27. The Wakeup Call
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Brooke
The Wakeup Call
A fter spending the night with Dalton under the stars, it was painfully and gloriously obvious that Brooke had fallen in love with her high school crush. The one she couldn’t have had come back to deliver on every fantasy she’d ever had, and exceeded all her desires. Dalton Hart could have her anywhere and anytime—something they proved over and over that night and morning before she had to get back to Max. Now, on Monday morning walking into May’s coffee shop, she was in a love daze. How had she let herself fall in love so fast and so stupidly with a man who wasn’t staying?
“It’s weird—you’re glowing and at the same time scowling,” May said as Brooke stopped at the coffee counter.
“I’m not scowling, I’m just thinking.”
“You do look like you’re annoyed about something,” Declan said before he lifted his mug to hide his smirk.
“I’m not annoyed, I’m just worried.”
They both stared at her. “You know, about the court date this week for child support,” she lied.
“That makes sense, but the odds are in your favor,” Declan offered.
May’s eyes narrowed. “No, that’s not it. What’s really bothering you? You can tell us your deepest, darkest secrets.”
Declan nodded but started to back away. “I think I’ll let May handle this one. I can really only be trusted with your legal secrets.”
May laughed as Declan walked slowly away with his mug and sat at one of the small tables.
“I bet your lawyer knows just about everyone’s secrets in this town. I should really try to butter him up with free coffee and see what I can get out of him,” May said, focusing back on Brooke.
“What an odd thing to say. What makes you think I have any dark secrets?”
But that only made May squint her eyes as she studied her more. “What are you keeping from me?” But then something over Brooke’s shoulder caught her eye and her smirk turned into a sneer. “Hold that thought, we have incoming. Keep your cool.”
“Is this where you plot your next bogus lawsuit, like a modern-day limousine chaser?” Tyler asked, his voice dripping with judgment.
Brooke took a deep breath. “May, I definitely need mine to go.”
May nodded. “Just have a seat and I’ll bring it over,” she said, then raised her voice to get Declan’s attention. “As a private business owner am I entitled to turn down a customer?”
“Well, technically yes, you can refuse service to anyone as long as you’re not doing it based on their class, race, sex, etc.” Declan smiled.
“In that case, Tyler, I’m refusing to serve you anything in my coffee garden based on the fact that you’re a terrible person. And I’m requesting that you leave.” Tyler forced a smile but his face was turning red.
“You can’t refuse me service just because I’m rich and think your sister is a gold digger.”
“The fact that you don’t understand how idiotic you are or want to support your own blood is shocking and sad. But the main reason I refuse to serve you is because you’re also a dirtbag. Now please leave before I have to call the cops.”
“I don’t have to leave, and I’m not leaving until you make me a large coffee.”
“Actually, you do have to leave,” Deputy Sheriff Wesley Hart said from behind Tyler as he walked in for his morning coffee just in time. “And I would be happy to escort you if for some reason you’re physically unable to go.”
Brooke took her coffee and handed it to Tyler. “Just go. The worst thing is, it doesn’t have to be this way. We could have had a cordial existence, ignoring each other but coparenting Max. Or you could have stayed in Savannah and kept ignoring us, but you seem to want to fight.”
Tyler took the coffee and leaned forward. “I belong in this town more than you. I’m a Banks, we own this town and everyone in it. And you’re not getting a cent from me. You tried to trick me into staying married to you by getting pregnant, and now you’re using your son as a cash cow. Why would I ever be cordial to you?” Then he walked out of the small shop and everyone’s eyes turned to Brooke.
May moved first from around the counter. “That son of a—”
“Don’t say it—he’s Max’s father and my mistake. Maybe he has a point. I never bothered to file for child support until now, because I want the money.”
“No, he’s not right about anything, and you’re looking for support. Don’t let him make you feel bad about that.”
But Brooke felt like she’d just ran a marathon and her week was only starting. She knew it was too late to walk back her claim. Tyler was going to hate her no matter what, but she was starting to believe it wasn’t worth it.
“We have court in two days, so he’s just trying to get in your head and psych you out because he has no case,” Declan said. “Come have a seat while May fixes you another coffee.”
