Chapter 8

Cassie

Two months had gone by since our wedding. Parker was gone a lot, which was rough, but we were making it work, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It honestly helped having my parents and grandma just two houses away. We had a one house buffer, and that was enough for me. I'd missed so much time with them and was happy to have them there. The kids were even happier about it than I was, and that made it even better.

It was finally time for court. We'd been able to get it scheduled for when Parker would be home. I was seven months along and felt like I was ready to pop at any moment. Knowing that Parker's ex was someone he once wanted to spend his life with, and knowing that she kept herself perfectly together and in impeccable shape had me freaking out inside. That added to my worry, which was already at the top of the charts, was a recipe for a breakdown. Would we get more time, or would she just get more money? It seemed like every time he went to court, he ended up behind instead of ahead, and I didn't want that for him or for us. We all loved the twins, and we wanted them with us as much as possible. It would have been heartbreaking to be denied more time, and that worried me, not just for Parker, but for me and the kids as well. We really were a great family, and I needed the judge to see that.

I tried to hide my nervousness so Parker wouldn't see it. There was no way I wanted to add even more to the worry he already had, but it didn't work. He saw it right away, and he was right there trying to take my worry away. The man was perfect, and I couldn't believe that I'd ever doubted his love and loyalty.

We walked into the courthouse, and I saw her right away, looking just as perfect as the time I'd seen her before. Her eyes went right to the spot on my hip where Parker's hand was. Then they went to my round belly, and sadness filled them. What was that, I wondered? It wasn't like I'd taken him from her. She was the one that had thrown their relationship away. That was all on her.

We met with our lawyer, who sounded optimistic that we'd at least be able to get the judge to require Parker's ex to give him the kids at his already scheduled times. Then we walked into the courtroom to sit and wait for who knew how many hours to be called.

I hadn't been sitting there five minutes when I had to go to the bathroom. Parker got up to go with me, and I laughed.

“You might as well stay here,” I said. “This is going to happen a lot. Seems like I live in the bathroom anymore. That way we won't constantly be losing our seats. I won't be long.”

He leaned in and kissed me. My man could take away all of my stress with just one kiss, and I hoped that I was able to do the same for him too.

I walked into the bathroom feeling good. Any more time we could get the twins was better than what we had, but I wanted so much more. Shit! I wanted Parker to get full custody. Just thinking about taking care of six kids while he was on the road had me letting out a quiet laugh. The greatest part was knowing I would have loved it.

When I walked out of the stall and saw her, I stopped. Then I quickly pulled myself together and began walking toward the sink, but she stepped in front of me.

“Excuse me,” I said.

“You think you're better than me?” she asked, with darkness in her tone. “You're not. I've heard about you. You don't deserve him.”

“What?” I asked. “How could you say that? I'm nothing like you.”

I was so damn nervous. Had she followed me to the bathroom? What exactly did she think was going to happen by confronting me? In that moment, I was happy there was someone still in the stall next to the one I'd been in, and I wanted out of there before they left. I wasn't worried about me. I could have taken her no problem, but I was seven months pregnant, and there was no way I was letting my baby come to harm from some crazy ex.

“I talked to Jeff,” she said. “He called me. Wanted me to help him screw you over. He told me how you are. You're just like me.”

“The same Jeff that hit me and tracked my movements through my phone,” I said. “My ex husband did to me exactly what you did to Parker. He cheated on me. How did that go for you? Did you help him?”

“He offered me a shitload of money to give him the dirt on you and Parker,” she said, with a smile on her face.

“Really?” I asked. “Why would he do that? You'd already gone to the magazine.”

“That was him,” she said. “He offered me more than they would have ever given me. I told him you were getting married and that you were pregnant. Of course I knew. My kids couldn't wait to tell me all about that shit. Then I gave him your address. Did you know I had your address?”

“Of course I knew,” I answered. “The twins were over. Parker told me the day he gave it to you. You needed to know where they were. Is everything about money to you? You make the man pay to see the twins. Do you know how messed up that is? He gives you enough. How could you make him give you extra just to be able to take them?”

“Pete doesn't care about money,” she said, as she looked at herself in the mirror. “I do. If he wants to see them, paying a little extra doesn't hurt his bank account any.”

“Those are his kids too,” I said. “You should be happy he wants to be involved. You make promises. Then you rip them away at the last minute. That doesn't just hurt him. It hurts them too. What makes even less sense is that you tell him no, but you go out that same night. Where are the twins when you're gone? Why can't you let them be with their dad, me, and my kids?”

“That's none of your business,” she said. “It's expensive to look this good. When I go out, I want to be noticed. I want to stand out. I don't want to just be another person in the crowd like you are. I deserve every penny he gives me and more. I was with him when he was a guy playing college ball. He became a Pirate on my watch.”

