Chapter 26 #2
“Seen Donny be more of a father to DJ in three months than that motherfucker has been in three years,” Atlas grunted. “Little Gabby’s more reserved, so it’s takin’ longer, but Donovan handles her with more care than Evan ever did.”
Rosie squeezed my fingers.
“Tell Evan to stick his child support money where the sun don’t shine. You don’t need his loose fuckin’ change. You’ve got work comin’ outta your asshole. Hell, I’ll give you what Evan doesn’t.”
Something twisted inside my chest. “No way, bro. Nobody looks after my family but me.”
Atlas grinned. “That right there, Donovan, earned you my blessin’. My sister’s yours. Fill ya boots, motherfucker.”
“Jesus,” Rosie grumbled, deadpanning at me. “Total caveman.”
Voices filtered through from the hallway just before the door opened to reveal DJ and Gabby. They walked inside the room and saw us gathered together, and DJ immediately demanded, “What’s the asshole done now?”
“Smart as a whip,” Atlas muttered proudly. “Gets it from his uncle.”
I let out a snort.
Rosie pointed to the two empty chairs beside me. “Come sit down. We’ve got to talk to you.”
DJ and Gabby glanced at each other and then headed over.
They sat straight-backed and stiff, bracing themselves for whatever was coming.
Their faces held a look of resignation, like they’d both lived this moment a hundred times before, and that killed me a little inside because they were just kids, and this shit was a heavy load for them to carry.
Rosie didn’t waste any time. “Your dad’s lawyer’s playing hardball,” she announced, her voice steady and clear. “He showed photos that were taken of us at home, in the pool, in the yard, even through the window.” She slid the pile of photographs across the table. “You'd better take a look.”
She sat back and watched while DJ picked up the photographs and carefully looked at them, passing them to Gabby one by one when he’d finished.
Gabby’s face burned redder with every picture. By the time she got to the ones of her and Kai, her cheeks were scarlet, and she let out a little cry of horror. “It’s not what it looks like,” she cried.
“We know, baby,” Rosie assured her. “We’ve been set up.”
“He’s such an asshole,” DJ scraped out. “And whatever pervert took them needs locking up.”
Kennedy nodded her agreement. “That’s my next step, DJ, but in the meantime, the judge wants you to go back into the courtroom with us, and he may ask you about them. Is that okay?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, then tagged on, “Gladly.”
Gabby held her hands to her burning cheeks and whispered, “It’s embarrassing.”
“It’s mortifying,” Rosie agreed. “If there was any way I could shield you from this, I would, but when the courts order us to do things, we don’t have much choice. I could ask the judge if he would be willing to talk to you in private if you’d prefer that. Whatever makes you more comfortable.”
Gabby paused while she thought for a few seconds and then shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’d rather talk to the judge with you there, Mom.”
“There’s nothing you can say that’s wrong, as long as you’re honest. You’ve got a voice, Gabby, and you’re old enough to tell the judge what you want. He seems like a fair man. He’ll listen.”
“Will Daddy be there?” she asked.
I nodded.
“He might not like what I have to say. It may hurt his feelings.”
“Just speak honestly and from the heart, Gabs,” Rosie told her. “You’re not here to please your dad or even me. You’re here to do what’s right for you.”
Gabby’s eyes slid toward me, and she bit her lip nervously. “Will you be there, too, Donovan?”
“Yeah, sweetheart,” I confirmed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good,” she said, almost to herself. “I’ll feel safer if you’re there.”
Warmth slid through me, and I knew in that moment that I’d do anything for Rosie and my kids, and yes, I said that with my whole fucking chest.
Evan was their father; I couldn’t take that away from him, but Gabby and DJ were mine too. I’d work my fingers to the bone and fight any battle to make sure they had everything they needed.
—————
The minute we walked back into the courtroom, Evan’s eyes locked on the kids, and he did an elaborate show of waving at them.
The asshole made me want to puke.
Evan was so damned fake. He didn’t give a single shit that DJ and Gabby were about to be humiliated in front of a judge and the peanut gallery, all because he wanted some imaginary upper hand.
