Chapter 26
Nellie reached out and took Rowan’s hand in hers. They stood in the back of the Holland Springs court clerk’s office as Sue Ellen’s attorney, Matthew Williams, handed over the signed divorce papers while Scarlet Plumber’s team filmed it.
Jagger and his motorcycle club brothers stood between Nellie and Matthew.
The clerk, who Nellie had known her whole life, could hardly focus on the paperwork Matthew was handing her as her eyes kept drifting to the tatted-up men standing with their arms crossed.
Jagger had stopped by Nell’s house on their way to Holland Springs and apologized to both her and Rowan.
Rowan didn’t seem to want to forgive and forget, but if Jagger could get the paperwork pushed through, Nell would happily move on from any ill will.
“Ma’am,” Matthew said, getting her attention. “You need to stamp those papers. You are legally required to do so.”
“Why are they here?” the clerk, Donna Waters, eyed the group of leather and denim-clad men warily.
“We’re watching the legal system in action,” Jagger told her with a smile that wasn’t the least bit sweet or friendly. “I believe Mr. Williams said you’re required to stamp his client’s paperwork?”
Donna gulped, but then her eyes found Nell’s in the back of the room and narrowed. “Where is your no-good sister?”
Nell felt the anger she’d been repressing for years bubble up. Rowan’s touch calmed her, but not enough. “She’s off being happy. Something you should try, Donna.”
“The stamp, Ms. Waters,” Matthew said, his tone sharper now.
The door behind Donna opened and Judge Harnett stepped through into the interior of the clerk’s office with a stack of files.
He handed off the files to an assistant clerk.
As he turned to leave, his eyes caught sight of the group of bikers and the reporter.
He frowned as he approached to offer Donna backup.
“What’s going on here?” Judge Harnett asked.
Jagger and the guys smiled. It was so awkward that Nell almost giggled.
“Judge, I’m Matthew Williams. I represent Sue Ellen Faust in her divorce. I believe it’s your case, sir.”
Judge Harnett’s eyes moved to Matthew standing in his expensive suit. The bikers somehow made him look less intimidating, but Nell knew the truth. Matthew was the most dangerous man in this room. Even Scarlet wasn’t as scary and she had a film crew with her.
“Yes, it’s my case. I didn’t know there was a change of attorney of record though.”
“I’ve been trying to file it, along with the signed and final divorce agreement. However, we’ve been having some trouble with that filing, haven’t we, Ms. Waters?” Matthew asked as he speared the clerk with his gaze.
“What’s the issue?” Judge Harnett asked Donna.
“He’s intimidating me, Judge.” Donna crossed her arms and refused to stamp the paperwork.
“How? With my volunteer community outreach participants?” Matthew asked, glancing behind him.
“They’re here observing the inner workings of the legal system, your honor.
I was explaining to them that if she refuses to stamp and accept my filings for personal reasons, that would be in violation of the law.
Would you care to further their education by explaining the punishment for such a crime, your honor? ”
Rowan smothered a snort of amusement with a cough.
Matthews waited. Judge Harnett waited. Donna waited. Scarlet waited with her microphone held out. Finally, Judge Harnett grabbed the papers and looked them over. “They’re in order, Donna. You have to accept them,” Judge Harnett whispered.
“I do believe,” Matthew said, knowing he’d won, “all that is left is your signature, your honor. The record indicated there was no need for another hearing. Just the papers to be delivered to you for you to sign off and for the clerk to return the attached Orders to each party. While you’re here, as soon as Ms. Waters accepts the papers, you can sign them and return my client’s signed Order while I’m standing here.
I’m sure you see Ingram regularly, so you can also hand deliver his Order,” Matthew said, pointedly to Donna.
Matthew turned to the group of bikers and smiled at them.
“See, gentlemen, that’s what’s called a conflict of interest. However, since my client and the embattled Judge Faust hashed this out in a private mediation as much as possible, we won’t file an appeal asking for Judge Harnett’s removal since the record showed he refused to step down when Mrs. Faust’s previous attorney requested it.
If I filed a complaint for bias, Judge Harnett could not only be overturned on appeal, but he could also be suspended from the bench, for around what, Judge?
” Matthew asked, turning to Judge Harnett. “Thirty or sixty days?”
Judge Harnett didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out a pen from under his robe. “Stamp the papers, Donna,” he snapped.
