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“Well, that’s done,” Hadley announced, her voice heavy as she crossed the room and settled onto the couch beside him.
“How did it go with your parents?”
“They were surprised.” Her head dropped onto his shoulder. She’d been anxious about how the conversation would go all through dinner. Hadley was an only child and from her description of them, Liam got the impression they didn’t exactly approve of some of the choices she’d made in the last few years. Especially when she’d quit teaching and moved to Royal in order to get her master’s degree.
“What are you working on?”
“I had an investigator look into Margaret Garner’s background.”
“You hired an investigator? Why?” She peered more closely at the report on his computer screen.
“Nolan suggested it.”
“Who is Nolan?”
“Nolan Dane is a family law attorney I hired.”
“You hired a lawyer?”
Liam realized he probably should have shared his plans with her regarding Maggie before this, but hadn’t anticipated that she’d be surprised. “Because I’m seeking custody of Maggie.”
“Have you told your brother?”
“Kyle hasn’t responded to my messages about Maggie yet.”
Hadley sat up and turned on the cushions to face him. “Don’t you think you should talk to him before you make such a big decision regarding his daughter?”
“I think it’s obvious from the fact that it’s been three weeks and I haven’t heard from him that he’s not in a place where he can be a father. Either he’s overseas and unavailable or he’s choosing not to call me back. Whichever it is, Maggie deserves parents who can always be there for her.” He studied her expression with a hint of concern. “I thought you’d be on board with this. After all, you love Maggie as much as I do and have to admit we make terrific parents.”
Her brows came together. “I guess I thought we’d be great with kids someday. As soon as I accepted that Maggie was your brother’s daughter, I guess I thought she’d end up with him.”
“Are you trying to tell me you can’t see yourself as Maggie’s mother?”
“Not at all. I love her...” But it was obvious that Hadley was grappling with something.
“Then what’s going on?”
“I was just wondering how long you’d been thinking about this.” Her tone had an accusatory edge he didn’t understand.
“I’ve been considering what’s best for Maggie since Diane Garner left her on my doorstep.”
“And have you thought about what’s best for your brother?”
Liam struggled for patience in the face of her growing hostility. “I’m thinking about the fact that he’s a navy SEAL and likely to be called to duty at any time. He’s not married and lives on the East Coast, far from family. Who is going to take care of Maggie while he’s gone for weeks, maybe months at a time?” Liam met Hadley’s gaze and didn’t care for the indictment he glimpsed in her beautiful blue eyes. “I think Maggie would be better off here with us.”
“He’s not married.” She spoke deliberately as if determined to make a point. “So he’s not the best person to raise Maggie.”
“He’s a career military man with no family support,” Liam corrected her, unsure why she wasn’t agreeing with him. “How often will he miss a school event? How likely is it he’ll be around for her first steps, first words, first...everything.”
“You’re not married, either,” Hadley pointed out, her voice barely audible.
“But I’m engaged.”
“Is that why you proposed?”
“What do you mean?”
“Obviously a married couple would be a stronger candidate in a custody battle.”
“Sure.” Why deny it? She wasn’t a fool, and she knew him well enough to suspect he’d want to put forth the strongest case for Maggie.
However, the instant the admission was out, Hadley’s whole demeanor transformed. All trace of antagonism vanished. She sagged in defeat.
Liam rushed to defend his rationale. “I’d like to point out that I’ve never asked any woman to marry me before you,” he continued, more determined than ever to convince Hadley how much he needed her. “I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. With Maggie. As a family.”
