“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because I sure hope that Josie isn’t the last teenager I’ll have in the house.”
Did this mean what I thought it meant? This was all getting really serious really fast. “Are you saying you want kids?” I stumbled over the last word, not wanting to assume anything but really what else could I be thinking?
“I’m saying I want kids with you. I was thinking at least four. Two boys and two girls. Josie would be a great big sister.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. “Four kids? You want me to push out four kids?”
“If you insist, we can have more. I’m saying that’s the minimum.”
“You are crazy.”
“Crazy about you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his response. “That was cheesy.”
He pulled me closer and kissed me. It took about one point two seconds for me to forget that he wanted my body to carry four kids, and I went pliable in his arms. So was the magic of Rhett.
“Is this going to go on for much longer or can we go?” Freddie interrupted, hip cocked, looking sassy as usual while she was holding Josie’s hand.
I reluctantly stepped away and grabbed my coat from the couch. “Rhett needs to take a shower first. Where is Oma? I thought she was coming with us?”
“Getting her bible and rosemary.”
“Excuse me, what?”
Freddie pointed at the hallway where Oma was now walking out of her room, holding a giant bible and a string of rosemary beads. What the what?
“Oma, why are you brining your bible? We’re just going to the courthouse. And it’s not an official hearing. It’s just another meeting with the judge.”
She shuffled past us, her coat, hat and gloves already in place. “Just in case.”
Right. I mean, of course. We might encounter a vampire. One never knew about these things.
Freddie didn’t seem fazed, having seen and done things that made much less sense. Rhett did his magic guy thing and got ready in five minutes. We all filed into his car, a Range Rover, that fit us all comfortably and had mysteriously shown up a few days ago. It took the three of us to help Oma in since the car was so high. Josie was watching us with big eyes. She was still quiet and withdrawn but didn’t panic anymore when one of us left the room.
The drive to the courthouse was somber, nobody felt like talking. Rhett expertly backed his car into a parking spot before we all went inside. Oma was walking with Freddie and I was carrying Josie who was back to wrapping herself around me, clutching onto my blouse.
We made it to the Judge’s chambers with five minutes to spare, our attorney already waiting outside. There was no sign of Anna, but that was no surprise. Punctuality wasn’t exactly one of her strengths. You were lucky if she at least got the day right. When it was time to go in, she still hadn’t shown and the Judge looked none too pleased.
After waiting an additional ten minutes, there was still no sign of her and the Judge decided to get started.
“Your lawyer Mr. Dermot contacted me to show me new evidence that has come to light. It’s disturbing to say the least, and I would have liked to hear Mrs. McAllister’s side of the story. However, the pictures and Josephine’s doctor’s report speak for themselves. So does Mrs. McAllister’s absence. I will retract shared custody and you will regain full custody once again.” He looked at me, his mouth tight, his eyes rimmed in dark circles. “I don’t like to be wrong, but I’m glad this time it didn’t have worse consequences. CPS will come out again to make sure Josie is living in a safe environment. I’m not making the same mistake twice.”
The child psychologist who was there last time took my phone number and told us she’d be in touch.
After filling out some paperwork, we were free to go. The whole visit took all of twenty minutes. I was so relieved that I let out a nervous giggle as soon as we exited the building. “That seemed too easy.”
“He got us a babysitter,” Freddie complained. “It wasn’t easy.” She stopped, her eyes wide. “Does that mean I’ll have to clean my room all the time now?”
“That’s exactly what it means,” I joked and winked at her, trying to lighten the mood.
We also didn’t know if Anna was still trying to get Freddie back. But since she seemed to have disappeared into parts unknown, I decided I’d deal with the issue when it came up. Freddie was nearly sixteen. Only two more years and she would be legal and completely free of Anna. Until then, there was still Mexico. Rhett would just have a longer commute.
“I don’t care who’s going to come and check up on us as long as we keep Josie,” I said, ruffling Freddie’s hair, much to her annoyance. She tried swatting at my arm but I was quicker.
Rhett was carrying Josie, who was resting her head on his shoulder, her tiny hand fisted in his suit. She wanted him to carry her when we walked back out, and Rhett didn’t miss a beat. He swooped her up and held her like he had done it a million times before. I could see why she wanted him to be the one to hold her. After all, there was nobody else who would make a girl feel as safe as he did.
