The Unexpected Wedding(30)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
By late the next afternoon Becky Lee and Cal were sitting in the lawyer’s office in New Orleans. Cal had been quiet on the drive over, but Becky Lee didn’t really blame him. She knew she’d caused all of this mess. Well, at least her mistake had made it so Cal’s father could find him. She couldn’t forgive herself, so why should Cal?
The lawyer, John Black, put down his reading glasses after going over the paper Cal had gotten from his father.
“So, the boy’s father is deceased and his mother is in a coma?”
“Yes, sir.” Cal leaned forward in his chair. “But we’re hoping his mother wakes up any time now.”
“You have legal guardianship now? Do you have those papers?”
Cal shifted in his chair. “Well, no. I don’t actually have the papers. But TJ said she had them drawn up.”
“Do you know if they were actually filed in the courts?”
Cal raked his hand through his hair. “Well, no. I’m not certain.”
“I’ll have my assistant look into it. If they were filed you’ll have a stronger case.”
Becky Lee swallowed. What if Theresa Jean hadn’t filed the papers? What if they couldn’t even find the signed papers?
“Now, do you have a steady job?”
“I do. I work construction.”
“How long have you had held that job?”
“A week or so?”
The lawyer scribbled on a legal pad. “The job before that. How long did you have it?”
“A couple of months?”
“So, no steady work?”
Cal shifted in his chair. “I move around a lot. I always have a job, but it changes often.”
“I see.”
“Own a house?”
“No, I’m renting.”
“Any children of your own?”
“No.”
“Who watches the boy when you’re working?”
“I have an arrangement with a sitter.”
“What about school?”
“I. Well, it’s been summer, so I haven’t worried about it.”
“Have you at least enrolled him?”
“No, I didn’t think of doing that.”
The lawyer set his pen down and looked candidly at Cal. “I have to say, your father has a strong case for custody. He has the financial means and stability. I see here that he’s already spoken to the headmaster of a private school about enrollment for the boy if he gets custody. He’s already raised three children of his own. Your mother will be there for Scotty, too.”
“But that’s not what my brother or TJ wanted.”
“But the court will consider what is in the best interest of the child.”
Her heart plummeted. What if Cal’s father actually did get custody of Scotty?
“Look, the man is not fit to be a father. I should know.”
“To be honest, that’s probably going to come across like poor little rich boy sour grapes to the court.”
Becky Lee’s mind scrambled for a solution. Anything to keep Scotty away from Cal’s father. She’d promised her sister that she’d keep Scotty safe. She had to.
“You can’t let my father get custody.” Cal’s voice was low.
“I’ll do my best, but the court will see a single man, no steady job, doesn’t own a home, never raised a child before.”
Becky Lee stood up. “What if he were married?”
“Well, that would help him.”
“To someone with a long time job and a home.”
“That would help more.”
Becky Lee turned to Cal, her heart pounding in her chest. “Marry me.”
“What?” Cal sprang to his feet.
“Let’s get married. Right away.”
The lawyer stood up then. “Tell you what. I’m going to step outside. I don’t really think I should hear any more details about this just yet.” He picked up his legal pad and pen and crossed to the door. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
The closing of the door echoed through the room.
Cal stared at her, his eyes searching her face. “That’s a crazy idea.”
“We can be married before next week’s court date.”
“That’s crazy,” Cal repeated himself.
“No, it’s not. I’d do anything to keep Scotty safe.”
“Well, so would I. But marriage?”
“The whole town thinks we’re a couple anyway. They’ll think it’s love at first sight. This could work.”
“I don’t know.” Cal walked over and looked out the window.
She stared at his back, wondering if he thought she was a lunatic and desperate for a man, or if he understood just how much she was willing to do for Scotty and Theresa Jean. “Listen, I’m probably not who or the kind of woman you ever expected to marry. I understand if you say no. I can’t blame you if you do turn me down. But I think it’s the one way we can maybe save Scotty from being raised by your father.”