Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
C hance took Daisy out of the car seat, having quickly become familiar with all the buckles and inserts.
Yesterday morning, he’d taken her with him to Walmart in Decatur, not ready to shop in Hawthorne and face questions about her presence.
He’d bought items such as baby shampoo and bath essentials, along with hooded towels and washcloths.
Even a white noise machine and baby monitor.
Pull-ups and diaper cream were tossed into his shopping cart, as were plates and eating utensils.
He got several sippy cups, too, going heavy on the Disney Princess theme, knowing Kelby had been mad for them when she was Daisy’s age.
Maria had told him as he walked out the door to also buy Daisy pretty panties.
When he asked what those were, she had laughed and told him all little girls’ panties should be called that.
That way, when he began potty training Daisy, he could encourage her not to mess up her pretty panties.
Maria said it had worked for her when she was young, and she had used the same tactic on Luna.
Then he’d hit the toy section, pushing a second cart by that time.
He’d gotten dolls. Stuffed animals. Things that made music.
Blocks. Simple puzzles with only five or six pieces.
Books came next, and Chance had picked out some of his favorites from long ago, such as Goodnight, Moon , along with some that might be a little young for Daisy.
Then again, since Astrid hadn’t worked with the girl on things such as colors, numbers, or letters, these easier books might come in handy, helping Daisy to catch up on things.
He left Walmart an hour later, not having gotten a bed or dresser or anything like that for her. It struck him that some of Kelby’s old furniture might still be in the attic, and he would need to look up there. Tammy would know, but he wasn’t ready to speak to her—or anyone else—about Daisy.
Especially Summer.
Sawyer met them in the courthouse lobby. “Any trouble getting here?”
“No.”
“Daisy looks nice. You do, too, Chance.”
He raked a hand through his hair, trying to smooth it down more. “We’ve been busy shopping,” Chance said. Grinning, he added, “It’ll probably be the only time we do so where she doesn’t have an opinion on clothes. I have a feeling she’s going to be a strong, tough girl with a mind of her own.”
“Then she definitely takes after you in more than looks,” his friend said, laughing. “Kelby, too.”
Sawyer escorted them to the elevators, and then they entered the courtroom.
“We’ve drawn Judge Penland. I’ve argued before her a couple of times. She’s tough but fair. I don’t foresee any speed bumps. Just answer her questions truthfully.”
“I’ll have to testify?”
“I’m not certain. She may want to hear from you. She may not. Don’t panic. You’re here for Daisy. Your heart is in the right place. It’ll turn out fine. Have a little faith, Chance. In me and the system.”
Sawyer had them take their place at a table. He glanced over and saw Astrid and Givens at the other one.
Then the bailiff announced Judge Penland, and they stood, Daisy still snug in his arms.
“Be seated.”
Judge Penland looked at Daisy and him, then her eyes swept to Astrid and her attorney. She looked back at them.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Montgomery. I’d heard you’d left the D.A.’s office.”
“I did, Your Honor. I’ve moved back to my hometown of Hawthorne and couldn’t be happier.”
Her eyes fell back to the pages in front of her. “I see this is a most unusual case. I have before me an Original Petition to Terminate the Parent-Child Relationship.” The judge glanced now at Astrid. “I believe you, Ms. Powell, are voluntarily seeking this parental connection to be severed.”
“I am, Your Honor,” Astrid responded.
“Hmm. Usually, when these petitions are brought before me, they involve child abuse or neglect. Abandonment. It is the court’s responsibility to consider what is in the best interest of the child, in this case, Daisy Blackstone.”
Chance hadn’t realized that Astrid had given Daisy his surname.
“I see that pre-hearing procedures were waived. Since I don’t see a representative of the court petitioner seeking termination, I need to hear opening statements from each side so that I can grasp what exactly is going on in this matter.”
Robert Givens rose. “It’s fairly straightforward, Your Honor.
My client wishes to voluntarily terminate her parental rights to one Daisy Blackstone.
Because of that, none of the usual evidence has been collected, such as medical records, police reports, or social service records because no neglect or abuse has occurred.
Therefore, no evidence will need to be challenged. ”
Judge Penland frowned. Looking to Sawyer, she asked, “Give me your impressions, Counselor.”
Sawyer came to his feet. “Chance Blackstone, my client, is Daisy’s father.
Until a few days ago, Mr. Blackstone had not been informed of the child’s existence.
When Ms. Powell notified him that he was Daisy’s father and had been thus named on the child’s birth certificate, Mr. Blackstone was upset that his daughter’s birth had been hidden from him.
He is more than ready to step up and take full, complete legal custody of Daisy. ”
The judge’s gaze met Chance’s. “I’d like to hear from you, Mr. Blackstone.”
Chance cleared his throat. Daisy touched his face, and he told her, “It’s okay. Daddy needs to talk to the judge.”
To Judge Penland, he said, “I sowed a lot of wild oats in my twenties, Your Honor. I met Ms. Powell and basically had a one-night stand with her. I never saw her after we had relations. In fact, I left Seattle a couple of weeks later and moved to Texas. I settled myself down and began helping my father run our family ranch. Dad passed on a year ago, and I’m in charge of the ranch now.
