Chapter 4
“Mrs. Monroe, thank you so much for agreeing to come see me.” Jagger shook the stylish, fiftyish woman’s hand and then stepped out of the way to let her inside the house.
“Of course. I’m always happy to work within clients’ needs.”
Jagger actually had wanted to go to Mrs. Monroe’s office, as he felt that would help his chances of appearing less privileged and more a part of the community.
But he didn’t want to risk being away from Kaden.
So he’d called the local attorney and asked if she’d meet him at his home.
Alexis Fairchild, his New York attorney, had encouraged him to go with a bigger firm out of Richmond or Washington, D.C.
, but Jagger felt his chances were better if he worked with a local lawyer.
He led Mrs. Monroe out to the back terrace, where Miss Z had set up lemonade and cookies.
“Well, isn’t this lovely. I’ve always wondered what the Talbot home looked like.”
Jagger wasn’t sure how to respond. Should he offer to give her a tour?
“But we’re not here on a social call, are we?”
To the point. Jagger liked that.
They sat at the table and Jagger explained his custody situation. He gave her copies of his legal papers showing guardianship, as well as information from his grandfather’s will that outlined his wishes for Kaden’s care.
“Has the mother served you papers regarding her intent to regain custody?”
“No. She said she’s spoken with a lawyer, but I don’t know how she’d pay for legal representation.”
“She didn’t get anything from your grandfather?”
Jagger shook his head. “She ran off and he divorced her before he died.”
Mrs. Monroe scanned the papers then set them down, removed her reading glasses, and gave Jagger a pointed look. “I’m going to be honest with you, Mr. Talbot.”
His heart sank at her tone.
“This won’t be an easy case if she files and is able to prove she’s fit to be a mother.”
He swore under his breath and then caught himself. “I’m sorry, I just—”
“I know. This isn’t my first rodeo. Custody cases are brutal on the emotions. And I’m not saying you don’t have any chance, but it won’t be easy.”
“Because she’s the mother?”
Mrs. Monroe nodded. “Yes. While courts are more open to placing custody with fathers, you’re not the father. What you said paints a sorry picture of a mother, but I’m familiar enough about your history to know her attorney will bring up your shenanigans in court.”
“I was a single young man living in New York. Since I’ve taken over Kaden’s care, I haven’t partied. In fact, I moved him down here. I want him to have a normal, stable life.”
She nodded. “I know and I’ll certainly highlight that if we end up in court.
The problem is, all these wonderful things you’ve done, and I admire all you’ve done for this child, can’t compete with a blood relative, especially a mother.
And while I’m sure your nanny is a good person, she’s not his mother, either. ”
Jagger laughed derisively. “She was a mother to me. But I understand.”
“Courts like to see children in stable, loving environments, preferably with two parents, and it takes a great deal to make them side against a natural parent.”
“He wouldn’t have two parents with Tanya. In fact, her choice of mates hasn’t been good since she left my grandfather.”
“Is she with anyone now?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“We’ll find out all about that. But again, she has the advantage of being his natural mother.”
Jagger shook his head. “So what can I do?”
“Anything that makes you appear like you’re offering a stable, supportive, loving environment will help. There is a bias toward mothers and two caregivers. Whether what you offer can outweigh what the biological mother can depends on what she brings to the table.”
“This is…” Jagger was unable to articulate his frustration and deep fear. “She abandoned him. I was always there. Always.”
Mrs. Monroe reached out and patted his hand. “I know.” Her eyes narrowed and took on a warrior’s gaze. “I think you have a good case. I can’t promise anything, but I can see you’re ready, willing, and able to fight for the well-being of this child.”
Jagger nodded.
“Have you considered returning to New York? I imagine your family has a lot of influence and that’s where your custody order is from.”
Jagger noted the emphasis on the word “influence,” as if the Talbots could buy judges. He didn’t respond to it. Instead, he shook his head. “That’s where I had all my ‘shenanigans,’” he said, using her word. “And I want Kaden to have a normal childhood. That can’t happen in New York.”
“Then, if she files, let’s fight. The burden is on her to show her fitness and to overcome her past. That’s in your favor.
