Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

Everly

I arrived at Harrison’s house early on Monday morning, shocked to hear that Lola hadn’t returned Wren the entire weekend, even with the threat of Harrison’s emergency motion being filed.

Harrison paced the living room while his parents pleaded with him to eat something. I didn’t blame him; I couldn’t eat either.

I’d debated coming back earlier, but I needed time to myself. I was no closer to figuring out where we stood. I’d just been running through everything that happened in my head, wondering how I’d missed my mom’s lies.

How could I have been so stupid? The only thing I could think was that I trusted my mother. I believed her when she said my father didn’t want to see me. I was sure that most young kids would have done the same.

I just couldn’t understand why she did that. Unless she was afraid she’d lose me if she let me go with my dad, and she probably would have. Maybe I would have been happier with Dad and would have moved in with him as I got older.

Maybe it was the same thing that Lola worried about. That Harrison would want full custody. She was holding on to Wren with both hands, hoping she wouldn’t lose her. She was so blinded by fear she couldn’t see the risk she was taking. She might hurt her chances of keeping custody with the judge.

I was so nervous for Harrison and worried for Wren. Had Lola told Wren that Harrison didn’t want to see her? I didn’t want to believe that of her, but my own mother had done the same thing.

Harrison came out of my office and said, “I checked with the school, and Wren’s there.”

I let out a breath. “She’s okay.”

“Who knows what Lola told her,” Mabel said.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Harrison said.

“What are you talking about?” Barrett asked Harrison.

“Everly just found out that her mother wouldn’t let her dad see her. All these years, she lied about it. What if Lola does something similar?”

I stepped closer to Harrison, needing him to hear me. “The difference is, you’re fighting back. My dad was too afraid to try.”

Harrison’s gaze held mine. “I won’t let Lola take her from me.”

Tears shone in Harrison’s eyes. I’d never seen him cry. It showed how much he loved his daughter. He was willing to do anything to protect her. I loved that about him.

I understood why my father was afraid, but there would always be a part of me that wanted him to fight for me too. Maybe he’d grown and was a changed man now. We all make mistakes. I was willing to put it behind me to get to know the man he was now.

“We won’t either. We’re all with you on this,” Barrett said.

“You’ve got us, Everly, and Sage,” Mabel added.

“Sage is coming?” Harrison asked, running a hand through his already messy hair.

“She’s going to meet us at the courthouse.”

Harrison nodded. “That’s good. I need all the support I can get.”

“You have a whole team behind you,” Mom said grimly.

“I appreciate it,” Harrison replied.

“We love that little girl, and I’d like to see her more often. I want some grandmother time,” Mabel said.

“You’ll have to get in line behind me. The next time I see her, I’m going to hug her until she complains,” Harrison joked.

“So… about five seconds?” I teased, glad to see he was in a lighter mood. I was pleased that he was open to the possibility of her coming home to him. He wasn’t defeated. At least not yet. I hoped the judge would listen to what Harrison had to say. He was a good man, and he should be able to see his daughter more. He shouldn’t be losing the time he had. That wasn’t fair.

I was so angry at Lola for doing this to him and to Wren. She didn’t deserve to be treated like a pawn.

“It’s time to go,” Barrett said after glancing at his phone.

Outside, Harrison asked, “Are you riding with me?”

“Of course.” I knew he needed moral support now more than ever. I felt bad for not being here for him last night.

“I’m not upset with you,” he said when we were alone and on the road.

I chewed my lower lip. “I should have been here.”

“You probably would have been if I hadn’t said what I did. I can’t apologize enough. I didn’t believe it when I said it, and it’s obviously not true.”

“I know that now. But we’re here today for Wren, not me and my situation.”

Harrison gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I can’t help thinking of the parallels.”

“Me neither.”

“Wren will always know that I love her.”

I reached over to squeeze his arm. “She does know that.”

I pulled back, and Harrison was quiet the rest of the way into town. Jackson met us at the courthouse steps. “This is your fiancée?” Jackson asked.

“That’s right. Everly Long, this is my attorney, Jackson Snyder.”

I shook his hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

Jackson glanced at my ring. “I’m glad you took my advice.”

Before I could say anything in response, Lola and George walked by, pushing Duncan in a stroller.

Anger burned through me that she’d been so bold to take Wren from Harrison.

Jackson held up his hands. “In the courtroom, I need both of you to remain calm. We’re the reasonable ones. We don’t go off half-cocked to take kids out of school in violation of a court order.”

“Got it,” Harrison said, but my cheeks felt hot with irritation as I followed Lola’s path through the courthouse doors.

“Ms. Long?” Jackson asked me.

“Right. Of course,” I said, even though I was feeling anything but reasonable.

On the walk inside, Harrison leaned in to ask, “Are you okay?”

