“It’s going to be me if he’s mine,” he said fiercely. “And I understand if you need or want to cut.”
She pushed back from his embrace and looked at his face. He was still pale, so she forced a smile for his sake and not to cause a fight. “I love kids and you need me. I’m not going anywhere.”
27
GET THROUGH THIS
“Thanks for meeting with me so quickly,” Chance said mid-morning the next day.
Jocelyn had come through for him last night, calling Walker Olson, with him on speaker, then calling Walker’s sister Monica who dealt with more family court issues.
Monica told him to come in at eleven, which gave him enough time to collect DNA from Maverick and submit it with his.
“Not a problem,” Monica said. “This is urgent and an odd situation. You got the DNA submitted just fine?”
“This morning. I called when they opened, then got there as soon as I could and paid for it to be expedited. They said I might have it as soon as this afternoon, but I’m not holding my breath. Definitely by tomorrow morning.”
The cost meant nothing right now. Figuring out his life was more important.
If this came back positive, there was a lot more money he’d be spending.
His place wasn’t equipped for a child, least of all a toddler.
Hell, he didn’t even know how to change a damn diaper and Maverick was still wearing one!
Jocelyn had been great last night. Better than other women would have been.
She’d taken control of the situation, eased Nettie’s mind, and helped her with Maverick. Then she’d hugged him and said she had him when he gave her an out.
She says that now. Time will tell.
“That’s great,” Monica said. “Tell me what you know.”
“Not much,” he said. “Which is worse. Baylee Bradley and I dated briefly, if you can call it that, less than three years ago. I guess the timing is right, but I’m not one to hang onto exact dates.”
He hadn’t missed that Maverick resembled him. Not that he could tell as much as Jocelyn had.
But in his heart, he looked at the toddler who was wary of being around anyone but Jocelyn or Nettie and knew it was his kid.
He wouldn’t get closer until he knew for sure. He’d confessed to Jocelyn he was remaining detached until he had the facts.
Why get drawn into a child that was growing up like he had when there was nothing he could do if it wasn’t his child?
The minute the positive results were in his hand, he was moving Maverick into his place. He wanted that clear.
“We’ll know more soon. Until then, there isn’t much we can do other than talk. Nettie Bradley has custody right now?”
“I doubt it. I’m sure it’s just that Maverick is living there. What I know is Baylee is in jail on drug possession and intent to sell or move drugs. I’m unsure of the exact legal terms, but it seems she was involved with a group that sold and moved drugs across state lines. Police caught her speeding and found the drugs.”
“Not good,” Monica said.
“No. And not my problem.”
“Full custody could be six months on abandonment at Maverick’s age. Unless you can get her to sign over custody to you.”
“I don’t understand this,” he said. “If she’s in jail and could be for years, I should get full custody, right?”
“It’s not always as easy as it seems. Temporary custody is the way to go right now.”
