Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
DEREK
T oday’s the day. It’s hard to believe it’s here. I barely slept a wink. From all my tossing and turning, I don’t think Sutton slept either.
Glancing in the mirror, I give myself one last look. My tie is perfectly straight. No jacket, but the sleeves of my shirt hide my tattoos. Maybe it’ll make me more presentable. Like I deserve to have sole custody of my kid.
Sutton comes out of the bathroom wearing a sleeveless, black dress. It’s simple. Nothing fancy. It’s not needed at court. We share a quick hug before heading out to find the kids already awake.
Between the two of us, we get the kids ready for their day. I told Sutton they didn’t need to take the day off of school, but she insisted. And based on how happy the two of them are, they don’t have any idea of what’s going on today.
Sutton on the other hand? Well, she keeps cutting me glances to see how I’m doing. All I can do is try to give her a reassuring smile.
“You’re going to play at the park today with Lydia and her grandma,” I tell Troy .
“Can we get pizza for dinner tonight?” he asks by way of answer.
“If you want pizza, you can have pizza. If you want tacos, you can have tacos. Anything you want, bud.”
“Can we have tacos on pizza?” Lydia asks.
“What about pizza in tacos?” Troy replies.
Lydia screws up her face. “That sounds weird.”
“Well, you two can think of something for dinner and we’ll get it, okay?” Sutton grabs both of their hands and walks out toward the car.
I hear nothing as I drive us all toward the courthouse. For once, traffic is on my side and we get there without any issue. Sutton’s mom and my parents are waiting on the front steps for us.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Mom tells me.
“Gee, thanks.” At least it pulls the remnants of a smile from me.
“It’s going to be just fine,” Tammy tells me. “I’ll have the kids at the park across the street.”
“Thanks.”
Brushing the front of Troy’s T-shirt down, I give him a quick hug. “Have fun at the playground and listen to everything Tammy says.”
“I will.”
He looks so blissfully ignorant that I can’t help but wish I felt the exact same way. I watch the three of them walk into the park. Kids are playing on the swing set and dogs are being walked.
“Time to go, son.” Dad claps me on the shoulder and I turn my eyes toward the building. The marble lobby is expansive. Footsteps echo in the large space. Gold light fixtures are affixed to every wall, lighting it up. Metal detectors are beeping as people make their way inside.
John is waiting for us on the other side.
“Morning, Derek. ”
“Hi John.” I shake his hand.
“How are you doing?”
I give him a weak smile. “Ready to get this over with.”
Looking around the crowded space, I see no sign of Missy. Her lawyer is here, but not her. Christ. She can’t even be on time today when she’s trying to get custody of her son?
“Has anyone heard from Missy?” I ask.
John shakes his head. “I called her lawyer yesterday, but still haven’t heard anything. We’ll figure it all out today.”
“Right. Guess we should head inside?”
“Can we have a minute?” Sutton grabs my hand. Everyone walks ahead of us into the courtroom, but I stay outside with her.
“I’m not gonna try and tell you that everything is going to be okay. I don’t know that. But I want you to know I’m by your side, and whatever happens, we’ll deal with it as it comes.
I respond by sinking my fingers into her hair and pulling her in for a kiss. I don’t care that we’re in public. That people are coming and going. Right now, I need this connection with Sutton more than anything. Because if not, I might break.
“C’mon. Let’s go face the music.” Linking my hand with hers, we walk inside.
“Think positive thoughts,” Mom tells me as I drop down onto the hard wooden seat next to her.
The courtroom is plain. Gray cloth lines the walls. The jury box is empty, and a few people are lingering in behind the gates that lead toward the judge’s bench.
With it being family court, a few other cases will be heard. Missy’s lawyer is sitting on the opposite side of the room from us. Again, no sign of Missy.
Where the hell is she? If this gets delayed because she can’t be bothered to show up, I’m going to lose it.
We all rise when the judge walks into court and he calls for his first case. Having to sit and hear the fate of others ratchets up my own nerves. I listen as he extends the court date for one family due to parents not completing the requirements to get their children back. I listen as he tells someone else what they have to do to keep their children.
Jesus. Is this what it’s going to be like for me and Missy? Is the judge going to give her some list of arbitrary demands that she has to complete to get custody?
She’s been with him for maybe seven months of his entire life. What does she really know about her only son? She shouldn’t get anything.
“Next is Hollins and Goodman.”
Fuck. I think I’m going to be sick as the bile rises in my throat. Sutton gives my hand a tentative squeeze as I follow John to the front of the courtroom.
“Are all parties present?”
“Your Honor, before we get started,” Missy’s lawyer starts, “I have a petition from my client dropping her claim for custody of the child dependent in question.”
“What?” My gaze snaps to him. He’s pulling something out of a brown, leather briefcase, and I’m ready to snatch it out of his hand before he delivers it to the judge.
“My client has also signed a termination of parental rights, granting sole physical custody to Mr. Hollins.”
“Are you serious?”
The judge peers down at me over the reading glasses that sit on his nose.
“In light of this, the court will grant all rights of the dependent to his father.” He pounds the gavel down. “We will take a thirty-minute recess before court resumes.”
“Holy shit.”
Spinning around, Sutton is there, throwing herself into my arms. “Oh my God!”
“I can’t believe it.”
I’m stunned. Speechless. Every emotion that I’ve kept pent up the last few weeks comes streaming out of my eyes. I can’t help it.
I never even considered this. Missy gave up her rights to Troy and I retain full custody?
“It’s almost too good to be true,” I whisper to Sutton.
Sutton pulls back before cupping my cheeks. Her thumbs brush away the stray tears. “Troy is all yours, Derek. I will tell you as many times as you want until you believe it.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Say it again.”
Sutton returns my smile. “Troy is all yours.”
“Hell yeah, he is.”
I pepper Sutton’s face with kisses as happiness takes over.
“Okay, kids. Why don’t we head on out?” Dad interrupts us with a hand on my shoulder.
Missy’s lawyer is packing up a few things in his briefcase. Before he leaves, I stop him.
“Did Missy say anything as to why she’s not fighting me on custody?”
He shakes his head. “No. But between you and me, I think this is the best outcome for everyone.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you.” I shake his hand before following my parents out of the courtroom.
Hugs are shared as the weight that’s been sitting on my shoulders lifts.
“Derek, you know where to find me if you need anything,” John tells me.
“Thank you for all your help.”
“Today was a good day. It’s why I do what I do.” He spins on his heels and leaves.
“We need to celebrate,” Mom tells me. Tears well in her eyes.
There’s only one person I want to see right now. A kid that wants pizza in a taco for dinner tonight.
I wrap my arm around Sutton’s shoulders and pull her close.
“C’mon. Let’s go see the kids.”