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She held up a big envelope, and I took it. “You’ve been served. Have a nice day.”
I barely paid attention to the woman leaving, shut the door, and opened the manila envelope. I scanned the contents and swore.
My fucking in-laws wanted custody of my kids.
As I kept reading, I got angrier and angrier. They accused me of neglecting my children, leaving them behind to have sex with women, and that the twins would do better under their grandparents’ care.
By the end of it, I wanted to rip the papers into tiny pieces and set them on fire. How dare they? Not only was it bullshit, but some of their accusations in the paperwork were fucking lies, such as saying they had a video of me screwing a woman in a public bathroom while my kids waited in the car.
How the fuck could they get away with that kind of shit?
No doubt it was because of their high and mighty judge friends, or the sheriff’s office falsifying evidence as a favor.
Beck’s voice came from behind me. “What is it?”
I turned and handed him the papers. It didn’t take long for Beck to say, “Fucking bastards.” He looked up. “Why would they do this? Pretty much all of this is bullshit and can easily be disproven.”
“If only it were that simple. My mother-in-law comes from a rich family, one who rubs elbows with all the judges and politicians in the area. Plus, some of my father-in-law’s family works in the sheriff’s department. They’re banking on those connections to win custody.” I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s going to be a fucking nightmare, Beck. But there’s no way I’m letting them take my kids away from me.”
Beck laid a hand on my shoulder. “Let us help.”
Relying on anyone wasn’t my strong point. But I wasn’t about to alienate my brother. “If it comes to it, I will. But maybe I can get this thrown out and save us the trouble.”
Which was wishful thinking. My mother-in-law had money, lots of it, which meant the best lawyers. I wasn’t exactly poor, but I couldn’t compete with that.
What if they managed to win?
My heart hurt just even imagining that. My kids were my life.
No.I wouldn’t let anyone take them. Ever.
Beck motioned with his head down the hall. “Come on. Let’s get a drink, and we can talk some more about it.”
He took me to the kitchen, where Zach was putting things in the dishwasher. My brother turned. “Aunt Lori is putting the twins to bed. But…what the fuck happened?”
After I explained the gist to Zach, his eyes flashed with anger. Zach was the most optimistic and good-natured of us, so seeing him mad took me aback.
My little brother growled. “We’ll help you, West. Anything you need, name it.”
I’d never been close to Zach, partly because he was eight years younger than me and partly because I’d left Starry Hills when he’d still been a kid. Patching things up with Beck had been easier, but Zach and I kind of walked on eggshells around each other.
But seeing him this worked up and offering to help me when I needed it the most? Damn, it made me want to hug him. “Thanks, brother. But right now, I’m not even sure what I need.”
Beck brought out some beers, and we all settled around the large kitchen island. “For now, alcohol will help.” He took a swig. “When are you going to tell the twins?”
After a long pull from my bottle, I finally answered, “Not yet. I don’t want them worrying that they’ll have to leave and live with their grandparents. While they don’t hate them, they’re cautious around them. Mostly because the Grenvilles expect perfectly behaved children, more like little adults, and don’t hold back their criticisms.”
It was one of the many, many things I’d argued with them about.
And just when I’d started to think I was free of them and in control of my life, even maybe finding love for real this time, they charged back in and tore it all down.
“Fuck, what am I going to tell Emmy?”
Beck patted my shoulder. “Just tell her the truth. Extreme circumstances will put a relationship to the test, that’s for sure.”
He spoke from experience. Not only had his girlfriend’s work rival burned down our bottling facility, but the bastard had later gone on to shoot Sabrina too.
I nodded. “I’ll tell her after the wedding tomorrow. I won’t ruin the big day for her.”
