Chapter 10
Arizona
After the world’s worst night of sleep—where every time I closed my eyes, I was bombarded with nightmares of Austin being ripped away from me—I pulled up to the courthouse, chugging my fourth cup of coffee before getting out of my car.
It was going to be a struggle getting through my showings today.
“Arizona! Over here!” a familiar voice called from somewhere nearby.
Rubbing at my bleary eyes, I turned in that direction to find Levi waving a hand wildly.
He had far too much energy for this early in the morning, and he needed to tone it down before we got in front of a judge and went to war against our new archnemesis, Hilda.
I trudged across the parking lot toward where he stood but didn’t stop as I continued on my way to the courthouse steps.
Forced to hotfoot it to catch up with me, Levi chuckled. “Not a morning person, I take it?”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to get this over with. I don’t know about you, but I have a busy day ahead, and I’ve already had to reschedule a showing to make time to be here.”
His humor faded away. “Right. Sorry. I really am grateful that you’re doing this for Maisie.”
I grumbled my acceptance of his thanks, my pace never slowing.
“Wait.” Levi’s hand landed on my arm, halting me.
“What now?” I groaned.
He looked almost sheepish as he said, “I, uh, have something for you.”
A wry laugh was pulled from my chest. “What? Got another kid that you need me to take guardianship of?”
“No,” he said with an eyeroll before reaching into his pocket to produce a velvet box and cracking it open to reveal a ring with a diamond the size of a marble. “Figured we needed to make things official.”
I gasped. “Is that real?”
Levi scoffed. “Of course it’s real. You think I’d get my fiancée a fake rock? Give me a little credit, Arizona.”
Shaking my head, I reached out to slam the box shut. “No, I can’t accept something that probably costs more than my car for this sham of a marriage. Take it back and get me one with a moissanite center stone. No one will be able to tell the difference, and I won’t have anxiety over losing it.”
Undeterred, he extracted the ring and grabbed my hand. “You’ll wear the one I picked out for you.”
Teeth clenched, I tried to wrench out of his hold. “I said no.”
He tugged on my hand hard enough that I lost my balance, slamming into his rock-hard chest. Using the position to his advantage, Levi dipped his head, his voice rumbling against the shell of my ear.
“Here’s the deal. You put this ring on right now, or I’ll drop to my knees and declare my desire to marry you so loudly that everyone within a two-mile radius will be able to hear me.
And you’d better hope there isn’t a hockey fan among them, otherwise, news of our engagement will be trending on social media within the hour. ”
When he pulled back, there was a victoriously smug smirk on his lips, and I wanted nothing more than to punch it off his handsome face.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Give me the stupid thing.”
Levi tsked, holding the ring out of my reach. “Nuh-uh. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”
My frustration peaked. “Get on with it already, then!”
“Patience,” he chastised, taking his sweet-ass time sliding the massive diamond onto my left hand.
Once it was securely in place, he finally let me go.
“We’re late. Come on.” I didn’t bother looking back as I continued up the steps and pushed through the revolving door.
Though he didn’t say a word, I could feel his presence behind me as I placed my purse on the moving belt to go through the scanner and walked under the arch of the metal detector.
“Destination?” the security guard asked.
“Judge Jeffries’s chambers, family court.”
The uniformed man gestured toward the elevator. “Third floor.”
Though my insides were twisted up in knots, I managed to offer him a small smile. “Thank you.”
The elevator ride was blissfully silent, and I used the moment of quiet to center myself, praying Levi was doing the same.
We needed to be composed and confident when we walked into this meeting.
We couldn’t afford any cracks in the facade to be visible.
Not when Maisie’s and Austin’s futures depended on it.
When the sliding doors opened, I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of my lawyer waiting for us.
He’d been my lifeline when Mom’s disease progression made it so she could no longer care for Austin, working overtime to ensure custody was quickly and seamlessly transferred over to me.
I had faith he’d work his magic again for Maisie.
“Arizona,” he greeted me warmly. “How’s Austin?”
“Testing my patience every minute of every day,” I joked.
Laughter filled the air. “Sounds about right for a fourteen-year-old boy.” His gaze slid to Levi, who’d stepped up to my right, and he extended a hand. “Jonathan King.”
They shook, and Levi introduced himself in turn. “Levi Nixon.”
Jonathan got right down to business. “I’ve gotten ahold of Maisie’s case file from Kansas, and from what I can tell, you are her only living relative. That’s our ace in the hole when petitioning for full custody.”
Levi’s lips had turned down at the corners. “How concerned should we be about Hilda at CYS’s recommendation against Maisie being placed with me permanently?”
“Arizona mentioned her primary concern was your travel schedule?”
“That’s right,” Levi confirmed.
“Hilda can make her recommendation, but ultimately the decision is up to the judge. Judge Jeffries is known for ruling in favor of biological parents in custody cases, so we got lucky being assigned to him.”
Some of the tension melted from Levi’s shoulders, but they jumped right back up to his ears when a familiar feminine voice spoke from nearby. “Mr. Nixon, I didn’t realize you would be joining us today. Since the proceedings don’t concern you, I hope you understand you’ll be asked to wait outside.”
Without conscious thought, I reached for his hand, prying the fingers of his clenched fist free and lacing them with mine. Under my breath, I said, “Let Jonathan handle her.”
His nostrils continued to flare, but he followed my command, keeping his lips firmly sealed while my lawyer addressed the woman who had no doubt earned herself a starring role in our recurring nightmares.
“While Ms. Cleary is petitioning for temporary guardianship of Maisie Thorne, Mr. Nixon is simultaneously petitioning for custody, pending the results of a DNA test.”