Donna took the papers Matthew handed her and stamped them with the date and time. Then she handed the paperwork to Judge Harnett who looked it over, signed all the paperwork, and handed it back to Donna, who then stamped the signed Orders.
“Don’t come to my court again,” Judge Harnett said, shoving the signed divorced papers at Matthew.
“I wouldn’t count on that, your honor. There’s so much small-town charm that I think I like it here.”
“It’s really nice. The guys and I might cruise through here every now and then. Smell the roses and whatnot,” Jagger told them as his guys all nodded or grunted in agreement.
Judge Harnett turned and stalked from the room, slamming the door on the far side of the office behind him.
“Gentlemen, that’s how some small towns work. Thank you for volunteering and I hope we’ve learned something today.” Matthew took the signed papers from Donna with a smile and headed out, Jagger and his group followed them while Scarlet put together an intro for the lunchtime news.
Matthew handed Sue Ellen the paperwork an hour later. She stared down at it as the kids ran around Lydia and Landry’s yard. It was slightly worrying that young Leah was showing Tally and Lindsey how to sword fight with a stick, but Tally seemed to love it.
More importantly, Sue Ellen and the kids were happy.
Lydia and Landry were a far cry from Ingram’s country club friends, but Sue Ellen and the kids never seemed happier.
Lyle and James Avery were the same age and Leo was only a year younger.
The three of them had become thick as thieves.
They were currently digging in mud as they explored.
That would never have flown in Sue Ellen’s previous social circles where the kids were expected to be clean, quiet, and perfect at all times.
Nellie breathed out a sigh of relief and relaxed as she took a seat next to Sue Ellen in the backyard.
“It’s done? I’m officially divorced?” Sue Ellen asked Matthew.
“You are. Your maiden name has been restored and you’re the primary guardian of the children.
You also have a right to all of your personal possessions in the house and your vehicle.
Well, the insurance money from your old vehicle.
You also get child support and alimony. However, to be honest, I don’t know if you’ll ever get it.
If the FBI arrests Ingram, it’ll be reduced to practically nothing.
If that does happen though, I’ll go after the trust the house is in and try to force a sale.
Further, you and the kids have access to the properties in the kids’ names.
You can sell those and keep the money,” Matthew explained.
“I don’t care about the money,” Sue Ellen said, taking a deep breath. “We’re free. That’s all I care about.”
“We should celebrate!” Lydia said, excited for her new friend.
Sue Ellen looked away from her kids laughing and turned to Matthew. “Are we safe now?”
“I would say you’re safe from Ingram trying to kill you to prevent the divorce, but I wouldn’t say you’re safe from him wanting revenge.”
Sue Ellen looked disappointed but determined. “I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of Ingram dictating what I can and cannot do. I want to be brave like my sister.”
Lydia clapped excitedly. “I’ll call the girls. We’ll celebrate at Harper’s. You’ll be free, but also safe with us for sure.”
“I’ll stay with the kids. You all go have fun.
Hunter is going to come over and hang out soon anyway,” Landry told his wife before looking at Sue Ellen.
“Let James Avery and Tally stay too. They’re having a great time.
” Landry raised his shirt to show a gun tucked into the small of his back.
“And don’t worry, between Hunter and me, they’ll be very safe here. ”
Sue Ellen reached over and hugged Lydia before squeezing Landry’s arm. “Thank you all for being such good friends to my children and me.”
“It’s easy to do,” Lydia told her, making Nell love her even more. “Now, let’s go celebrate your freedom from Ingram. Plus, it’s time you really felt part of the town instead of hiding in it. I have it on good authority that you two might be getting official job offers on Monday.”
Sue Ellen got up and hugged Lydia before turning to Nell. “Are we doing this?”
“I think we are,” Nell answered with a bright smile.
“Mom is going to freak.”
“Let her. She made her choice. It’s time we make ours.
” Nell turned and smiled at Rowan, who slipped his hand to the small of her back.
Gator similarly moved to touch Sue Ellen.
He looked down at her with such love and devotion it made Nell want to cry with happiness for her sister.
But then she looked up at Rowan and saw the same look on his face.
Now she doubly wanted to cry with happiness.
“I believe my work here is done for now,” Matthew told them. “Call me if you need anything.” Matthew shook their hands and headed out.