“I’m feeling brisket and cornbread, how does that sound?” she asks Naomi.
Cooper takes my hand tightly and leads us out of the house.
I couldn’t eat breakfast this morning. My stomach has been churning the moment my eyes opened, and even then I didn’t sleep well. Thoughts swirl and crash against my skull with all the what if’s if this doesn’t go well?
“I—” he says, and cuts himself off.
I stop and tug on him. “Talk to me,” I whisper, standing on my toes and rubbing the back of his tense neck.
“Tell me it’s going to be okay. I need to hear you say it,” he croaks.
I kiss him gently, with all the love I can push through my lips. “It’s going to be okay, my love.”
He groans opening the truck door for me. “Thank you.”
“I still can’t believe your mom and aunt pulled one over on you,” he says on a half-hearted laugh.
“I know it’s wild, and I’m irritated that it worked.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and kisses my knuckles. “Hell, I’m not.”
We pull up to the courthouse, and any levity in the truck is gone. This step is a good one. It’s the unknown that has us shaking in our boots.
Once we get through the metal detector, we have to wait outside the courtroom for Cooper’s lawyer.
A few minutes later Ralph meets us, and Cooper shoves his hands in his pockets, listening carefully to Ralph’s instructions. We both need to be quiet and let him do most of the talking until he says otherwise, or unless the judge addresses him directly.
“Will they ask Mae anything? We weren’t together before I put the paperwork in.”
Ralph flips through a few pages in his folder. “I’d say it’s unlikely, but not impossible. So, Ms. Morgan, I would suggest you being prepared to answer questions.”
“I can do that,” I rasp and wipe my sweaty palms.
Ralph checks his watch. “We better get in there,” he says. We follow him, then he pauses. “I’ve been praying for you, Cooper. I think it’s what’s best for little Naomi. Your sister, God bless her, but this is what’s best for that child and I will make that clear to the judge.”
Cooper swallows, and his hand tightens around mine.
We’re followed by a few others into the courtroom, and my jaw drops when I see the whole Hayes family, except for Dixie and, of course, Naomi. Every single ranch hand who works at Hayes Ranch. The Wests are here with their kids and spouses. People I’ve met since I’ve lived here, but who have known Cooper and Naomi for many years, are sitting in the seats.
“They all wanted to speak to your character,” Ralph says.
I look up at Cooper, and his mouth falls open in shock.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell him and kiss his knuckles.
He nods, and we follow Ralph to the front and sit next to him at a large table.
“All rise. Hear ye, hear ye, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Paxton County is open pursuant to adjournment. All having business before this honorable court draw near, give attention, and you shall be heard. You may be seated,” the bailiff says.
We sit down and I keep Cooper’s hand in my lap, trying to soothe him as much as I can without sitting on him.
“Thank you, George. Looks like we are here for the legal guardianship of Naomi Nicole Hayes.” He pauses and looks through his papers. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it would appear that Naomi is already in the custody of Cooper Hayes, her uncle, and has been for nearly six years. And you’re trying to get full legal guardianship for her. Is that correct?”
Ralph stands. “Yes, Your Honor.”
The judge flips through more papers.
“And is the mother, Rebekah Hayes, present today?” he asks.
