Mothers generally got custody anyway, regardless of where they were.
He wanted to talk to Kyle about it as soon as possible. Because the next step was to secure sole custody. Getting a good attorney to handle that would be no problem. Mitch had already resolved that if Addison required a payoff to make custody happen, he would gladly write the check.
Gladly was a poor choice of word. Having to write a check to secure his granddaughter’s freedom would cause him to think less of Addison than he currently did, which would be no mean feat. But he’d do it. For Ruthie, he’d do anything. And that check would someday be proof, if necessary, of exactly what Addison had thought of her daughter.
He was angry about the whole situation. He knew that. He didn’t want that anger to cloud his judgment. But the need to protect Kyle and Ruthie had come over him like a storm, destroying all preconceived notions about what he might have done in a situation like this.
If Mama Bears were a thing, then so were Grandfather Bears. He would put every ounce of his vast resources into play if need be. Ruthie could not end up with the woman who hadn’t even wanted her.
Mitch got dressed for his run, his mind spinning with all that had to be done.
Maybe he should reach out to his attorney to see who he’d recommend in family law. Couldn’t hurt. He went out to start coffee, then walked to the windows. He could see light along the horizon line and the last few stars twinkling out.
Clear skies. He was glad for that. Glad that Harper and her family would have good traveling weather. He hoped that meeting went well. That something wonderful came out of it. Harper deserved that. All three women did.
Time to run. He’d have coffee when he got back. On his way out, he pushed open the door into the second guest room where Ruthie was asleep in her new crib. He stepped quietly to the side of it, put his hand on the rail, and looked in on her.
She was achingly beautiful.
Mitch smiled.I hope you can see her, Jeanie. I hope you see this precious creature. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep her safe, I promise you that.
He closed the door partway, then went down the steps and outside. There were no lights on in the guest house yet. No doubt Joyce and her sister had stayed up late, catching up. Good for them.
He walked to the end of the drive and started with a slow, easy jog to warm up. It was funny, really. He’d done everything possible to isolate himself from the world after Jeanie had died. He’d almost never left the house, relying on Joyce to keep things going.
To keep him alive.
He’d stayed away from people, barely communicating online. Becoming a hermit. Sinking further and further into grief as he dwelt in the past, living on memories.
How things had changed.
The day before, he’d taken four people and two dogs out on the boat. Yesterday, his son and granddaughter had suddenly arrived, along with Joyce’s sister. Today, there were three more people living on his property than there had been. He was contemplating adopting a dog to add to the mix. And it was the happiest he’d been since before Jeanie’s illness.
Life was wild.
He picked up his pace, feeling his internal temperature rise with the exertion. His only regret—and regret wasn’t really what he was feeling, more like a longing—was not being able to talk to Arlington and tell him thank you.
Thank you for leaving his house to Harper. Thank you for giving her a letter to deliver to Mitch, ensuring their paths would cross. Thank you for being a kind, quiet voice of reason and a stellar friend.
He missed Arlington. Even after death, the man had been an outstanding friend and guiding force in Mitch’s life.
He hoped he could be that kind of person for his son and granddaughter.
As he made the turn past the entrance gates, he realized he hadn’t put his earbuds in or brought his phone along. He laughed. Those earbuds had always been his insurance against anyone trying to talk to him or even say hi.
Now, here he was, naked to the world.
Still smiling, he ran on, passing Lucas’s house. Mitch was looking forward to playing some racquetball with the man. Maybe it would even become a regular thing. It would be good for him, not just physically, but emotionally. Lucas was a different sort of man than Arlington, but Mitch enjoyed his company.
He also respected the way Lucas hustled, making himself into a brand with hard work and by deliberately putting himself into the public eye.
The exact thing Mitch had spent the better part of his career avoiding.
Was he wrong? Should he be more like Lucas in some ways? More accessible? Kyle was a great resource when it came to the younger generation. Maybe his son would have some opinions.
Worth a conversation. He slowed as he neared the house, then decreased to a walk as he reached the driveway, letting himself cool down.
Today would be a busy day. Most days were. But things had gotten bumped up a notch with Kyle and Ruthie’s arrival. It was the best kind of busy.
