed, as her cheeks reddened.

“Your Honor,” Alexi said, sounding disgusted, “Mr. Ashford doesn’t have, as Mr. Lindstrom so tactlessly phrased it, a history of drug use. We freely admitted in deposition that Mr. Ashford made the mistake of socially using marijuana when he was a member of his fraternity in college. To compare that with Ms. Comer’s stripping naked for men to ogle and stuff bills down her crotch—”

Lindstrom interrupted. “And what about CPS being called in when Mr. Ashford injured the minor? She had to be rushed to the ER and—”

The judge grabbed her gavel and banged it hard against a wooden block. “That’s enough hyperbole from both of you. This is only a preliminary hearing, and to see you sink to the level of slander…” She shook her head. “I won’t have it my courtroom.”

Both lawyers uttered apologies that didn’t sound at all sincere.

After several moments of the judge shifting through and reading papers from the file, she finally folded her hands and rested them on top of the paperwork. “I’m ready to make my decision on temporary custody of the minor.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Beth shoved a few more of Emma’s clean outfits into the duffel. At the rate she kept adding things, she’d never be able to zip the bag closed. How much did a one-year-old need to spend a week with her biological father and his stripper girlfriend?

An unkind thought, but Beth honestly didn’t care. She glanced over to where Emma slept in her playpen, wondering if the baby would awaken if she picked her up and rocked her. Right now, she wanted to hold tight and never let go.

“Beth?” Dani’s voice echoed from the foyer. “We’re here.”

“In the family room,” Beth replied, not even softening her voice. If Emma woke up, so be it. Then she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about picking her up.

Dani and Mallory strolled into the room, dressed in their comfortable and rather skintight yoga clothes. Beth had blown off yoga today. Hard to relax and stretch when her life had just been turned upside down.

Mallory flopped into Robert’s recliner. “We missed you at class.”

“Derrick led us,” Dani added, sitting on the sofa and giving a quizzical look at the small piles of clothes. “I swear all I want to do is watch him instead of participating in class.”

“That ass is sublime,” Mallory drawled. “It’s just begging to be squeezed.”

Beth just snorted at their banter, wishing all she had to worry about was how cute their yoga instructor’s butt was in tight pants.

Dani’s eyes wandered the room. “What’s with all the baby clothes? Did you hit some yard sales?” She gave the air a delicate sniff. “The whole house smells like Downy, so I assume you just did laundry.”

What was obviously Dani’s attempt to get Beth to laugh fell flat. There was nothing in the whole world that could make her happy at that moment.

“We heard from the judge,” Beth replied, her tone flat despite her roiling emotions.

Mallory gasped and scrambled to her feet. “You didn’t tell us!”

“Yeah, well… you were both at yoga and Jules was with clients. Figured your phones were off.” She shrugged. “You were all coming for lunch anyway.”

Lunch. Since she’d been so busy packing, she wouldn’t be able to offer them anything more than cold-cut sandwiches and salad. As frazzled as she was, if she tried to cook something she’d probably burn the house to the ground.

“Beth? Mal? Dani?” Jules had arrived.

“In here,” Beth called. Part of her wanted the Ladies to leave her alone to mourn in peace; another wanted them to hold her hand and tell her everything would be all right.

But that would be a lie. Beth might be packing for Emma to visit Darren for a week, but she knew things had changed permanently. Soon she’d be sending her daughter to live with him forever.

She sniffed hard, willing herself to stay strong and not give in to the urge to wail like a banshee at the unfairness of things. Life wasn’t fair, and she’d been nothing but an utter fool to always think things turned out for the best, that everything happened for a good reason. How could losing Emma ever be “for the best”? What “good reason” could steal a baby from her home?

“Well?” Jules said. “What’s the skinny? Other than Mallory?” She tossed her friend a wink.

“The judge made her ruling today,” Dani answered.

“Today?” Jules asked. “I thought she was going to rule Friday. Don’t you have another court date?”