“You never even went to a single game,” I said. “What do you care?”

“I care about the money,” she said. “I was a Pirate's wife. Who gives a shit if I went or not? I will not work a day in my life. He will continue to pay his child support, and he will continue to pay every single time he wants to see them.”

I couldn't fight the tears that began escaping from the corners of my eyes.

“How can you do that?” I asked. “Do you even love your kids?”

“Does it matter?” she asked. “They're my meal ticket. When I met Pete, the pros were already scouting him. I knew I'd never have to work as long as I was with him. He wasn't supposed to come home that day, but he did. I'd been cheating our entire marriage. I was just sad it ended. If he hadn't caught me, I'd still have what you do. I should have had more kids with him before I screwed up. ”

She stopped for a moment, then she continued, and it took all I had not to bust her in the mouth.

“Lucky for me, he loves his kids,” she said, as she let out a laugh. “As long as I have them, I'm set, and I plan to get every penny I can before they turn eighteen. It's not like you want them with you, so why do you care?”

“I do want them with us,” I said.

“Can you honestly tell me you're going to take care of six kids while he's on the road throwing the ball around?” she asked. “Give me a break. You don't want them any more than I do. You're just trying to make him happy so your gravy train won't end. I was pretty shocked about one thing though, you could have gotten a much bigger house out of him. Did he turn you down? Maybe he loved me more than he does you.”

“That's where you're wrong,” I snapped out. “I love the kids, all six of them, and I would want nothing more than to take care of the twins every single day. They're my kids too, and I'd do anything for them. I don't know how you could say what you just did about those precious children. As for the house, he wanted a bigger one. It was me that didn't. I will never again have someone taking care of my house for me. That's my job. When it comes to his love for me, I know he'll do everything and anything to keep me and the kids safe. He's the most amazing man I've ever met. I don't love him for his money. I love him for him.”

“Doesn't matter to me,” she said, as she looked in the mirror once more before heading to the door. “I don't want him anyway. I only want his money.”

Then she was gone. I walked toward the mirror, leaned down with my hands on the sink edges, and cried. I knew I didn't have long before I had to pull myself together and get back out there, but I had to let it out. How could she say she doesn't want her kids? How could she talk about Parker the way she did?

The stall door opened, and I jumped. I'd totally forgotten there had been someone in there. The woman walked toward the sink and began washing her hands.

“You okay?” she asked.

“No,” I said, as I tried to pull myself together so I didn't look like a total mess. “I don't get how anyone could be that way. The sad part is that nobody does anything to stop her. I had no idea it was as bad as it is. We're going to sit through hours of waiting just to find out if we can actually have the kids when we're supposed to. It shouldn't be that way. My husband has already earned that right. Why do we have to come back just to have it enforced? I'm not sure I'll ever understand. I can't do it. I can't keep quiet after what I just heard. He deserves full custody. Who cares if he's gone for a few days here and there. I love those two kids, and I want them with us. I just have to convince him and the lawyer that we need to go for it. I'm not sure how to get a judge to believe me when I tell them what she just told me either.”

“It might not be as hard as you think,” the woman said. “You should definitely try. That woman was awful. Good luck! I hope your day turns around for you.”

“Thank you!” I said.

The woman left, but I stayed for a few more minutes to try and dry my face. It was bad enough my eyes were a bit red. I didn't need them wet as well.

When I walked back into the courtroom, I looked between Parker and our lawyer.

“We need full custody,” I said.

“What?” Parker asked, as he got to his feet. “Were you crying? What's going on, Cassie?”

“I want to fight for full custody,” I said.

“Seriously?” he asked. “That's not going to happen, Cassie. I can't even get the time I'm already supposed to get.”

“I don't care,” I said. “We need to go for full custody, and I need to speak.”

“Cassie,” the lawyer said, as he stood up and leaned closer. “We can't get that. You have no idea how hard it is to do something like that.”

“Please take your seats,” I heard a man say from the front of the courtroom.

We all sat down. Then I heard the man announce the judge, and when the door on the side opened and the judge walked out, I gasped.

“You okay?” Parker whispered.

“Tell the lawyer,” I said. “Full custody.”

“Cassie,” he whispered.

“Do it,” I quietly growled out.

“What happened?” he asked.

“A lot,” I answered. “Please, Parker. If there is ever a time you just do as I'm asking, let it be now.”

“I hope you know what you're doing,” he said.

“I do,” I said.

He leaned toward the lawyer, and I watched him shake his head.

