Chapter 39 Been Spot On
BEEN SPOT ON
“That ferry ride sucked,” Alana said on Friday morning.
“You didn’t have to come with me.”
“I wasn’t letting you go alone. Even if it’s just moral support.”
Brennan was lucky enough to get an appointment with his attorney quickly. Then he was going to have a chat with Rene. He’d sent her a list of questions three days ago when she’d called. Or he sent them that night.
He had expected no response and was doubly shocked when a response arrived yesterday morning.
Calling her to talk when he’d told her he couldn’t at work would just let her think she got her way.
It was better to catch her unaware.
She’d made a comment about being off on Friday, so he was going to pay her a visit after he’d talked to his attorney.
With Alana next to him now, he threaded their fingers together in his car and then drove off the ferry.
“I appreciate it. I told Becca Grandma was picking her up at pre-K today and that she was spending the night. The weather is going to be dicey later and I’m not pushing my luck on the ferry or even the roads.”
“Becca will be fine with your mother. You know that. And we can stay at my parents’ house easily.”
That was their backup plan rather than trying to find a hotel last minute if Rene couldn’t meet until later.
“I appreciate that,” he said. “We can still get a hotel.”
“Brennan. My parents’ house is immense. Their primary is on the first floor, my old room on the second. They live outside the city. It’s not a problem and we aren’t in anyone’s way. They’d love to see you again.”
When she put it that way, it wouldn’t hurt.
“Maybe we can plan on going tonight to visit. If I’m not rushing around, I won’t feel so anxious. It’s not as if there are a lot of ferry slots to get back.”
“That’s right. There is no reason to stress and rush to get there and maybe miss it. Just plan on staying so it’s one less thing on your mind.”
There would always be a million things on his mind and this pile of shit Rene had dropped was stinking it all up.
Becca always had to come first, but now there was this worry that Alana wouldn’t want to deal with his drama.
Or if their relationship was going to suffer if he had to spend more time in Boston.
“Yeah.”
They were quiet for the drive through the docks and into downtown.
“Your attorney is part of Bond Law?” she asked. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s not Hailey,” he said, turning to look at her. “Just one of her staff. I was able to get in quickly back then and wanted the best.”
He thought the name would carry enough weight. He paid through the nose for it, but his daughter was worth every dime.
“You’ll get the best here,” she said.
They found parking and walked the block to the law office. He knew what it was like here. He didn’t miss one bit of this life and the thought of Becca having to grow up here or moving back and forth on the ferry made him ill.
They passed through security and were waiting by the elevator when Alana’s name was called.
She turned her head. He didn’t know who the guy was coming toward them.
“What are you doing here, Alana?”
“I’m with Brennan. Brennan Austin, this is my cousin, Roark French. He’s an attorney here.”
“Nice to meet you,” Roark said. “I heard about you.”
“Have you?” he asked.
“Sorry,” she said. “In my family there aren’t a lot of secrets. Especially if someone is in a new relationship.”
The elevator doors opened and they all got in.
“Nothing horrible,” Roark said. “Alana, if you need anything expedited, reach out.”
They got to the third floor and got off, Roark going up higher.
“What did that mean?” he asked.
“It means that your attorney most likely doesn’t know who I am or that I’m related to Hailey and Roark. Not that the person won’t do a good job, but thinking the boss might look at this will get things done faster or as a priority. That is your choice if you want me to do it.”
“You would? Or they would?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Brennan. In my family, the parents don’t spread word of relationships unless it’s serious. No one knew about Jonathan and me for well over a year and even then, not everyone.”
“You were young,” he said.
“That means nothing. My parents told me after the fact they never cared for him. I wish they’d told me earlier.”
He snorted. “My mother did the same. Now she’s not so afraid to voice her opinions.”
Alana cringed. “Has she said anything bad about me?”
He reached for her hand, needing the comfort. “No. She likes you and Becca loves you. It’s all good.”
“I’m glad. This is going to be too,” she said.
When they left an hour later, he felt more relaxed. Not confident that this was a slam dunk. He didn’t need to be told what Alana had brought up either, but he’d provided all his documentation for the past three years to have on file.
Short of a temporary order, their custody agreement was lock solid and would take time for Rene to get it changed.
Between her job, her pregnancy, and everything else she prioritized, she could prolong the process.
He wasn’t sure he wanted that either.
It would be shots against her, but delay the end results, increasing his anxiety.
“Do you want to get some lunch?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said. “Are you going to text Rene first or just show up at her place?”
“I haven’t decided. I’m playing both scenarios out in my head. I don’t think it will be a mark against me if I just showed up, but she could spin it that way with her attorney.”
“If she has one,” she argued. “You could say you were here on business and knew she had the day off and stopped to talk about this. If she can’t, you just leave. I don’t think that’s horrible.”
“And not a lie. I wouldn’t have come over just to talk to her.”
