Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Case
“I won’t, in good conscience, place Reece with you no matter how much you can provide. You’ve shown time and again you’re not available for your grandchild. Missing almost all your visits with the child is deplorable and shows me you’re not interested in a relationship.”
My father is stone-faced while my mother’s crossed leg bounces almost violently under the table. Her mouth is set in a lemon-sucking pucker and her eyes on the judge are as sharp as an owl on its prey. They’re both livid and it looks damn good on them.
But while I’m happy my parents won’t get custody of Reece, I likely won’t either. I no longer have a house, and I was never able to get Tessa to meet with the judge. When Horse-Face gets to me, she’ll shoot me down too. And then I don’t know what I’ll do. I scrub my hands over my face, weary from the last few days.
Tessa was gone by the time I got back from the police station, and I had no clue how to find her. The detectives took my old phone as evidence and she’d blocked my new number.
And I can’t blame her. Mack told me what he’d done, not only accusing her of starting the fire, goddammit, but of attempted murder. I told him it wasn’t her, but I should have fucking stopped him. I should have ignored the detectives or told them I’d meet them at the station. I should have followed Mack, stopped him.
First she sees that damn picture and thinks I’m married. Can’t blame her for that either. And then Mack… I shake my head. Nope, I can’t blame her at all. All the trust I’d worked so hard to earn was gone. And left in the wake of me, Tessa was likely a mess. A tower of strength on the outside, but a mess on the inside.
“It was two, Madam Justice,” Greg says, pointedly, pulling me out of my thoughts.
The judge’s brows rise high on her forehead. “Two visits are what you’re boasting about?” She rolls her eyes. “Honestly, it’s become quite clear to me this whole custody battle has been more about punishing your son, then it has been about wanting what’s best for that little girl. I’m disgusted by your clients’ behavior, and I wouldn’t even give them custody of a stray dog, no matter how many fancy spa days and highly accredited doggy schools they could afford. Therefore, I am ruling the pictures provided to discredit Mr. Callen inadmissible. They will be destroyed immediately, and should that not happen, Mr. and Mrs. Callen will be held accountable and prosecuted.”
Greg opens his mouth to start speaking and the judge cuts him off.
“Do I look like I’m finished talking?”
He holds a hand up, looking contrite and sits down.
“I will, however, be allowing your clients’ grandparents rights. Which means visitation, at least three weeks a year, which will include one holiday of the guardian’s choosing. These twenty-one days can be broken up as the child’s guardian sees fit and at this time the guardian shall be present at all visitations until the guardian deems it unnecessary. Also…” She pauses to eye my parents.
“Since the Callens are financially privileged, and seemingly uninterested or inconvenienced by these visitations, they will bear the responsibility of planning those visits. I will not have the person caring for this child chasing after you, so the onus is on you to maintain a relationship with your granddaughter.” She turns back to their lawyer as if she can’t stand looking at the two of them any longer. “All visits will be in the child’s home location unless otherwise approved by the guardian. Is this understood?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Good. You will be sent the information about the visitation, along with the guardian’s contact information and a summary of what I’ve just told you.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“And now, since you no longer have business here, I ask that you leave the courtroom.”
The courtroom is silent but for their shuffling papers and footsteps as they leave. And after a few quiet minutes that feel interminable, the judge turns to me. I hold my breath.
“Mr. Callen.”
To my surprise she no longer looks at me as if I’m a piece of shit.
“I’ve heard nothing but high praise from your caseworker. And the meeting I had with Ms. Harlow also shed a lot of light on who you are as a person which is why the pictures provided by opposing counsel are not admissible in this case or any others.”
She spoke to Tessa? I lean forward, hope ballooning in my chest despite me trying to hold it at bay.
“However, you have no home.”
Pop. Just like that the weight of losing Reece is crushing me, making it hard to breathe.
“And while I know that’s not your fault, I can’t give a child to someone who’s homeless.” She picks up her gavel. “So, it’s my decision?—”
“Your Honor?”
I spin in my seat, seeing for the first time that there’s someone at the back of the courtroom. She stands and starts forward.
“I told you, Ms. Harlow, if you were going to stay you had to remain silent no matter my decision.”
“I know, Your Honor, but before you make your official ruling, I want you to know, they do have a home. They have my house.”
“Ms. Harlow, your relationship is too new, and according to your book, volatile.” She raises a hand. “I can’t risk it falling apart and hurting the child. Mr. Callen and his daughter need time to grow together, learn to be a family.”
“They can live there without me then. Until Mr. Callen’s house has been rebuilt, I’ll live elsewhere. And stay away until their relationship is established, if that’s what it takes. Your Honor, they should be together. They belong together.”
“You told me the same thing about you and Mr. Callen.”
Her chin lifts. “I did. And I meant it.”
Her eyes flick to mine and I feel an ache so deep it’s crippling.
I gasp for a breath.
“But Case and Reece’s relationship is more important. She needs her father, Your Honor. Every little girl needs their daddy. And if that means our time never comes, I’ll live with that.” Tessa’s eyes land on mine again. “I’ll hate it,” she says on a sad laugh. “But I’ll abide by it. I’ll do anything to help keep them together.”
“Your Honor?” I fly to my feet, barely holding myself back from jumping over David and his chair to get to her. “I can’t let her do this. I’ll have a place rented by the end of the day. That cottage is her only home. Her only connection to her grandmother. The one person in this world that made her feel loved and safe.”
“Sit down, Mr. Callen.” The words, though demanding, are said with compassion.
“Not anymore, Your Honor,” Tessa blurts.
Judge Hortense cocks her head. “Not anymore?”
“It’s not just one person that’s made me feel safe and loved in this world.” Tessa turns her head, looking directly at me. “You have too.”
I swallow hard. My heart pounding, slow but deep. Fuck the court. I leap in some fucking adrenaline-filled superhero move over David, and grab Tessa. And then, just like a fucking romance movie, I tip her back and kiss her.
When I stand her upright again, her fingers fly to her lips, her eyes are wide, and she looks a bit shell-shocked.
“Hang on a second, Sunshine. I’ve got to talk to the judge.”
David, standing now, a disbelieving grin on his face, steps aside as I move past him to sit back down.
“Your Honor, please. I love my little girl, and I’m going to be the best damn father in the world to her. But I love Tessa too, and I trust in our love, so much, I’ll marry her right here and now so we can become a family.”
I’m staring at Tessa’s eyes filling with tears, but the silence from the judge forces me to look at her.
She’s smiling. A goofy, love-sick, grin that makes me blink in disbelief.
Judge Hortense picks up her gavel. “I hereby grant you, Case Callen, custody of your daughter.”