I’m more mature than I used to be, thanks to the responsibilities I hold.
I deeply regret missing the first two years of my daughter’s life.
“But I’m ready to step up and be her father now. If you’ll allow that, Your Honor.”
The judge looked to Astrid now. “Ms. Powell, do you have anything to add to what Mr. Blackstone has told the court?”
She wet her lips. “I have never wanted children, Your Honor. I had just gotten out of a long-term relationship when I slept with Mr. Blackstone. Once. After I discovered I was pregnant, I thought it was possible that my former boyfriend was the father. It was the only reason I had the girl.”
Astrid looked across the aisle at him. “She came out favoring Mr. Blackstone strongly. To make certain, I had a DNA test run, and she is definitely his child.”
She turned her attention back to the judge. “I don’t want to be a mother. I have no connection to Mr. Blackstone and no feelings for his daughter.”
“She’s also your daughter, Ms. Powell,” Judge Penland pointed out.
“I don’t want her,” Astrid said flatly. “I want to waive all rights to her. I only notified Mr. Blackstone because I was legally required to do so and offered him the chance to sign the same parental termination rights documents that I had. I never dreamed he’d want her.
” She shrugged. “It seems he does want to keep her. I’m fine with that.
I plan to move to New York and be with my previous boyfriend.
We have plans to marry, and those plans don’t include the girl. ”
“I see,” Judge Penland said, her tone cold.
“This is a highly unusual case, especially since parental rights termination usually involves both parents. However, I see that Ms. Powell is determined not to have anything to do with her daughter, while Mr. Blackstone seems eager to step into the role of being a parent to Daisy Blackstone.”
She looked to Chance. “It won’t be easy, young man. Raising children is hard work.”
“I’ve never been afraid of hard work, Your Honor. I may not know a whole lot about toddlers, but I’m a fast learner. And I love Daisy.” He glanced down at her. “I love her a lot.”
The judge nodded. “That’s all I need to know.
Ms. Powell, your termination petition has been granted, and your relationship with Daisy Blackstone will be legally severed.
Since Mr. Blackstone is Daisy’s natural, legal father, this court will not require a post-termination plan for the child’s future. ”
Judge Penland scrawled her name on the documents, and said to Chance, “I wish you all the best with raising your daughter, Mr. Blackstone.” She paused and then smiled at him. “And as a grandmother, I can recommend Sesame Street and Paw Patrol , with a dash of Disney thrown in for good measure.”
She rapped her gavel against the bench. “This matter is now resolved. Next case, bailiff.”
Sawyer told Chance that he would receive copies of the legal documents granting him sole custody of Daisy, as well as ones terminating Astrid’s parental rights. He nodded and looked up, seeing Astrid striding from the courtroom with her attorney.
“She didn’t even bother to say goodbye,” he mused aloud.
“Daisy deserves better—and she got you,” his friend said. “It’s time to return to Hawthorne and your new life with your daughter.”
Chance stood. “We’re going home,” he told her.
“Home,” she said, nodding in approval.
The only thing left to do was let Summer know that things were over between them.
Summer offered to help with the dishes, but Eli told her he would take care of them.
“I think I’m going to go for a walk then. Clear my head. Work on some plot points,” she lied, knowing that writing was the last thing on her mind.
“Enjoy your walk,” Autumn said, going and wrapping her arms around Eli as he stood scrubbing a pan at the sink, resting her cheek against his back.
Summer turned away, bile rising in her throat.
She was truly happy for her twin. After a terrible first marriage, Autumn was now blissfully happy with Eli.
Her new job. The coming baby. Summer didn’t want to be jealous of Autumn, but she saw everything her sister had—which she wanted—slipping from her grasp.
The last few days had been absolute torture. Chance hadn’t texted or called a single time while he was out of town. She hadn’t told anyone about the dread building within her. Somehow, she knew that things were over between them.
And she hadn’t a clue why.
She had gotten no work done the past few days. Everything she had written, she wound up deleting. How was she supposed to write about love and happiness when she herself was miserable?
Her phone rang, causing her heart to leap. She pulled it from her pocket.
It was Chance. Finally.
Summer took a deep breath and answered. “Hello?”
“I wanted to let you know that I’m back in town,” he said tersely. “Would you be able to come by tomorrow morning and talk?”
He didn’t say that he had missed her, much less that he loved her. Chance didn’t even invite her for breakfast. Her heart sank.
“What time is convenient for you?” she asked, as if she were scheduling an appointment with a stranger.
“I have a lot going on because I’ve been gone. Is eight o’clock too early?”
He knew it wasn’t. She was an early bird, the same as he was.
Her voice tight, Summer said, “I’ll be there at eight.”
A silence followed, long and drawn out. Stubbornly, she decided she wouldn’t be the first one to hang up and let it drag on.
Finally, Chance said, “I’ll see you then.”
He hung up without even saying goodbye.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She willed herself not to cry, though. She was strong. Confident.
And she would fight like hell for the two of them and what they had.