And this good ol’ boy was no exception.
We took our seats again, and as the clerk introduced the case details, the judge’s eyes flicked over me, lingered on my chest, and then flicked away.
My heart sank.
There were two ways I could play this. I could flutter my lashes and play the damsel in distress, or I could try and earn hisrespect. The latter had never worked for me in the past because good ol’ boys always believed they were right about everything, including first impressions, and they certainly didn’t like being proved wrong by a mere woman.
I felt Kennedy stiffening by my side, and I knew she’d come to the same conclusion as me.
She’d fought the same attitude all her life, too. She was a beautiful blonde lawyer, and men like the judge usually underestimated her. Still, to prove him wrong wouldn’t do us any favors at all, so we had to play this very carefully.
The only saving grace was that the judge didn’t seem wholly impressed by Evan’s lawyer, either, going by the way he spoke to him in a clipped tone. They seemed vaguely familiar with each other, so I assumed that they’d had a run-in in the past. Evan’s lawyer was a local and no doubt had argued more than a few cases in this court. Maybe he’d somehow pissed the judge off in a previous case.
I decided that honey would likely work better than vinegar, so I plastered what could only be described as a demure smile on my face and prepared to charm the judge’s pants off.
Kennedy scribbled something on her notepad and slid it toward me.
I looked down and read the words,Smile and flirt, but not over the top,and nodded discreetly.
The judge listened to the case details and sat back in his chair, his gaze lingering on Evan thoughtfully. “Your children are teenagers. Do they not have a preference for whom they wish to live with?”
Evan’s lawyer gave a nod. “Yes, Your Honor. They’ve stated a preference to live with Ms. Woods, but my client feels that the example she sets isn’t appropriate, nor is it Christian.”
I had to refrain from rolling my eyes because Evan was about as Christian as Satan’s dick. If he walked into a church, he’d probably burst into flames.
The judge studied Kennedy for a few seconds and quirked an eyebrow, which I guessed was her cue to speak.
She gave him a dazzling smile and said, “Your Honor. My client has been the main carer for her children ever since she divorced Mr. Palmer on the grounds of adultery. She’s tried to maintain a respectful co-parenting environment until Mr. Palmer’s new girlfriend verbally and emotionally abused their daughter. Never once has Ms. Woods stopped Mr. Palmer from seeing DJ and Gabby; all she asked was that Rachel Lomax wasn’t present when the children visited on account of her aggressive behavior making them uncomfortable.”
Evan’s lawyer went into some spiel about the importance of father-child relationships while I watched the judge scan the paperwork in front of him. I couldn’t stop the eyeroll when the lawyer started droning on about stability and routine—neither of which Evan had managed during our short-lived marriage, nor since, seeing as he wasn’t even around for the kids when they visited.
Kennedy intervened with much the same accusation, which resulted in her and Evan’s lawyer going back and forth with their arguments.
“Mr. Palmer talks of stability, Your Honor, but where’s the stability in having the children travel hundreds of miles every other weekend to visit him, only for him to go to work and leave them with whichever new partner he has that particular month?” Ned grated out.
The judge cocked a brow and directed his stare at Evan’s lawyer, who returned with, “My client has to work long hours in order to provide financially for the children—something he’sdone since the day they were born. He leaves them with responsible adults, but can we say the same for Ms. Woods?”
If I weren’t so fucking angry at that asshole lawyer intimating that Donovan wasn’t trustworthy, I would have busted out a laugh.
Evan’s four hundred bucks a month didn’t even keep the kids in food, never mind sneakers, the latest fashions, books, coffee, pizza, movies, gas, and streaming services, and it didn’t even touch the rent or utilities. His measly child support paid for a quarter of what Gabby and DJ actually needed, but hey, give the guy a Father of the Year award.
Kennedy’s eyes flashed. “Mr. O’Shea is a responsible parent and the owner of two local businesses. He’s also an Army veteran who served his country for seventeen years. His family is close and supportive, and Gabby and DJ adore him.”
“He’s got my son fighting!” Evan scraped out.
I opened my mouth to throw down for Donovan, but Kennedy’s hand hit my shoulder, and she shook her head at me before turning back to address the judge.
“Mr. O’Shea has started a boxing league for the town’s children, free of charge, Your Honor. The cost has been covered by other local businesses who are keen for the teenagers to have somewhere to go and learn self-discipline. He was a pugilist for his Army unit and is supported by Gage Stone, another local businessman who used to be a semi-professional fighter.” She swiveled her head toward Evan. “What activities have you provided for your son and the teenagers who live in your local area lately, Mr. Palmer?” she asked coolly.
I rolled my lips together.
Kennedy was a fucking shark.
Pure hatred flashed across Evan’s face, and he started to bluster about all the charities he supported and how he workedtoo hard to be able to join in community projects, but he was cut off by the judge, who held his hand up for silence.
“Please tell your client not to address the court unless he’s asked to, Counsel,” he ordered dryly. “This is a courtroom, not a free-for-all.”
“Sorry, Judge Merrick,” the lawyer muttered.
