Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Leighton
Oh my god, did I actually get temporary custody? I look at Viv, needing confirmation that I’m not delusional. She nods with a big smile before she steps away to converse with Mr. Lochs.
Mr. Notting squeezes my shoulder. “I told you she was the best.”
“Yeah, you should be dating her.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, well, we tried. It was unsuccessful,” he adds with a teasing grin, glancing around the courtroom. “Where’s Miss Carlisle?”
“She’s on tour with her podcast.”
“She has a podcast?” His eyes widen with interest.
Based on that, maybe I should tell him not to bother if he’s looking for something more than just one night. Callie’s far from ready for anything serious. If she piques his interest too hard, he’ll be waking up to an empty bed.
“It’s called If I’m Honest.”
“Oh, interesting. I’ll have to look it up.”
Viv comes over. “Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll have my assistant call you, and we’ll schedule something, okay? We can go over how the whole process will work. But this is excellent news.” Then she looks at Hayes. “Our savior.”
“You really think he wasn’t going to give me temporary guardianship?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I believe you’re the best person for these kids.
Besides the fact that it’s what their parents wanted, you seem like a very sweet, capable person, Leighton.
But I can’t lie—their marriage—whether or not it’s a happy marriage, it’s a marriage on paper—their finances, and their ability to slot the kids into a life very similar to the life they had will appeal to the judge, as sad as that is.
So, I think the fact that you and Hayes are finally coming out with your relationship…
” She kind of hems and haws as though she maybe doesn’t believe it.
And why would she? I mean, why would Hayes Carlisle and I be together?
“It puts you on more equal footing. But no matter what, temporary custody is temporary custody, and now we have to prove that you can raise those children in a loving home. So, I’m going to tell you right now… for the home visit—when the social worker comes—you both will be there, understand?”
“I’ll be there,” Hayes says.
“But how do we know the social worker’s schedule will align with Hayes’s?” I ask.
“I’ll talk to the department when everything is being filed requesting the home visit,” Viv says, “and I’ll tell the department that they need to make sure they’re working around your schedule and who exactly you are.
Now, they should be accommodating, but sometimes they’re not.
But if you have a game, I understand that—well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. ”
“I’ll make it work,” Hayes says with a firm nod.
He’s insane. As if I’d ever allow him to miss a game.
“Okay, then I’ll be in touch. We’ll talk more about the specifics, but don’t worry, Leighton.
” Again, she grabs my hands and squeezes them.
Viv opens her briefcase. “There is one topic we’ve yet to talk about that always makes me uncomfortable.
” She reaches into the briefcase and pulls out a piece of paper. “I hate this part of the job.”
“But you love the paycheck,” Mr. Notting adds.
“I do love the paycheck. So unfortunately, this is the invoice for my retainer.”
My dad plucks the paper out of Viv’s hands. “I’ll take care of it. Whatever she needs. Have your assistant call me.”
“Here we go again, just throwing your money around like it’s love,” Mom says.
I try to center myself and ignore their bickering.
“I’m helping our daughter. There’s no way she can afford to pay for that,” my dad says.
“Do you want the judge to hear that she’s broke?” my mom whisper-yells.
“I’m not broke,” I argue.
Mr. Notting leans forward, lowering his voice. “Once this custody thing is established, everything will be left to Leighton. Patrick had a very good job and good life insurance, so she will be fine.”
They all look at me with pity in their eyes.
“I have money.” I sound begrudging. Not what I assume Patrick and Sky had, and I have nowhere near what Hayes has, but I have money and savings.
“We know you do, sweetie,” my mom says in that condescending voice. “I always told you, you should’ve gone for your doctorate instead of just being a nurse.”
I inhale a deep breath, and a hand falls to the small of my back. Hayes steps into me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take comfort in his touch.
“I’d like to take responsibility for the retainer,” he says to my dad.
Hayes has no idea the challenge he’s in for. Like trying to get a hit of heroin out of an addict’s hands.
“Oh no. You don’t need to do that.”
“Rarely do I have people fighting to pay me.” Viv smiles and nods to Mr. Notting as though she has to go.
I don’t want to keep her with my family’s antics. “Thank you so much, Viv. I really appreciate everything that you did today.”
“You’re very welcome.” She eyes Hayes and me. “You guys make a cute couple.”
I open my mouth to rebut her statement, but Hayes’s hand slides around to tighten on my hip, reminding me that we need to keep this relationship looking very real.
Now all I want to do is go back to Sky’s house and clean every nook and cranny. Dust every corner and organize every cabinet so that when that social worker comes, she has no excuse to write a single bad thing on that form.
Viv moves to walk away but then turns and comes back to stand directly in front of me.
“I’m just going to tell you this because woman to woman—there’s nothing wrong with you working.
It’s great if they can afford for Julianna not to work, and it’s great that Sky didn’t work.
That might work for some families—but it doesn’t always, and that’s okay.
It doesn’t make you any less fit of a guardian.
Unfortunately, there are people in the legal system”—she glares toward the judge’s desk—“who just don’t agree with all that.
They still believe that a woman’s only place is at home, and they think kids can’t have a healthy upbringing if both parents are working.
All that being said, just keep doing what you’re doing.
” She winks then faces Mr. Notting. “Mark, want to walk me out?”
“Sure.” He squeezes my shoulder, his teasing demeanor resurfacing. “Tell Callie I said hi.”
“Callie, my sister?” Hayes asks, watching Mark leave with a confused question in his eyes.
After they leave, my parents are on me again, both of them swinging their arms around my shoulders, hugging me and telling me how they’ll be there for anything I need.
“Thanks, Mom, Dad. Try not to kill each other on the way to the parking lot.” Then I hug Aunt Iris. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Of course, sweetie. I’ll do anything you need me to do.”
And I know she will. She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met—the polar opposite of my mom. Which always makes me wonder if my mom was once like her and it was just her experience with my dad that made her so jaded.
But unfortunately, Aunt Iris can’t help me—no one really can right now. This fight is mine and mine alone. Whether Hayes thinks so or not.
“Okay, bye, guys. I’m gonna talk to Hayes now.”
“Oh yes, Hayes,” my dad says. “I forgot to introduce myself. Lenny Sinclair, Leighton’s dad.”
“Yes, sir, I know who you are. Nice to meet you.” Hayes extends his hand, and my dad shakes it. “Honestly, I’m more than happy to take over the financial—”
“Oh no, let him to do it. It’s how he shows his love,” my mom says.
I sigh. I’m used to being embarrassed by my mother and father, but in front of Hayes, I feel a little more self-conscious than normal.
“Ms. Sinclair, good to see you again.” Hayes emphasizes the Miz, which tells me there’s been a discussion or a lecture at some point.
“Yes, of course. I see that the kids are still alive, so it’s good to know you were able to keep them safe, although you needed two other baseball players to help you.”
I shoo my parents away with my hand. “Maybe go eat and get rid of that hangry vibe you got going on. Hayes and I have to talk.”
My parents finally leave, fighting one another to give me extra-long hugs and kisses on the cheek, as always.
I hug Aunt Iris again, and she tells me it’s gonna be okay. “Everything will work out.”
Can she please rub off on me a little?
After they’re all gone, Hayes slides his hand in mine. “Food sounds really good right now.” I glance at our joined hands, and he snickers. “We never know who’s watching. We have to play the part, right?”
As he leads me out of the courtroom, neither of us says anything, but a sense of security flows through me from our adjoined hands. For the first time today, I don’t feel so alone. I wish that were a good thing.