Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ASHER
If I never stepped foot into another courtroom again as long as I lived, it would be too soon. The last time I’d been here had felt like a lifetime ago. Back when I’d been overwhelmed by grief and uncertainty over the future. Now, although the grief still swept over me in waves, it wasn’t the all-consuming tsunami it’d been in the beginning. The uncertainty, though… That was still weighing me down.
Before, I hadn’t known what the future would hold. Hadn’t known how to do any of this. Hadn’t known how to be the primary caregiver for two kids I’d only seen in small blinks of time.
Now, though, I knew Owen loved to rub my beard as I sang him to sleep. And though June fell asleep curled up in a ball, she woke upside down, sprawled in her bed. My nephew dreaded bath time, while my niece adored it so long as the tub was stacked a mile high with bubbles.
I’d kissed scraped knees, Googled home teething remedies, and even made a midnight drive to the twenty-four-hour pharmacy in Parkersville, all because of a fever of ninety-nine.
And through it all, Nat had held it together. Had kept our little family running, orbiting around her like she was the sun.
She’d certainly turned into mine.
Even though I couldn’t see her right now, I felt her behind me. Her solid presence supporting me, unequivocally. I knew, no matter the outcome, she’d be there to support me. Even if that meant that, whatever the result, she wouldn’t actually be by my side while she did so.
Judge Seville cleared his throat and looked down at me over the rims of his reading glasses. “As you know, in cases involving child custodial rights, I have to look at much more than just the wishes of the parents, though those certainly play a large role in my decision. However, that’s not the only piece of information I need to consider.”
I folded my hands on the table and closed my eyes, a thousand memories flipping through my mind. Teaching June how to hold a guitar. Pushing Owen in a swing for the first time. Nat taking June up into her old tree house, me and Owen watching from the ground as the two had played peekaboo through the window, sending Owen into a fit of giggles.
“I took into account the reports from the social worker, the information Mr. Donovan sent over regarding the contract Mr. McCoy has signed for the publishing house, as well as several character witnesses who spoke to me on behalf of both Mr. and Mrs. McCoy.”
Fuck, it was strange hearing Nat referred to that way. Worse was the fact that she wouldn’t be that for much longer. Whatever happened today, Nat no longer had to be my wife.
I pictured June’s and Owen’s smiling faces just that morning as they’d wrestled me to the floor, Nat’s laughter ringing in my ears as she’d pulled out her phone to take a picture of us. She’d beamed at me, her smile bright and her eyes shining with love. No matter the outcome of this hearing, that was what I’d take with me.
“Based on those things,” Judge Seville continued, “I believe it is in the best interest of June and Owen Hayward that they remain in the custody of Asher McCoy and his wife, Natalie.”
My breath left me in a whoosh as the sounds of the courtroom merged together, the thudding of my heartbeat drowning out the rest of what Judge Seville said, as well as the Haywards’ reaction. Overwhelming relief and gratitude swamped me, knowing my sister and brother-in-law’s wishes would be carried out. Knowing the last of my family wasn’t leaving my side.
I stood, turning to face Nat, who met me with open arms.
“Told you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Everything worked out perfectly.”
“Yeah.” I wrapped her in my arms, closing my eyes as I squeezed her to me.
This was exactly the outcome I’d wanted. June and Owen were safe with me. I’d be able to raise them how my sister and brother-in-law had wanted.
But still, I couldn’t ignore the pit in my stomach as I held Nat. I might’ve won guardianship of the kids, but that meant what had brought her there in the first place…what had kept her there…was no longer relevant.
Nat was free to go.
Nat
Prior to today, I hadn’t known I could feel overwhelming gratitude and dread all at once. Asher had won custody, and he and the kids would be a family. But that was the crux of the dread… Just Asher and the kids would be a family. Never mind that it’d started to feel a hell of a lot like I was part of that.
After the hearing, we walked into my parents’ backyard, stepping onto the patio to a chorus of congratulations. My parents, Gran, as well as Rory and Nash, were there. Mac and Hudson had to work so they’d be by a little later, and Will and Finn were currently on their honeymoon. Both Mac and Will had already sent congratulatory texts with offers to talk if I needed it.
