Chapter 26 #2
The air in the room suddenly felt so thick I couldn’t breathe. “I can’t... I don’t... I don’t understand. Why would you do this?”
Pushing off the desk, Marco came to crouch down in front of me, taking my hands in his as he spoke quietly.
“Because they’re your kids, Gypsy. They’re yours and I never want you to have to worry about them not having insurance or have to explain to a principal or teacher why you’re the one they’re speaking to instead of your folks.
If we can do this, they’ll be yours, free and clear.
This is the last obstacle in that great life I promised you, baby. ”
Marco’s figure began to blur as my eyes filled with tears. “So... y-you found them?”
“I did.” He inhaled sharply, casting his gaze to the side. When he finally looked back to me seconds later, the hazel was shining with sadness I didn’t understand until he spoke again. “They’ve been living in Grapevine.”
It was as if I’d just been punched in the stomach.
I squeezed my eyes against the sudden rush of tears, but there was no stopping them.
One broke free and trickled down my cheek before I could stop it.
“All this time,” I whispered, my voice a ragged croak.
“More than two and a half years they’ve been living two towns over, and they never once came to see us? ”
Marco rose to his feet like he was bracing for whatever was to come. “Gyspy—”
“This is unbelievable!” I cried, throwing my arms out. “I’ve been killing myself all this time, and they didn’t even have the decency to run further away? I mean, how lazy can you be to abandon your family, but then only move half an hour away!”
“If I may,” the woman beside me spoke calmly, not fazed in the slightest by my freak-out.
“Ms. Bradbury, my name is Susan Seymore.” She extended her hand, and after a moment, I reached out to shake it.
“I’m a partner at Gimbal, Seymore & Issacs.
I specialize in family law. I’ve been brought on to assist with your case. ”
My stomach twisted into painful knots and a cold sweat broke out across my hairline.
From the quality of this woman’s attire, she made some serious money.
On top of that, she was a partner at her firm.
I didn’t know what her hourly rate was, but I had a sinking feeling that, whatever is was, I couldn’t afford it.
“Um, Ms. Seymore... I appreciate you being here, but I don’t know if I can pay you for—”
“Please, call me Susan. And that’s already been taken care of by Mr. Castillo.
There’s no need for you to worry about that.
” I swung around to face Marco with wide eyes, but before I could say anything, Susan continued.
“Now, I’ve already started the ground work on your case, and I have to tell you, I have a very good feeling about this.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been able to obtain all the evidence needed to have your parents’ rights terminated due to abandonment and neglect.
I’ve reached out to a number of citizens who are more than happy to speak on your behalf as character witnesses, should this go to trial.
But with everything we’ve compiled with the assistance of Mr. Caine and Mr. Castillo, I’m confident we can settle this out of court.
Based on the information I have, your parents aren’t in a position to pay for a lengthy custody battle, but even if they did, they don’t have a shot of this going in their favor.
There isn’t a judge in the state who would side with them, and I’ll be sure to stress that fact when I sit down with them later this week. ”
Panic clenched my heart in an iron grip.
When I woke up this morning, I never could have expected my day to take a turn like this, so there was no way I was prepared to see my parents face to face for the first time in years, “This week?” My gaze bounced around the people in the room.
“I... I don’t want to see them,” I said to Susan.
“I don’t want to be anywhere near them.”
“That’s fine,” she said quickly. “I can handle the initial meeting. If we can get this settled then, you’ll never have to lay eyes on them.
But, Gypsy,” she leaned forward and placed a hand on mine.
“If this goes to court, I can’t make you that same promise.
You think you can prepare for that?” I nodded, unable to speak past the sudden dryness in my mouth.
“Good.” She stood on her fancy heels and reached into her designer purse to pull out a business card.
“I’ll be in touch after the meeting, but in the meantime, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to call me. ”
I took the card and mumbled my thanks. I was in such a daze, staring down at the glossy black print on the embossed card, that I hadn’t noticed she’d exited the room until the door clicked closed and yanked me back into the present.
“We’ll just give you two a minute,” Lincoln offered, standing from his chair. Then he and Xander followed suit, leaving Marco and I alone.
“I know you’re probably pissed I didn’t talk to you about this before acting, but I did what I felt I had to do to take care of my family,” he started before I could say a word.
“And before you argue with me about the money, you should know I’m not gonna back down on that.
I’ve lived a simple life, never had much that was worth a lot, which means most of what I’ve earned has just been sitting in the bank.
And Linc pays well, Gypsy. Really well. I can afford this, so I need you to let me help.
I know this has been a lot to take in, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this sooner, but—”
Dropping the card onto the floor, I shot to my feet. “I can’t believe you did this for me,” I whispered, grabbing hold of him and holding on tight.
He returned my embrace and spoke quietly. “I’d do anything for you, girasol. Thought you knew that by now.”
I smiled up at him through watery eyes. “You know I love you, right?”
“I do, baby,” he returned, his hazel eyes glinting gold. “And I love you too.”
“I know.” I giggled. “You show it every single day. I just hope I give you as much as you give me.”
“Gypsy, you give me everything just by existing. I didn’t have a home before you. Now I’m home whenever you’re with me.”
And just like that, he gave me more.