After two hours, our case was called. Our lawyer stood up, and so did the one sitting next to Parker's ex. They walked to the front, and it began. Things moved much faster than I thought they would. When our lawyer announced that Parker wanted full custody, I heard his ex laugh from the other side of the room. Her lawyer went right into his whole thing about how ridiculous the idea was. He was busy trying to convince the judge that his client was a very fit mother who deserved her children when our lawyer looked back at me, more nervous than I'd seen him yet, as he asked if I could speak.

“There's no need,” the judge said. “I've seen this same couple in front of me before, and I have to apologize, sir.”

She was looking right at Parker.

“What?” he asked. “Why?”

“Her lawyer was very good, and I was convinced that the children belonged with her. She was their mother, and she was always home, but I have since seen the light. I do not need your wife to step forward to speak. We've already spoken.”

“My client would like to speak as well,” the other lawyer blurted out.

“Oh, she already has,” the judge said. “You see, being a judge is an amazing job. I get to help people. I also have big decisions to make. The one thing I do that is just like you is use the bathroom.”

“What?” the lawyer asked.

“I had the pleasure of being in the bathroom earlier today with your client,” she said, and I heard the word shit fly loudly from Parker's ex's mouth. “While I was in there, something very interesting happened. Should we tell Mr. Parker what it was?”

Parker's ex was shaking her head so hard I thought it was going to fly off of her body.

“You know the small cracks in the stall doors?” she asked, and Parker's ex nodded. “I saw you the entire time.”

“What is she talking about?” Parker whispered over toward me.

“You have an amazing wife, Mr. Parker,” the judge said.

“I do,” Parker said, as he grabbed my hand.

“You are also granted full custody of your two children,” she said, and Parker's eyes widened. “You deserve it. There will no longer be any child support due from you, and if you'd like to set a date to come back and file for child support from your ex wife, I'd be more than willing to work through that with you.”

“That's not fair,” Parker's ex said, as she stood from her chair. “It's bullshit.”

“Say it again, and you'll be going to jail,” the judge said.

“Are you serious?” Parker asked.

“Very,” the judge said. “I am going to give her the same visitation you were supposed to have.”

“I don't want it,” Parker's ex shouted.

“What?” Parker and her lawyer both snapped out.

Her lawyer walked toward her, but she shooed him away.

“If I don't have them all the time, I don't want them at all,” she said.

“Hold on,” Parker said. “You want to see them. Do not be like that.”

“I don't,” she said. “If you're getting custody, I'll sign over my rights.”

“The twins are your kids too,” he said. “How can you say that?”

“It's easy,” she said. “I'd like to sign over my rights. My new boyfriend doesn't like them anyway.”

“Very well,” the judge said. “They are to be turned over to Mr. Parker in the next two days.”

“You can come get them on your way home,” his ex said.

Parker sat down, and I could see tears in his eyes.

“I wasn't trying to cut her off from them,” he said. “How could she hurt them like this?”

“She is a very evil woman,” I said.

“I'm getting the twins,” he said, and I nodded. “This is because of you. I'm not sure how or why, but you did it. You have no idea how happy I am to know that I can see them. Having them with me is honestly one of the very best moments of my life.”

“I know,” I said.

We walked out of the courtroom and waited for the lawyer. Parker's ex stormed by us.

“Be there in an hour,” she snapped out. “I can't wait to get this over with.”

“I don't know what happened,” our lawyer said, as he walked up to us. “That was unlike anything I've ever seen. Go get your kids. I'll have everything ready by the end of the week. Call me if you need anything before then.”

We walked out of the courthouse hand in hand.

“Jeff was the one that went to the magazine,” I said. “She told him where we lived. He was the one that took the picture.”

“How do you know that?” Parker asked, as he opened my door for me.

“It was part of the bathroom conversation,” I said. “I've never been so happy in all of my life to have someone in the bathroom when I was.”

“What did she say?” he asked. “Why did the judge change her mind?”

“Enough for the judge to know that she was using the kids to get money,” I said. “Let's just leave it at that.”

“We're really getting them?” he asked.

“We are,” I answered.

“How do you feel about that?” he asked. “I know it's a lot to take on two more kids while I'm not home.”

“Happier than I ever thought I could be,” I answered. “Guess my mom and grandma should have thought things through before they moved in two doors down.”

We both burst into laughter.

“Let's go get our kids,” I said.

“I would love to,” he said, as he pulled out of the parking lot and turned toward our destination.

When we pulled in, she had the kids waiting on the front porch.

“You're not getting any of their things,” she said.

“That's fine,” Parker said. “They have things at the house, and we'll get them everything they need.”

Without even looking back at their mom, the kids ran to the car, jumped in, and began talking to me about their new home with us. I didn't know what she'd told them, but they were more excited than I'd ever seen them. I promised myself that I would do whatever it took to take away any stress or worry that came up along the way. We were their home, and they were going to feel more safe and loved than they ever had before.