“Mmm,” was all I could manage because I wasn’t okay. I was livid. I couldn’t separate Lola from my mother. She was keeping her daughter from her father. It was black and white, and I couldn’t seem to see things differently. She didn’t have a good excuse, not one she’d relayed through the attorneys. She’d done it to hurt Wren and Harrison.

A dull ache started to throb at the base of my skull. I massaged my scalp, trying to work it out. But it was no use. Gaining traction, the headache radiated from my neck to the top of my head.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Harrison asked when we sat in the courtroom.

“I will be. I’m just nervous about the hearing.” I wanted everything to go well, and I didn’t want to screw anything up.

“It will be fine.”

I’d never been in a courthouse, not even for a traffic ticket. And a custody hearing was a big deal. I didn’t want to screw things up for Harrison. “Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

Harrison interlaced his fingers with mine. “You’re here to support me.”

“What if they find out, or I screw everything up?” I was spiraling.

“Find out what?”

I looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to us and lowered my voice, “That we’re not real.”

“We’re as real as any other couple. We fight. We make up.”

“We haven’t made up yet,” I hissed at him. “I would have remembered the makeup sex.”

Harrison chuckled despite his obvious nerves.

The bailiff called the court in session, and we all stood as the judge entered the room. He sat, running through the docket. A couple of hours later, when the room had cleared out, the judge called our case.

We moved to our respective trial tables. I stood next to Harrison. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.

“This is your motion. I’ll hear you,” the judge said to Jackson.

Jackson stood and went through the facts of the case: Lola had taken Wren from school without a valid reason and kept her in violation of the court order. Then Jackson went into Harrison’s fears that she’d take Wren out of state or move in violation of their agreement. He finally ended with, “If she was so bold to break the order once, she’ll do it again.”

“You may have a seat.” The judge turned to Lola’s attorney. “You want to explain why Ms. Weigand thought it was okay to violate a court order?”

“Your honor, Mr. Cain has repeatedly taken the child at times that were not outlined in the agreement.”

“That was by agreement, your honor,” Harrison said before Jackson hushed him.

“Did your client agree to those changes?” the judge asked, irritated with the back-and-forth.

The attorney dipped his head as Lola whispered frantically to him. “Well, yes, your honor.”

“I’m assuming since we’re here on this emergency motion that Mr. Cain didn’t agree with the change in schedule this time.”

Jackson stood. “That’s correct, your honor.”

“Why didn’t she turn over the child when it was requested?” Judge Abbott asked.

“I don’t have an answer for that, your honor.”

The judge waved a hand at Lola. “I’d like to hear from her, then.”

Lola stood at her attorney’s urging. “Why did you violate the court order?”

Lola waved a hand in our direction. “They’re playing the court to get my daughter.”

Harrison and I exchanged a confused look.

“Harrison and Everly aren’t in a real relationship. They’re faking everything to present the perfect united front with the court,” Lola said, her voice a little crazed.

But my heart stuttered before racing in my chest.

The judge looked perplexed as his gaze roved over us. “I don’t see what your perceptions about their relationship have to do with violating a court order.”

For the first time, I sensed the judge might be on our side.

Lola sputtered. “They’re not even engaged. I overheard them talking to their attorney. They got engaged at their attorney’s advice.”

The judge rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Again, all of that is speculation and not why we’re here this morning.”

“With all due respect, your honor, that’s the reason why she kept her daughter. If they’re lying about their relationship, what else are they lying about?”

Harrison stood. “Your honor, may I say something?”

Jackson leaned over me to say to Harrison, “What are you doing?” But Harrison ignored him.

The judge gestured for Harrison to continue.

Harrison stood tall, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “Lola’s right, in a sense.” Harrison turned to me and continued. “What started out as friendship turned into something neither of us expected. We moved in together to present a united front, a unit to care for Wren. But somewhere along the way, it turned into something more. My love for Everly is as real as this table or the bench you’re presiding on. I built her a dream office and proposed to her. Nothing was fake about that.” He turned to face the judge. “Nothing is fake about the future I see with her or how I feel about her. I love her. And my daughter, Wren, loves her.”

At some point, Harrison had stopped looking at the judge and his gaze refocused on me. “I love you, Everly, and I’d ask you again to marry me. I’ll never stop loving you or caring for you. You’re my best friend and so much more. I can’t go through this life without you.”

“Me neither,” I found myself whispering. It was as if the rest of the courtroom faded away.

“Your honor, Ms. Weigand kept the child in violation of a court order based on her perception that Harrison and Everly weren’t serious about their relationship. She caused pain not only to her daughter, who I’m sure was confused by the change in visitation, but to Harrison and Everly. She caused unnecessary emotional stress. Mr. Cain was worried she was going to take his child and he’d never see her again.”

