“Apologies your honor,” her attorney speaks to the judge. “Mrs. Case is not from the area and had difficulties finding the correct room.”
“Counselor that is not my problem. Please advise your client that in the future she will respect the state of Miami’s time.”
“Yes, your honor.”
“We are here today in regards to a juvenile the age of four, the defendant’s son. Now give me a moment to look over the file.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose and begins flipping the pages.
“All right, CPS has made a home visit and did not see that the said child is under any threat or risk. The report states the child seems to be properly cared for by the defendant Ms. Stuart. I see no reason to drag this on further. The child has been proven to be the child of the deceased, a Mr. Brian Case. The child shall remain in sole custody of his mother. However, visitation rights are granted to the grandmother, Mrs. Beverly Case, but at the discretion of the mother. And once the child is of age for school, the visits must work around the child’s schedule.”
“Your honor if I may approach,” her attorney eagerly makes the request.
“Counselor you may approach the bench.”
“Your honor, my client feels strongly that the defendant will not stop at any length to keep her grandson away from her. She denied the deceased of any rights or acknowledgement that he was the father. She should be facing wrongful death charges.”
“Counselor, we are not here to pass false judgments or accuse the defendant of any crime. There aren’t any charges being pursued and you will refrain from making these comments. The matter of custody has been entered, Mrs. Stuart will contact you through her lawyer to establish visitation.” He bangs his gavel down. “Court is adjourned.”
Thank God. I can breathe again. I feel like dancing naked in the streets I am so damn happy.
Chapter Twenty
I shake hands with my attorney and agree to contact his office
soon so that we can establish visitation through a mediator next week. I can feel the piercing daggered look I am getting from Mrs. Case through my back. I don’t turn around and give her the satisfaction of knowing it bothers me to know that at some point I will allow her to spend time with Jace. Time that she can spend trying to turn him against me. The thought scares me, but I will have to worry about it when the time comes. I cannot wait to go get my boy and spend the day with him.
After picking up Jace, I try to call Tyler to give him my good news, but I can’t reach him. I was hoping he would want to have a celebratory dinner with us. I take Jace out to one of those kiddy pizza play lands. He loves when I hold him up and let him play basketball. I think this kid loves any sport with a ball.
I finally hear back from Tyler.
Tyler: Sorry, I have been in a meeting all day. Ritchie, a friend of the club has flown in from Nashville. The next week is going to be crazy busy. I need a rain check on dinner. Probably best if we wait before heading to my folks until next weekend too. I will talk to you soon.
That’s it, no “hey sugar”, and he didn’t even bother asking how the hearing went. Jerk. Okay he isn’t a jerk really, but I want to share my good news with him. I guess him being busy could be a good thing. It gives me more time to focus on finding a job.
The weekend passes without any contact from Tyler. I have kinda grown accustomed to his sugar texts and find that two days without him seems like a week has passed. My mediation meeting with Beverly is in a few days. I am not looking forward to it. I was hoping she could see past her hurt and dislike of me for Jace’s sake. I want her to be able to share things with him about his father. It may not appear to some that I loved Brian the way that I have claimed to, but I really did. I wish I could have been better, stronger even, to help him with his drinking. If I hadn’t been a coward and told Brian the truth, he may still be here sharing in Jace’s life with me. We may even be married right now.
I walk into my mother’s room and sit on her bed. I can just hear her now. She’d be telling me to stop pondering on things I can’t change. She would say to me, “Aria, stop hanging on to wishes on stars about what ifs.” Maybe I question and doubt things with Tyler too much. Maybe Faye was right when she said life has a way of choosing for you. What if all my choices up until now have all been pointing me to Tyler?
Hugging her pillows to my chest, I know what I want and what I need. I want Tyler, and I need to stop being so scared and tell him how I feel. He really will be a great dad to Jace, and never mind the fact that Jace thinks Tyler hung the moon. I take a deep breath and text Tyler.
Me: Can we talk?
Tyler: I can stop by when I get off work but it might be pretty late.
Me: That’s good actually. See you tonight.
Tyler: I can’t wait to smack that ass!
Me: What?
Tyler: Be ready, I have been thinking about you in nothing but heels and a mask all day.
Taking extra care to make sure I am neat and trim for him, I get out the hot wax. I hope I am ready before he arrives. How embarrassing would it be to be walked in on while waxing your vagina when your boyfriend comes over expecting you sexy and ready! The thought makes me giggle. I turn down all of the lights and light all of the candles I have set out through the house.
I wait and I wait, and yet Tyler doesn’t show; he should have been here an hour ago. I’m not a possessive or clingy girlfriend. I would just like to know he is running behind. A courtesy text is all I am after, but I haven’t heard a peep since I messaged him over half an hour ago. Changing out of my sexy negligee, I am on the verge of tears when he finally decides to show his face.
“I am so sorry, a fight broke out between a few of the girls, it was hectic.” I raise a brow at him like this matters, to me, because. “I have great news that I can’t wait to share with you.”
“Oh, what’s that?”