“Not anymore,” Beth mumbled, mostly to herself.

Jules put her hands on her hips. “So is anyone going to tell me what she said? Or are we going to play Twenty Questions?”

“We’re still waiting for Beth to tell us,” Mallory replied. Then she inclined her head at the stuffed duffel. “Although I think the fact that she’s packing says it all.”

Beth stopped shoving Emma’s clothes into the duffel and let her shoulders droop. “Since Darren’s new baby is due in two weeks, Judge Ramsey said he should have this week to spend with Emma.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dani asked. “That she’s only vacationing with him for a week and then she’s coming home?”

Beth shrugged. “Alexis says it’s only a temporary measure. After the week’s over, the judge will schedule us all back in court again for another hearing.”

Mallory folded her arms under her breasts and drummed her fingers on her bicep. “Is that good or bad news?”

All Beth did was shrug again, zip the duffel, and toss it next to the tote full of Emma’s favorite toys.

Dani went to her and put her arm over Beth’s shoulders. “We’re here, Beth.”

“I know. I just…” The words to explain her fear about giving Emma into Darren’s care wouldn’t come. Once he had her, he’d probably never give her back. Court or no court.

“You’re worried,” Dani said. “Totally understandable.”

“You haven’t lost her for good,” Jules added. “This is just a visit. Right?”

“That’s what Alexis said,” Beth replied. “One week with Darren, then back to us.” But she knew better. The simple fact that the judge pushed for this extended visit so darn quick spoke volumes.

Darren would eventually be granted full parental rights, and she and Robert would be demoted to the aunt and uncle who only got to see Emma from time to time.

Mallory looked around before knitting her brows. “Where’s Robert?”

“Tracy Barrett’s in town,” Jules replied before Beth could. “The closing on the house Robert built for her is tomorrow, so he’s doing the final walk-through with her and Connor.”

The house was Robert’s masterpiece—a true mansion. Cloverleaf’s first. The CEO of Barrett Foods was in the process of building a new manufacturing plant close to town, and Jules and Connor had chatted Robert up to Tracy to help her build the kind of home she wanted but could never find in a town the size of Cloverleaf.

Beth had chosen all the fixtures based on pictures Tracy and Jules e-mailed her. She was very proud of how it had turned out, but her heart was too heavy to even care what Tracy thought when she saw the place. Nothing mattered except holding herself together until Beth could surrender her daughter to Darren later that afternoon.

“He should be here,” Mallory said.

Beth shook her head. “This is too important to blow off. Tracy has sent him a lot of work.”

“She not only hired him for her house,” Jules added, “but he’s building several for her executives as well.”

Business had picked up considerably with the warmth of May, and Robert sometimes worked sixty hours a week now. That hadn’t been a problem since Beth was on summer break. They’d even talked about her taking a year off to just be with Emma while she was still a baby. Money wasn’t a problem, something they’d hoped would strengthen their adoption petition.

None of it mattered now. They’d see Emma a couple of weekends a month for a while. Then she’d have friends and activities, and she’d eventually realize she didn’t have enough time for Aunt Beth and Uncle Robert. Just like Robert would have less and less time for Beth once the child he’d considered his daughter was no longer a part of their lives. Maybe he was already pulling back by working so many hours a week.

His own words condemned their marriage. He’d stated in open court that he’d only married her to help with Emma’s adoption. Once Emma was gone, the marriage would end. Beth wasn’t about to hold Robert to a commitment he’d made for all the wrong reasons. No, she would set him free. Even if it tore her heart out. Words of love uttered in the heat of the moment didn’t hold anywhere near the weight of those spoken under oath in a courtroom.

She’d been honest with the judge when she’d said they’d married to strengthen the adoption petition. Had the judge questioned her further, Beth would have acknowledged that she’d loved Robert for the longest time. But she’d never had the opportunity.

The normally optimistic Beth would’ve thought that her husband might have had the same problem—being constrained by the limited amount of time to answer the judge’s questions. But all her optimism had evaporated.

