“After today, we can put all this behind us, Bones.” Jag reached over and placed his hand over mine where it rested on my thigh. “Judge Burrows will come through for you. I’m sure of it.”
“How can you be certain?”
“She’s an amazing advocate for children and families. I’ve seen her in action enough times to know she cuts through bullshit and gets right to the heart of the matter, which is the best interests of the children. There is no one better suited to raise Lucas and Lily than you, and she’ll see that. Hell, Vanessa’s deposition alone should be enough to sway her, but add in Lauren’s testimony and the caseworker from DCS’s notes and it should be a slam-dunk decision.” The confidence in his tone made me feel better, but I was still afraid.
Lucas and Lily had no idea any of this was going on. We’d kept it away from them because the last thing they needed was to think they might be taken away from us. Lauren advised us, as she did the court, that removing Lucas and Lily from my home could be very detrimental to them coping with the loss of their parents. It had been a little over a month since the accident, and the kids could regress if they were faced with the upheaval of being relocated again.
“Have faith, Bones.” He squeezed my hand once more before he replaced it on the steering wheel. As riotous as my thoughts and emotions were, I still noticed what he said and realized how far he had come too. This was a man who used to not have faith in anyone, not even himself, and there he was lifting me up and giving me hope.
“I’m a lucky man.” My observation was random and out of the blue but totally called for in the moment.
“I’mthe lucky one,” Jag countered. He gave me a firm look that dared me to contradict him as he pulled into a parking spot near the courthouse.
“We’re both lucky.” I leaned toward him, and he met me halfway for a kiss. His touch soothed me like it always did, and I took my first calm breath since leaving the house. I ran my thumb over his full bottom lip and couldn’t wait until we could be alone so I could explore it more. “Let’s go make this official.” I was referring to the kids but hidden in my message was a desire to tie myself to him through more than just a joint mortgage. I wanted it all with Jag, and I wanted it forever.
“It won’t take her long to rule in your favor.” One last kiss and we got out of Jag’s car and briskly walked inside so we could get out of the brutal cold.
My mom and dad were waiting for me inside the courthouse. I had told them they didn’t need to be there, but they’d insisted. Looking at my mom broke my heart because she tried her damnedest to smile through her pain, but it usually came out as a grimace. The only exception was when she was around Lucas and Lily. I missed my brother every single day, and the loss hadn’t gotten any easier a month later. I had assumed the ache would lessen over time, but it had remained the same. The despair I felt must have been magnified a thousand times for my parents. Losing a child had to be the most horrible thing a person could experience.
The Candlesses were probably hurting just as badly, which was why I couldn’t be mad at them. They hadn’t made heinous allegations about me during any of the custody proceedings. The worst thing they’d said about me was that I was a bachelor, and the kids would be better suited in a home with two parents. My rebuttal was that I was in a committed and loving relationship and provided the lifestyle Lucas and Lily were accustomed to when their parents were alive. Regardless, I didn’t think their complaint had merit. There were plenty of single moms and dads out there raising remarkable children. That argument might have worked in the sixties, but I believed it wouldn’t in my case.
“Thanks for coming, Mom.” I pulled her into a hug and held her a little tighter and a little longer. “I know I told you it wasn’t necessary, but having you here really helps.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else when you need me.” She pulled back and pecked my cheek with a kiss. “I am so proud of you, Miller. I’m confident everything will go your way today. I just can’t see an alternative ending.”
My father hugged me next, and I noticed he lingered a little longer than usual too. “You’re an amazing young man, and I’m proud to call you my son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Herbert and Joann Candless arrived with their attorney, Brady Barnes, and tension filled the hallway. I had wanted to try to talk to them before things got to this point, but both Vanessa and Jag had advised me against it. Even though I had good intentions, Jag told me it could look like I was trying to pressure or harass them. Vanessa told me that it wouldn’t do a bit of good and told me the best thing to do was to let the court decide once and for all who would be the best guardians for Lucas and Lily.
What Jag and everyone else had told me had finally sunken in. I was going to win that day, and it was obvious the Candlesses knew it. Their attorney had surely informed them their case was weak, and they hadn’t proved I was unfit to raise the children. The hostility they had felt toward me had faded, and now I saw resignation instead. In my mind, the only unknown was whether Judge Burrows was going to grant them visitation rights or if that would be left up to me.
A bailiff opened up the door to the courtroom and looked at us. “Candless versus Brexler?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
She stepped aside so we could all enter the small courtroom. It wasn’t as grand as the ones on TV, but then again, our case didn’t require a jury box or a lot of seating that larger trials needed. It would be a judge, a bailiff to keep order, and a court recorder. Once we were seated, the judge entered the room from a side door. We all rose to our feet and stood until we were instructed to sit.
Judge Burrows went through the process of introducing herself to both parties and named the case for the record. I put all my focus on not bouncing my knees or giving away the sudden nervousness that washed over me. The confidence I’d felt in the hallway had completely fled. I felt Jag’s hand brush the side of my leg beneath the table in an effort to reassure me.
“I’ve had the time to review all the depositions and evidence provided to the court.” Judge Burrows looked at me, then at the Candlesses. “None of the documentation I’ve read indicates that Darryl and Destiny were not of sound mind when they named Miller Brexler as the legal guardian of their children in their wills. Furthermore, evidence has not been provided that Mr. Brexler isn’t fit to be their guardian or that Mr. and Mrs. Candless would be the better candidates for guardianship of Lucas Brexler, age six and Lily Brexler, age five. I am ruling today in favor of Miller Brexler, and permanent guardianship will be granted to the prior temporary guardianship order. In addition, I do not see any reason to award visitation rights to Mr. and Mrs. Candless, as Mr. Brexler has stated they can have free access to their grandchildren.” She leveled a firm look in my direction. “However, if he fails to deliver on his promise, I will reconsider setting visitation.” The judge dropped the gavel and exited the room.
“Congratulations,” Jag said warmly in my ear. He put an arm around me and pulled me into him. “It’s finally over, Bones.”
I turned to look at him. He was smiling happily at me, and had we not been surrounded by people, I would’ve melted into him. “Thank you, Jag. I can’t imagine going through this without you.”
“I’ll always have your back.”
“Miller.” Joann’s voice pulled me away from Jag. I rose to my feet and turned to face her.
“Mrs. Candless.” I wasn’t exactly sure what to say to her. Sorry wasn’t right because I wasn’t remorseful they’d lost their case. I could tell she wasn’t going to apologize either, but I also saw fear that I would make this harder on them. What mattered was not how Joann or I felt; what mattered was what was best for Lucas and Lily. Having a relationship with Destiny’s parents was good for them. I didn’t want the kids to lose that connection to their mother. “When would you like Lucas and Lily to visit?” I extended the olive branch because it was theonlyway to proceed. I knew it was the right thing to do once I saw the tension fade from her face.
“How about this weekend? I would like to pick them up for dinner on Friday and bring them home on Sunday afternoon.” She fidgeted slightly as she waited for my response.
“Sounds great. How about you pick the kids up at five at my house, and I’ll pick them up at your house at three on Sunday? We’ll be moving into our new home, so I’ll be back and forth between the houses, and it might be easier for me to pick them up.”
“That sounds great. Thank you, Miller.” She offered me a small smile.