Talk because they knew the secret. Knew these congratulations weren’t meant for me because it wasn’t my win…wasn’t my family who’d been kept together. Even though it did feel like it was my heart breaking apart.
But because this was a celebration, I pasted a smile on my face and pretended everything was fine.
“Uncle Asher!” June yelled. “I baked a pie!”
“She sure did. Strawberry, Asher’s favorite.” My momma walked over and enveloped us both in a hug. “I’m so thrilled for y’all. This is just the best news.”
“Yeah, it is,” I said, even as June tugged Asher from my side, our fingers separating in the space between us.
“We have to eat some now .” June pulled out a chair at the patio table before pushing Asher to sit.
With a laugh, he said, “Did you leave out the worms?”
“Should we have?” Gran asked from her spot under the table umbrella.
“We didn’t do worms, Gran,” June admonished. “Just strawberries and sugar and a whole lotta love. Right, Mimi?”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Right, sweetheart,” my momma said before turning back to me with worried eyes. “That’s okay, isn’t it? I just figured since y’all’re married and the kids are officially yours, best those little ones call me what all my grandbabies do.”
God, what had we done? Agreeing to this lie that didn’t involve just us. Yeah, the outcome was exactly what we’d hoped for, but at what cost? Everyone and their dog thought Asher and I were married. We were married. Both on paper and in my heart. But now, suddenly, we just wouldn’t be anymore?
“It’s fine, Momma. Perfect.”
My mom blew out a relieved sigh and hooked her arm through mine, pulling me toward the table where everyone sat.
“This must be such a relief for y’all.” Momma grabbed the dessert plates and started dishing up pie slices for everyone.
“Can’t tell you how much,” Asher agreed. “I was worried, but Nat never lost faith.”
“Nat’s certainty is pretty unshakable,” Gran agreed.
Rory sipped from her glass of sweet tea, one brow raised. “Some might call that bein’ bullheaded.”
I sat in the chair next to Asher. “Some might call you a?—”
“Pie, sweetheart?” Momma interrupted, passing me a plate.
“Tryin’ to stop those two from arguin’ is like tryin’ to stop the sun from risin’,” Nash said.
“Swear they never retract their claws,” Gran agreed, accepting her own slice.
“There’ll be no fightin’ today. Not when we have so much to be thankful for.” Momma smiled at June as she helped pass out the pie, then to Owen who sat in his high chair, then finally settled her gaze on me. Her smile widened as she glanced down to where Asher’s hand rested on my thigh—something I hadn’t even noticed because this had all become second nature to us.
I picked at the pie, finally sliding it over to Asher to finish. “Well, I can tell you this now since we know the outcome, but I was fakin’ every bit of that confidence I swore I had.”
“You little liar.” Asher squeezed my thigh.
“I was worried for y’all, too,” Rory said. “But Edna was tellin’ me Judge Seville couldn’t walk three steps around town without someone commentin’ on y’all. Couldn’t even grab a cup of coffee without someone bendin’ his ear. Sounds like y’all had more character witnesses than just Daddy.”
My gaze snapped to Rory before I turned to my father. His cheeks had flushed, and he found his half-eaten slice of pie awfully interesting. “Wait…Daddy was a character witness? Judge Seville never said who?—”
“Well, not in an official capacity, of course. Just as a concerned father.” He cleared his throat and avoided eye contact. “My name doesn’t carry much weight anymore since I’m not the mayor, but I didn’t think it was right, what the Haywards were doin’, is all. Y’all deserve to be a family.”
My daddy had spent the early years of my life doing everything he could to bail me out of any bit of trouble I’d gotten myself into. With his money and his connections. But never with his words alone. Never for something good , instead only to keep our pristine name shiny and untarnished. And though I’d never had to face consequences thanks to him, it had always felt like a power move more than anything. But this—him speaking out on our behalf—felt a lot like love.
“Did you put sunscreen on that bald patch at the back of your head? You’re gonna get burned,” I finally said, my voice thick with emotion.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Rory slapped her hands down on the table and rolled her eyes. “Y’all love each other. Fantastic. Now can we eat this pie in peace?”
“First, I’d like to propose a toast.” Momma held up her glass filled with sweet tea. “Congratulations on officially becomin’ a family. Daddy and I are both just so thrilled it means all our girls are finally home.”