34. Brodie

brODIE

A lex sat on the sofa, next to Brodie, and elbowed him. "How are you doing with all this?"

He ran his hand through his hair and blew the air out of his lungs. "I feel like I survived a plane crash."

"Right?" She laughed. "So it never dawned on you she was pregnant?"

"Nope. It should've, but it sure as hell didn't." Brodie leaned in closer to her. "I don't know how to thank you."

"You may need to return the favor one day."

"What do you mean?"

"There may come a time you need to pull your brother's head out of his ass for me."

"Sure he's worth it?"

Alex's expression turned serious quickly. Instead of smiling, she frowned. "Yeah, Brode, I am."

She stood and went to sit next to her mother. Brodie tried to catch Mad's eye, but his brother looked lost in thought, and no happier than Alex.

"Join me, son?" Jamison Wolf motioned for Brodie to follow him into another room.

There would likely be many private conversations like these today and in the following days.

"You're aware of Lang Becker's petition to the court?" he began after closing the door behind Brodie.

"I am, sir."

"From what our lawyer has been able to find out, it appears Lang is getting married again and there is a child on the way."

Brodie kept his sarcastic thoughts to himself, but, jeez, who would marry and start a family with a man who had abandoned his first wife and kids? Probably someone after the Becker family's money, he'd guess. Lang Becker had no idea what he'd lost when he left Peyton, and Brodie intended to help her forget her ex-husband's existence. The first thing they had to do was get this petition thrown out, so she didn't have the stress of it hanging over her.

"My understanding is the new wife's family disapproves of his lack of a relationship with Jamison and Finn. I doubt Lang would've initiated this without their prodding," Peyton's father told him.

"How well do you know his family?" Brodie asked.

"The Beckers? Not well at all. We had the usual interaction with them when Peyton married Lang, and then again when each of the boys was born. Their own lack of interest was baffling. August and I have a difficult time understanding people who have no involvement in their grandchildren's lives."

"I was going to ask you about that," Brodie commented.

"It's as though Jamison and Finn don't exist."

Brodie shook his head. "Why does Lang think he has a prayer?"

"The judge who signed the petition is his future wife's uncle."

Brodie cringed. "Does Peyton know?"

"No, and until we have a better idea of how to fight it, I would appreciate you not mentioning it."

Brodie didn't want to disrespect Peyton's father, but it didn't feel right to keep this from her or to start their relationship with secrets. As hard as it was, he had to speak his mind. "I can't promise that, sir. I understand your reasons for asking me not to tell her, but Peyton needs to be able to trust me."

"I see." Peyton's father turned away to open the door, but Brodie thought he caught a quick smile on his face. Had he just passed a test?

"Sir?"

"Yes, Brodie?"

"Are we good?"

"Better than."

"Wait." Brodie paused while Jamison closed the door. "Can't we get this moved to another judge, claim bias or something?"

"That is exactly what Stan is working on now."

"Stan?"

"Our lawyer."

"I love her," Brodie blurted.

"That's obvious. I think you'll be very good for her, too. Peyton hasn't found anyone truly worthy of her until she met you, at least that's what her mother and I believe."

Brodie was stunned. "Not even Kade?"

"You can form your own opinion on whether you believe he would've been good for her in the long run."

He sighed. "Yes, sir, I can."

Jamison motioned to the door. "Shall we join the others?"

Brodie started to follow the man he hoped would be his father-in-law one day soon, but then stopped. "Wait, Mr. Wolf. There's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

"Call me Jamison, and if it's our blessing you're looking for, you have it wholeheartedly."

"Thank you. I'll do everything I can to make her happy."

He smiled. "I know you will."