My stare fell on Evan’s parents, who were sitting behind their fucknut son and his attorney. Interestingly, though, Rachel was absent, which was weird. I assumed she’d have been here to support her man. I’d be damned if I let Rosie go through any of this without me.
DJ gave Evan’s folks a chin lift while Gabby sent them a low wave, but both the kids ignored their dad completely.
Evan’s face fell.
I walked with Kennedy and Rosie to the table with the kids and got them settled before I went back to my seat beside Atlas and sat my ass behind them. Sitting forward, I scratched at my arms that were itching like I had ants crawling under my skin.
The clerk introduced the judge, who emerged from the door of his chambers at the back of the courtroom and took his seat while the clerk swore Gabby and DJ in.
Silence fell over the room while the judge regarded DJ and Gabby thoughtfully.
“Daniel,” he began.
DJ got to his feet and returned, “Your Honor.”
The judge studied him for a beat and then asked, “How do you feel about all this, son?”
DJ returned the judge’s level stare and asked, “Can I speak plainly, please, Sir?”
The judge dipped his chin.
“Thanks,” DJ murmured. “I feel that my dad is a narcissistic dick.”
Murmurs and stifled laughter filtered through the courtroom, and the judge held his hand up for silence. “Why do you feel that way, Daniel?”
DJ squared his shoulders and let it rip.
“My mom’s tried for years to keep things good for us with our dad, but he took it for granted.
Do you know, Sir, that before I got my driver’s license, my mom used to drive us to Dad’s house?
He moved to Idaho, and we lived in Oregon, but he was too busy to come to us, so my mom packed us in the car and drove us hundreds of miles and then came back and picked us up again on Sunday afternoon.
My grandma got cancer, and my mom nursed her, but she still drove us to my dad's, even though Grandma needed her. How is that right, Sir? How is that fair?”
Evan did his usual bristling trick and leaned across to say something to his lawyer, who stood up and interrupted, “My client would like to answer that, Your Honor.”
The judge turned his disdainful stare on Evan and said, “He’ll get his turn in due course.”
Evan threw his pen on the desk like a schoolboy throwing a tantrum.
The judge ignored it and turned back to DJ. “Tell me about life at home with your mom, Daniel.”
DJ grinned. “Mom’s awesome. She can be a dork, but she’s funny, and she makes the best meatball subs.
My friends think she’s cool, and I know what those photos look like, Sir, but they were taken outta context because it looked like things were happening that weren’t.
It’s not like my mom lets us do whatever we want.
She’s strict, and she gets on my case about my room and my grades, and she’s always telling me to watch my mouth and stop cussing.
But she’s cool because she trusts me to do the right thing, and nobody else does that, not even Dad.
Sometimes I mess up, but I know she’s on my side. ”
“What’s it like at your dad’s house?” the judge asked.
DJ shrugged. “It’s alright, kinda boring really.
Dad’s always working, and he leaves us with his girlfriends who mostly do their own thing.
A couple of them have taken us out or played board games and watched movies and stuff, but the ones like Rachel mostly talk on their phones and complain about being stuck with us.
We’d rather be at home ‘cause Mom’s more fun and Donovan takes me to the gym and teaches me Martial Arts moves and stuff, and my Uncle Dan got me a job at the MC, washing their bikes and trucks, which is good ‘cause it means Mom doesn’t have to keep finding money to give us for the movies and stuff. ”
The judge looked down at his notes. “The Speed Demons?”
DJ dipped his chin. “They’re awesome. The Demons have an auto shop where they design custom bikes, and they run the biggest construction company in Southern Wyoming.
They have businesses everywhere, Your Honor, and the brothers are mostly ex-military veterans, so they teach me discipline and how to obey orders, which will help when I enlist. Was gonna do it when I turn eighteen, but I’m thinking of trying to get a ball scholarship and go to college.
That way, if I get a degree, I can do officer training and learn to command. ”
The judge grinned, “That’s a fine idea, Daniel. I’m sure you’ll succeed in whatever you do.”
DJ grinned back. “Thank you, Sir.” He sat down, and the judge motioned for Gabby to stand up.
She got to her feet, her cheeks burning and looking so awkward that I wished I could saunter over there and stand at her back to give her support. Instead, Rosie reached up and took her hand.
