“She resides in Europe?” the judge asked. “Europe is a big place.”
“In the south of France, Your Honor, but she and her husband travel extensively. You may recall she used to be—”
“I know who she is,” the judge said. “Thank you.”
The man sat.
The judge turned a few pages, some quickly; others she scanned more slowly. She took off the glasses as she looked up and set them squarely on the stack of papers.
“Mr. Marshall, your daughter and I had a very nice chat. She’s a charming girl. Bright, too, but I’m sure you know that.”
“Thank you, yes.” He pushed off the seat but she waved him down. “No need for all that up and down. We’re having a conversation here.”
Good to know.
“Kate, is this your friend Casey?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you, too, young lady. Kate tells me you’re a soccer player.”
“That’s right. Kate’s dad is my coach.”
“Good for you. I kicked a few balls in my day.”
Surely she meant soccer.
“And you are Sarah Stewart, Casey’s mother.”
“I am.”
“Kate says you own a clothing store and that she works for you.”
“That’s right.”
The judge considered that for a moment. “She’s a little young to have a job. What does she do for you?”
“She only works a few hours a week, contingent on keeping up at school, mostly doing window displays and helping customers. She also set up and maintains a Facebook page for the store.”
“I see.” Her honor turned her attention back to Kate, smiled and softened her tone. “You’re an enterprising young woman. I meet a lot of teenagers who would love to be paid for spending time on social media.”
Kate and Casey put their heads together and giggled. Regardless of what her decision was going to be, Jonathan liked the woman’s droll sense of humor and appreciated how she immediately put the girls at ease.
“Mr. Marshall. I’ve read your statement. It’s was very thorough.”
“Thank you.” Should he be thankful? He wished he knew. This woman would be a fierce opponent at a poker table.
“Is there anything you would like to add?”
If there was, it had leaked out of him the minute this woman stepped into the room. Besides, he had poured everything he could think of into that statement, slaved over it for hours. Then Sarah had read it and said it was so touching, it made her cry.
“No, Your Honor. But thank you.”
She picked up her glasses, put them back on and straightened the stack of pages in the folder. “All right then. I’ve reached a decision and I see no point in prolonging this.”
Georgette’s lawyer cleared his throat. “Your Honor, if I may.”
She paused. “No, you may not. I read Ms. Ogilvie’s statement as well. I assume that if she had more to add, she would be here in person.”
Sarah’s grip on his hand tightened. She was a lifesaver, and he was hanging on for dear life.
“But she’s—”
“I have a dim view of parents who file for custody and then can’t be bothered to appear in my courtroom. But you can tell her that had she been here, my decision would be the same. Kate Marshall will remain in her father’s care and custody.”
The girls let out a whoop and flung their arms around each other, then Kate whirled around and hugged him. Really hugged him. “Thanks, Dad. Now we can be a family,” she whispered. “All of us.”
Outside the courtroom, he thanked his lawyer, at least he thought he did, but he was mostly focused on the three women in his life. Kate, his amazing daughter. Sarah, the beautiful woman he’d fallen in love-at-first-sight with. And Casey, his daughter’s best friend and, he hoped, her soon-to-be someday sister.
He knew Sarah wasn’t ready to make a commitment, but she’d get there. He was sure of it. And now that his family was staying intact, she could take all the time she needed because now he had all the time in the world.
EPILOGUE
Ten months later
SARAH PEEKED BETWEEN the curtains of the cabana that had been set up on the lawn of the Serenity Bay Resort.
“Is everyone here?” Casey asked. “Are they ready for us?”
“Should be any minute now.”
“Can you see my dad?” Kate asked.
Jonathan, heart-joltingly handsome in an off-white summer tux, waited in the late afternoon sunshine near the water’s edge. “Yes, I see him.”
“I hope he didn’t see you,” Kate said. “It’s bad luck.”
Sarah let the curtain fall back into place and turned to face her daughter and her soon-to-be daughter. “No, he didn’t see me. Now come here,” she said, pulling them both in for a hug, feeling like the luckiest woman alive.