Then the door chimed and Dalton walked in looking fresh and rested. One look at him and the emotion she was struggling to stamp down started to pool up in her eyes. But she couldn’t burst into tears in front of everyone. Even Wes stood by, waiting to see if she was going to fall apart.
“I can’t do this right now,” she said, heading for the exit and walking past Dalton, who looked worried but didn’t try to stop her. She didn’t slow down until she was through the hospital doors and down the hall to her office. Once she closed the door she took a few deep breaths, but Declan’s words played over in her mind.
The money wasn’t so much for her as it was for Max; he deserved to have two loving parents’ full attention. And the judge said it wasn’t up to her, it was the law. Tyler was required to provide for his son. The money would give her the freedom to spend less time at work and more time with Max, so it was worth it.
So for now she was going to do her job and keep fighting. It wasn’t until she’d created the next week’s schedule and approved several orders for supplies that she opened her door in search of caffeine. Just outside her office was a cart with a telltale white bag with pink lettering and not one but two large coffee containers. There was a small note in front of each, reading “Drink me” and “Eat me.”
She knew they were from Dalton, and the fact that he’d known she needed space and gave it to her proved how dangerous he was. He could read her needs and that was terrifying.
She set everything on her desk and moved the cart back down the hall then closed her door again. If they needed her in the main hospital they could page her, but for now she was going to do what administrators did and hide in her office as long as she could. She had a feeling Tyler was going to play as dirty as possible in court on Wednesday, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he even attempted to make up stuff about her. It was a problem of her own making, and now she was going to have to wait and see how bad it got.
Two days later, Brooke stood next to Declan in her nicest dress in a small county court house one town over from Sandy Point. They were both facing the judge as he read over the case documents, something Brooke would have thought he’d have done before today.
“I thought you said our judge was fair,” she whispered to Declan.
He leaned over to whisper back, but didn’t take his eyes off the judge. “She broke her leg and is on an extended leave of absence, so we’ve got a new judge.”
“And?”
“We’ll see. The law is on your side, but this judge is a bit of a wild card.”
The sound of the gavel made everyone in the room fidget. She could see Tyler standing tall next to several lawyers, all of them dressed in fancy suits. She was just grateful these were closed court sessions so no one else was allowed to sit in, otherwise they’d probably have half the town as spectators.
“Alright, folks, I’ve reviewed the child support claim but I have a few questions.” This judge, an older man with thin white hair and crinkled tan skin who clearly spent a lot of time outside, shuffled the papers on his desk. His bench sat a good four feet above everyone so he could look down on them and watch their reactions. “Mr. Banks, did you truly not believe your ex-wife’s child was your biological son seven years ago when he was born?”
“No, Your Honor, I didn’t even learn she was pregnant until the divorce was finalized. At that point we had been separated for months, so why would I think she was carrying my child? At the time my attorney advised her that if she wanted to make a paternity claim she could once the child was born. And she never did until now. Almost eight years later.”
The judge looked over at Brooke as she digested Tyler’s well-spoken, calm response.
“And yet you have established a relationship with the child, and your family has acknowledged the child as your son, have they not?” The judge picked up several pieces of paper but it was impossible to see what they were.
Tyler rolled his shoulder, a sign that he was pissed.
“My family doesn’t like scandals, and yes, on the off chance he was mine I have established rapport with the child. Sandy Point is a small town.”
“I see that. And now that you have confirmed the results of the paternity test, you would like to establish a shared custody arrangement? You’re interested in parenting the young man fifty percent of the time?”
Brooke gasped, unable to remain quiet. “What?”
Declan’s hand was on her back. “Hang on,” he whispered.
“Your Honor, now that I know Max is my son, I would like to spend more time with him, establish a father-son relationship. The only way to do that is if I get to spend as much time with him as his mother. I have years of missed time to make up for.”
Brooke leaned forward and looked Tyler into his smug eyes, which he’d narrowed in on her. “You don’t want any custody of Max, you’ve made that clear the last eight years. If I drop my request for child support, then you can go back to the city and leave us alone again.”
Tyler sneered, but before he could answer the judge interrupted.