“And understandably so. I don’t take these things lightly, Ms. Weigand. We have court orders for a reason. You came to an agreement with Mr. Cain, and if you want to change it, there are other ways to do that besides violating court orders.” And then to Jackson, he said, “Do you have a proposed order?”

“If I may, your honor, we filed a motion for modification of custody at the same time as the emergency order. Mr. Cain was preparing to ask the court for shared custody. He’s been wanting to see his daughter and has repeatedly asked for a change to the agreement, but she adamantly refuses to make any changes. Ms. Weigand allowed Mr. Cain to take Wren to and from basketball practice, and there were a few times she asked him to take Wren so she’d have one-on-one time with her baby, Duncan, but other than that, there have been no concessions. Mr. Cain doesn’t want to be an every-other-weekend dad.”

“You have a valid reason why this shouldn’t happen?” the judge asked Lola’s attorney.

He looked momentarily flustered, whispering something to Lola. She shook her head, looking defeated.

“I see no reason why he shouldn’t have shared custody. If there’s an issue, file a motion and bring it to my attention, but I’m inclined to sign Mr. Cain’s order of shared legal and physical custody. It behooves both of you to get along and work this out. You don’t want to come before me again.” This time, the judge gave Lola a stern look.

Lola finally nodded, her cheeks flushed.

The judge stood, and the bailiff said, “This court is adjourned.”

Everyone rose as the judge filed out of the courtroom.

“What just happened?” Harrison asked.

“I filed the modification motion at the same time as the emergency, hoping this would happen.”

“And I got it?” Harrison asked in a disbelieving tone.

“Yes,” Jackson said, packing up his files.

“Can she ask for it to be changed?” I asked.

“She could, but it will come before this judge, and he’s not a fan of hers. The new court order says you have Wren this week, you’ll exchange on Sunday evening, and she’ll have Wren for one week.”

Harrison held a hand to his mouth. “I can’t believe this. It’s everything I wanted.”

“This is why I told you to be patient. I was hoping she’d do something, screw up, and we could ask for what we wanted.”

Harrison shook his head, the pain and anxiety still present in his eyes. “It sucks it had to work out this way. Not seeing Wren this weekend… I was destroyed.”

“Trust me, the judge got that. He has two young kids of his own. I’m sure he was putting himself in your position.”

Harrison had kept a tight grip on my hand ever since we sat in the courtroom, and I wasn’t letting go anytime soon.

We walked out of the courtroom, past an angry Lola, who was yelling at her attorney about what just happened.

“I can’t believe that all happened in, like, twenty minutes,” I said when we were by ourselves in the hallway.

“She hung herself with those crazy comments about you not really being together.”

“Yeah, that was nuts,” Harrison said, pulling me into his side and kissing the top of my head. I smiled up at him, pleased he’d declared his love for me in front of everyone in that courtroom.

“I’m glad you guys are happy, and you’ll be seeing Wren half the time.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” Harrison said to Jackson.

I knew the fees were high to retain an attorney, but it was worth every penny to have Wren in our lives more.

“If you have any trouble, give me a call. But you can rest easy, knowing the judge is on your side.”

Harrison shook his hand, and Jackson said, “Good luck,” to us before walking away.

I faced Harrison. “I can’t believe that just happened.”

“Which part, the change in custody, or what I said about us?”

“Both.” I was still in shock. It had all happened so fast.

“I meant every word I said. We might have started out as friends pretending to be in love, but it’s real.”

“It’s real for me too.” My heart was taking flight, and I wasn’t sure I’d get it to return to Earth anytime soon.

“I know I have some work to do to gain your trust again, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“You already have.” He convinced me when he was declaring his love for me in front of the judge. He’d outlined our relationship so beautifully.

Harrison checked his phone. “We have until 3:30 before I need to pick up Wren. Want to celebrate?”

I grinned. “Absolutely.”

He pulled me into his arms, tucking me into his chest. His heart thumped under my cheek. “I still can’t believe it. I get Wren in my life and you. I’ll never take it for granted.”

We were aware of how things could have gone differently. Another judge might not have sided with Harrison. He or she might have kept custody the way it was. But this judge had seen Lola for the manipulative person she was.

I hoped for Wren’s sake she never thought of violating the custody or visitation orders again. But only time would tell. And if it happened, I’d be by Harrison’s side. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him or Wren. I loved both of them.

“We’re a family now. You, me, and Wren,” Harrison said.

“A family,” I repeated as he kissed me.

“Come on. We have a lot to celebrate.” Harrison tugged me in the direction of his parked truck. I had a feeling he was going to keep me in bed most of the day, and I wasn’t complaining. I missed him, and there was something about his impromptu declaration to the judge that had my blood pumping harder. His love was real. And he was willing to declare it to the world. I don’t know how I’d gotten so lucky to have not only Harrison and Wren in my life, but my father and his new family, too.