Chapter Twenty-Two
L iam knew of a couple of law firms in Marietta, but he’d gone to school with Marina Caldera, who practiced family law with the firm Forest, Rodgers, and Caldera. The next day he called her and was able to get him and Val an appointment that afternoon. Once Marina heard it was Liam and that the matter was somewhat urgent, she’d apparently worked them in quickly.
“What if someone sees us going into the law offices?” Val asked.
“So what if they do? We could be going for any number of reasons. Not that it’s anyone’s business.”
“You’re right. I’m just nervous.”
What could he say? The idea that anyone—especially Trent Harvey—could claim Val’s baby and cause all sorts of trouble worried him, but mostly it made him angry. In his mind, you couldn’t deny a child was yours and then change your mind on a whim. Except it probably wasn’t a whim. No, if Trent changed his mind, it would be because Trent hated Liam. He hated all the McFarlands but especially Liam. Hearing that Liam had married Val and was now legally the baby’s father was a prime setup for Trent to make trouble.
Ever since Trent’s father had been forced to sell his land to Jasper McFarland, Trent had hated them. For some reason, and Liam couldn’t figure out why, Trent blamed Jasper for his father having to sell. In reality Trent’s father had a gambling problem and wound up bankrupt and was forced to sell. Jasper more or less rescued him.
Liam had always liked Marina, though there’d never been anything romantic between them. Marina had dark hair, big brown eyes, and a brilliant mind. She’d graduated first in her class in law school and then come home to Marietta where she had a thriving practice as well as a reputation for doing a large amount of pro bono work.
Forest, Rodgers, and Caldera’s law office was on Church Street, in a pretty beige Victorian cottage that had been repurposed as a law office. There was a desk in the foyer where a receptionist welcomed them and directed them to Marina’s office. Liam thought it had been a study, if the bookshelves lining the wall were an indication.
“Liam, it’s so good to see you,” Marina said, giving him a hug. “It’s been too long.”
“It has. Thanks for fitting us in. We really appreciate it.”
Turning to Val, she offered her hand. “You must be Val. I went to high school with Riley as well as Liam, but I think you were several years behind us.” She waved at two leather side chairs. “Please, have a seat and tell me what I can do to help you.”
“Anything we tell you is confidential, right?” Val asked.
“Definitely.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Congratulations.” Marina paused and added, “Is that what you needed to talk about?”
“Yes. The baby…isn’t Liam’s. Well, not his biological child. But if we’re married, he’ll be the legal father, correct?”
“As long as his name is on the birth certificate, yes. Does the biological father know about the pregnancy?”
“Yes,” Liam said. “Val told him, and the bastard denied paternity. Basically, told her to get lost and not bother him again.”
Marina tapped her pen thoughtfully on the desk. “Forgive me for being blunt, but are you certain this man is the father?”
“Absolutely. I hadn’t been with anyone else for a year before him and I was only with him the one time. I didn’t plan this. The condom broke.”
“Val ran into him a couple of days ago. When he found out Val had married me and I’d be the baby’s legal father, he threatened her. Said he didn’t want me raising his baby.”
“The baby he categorically denied was his,” Val said.
“You know the father too?” Marina asked Liam.
“Yeah. So do you. It’s Trent Harvey.”
Marina raised her eyebrows. “I see.”
“I don’t want him to have anything to do with my child. I feel like he gave up the right when he claimed he wasn’t the father and accused me of lying. If he decides he wants to claim the baby, can he make me consent to a test?”
“The short answer is yes. It would have to be court-ordered and you should be able to refuse to have it until after the child is born. In all likelihood, though, you’ll have to submit to a paternity test if he takes you to court.”
“Would he—could he—get custody?”
Liam wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be okay. Since he couldn’t, he simply held her hand.
“It’s possible he could get partial custody or at least the right to see the child at regular intervals. Unless you could prove he is unfit.”
“He is unfit,” Liam said. “He’s a piece of shit. The only reason he’s bent out of shape is because Val married me and I’m the legal father. He couldn’t care less about the baby. He just wants to make me suffer.”
“Back in the day I knew he talked badly about you and your family but why make you suffer?”
He told her about the ranch and Trent’s father.
“I remember you two went at it in school a couple of times.”
Liam shrugged. “That was a long time ago, but apparently he hasn’t forgotten.”
“Is there anything we can do to protect the baby? And what if he goes around saying he’s the father? Can I make him stop saying that?”
“I don’t see how. I think your best bet is to ignore him.”
“So there’s nothing we can do until she has the baby and then if he demands a paternity test she has to have it?”
“If it’s court-ordered. And from what you’ve said it shouldn’t be hard for him to get one. One thing he might not have considered is that if he does prove to be the father he’ll be responsible for child support.”
Liam bet he hadn’t thought of that yet.