“Ms. Banks, unfortunately, in the state of Georgia it’s not truly up to the mother if a father should pay child support. Once you filed that paperwork, I am beholden to ensure that Mr. Banks pays to support his child. In addition, since his lawyers have filed his custody request, we’re going to have to let this play out.”
“But Max barely knows him and he can’t live in Savannah half the time—he has school, friends, and all his family in Sandy Point.”
“That’s not up to you, Brooke, you don’t get to call all the shots anymore,” Tyler accused from across the small aisle.
The judge used his gavel just once to silence the room.
“Enough! Now, I’m not convinced this custody claim is anything more than a bargaining tool, but, Mr. Banks, there is only one way to find out. You will spend one day with Max Banks, each week, in Sandy Point this summer. I will receive a report from you and Max on how these visits go. Then I can make my decision in three months on this custody request.”
“Your Honor, our client doesn’t live in Sandy Point and he has a life in Savannah,” one of Tyler’s lawyers piped up.
“That may be, but if he wants to prove to this court that he can be a father to this child then this is the path to do so. And I want to add an additional stipulation: if Max is not comfortable being with his father alone, he can select someone else to be with him during the visits.”
“This is outrageous. I’m his father!”
“And you’ll have from eight in the morning until eight at night to spend time with him, without any hired childcare. In Sandy Point. Am I understood, Mr. Banks?”
“Yes, Your Honor, we understand,” Tyler’s attorney replied for him.
Brooke’s hands were shaking, knots had formed in her stomach, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. She never considered being forced to share Max, let alone with a man who couldn’t even be bothered to remember his birthday and who wanted to pretend like he didn’t even know Max was his own child until a month ago. The judge was still talking but everything sounded muted, her heart was racing, and she felt out of breath. Maybe this was what a panic attack felt like. Declan’s arm came around her to rub her back.
“Ms. Banks, did you hear me? I am granting you seven years and ten months of back child support, with interest, along with a requirement for it to be paid in full by the next time we meet, in no more than three installments. In addition, while we are deliberating on a custody decision, you’ll receive monthly child support in the amount of ten thousand dollars.”
Her knees went weak, and the only reason she remained standing was because Declan held her up. She sagged against him and tried to focus on his soothing words.
“Brooke, hold it together another few minutes in front of the judge.” That was all she needed to hear. She stood up straighter and focused on watching the judge. She didn’t want to risk making a man with so much power think she was in any way unstable.
“Your Honor, that is an exceptionally generous amount, and I think you’ll find with the documentation that we have provided that the amount exceeds the percentage rates based on Mr. Banks’ income.”
“Yes, I did notice that Mr. Banks does not actually seem to have employment, however, he is making an impressive amount off of family inheritance and investments. Therefore this amount stands.” The judge’s gavel struck the wooden divot on his desk two times before he stood. “I’ll see you all in three months.” Then he departed.
Brooke stood shocked, staring at the now-empty judge’s bench, unable to look away.
“It’s a win for today, even with the decision to allow Tyler time with Max. I know this seems drastic, but I think the judge knows Tyler has no intention of truly parenting Max, and he’s just giving him enough rope to hang himself.”
“But at the risk of Max’s safety and happiness, this is unacceptable!” Brooke whisper-shouted.
“My client will be available every Wednesday to spend time with his son, in Sandy Point, so be ready,” Tyler’s main lawyer said before walking out of the courtroom. Tyler remained, smirking at Brooke.
“You know that saying, you get what you pay for. I think you’ll find that rings true after this is said and done.” Tyler unbuttoned his suit. “Maybe you can use some of that ransom you’ve gotten the judge to award you to hire a better attorney.” Then he walked out too.
Finally Brooke could fall apart, and with tears clouding her vision she collapsed into the chair behind her.
“If Max gets hurt during this game the judge is playing, I will spend every penny suing this court.”
Declan sat next to her. “I know this seems like the darkest moment, but we have some safety mechanisms in place. Max can request that you be present at every visit, and we both know Tyler will never last twelve hours playing dad with no help.”
She leaned forward and took several deep breaths. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
She had won the child support battle, but she stood to lose so much more.