Hilda’s lips pursed, her whole face contorting like she’d sucked on a lemon. “I see.”
Before she could say anything more to rile Levi up prior to our meeting with the judge, the door to his chambers opened, and we were ushered inside by his clerk.
Judge Jeffries sat behind a massive wooden desk, and Jonathan guided Levi and me to take a seat in the two chairs positioned opposite him.
I clasped my hands in my lap, hoping no one could see how badly they shook. We were about to lie to the court, and there was no escaping the terror that pierced my heart that they would see right through our charade.
All I could think about was Austin. I’d worked so damn hard to earn my place in his life, and now I’d gone and put that in jeopardy.
God, what have I done?
The shuffling of papers snapped me out of the beginnings of a panic attack, and I looked up to find the judge browsing through the open file on his desk.
Clearing his voice, he spoke. “Mr. King, you’ve filed a petition on behalf of Ms. Arizona Cleary for temporary guardianship of Maisie Thorne. Is that correct?”
Jonathan gave a single nod. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“I also see that Mr. Nixon, the assumed biological father, is requesting full legal custody pending a DNA test to confirm his paternity.”
“That’s correct, Your Honor.”
Judge Jeffries turned to Hilda. “And where is Maisie now?”
Hilda had the nerve to give Levi a side-eye before responding, “She’s been admitted to San Diego Children’s Hospital for an infection.”
The judge’s bushy gray eyebrows rose to his thinning hairline. “Why isn’t there any mention of a recent hospitalization in her file?”
“My apologies, Your Honor. It occurred yesterday evening, and our priority was obtaining Maisie’s records from our affiliate in Kansas.”
There was a hum of displeasure from Judge Jeffries, and Jonathan used it as his opportunity to swing his support in our favor.
“I’d like for it to be noted that Mr. Nixon and Ms. Cleary were quick to seek medical attention for Maisie when she presented with open wounds around her amputation site soon after her arrival at Mr. Nixon’s residence yesterday afternoon.”
Folding both hands on his desk, Jeffries spoke directly to Levi.
“Maisie’s situation is unique. It’s not often that a child loses both adoptive parents and then seeks out a biological parent.
It’s even less rare that someone would choose to upend their life for a child they didn’t know existed twenty-four hours ago.
So I need to ask, Mr. Nixon, are you sure that taking on full custody is what you want?
The last thing I want to see happen is for Maisie’s file to cross my desk again in a year if you decide the responsibility is more than you bargained for. ”
Levi didn’t waver. “I’m her only family. She belongs with me.”
“All right.” The judge nodded before turning to me. “And Ms. Cleary, you’re prepared to take on temporary guardianship of Maisie in the interim, while we certify the validity of Mr. Nixon’s paternity claim?”
I dipped my chin. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Then I don’t see any reason to keep you any longer. I hereby grant—”
“Your Honor,” Hilda interjected. “I have some concerns.”
Beyond annoyed that she’d not only interrupted him but spoken out of turn, he trained his narrowed eyes on her. “And what are your concerns, Ms. Franklin?”
Hilda stepped forward. “Mr. Nixon is a professional hockey player whose schedule requires that he spend a significant amount of time out of state. Maisie needs a more stable environment, given that she’s recently lost the only parents she’s ever known.”
Jonathan lifted a hand, silently asking permission to speak, which was granted with a nod from Judge Jeffries.
“Your Honor, stability is not an issue. Though Mr. Nixon’s travel for work is extensive, he’s set to wed Ms. Cleary next week.
There will be one responsible adult available to care for her at all times. ”
The judge closed the file on his desk, shooting a pointed look in Hilda’s direction.
“As I was saying, I hereby grant temporary guardianship of Maisie Thorne to Arizona Cleary. Her custody will extend for thirty days, at which time, we will reconvene to review the results of the paternity test and proceed from there. You are dismissed.”
Levi rose to his feet. “Thank you, Your Honor.” Then, without warning, he hauled me into his arms for a bone-crushing hug, whispering, “We did it!”
Hilda was already gone by the time he released me, though I’d be sure to keep an eye on the sky for flying broomsticks on my drive to the office.
With a hand on my lower back, Levi ushered me into the hallway, where we reconvened with Jonathan.
The lawyer grinned from ear to ear. “Smooth as silk. Didn’t expect anything less.”
Relieved laughter bubbled up from my chest. “Glad one of us had faith the judge was going to rule in our favor.”
Levi shook his hand again. “Please send the bill for your services to me.”
“Of course. Barring any hiccups, I’ll see you back here in a month.” With a wink, he turned and walked toward the elevator.
“God, that was nerve-racking,” I breathed.
He wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead. “You’re telling me.”
Hitching a thumb over my shoulder, I began to step backward.
“I’ve gotta get to work, but I’ll swing by the hospital after to handle Maisie’s discharge, then meet you at your house.
” Technically, it would be our house for the following year; Levi had insisted that Austin and I move in immediately when he learned my temporary guardianship of his daughter required her to reside with me.
“Uh, aren’t you forgetting something?”
I took a moment, searching my brain for what he could possibly be referring to, but I came up empty.
Shaking my head, I replied, “Not that I can recall.”
“We’re getting married next week. That means we need a marriage license. Figured since we’re already at the courthouse, we could kill two birds with one stone.”
It hit me with the force of a freight train that there was no backing out now, not after our audience with the judge.
Glancing around, I waited for a guy to jump out, surrounded by cameras, to tell me that I was being punked, that this whole thing was a joke and none of it was real.
“What are you looking for?” Levi asked.
Guess I wasn’t that lucky.
Marriage to the playboy it is.