But he could have given her a heads up and told himself he would not do that.
Rene had reached out to him last minute the entire time they were together. Even dating. He was always waiting on her to make plans or be available.
His mistake.
Rather than go back to his car, they walked to a restaurant and got a seat.
“Even if you did, that is your choice,” she said.
“Do you want me to stay back when you go to Rene’s?” she asked.
He played that in his head as well.
Would she be upset if he asked? He didn’t want her to sit in the car on a chilly day when he didn’t know how long he’d be, but having Alana with him might escalate the situation.
“What do you think?” he asked. “So far you’ve been spot on.”
“I think it might be best if you do it alone, but if you want me there, I’ll gladly be by your side. I can just stay on the ground level in the building or the hallway of another floor. She won’t even know I’m with you.”
“It’s probably for the best.”
They finished lunch, drove to Rene’s apartment building, Alana staying in the lobby while he went to the fourth floor.
No elevator and he knew damn well she’d be bitching about carrying Becca up and down these stairs. No way it was safe for his daughter.
When he got outside Rene’s floor, he typed a note about the stairs before he forgot, then knocked on the door.
No one answered, so he knocked again.
After silence, he turned. It was too much to hope she’d be home.
But the door opened and a guy was standing there.
“Can I help you?”
“Sorry. I was looking for Rene Simons.”
“She’s out right now. Who are you?”
“I’m Becca’s father,” he said. “Brennan Austin.”
The guy looked younger than him and confused over why Brennan was at the door.
“Rene said Becca’s father was older.”
“Looks like I might be older than you,” he said. He wouldn’t put the guy even at thirty. Maybe mid-twenties.
“No. Like in his fifties and wealthy. Someone who took her daughter from her and was blocking her from seeing Becca.”
He snorted. “Maybe she has me mixed up with someone else.” Like one of the other men she was sleeping with.
He wanted to throw that in the mix but wouldn’t stir the water just yet for waves.
“How do I know you’re not lying?” the guy asked.
“Why would I? Do you know Becca’s last name? Have you seen a picture of her?”
“Yeah. It’s Austin,” the guy said.
Brennan pulled his phone out and scrolled through random shots of his daughter. “I’m Becca’s father. I was in Boston and thought I’d stop in to see if Rene was around. It’s not a big deal.”
“What do you mean in Boston? She said you live here.”
He sighed. “What’s your name? I’m assuming you're the father of the baby she’s carrying now?”
“Sorry. I’m Jake Johnson.” Jake put his hand out. “I was sleeping so I’m catching up. Come in.”
“It’s after one,” he said. Did the guy not work?
“I’m a fireman,” Jake said. “I got out of work this morning. Rene said she had shit to do so I could sleep. The place is small.”
He looked around. “How many bedrooms are here?”
“One. We’ll have to find another place soon with the baby coming.”
“Where is Becca going to sleep if she was here?”
Jake frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Do you know Rene called me earlier this week threatening to sue for custody of my daughter? The girl she’s seen maybe ten times in three years?”
Jake shook his head as if to clear it. “No. She hasn’t said a word. She’s barely around as it is and I’m not sure how the hell we are going to deal with one kid with her job and mine. She wants her other kid here too?”
This conversation was only pissing him off.
He didn’t like his daughter being referred to this way.
Nor did he like that the guy didn’t know Becca could be a part of his life.
“I think you two need to have a talk. I’ve been to my attorney already.”
“Brennan.”
He turned his head to see Rene standing in the doorway. She didn’t look pregnant to him, but he’d never asked how far along she was.
He didn’t care enough.
“Jake and I were having a talk.”
“About what?” Rene asked, moving in. “And why did you just show up without letting me know first?”
“You said Becca’s father was older and lived in Boston. This guy isn’t old and he said he doesn’t live in town.”
“He’s older than you,” Rene snapped. “You assumed what you wanted. He’s on Amore Island. You know I went to visit Becca and was back on the same day.”
Jake scratched his head as if he couldn’t comprehend.
It wasn’t sleep that was causing it either.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jake said. “We don’t need another kid here. I don’t even know if I can handle this one. You said you were going to let me know if it’s mine or not and you haven’t yet. And if it’s not, you need to find another place to live.”
He threw his hands in the air.
“Boy, does this sound familiar.”
“Don’t be an ass, Brennan.”
“You just made my life a lot easier,” he said, shaking his head. “Let me get this straight. This is your apartment, Jake, not Rene’s?”
“Yes. She moved in a few months ago when her lease was up. She needed a place to stay and I wasn’t around much.”
“So you’re not exclusive?” he asked.
Jake shrugged. “We haven’t been. I mean, it’s not just her. She’s not here that often either.”
“I’m done,” he said. “Rene, you better have a damn good attorney because I just saw mine.”
He turned and left, swiftly taking the stairs down to Alana.
“That was fast,” she said. “How did it go?”
“Déjà vu.”