“Beth, stop.” Dani squeezed her shoulders. “I can see how much this is killing you, but you’ve got to try to look on the bright side.”

Anger rose up inside Beth, and she lashed out. Jerking out of Dani’s hold, she leveled a hard glare at her friends. “Bright side? Where is the fucking
bright side
here? He’s taking my daughter and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it!”

Emma woke with a start. She sat up and blinked a few times before her bottom lip began to quiver.

Beth scooped her daughter into her arms. “I’m going to change her diaper and get her ready to go now.” She didn’t want to order the Ladies out of her house, but she hoped they’d get the hint when she stomped up the stairs to Emma’s room.

* * *

Robert sat in Alexis’s waiting room for what seemed like the millionth time. So much time spent hoping they could truly make Emma their daughter. All of it wasted.

Beth was supposed to be bringing Emma here to hand her over to Darren. Despite the constant mental reminders that Emma would only be gone a week, Robert was having problems controlling his panic. He was responsible for Emma’s safety and well-being. Turning those jobs over to someone else made his stomach lurch.

Emma needed him, just as much as he needed her.

And what about Beth? How devastated would she be to lose her daughter, the only part of her dead sister she could hold on to?

Alexis hadn’t arrived yet. Her assistant had offered him a drink, but after he’d snapped at her, she’d retreated to her desk and stayed quite busy. He couldn’t blame her. He’d been an ogre. Hearing Beth’s voice in his head, scolding him, he’d offered her a muttered apology. From the lack of reaction, the woman hadn’t even heard him.

After checking his watch yet again, he let out a weighty sigh. Although Tracy had been very pleased with the way her house turned out, Robert hadn’t taken the time to absorb her praise. Once Beth had called to tell him about the judge’s unusual ruling, he’d been obsessed with getting to her and Emma.

The outer door opened, and Alexis strolled in. “Robert,” she said with a nod. “I’d say it’s good to see you, but I’m afraid you’d see right through me. C’mon into my office.” She handed her bag to her assistant. “Please transfer the Hart deposition into his file. It’s on the pin drive.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the assistant replied.

Robert followed Alexis into her office, sitting himself down on one of the client chairs opposite her desk. She slipped behind the desk and plopped onto her chair.

“Beth’s on her way,” he said, hating the silence. The only thing that had been missing to make the wait sheer torture was a loud clock ticking away the seconds.

“Good. I checked my voice mail after I parked my car. Darren and Kelly should be here soon as well.”

Since she seemed to be in a talkative mood, he couldn’t help but ask the question that had bugged him from the moment Beth called. “Why?”

Alexis cocked her head. “Why what? Why this sudden visitation?”

He nodded.

“To be honest, I haven’t the faintest idea. The timing seems… odd. But I learned a long time ago Judge Ramsey has a method to her madness. I just haven’t figured out what she’s trying to accomplish with this particular bout of insanity.”

The door to the office opened, and Beth came in. Emma was awake. When her gaze caught Robert’s, she started squirming and reaching for him. “Bobber! Want Bobber!”

Robert stood and reached for her when Beth came to him. “Hey, squirt.” It felt damned good to hold her. How was he ever going to find the strength to surrender his daughter to Darren Brown?

“Alexis,” Beth began, “I don’t understand this at all. What exactly did the judge say?”

“When I talked to her, she seemed to think Darren would have his hands full when Kelly delivers. She said that Emma deserved to spend some time getting to know her biological father without him having to spend an inordinate amount of time with his newborn.” With a sigh, Alexis added, “I’ll be honest with you both. I’ve never heard of a ruling like this before, especially when Judge Ramsey didn’t so much as hint about what she’s decided about permanent custody.”

Shifting Emma to his hip, Robert shook his head. “You’re wrong. I think she spoke loud and clear about this. She’s giving all consideration to Darren and none to us.”

“Not necessarily,” Alexis countered. “She told me she needs more time and a chance to hear from the CPS home investigator before she’ll decide anything permanent.”