Once she files, the court will schedule an appearance, which is usually within a few weeks of her filing, but I’ll see what I can do to move it up.
Let’s see if we can’t get some control over this situation. We’ll put her on the defensive.”
Jagger nodded. “Whatever it takes.”
“How is she financially, do you know?”
“I know she doesn’t have any of my grandfather’s money. She forfeited it when she cheated on my grandfather. I don’t know if she has a job. I don’t even know where she’s living. Her car is a heap, so I suspect money is tight.”
“Then we might want to see about drawing this custody battle out as long as possible. The longer it goes, the more she has to pay in attorney’s fees.”
“Whatever it takes.” Jagger’s gut clenched at the thought of losing Kaden.
“You’re in for a difficult time, Mr. Talbot, but if anyone can show their commitment to a child, it’s clearly you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Monroe. I appreciate it.”
She stood. “Right now, we wait and see what she does. If you’re served papers, call me right away.”
Jagger rose and reached out his hand to shake hers. “I will.”
After Jagger saw Mrs. Monroe to her car, he headed to the kitchen to refill his lemonade and then made his way back to the terrace.
He’d chosen a lawyer who was sympathetic to his situation of being only a guardian, and she wasn’t afraid to fight.
The feisty attorney had given him hope. Even so, she was cautious about his chance of success.
“I take it the meeting didn’t go well.” Grayson stood in the doorway of the patio.
“I think we’ll give Tanya a hell of a fight if she files for custody, but a single nephew has little chance against a mother, apparently.”
“Even after all the drugs and abandoning him?”
“If she’s got her life together now, yes.”
“That’s disappointing.”
That’s an understatement. What he needed to do was figure out a way to build up the positives of his side.
What he had going for him was that he’d always been in Kaden’s life.
He’d put Kaden first when charged with his care and he had the financial resources to care for him, although technically, Kaden’s trust would care for him whoever he lived with.
Jagger scowled. Was that what Tanya was after?
Kaden’s money? It was something to look into.
Tanya had a lot going against her, but being the mother apparently trumped all. What could Jagger do to defend against that? He wasn’t Kaden’s father. But he could give Kaden a family unit. What did Mrs. Monroe say? Courts like two-parent homes? Maybe he could give Kaden that.
He scoffed and shook his head. Although he hadn’t put all his effort into it, the short time he’d been open to meeting a woman he could spend his life with hadn’t gone well. The one who might have worked was now married to Mitch. The other one, Mitch told him to stay away from.
But with Kaden’s custody on the line, Jagger knew he needed to put his own wants and needs on the back burner. What he needed was a mother figure the court would like.
“Jagger.” Kaden ran out onto the patio.
“Hey, Big K.” He scooped the boy into his lap. “Whatcha got?”
“Can we put this on the wall?” Kaden held up his certificate of promotion to first grade.
“Sure. We’ll put it in a frame and hang it in the most prestigious place in the house.”
“What’s presti...”
“It’s important. Everyone who comes to our house will see it.”
“Yay! Maybe Miss Beemer can come see it.”
Jagger sat back and smiled. “Yes. Maybe Miss Beemer.”
Chelsea took advantage of the two days off before returning to the diner. They seemed like a luxury since, over the course of a year, she’d had a total of five days off.
Since her mother’s death, her life had been filled with teaching and working at the diner.
She did both during the school year and worked at the diner full-time during the summer.
The two days after school ended and two days before school started, plus the few holidays the diner was closed, were the only days she took off.
She looked over her financial statements.
Should she have worked the last two days after all?
Not that two extra days of diner income would make a big enough dent.
She was drowning in debt. The mortgages taken on the house didn’t cover her mother’s medical bills, so along with a first and second mortgage, medical bills were piled on her kitchen table.
It was becoming clear that her only way out was selling the house.
The idea of it tore her in two. The house had been in her family since it was built in the 19th century.
She didn’t want to be the Beemer who lost the family home.
But what else could she do? She’d sold everything else, including her bike.
There were a few antiques left in the attic, but she’d resisted selling them because deep down she hoped to keep the house, and they’d make great pieces if she could ever get the house fixed up to its former glory.