“Are you alright, Gabrielle?” the judge asked, his tone full of concern.
“Yes, Sir,” she said quietly. “I’m just nervous.”
“You’re safe here, dear,” he told her gently. “Nothing you say here is wrong. Do you understand?”
She nodded. “My mom said the same thing, Your Honor,” she murmured, glancing down at Rosie.
“Why are you nervous?” he asked her.
Gabby took a breath to center herself and then told him, “Those photographs have upset me. They make it look like DJ, me, and our friends were running wild.”
“Do you have a lot of friends?” the judge asked her.
“No,” she replied. “I have a few, and they’re my best friends who I’ve grown up with, but I get shy and tongue-tied around large groups and people I don’t know, so I don’t mix much.”
“My wife is much the same,” he responded, smiling kindly before asking, “Can you tell me a little about yourself?”
“There’s not much to say, Sir,” she started. “I love books and reading. I want to write when I’m older, and I think I’d like to work in a library.”
“That’s admirable,” he commented. “You should visit our Larsen-Sant Public Library while you’re here. You’d like it.”
Gabby beamed. “Thank you, Sir. We don’t have a library in Hambleton.
Donovan’s brother’s wife, Maeve, loves books too.
She takes me to the library in Mapletree every week, and we go to the diner while we’re there, grab a hot chocolate, and talk about all the new releases.
” She gave the judge a knowing look. “Maeve’s an ologist.”
His eyebrows pulled together.
“Really, she’s an archeologist, but Donovan’s mam calls Maeve an ologist because she’s so smart.”
“Do you see a lot of Donovan’s mother?” the judge asked.
“Yeah,” Gabby confirmed. “She taught me how to make Irish soda bread. She’s a great cook, and she’s so funny. I love her Irish accent; it’s so cool.”
“What about your grandparents?” he inquired. “The ones on your dad’s side?”
“We don’t see them much,” she murmured, her eyes flicking toward them as they sat stoically. “They go on vacation a lot.”
“Do you get along with them?” he asked.
Gabby nodded. “They’re great. I wish we could see them more.”
The judge sat forward. “And what about your dad?”
Gabby straightened her back and tilted her chin up, just like her mom. “I love my dad, Your Honor, but right now, I don’t like him very much.”
My stare cut to Evan, and yep, the motherfucker yet again, was bristling.
“Tell me why, Gabrielle,” the judge urged.
“Things have been weird for a while,” she admitted. “My brother and I travel hours to go see him, but when we get there, he’s always working, and we have to stay with Rachel.”
“Is that a problem for you?” he asked.
“No,” Gabby stated clearly. “But it’s a problem for her. She doesn’t like me. The last time we went to Dad’s, she asked me to unload the dishwasher. I said I would, and then I got caught up in my book and forgot, and Rachel screamed at me.”
“Did she now?” the judge commented dryly.
Gabby nodded and went on, “She called me a fat bitch.”
A deathly silence settled over the room, and Rosie, who was still holding Gabby’s hand, squeezed her fingers reassuringly.
“How did that make you feel?” he asked.
“Like I didn’t matter,” she whispered.
Sitting back in my chair, I rubbed at the ache in my heart.
Evan rose from his chair. “Gabby,” he began, but the judge skewered him with a look, and he reluctantly sat down again.
“I didn’t care what Rachel thought of me,” Gabby went on.
“But I thought my daddy would have my back. Instead, he didn’t believe me, and he called my mom a bitch when she confronted him about it.
My mom’s not a bitch, Sir. She helps everyone out.
She’s a Taurus and sees red and can have meltdowns, but she usually stomps upstairs and rants down the phone to one of her friends. She’d never call me a fat, lazy bitch.”
Rosie gave Gabs her ‘mom look’ and murmured, “Stop saying bitch, baby.”
The judge’s lips twitched, and he opened his mouth to ask another question but was interrupted by a door slamming from outside the courtroom.
A loud voice in the distance screeched, “Where is he?” followed by the angry clip-clopping of high heels on tiled floor.
My heart lurched, and I glanced at Atlas, who glanced right back at me before staring down at his boots to hide his grin.
It was showtime.