Reading Online Novel

The Unexpected Wedding(49)



“Father.” Cal’s voice was hard and the muscle in his jaw tightened.

“It’s probably best for you two to not speak before the case.” Cal’s lawyer interrupted the conversation and led Cal and Becky Lee into the courtroom.

Cal and his lawyer sat at a table in front of the judge’s bench, and Becky Lee slipped into a chair behind them. The lawyer and Cal had their heads together, talking quietly. She fidgeted with her watch that Cal had all set up for her.

The judge entered, and the proceedings started. Becky Lee was overwhelmed with the legal jargon as well as the harsh things Mr. Grayson’s legal team said about her sister and Cal. Only they kept calling him James, and it irritated her.

She clenched her jaw and wanted to dispute everything they said. Her sister was a kind and generous person. She’d obviously done a great job raising Scotty, and he was a wonderful kid. And Cal… he loved Scotty, that was plain to see. He always had the boy’s best interest at heart.

Theresa Jean, you need to wake up. Things are getting messy. She willed her sister to hear her across the miles.

Mr. Grayson’s lawyer went on with his litany of Cal’s shortcomings. No steady job, no money, no permanent residence, never raised a child. It didn’t get any better when they turned on Theresa Jean. They even implied that she had a drug problem. Becky Lee didn’t believe it for a minute.

“The doctors don’t believe that Theresa Jean will come out of her coma.” One of the lawyers jumped up and handed the judge some papers. “We have three doctors stating that. Too much damage has been done.”

Becky Lee reeled. Her sister not wake up? That wasn’t possible. It wasn’t. Cal turned and glanced at her, his brow furrowed, and shook his head no.

“I have Theresa Jean’s primary doctor, a specialist in neurology, the hospitalist, and two more doctors who believe her condition is improving and she’s coming around.” John Black handed his stack of papers to the judge.

“As you can see, James and Miss Tesson got married. How convenient,” one of Mr. Grayson’s lawyers remarked. “Your Honor, it was obviously just to help their case.”

John Black countered, and it went on and on like this. Becky Lee tried to concentrate, but her mind insisted on wandering, avoiding the proceedings, holding out hope.

The man Becky Lee assumed was Mr. Grayson’s lead attorney stood up, it caught her attention and she stared at him as he flourished some documents. “Mr. Grayson is also worried about Miss Tesson’s—or is it Mrs. Gray now—anyway, we are worried about her other relatives. Like her aunt, Ellie Tesson. A convicted murderer.”

Becky Lee sat up straight in her chair, holding her breath. What was the man talking about? Not only that, her aunt was dead. She died years ago.

The lawyer handed a stack of papers to the judge who briefly read through them.

Cal turned in his chair and looked at her, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

“We’re, of course, worried that she’ll return and we don’t want her anywhere near the boy.”

“She’s dead.” Becky Lee couldn’t help letting the words slip out.

“No, she’s very much alive. Quite possibly on the run from the law. We need a bit more time to look into all the facts, but no way should the boy be allowed to stay with James until all the facts are known.” The lawyer droned on.

The court began to spin and she grabbed onto the arms of her chair. She knew her father had always refused to talk about Aunt Ellie, but this? She’d murdered someone?

But I bought the cottage with an inheritance from Aunt Ellie.

“I need time to go over all of this. We’ll schedule another hearing in a week.” The judge set down the papers.

“We’d like temporary custody of the boy until more permanent custody is decided.”

The judge couldn’t do that, could he? Take Scotty away now? She drew in a deep breath, trying to process the day and all she’d heard. Confusion coursed through her.

The judge sat silently for a moment, looked down at the papers, then looked back up. “I’ll allow the boy to remain in Mr. Gray’s custody for now. I’ll make a final decision at the next hearing.”

Becky Lee wanted to jump up and give a shout of relief, but she couldn’t think. Couldn’t process all she’d heard. Couldn’t stand. Couldn’t breathe.

~ * ~

Cal looked back at Becky Lee and sprang to his feet. He walked back to where she was sitting and sank into the chair beside her. “Are you okay?”

“I… um… no.”

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Not for show. Not to pretend they were a real couple.