Chapter 19 #2
“Jesus,” Paul grumbles, and scrubs his hand up and down his face.
I answer, “Yes.”
“Perfect. Courts frown upon taking a child away from their mother for any length of time for visitations while the child is breastfeeding. Since he lives across the country and his career is not very flexible, that goes in your favor, because there’s no option for shorter, more frequent visits, especially not while he’s in season.
So not only for health reasons, but for visitation, you may want to consider breastfeeding as long as you can. ”
“I do. There's even a place at work where Savannah will be going to daycare that has a designated space for mothers to nurse their child privately.”
“Perfect.” He looks at Paul. “Should I call downstairs and see if your lawyer, Liza, could print that up, and we can get that lease signed now?”
“Now I wouldn't want to trouble her, she’s a busy gal.”
Hugo’s lips twitch up when he leans back in his chair, elbows on the arms, fingers steepled, “I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
The two of you could go up now. I'll tell her you're on your way. That way, if they respond with ego, I’ll already have everything I need to send them proof that Miss Holloway is settled in New York City.
That immediate response will further prove to them that we're not fucking around with this.”
“Fine,” Paul pushes up from his chair, “let's get this out of the way.”
Hugo looks at his watch, “I'm leaving here at six, I'll let her know you’re on your way.”
As we walk out, I hear Hugo snap, “Give me Liza.” A brief pause. “It’s Hugo.”
Before leaving Hugo's office, I signed papers that officially made Hugo Vale my attorney.
“Perfect,” Hugo's secretary says. “I'm not sure if he got to it, but at some point, you may want to consider who you would want to raise Savannah if something happened to you, and include temporary guardianship in the event you had to have surgery or were in an accident. When you are ready to make that decision, we have those papers right here ready for you.”
I don't know why I feel such a sense of urgency at this moment, but I do, because God forbid, I walk out of here today and am hit by a cab. I do not ever want my daughter to be in the system. Not for a moment.
I turn and look at Paul, “I don't want you to feel like you have to say yes to this, but right now, there are very few people I would trust to take care of her, and you are one of them.
I do not ever want her to be in the system, even for one night.
Nalani, Sofie, Noelle, I trust them too, but they're not here.
You haven't met Lydia or Maya, but they are the ones who have promised me they'll make sure she's taken care of and loved, but they're halfway across the country.”
Paul's eyes sparkle with the warmth in a little bit of mist, “I'd be honored.”
“Perfect, and I’m a notary, so you two sign these, and it’s official. We can add the others anytime I'm here, eighteen hours a day, most of the time,” she hands me a pen, and we sign.
As we walk out of Hugo Vale's office, Paul chuckles, “Well, it’s official, Moretti was right, I'm Poppa Paul.”
“And she is so lucky to have you,” my voice breaks.
“Not as lucky as I am to have you two.” His voice does the same.
Stepping off the elevator onto the floor where Paul’s and Deacon’s lawyer, Liza Harrow, conducts business, Paul decides he needs to use the bathroom, and I do the same.
I flex my hand as we walk out of the building, and Paul chuckles. “I cannot believe how many times I had to sign my name for a lease in New York City.”
“Ridiculous.”
“What's ridiculous is that you're only charging me $1000 a month.”
“What's ridiculous is you’re not hearing me, that’s for the courts, I don’t need a thing. The place is paid off, I got a bank account that takes care of taxes, old man insurance, and social security checks. I don't want your money, kid. That house was never about making a dime.”
“Well, as your lawyer stated, it's important to show that I am actually a responsible adult by paying rent.” I feel a bit of panic, “This is going to work right?”
“That bigwig up on the top floor can’t do it. I'll sell the house and use every cent I have to make sure that you and this little sweetheart aren't separated. Hell, we’ll become Canadian.”
“And Canada loves hockey.” I smile.
“Canada, it's been years since I've been up north. Can't say as I miss it, but I do have a place up there if we need to hide out, Patsy loved it at our place by the river.”
I watch as Deacon Moretti steps out of a vehicle and walks around it, opening the door. “Kids obsessed with me.”
“I heard that old man.” Deacon shakes his head and opens the front passenger door.
Paul settles into the passenger seat and Deacon closes the door gently behind him. When he turns back, that tug at the corner of his mouth is still there, small but impossible to ignore.
“Now let’s try this again,” he says, voice dipping into something lighter. “Can I give you two a ride?”
I hesitate, because I’m supposed to say no. I’m supposed to call James.
“I should call—” I begin.
But he cuts in, not abruptly, just… knowing. “Already handled.” He nods toward the building behind me—Sofie’s. “I just talked to her. Told her I was headed that way to see Koa anyway.”
There’s a flutter in my chest I don’t appreciate.
“So, you two are covered,” he adds, nodding at Savannah with a softness I can feel more than see. “No pressure. Just a ride.”
Just a ride. Sure.
He bends down and smiles at her, “What do you think, little one?”
She kicks her feet, smiles, and laughs that big, beautiful laugh.
He looks at me, shocked, “Is this new—”
“She found her big girl voice today,” I answer.
“And that smile?” I nod, unable to answer without getting choked up as he opens the door. “Paul, check this out.”
“Damn it, little puck, you’re going to make an old man cry,” she squeals and laughs. “Yeah, that’s how all women react when they realize they’ve got you by the —”
“Watch it.” Deacon chuckles.