Page 64 of The Seal's Promise

Then the door chimed and Dalton walked in looking fresh and rested. One look at him and the emotion she was struggling to stamp down started to pool up in her eyes. But she couldn’t burst into tears in front of everyone. Even Wes stood by, waiting to see if she was going to fall apart.

“I can’t do this right now,” she said, heading for the exit and walking past Dalton, who looked worried but didn’t try to stop her. She didn’t slow down until she was through the hospital doors and down the hall to her office. Once she closed the door she took a few deep breaths, but Declan’s words played over in her mind.

The money wasn’t so much for her as it was for Max; he deserved to have two loving parents’ full attention. And the judge said it wasn’t up to her, it was the law. Tyler was required to provide for his son. The money would give her the freedom to spend less time at work and more time with Max, so it was worth it.

So for now she was going to do her job and keep fighting. It wasn’t until she’d created the next week’s schedule and approved several orders for supplies that she opened her door in search of caffeine. Just outside her office was a cart with a telltale white bag with pink lettering and not one but two large coffee containers. There was a small note in front of each, reading “Drink me” and “Eat me.”

She knew they were from Dalton, and the fact that he’d known she needed space and gave it to her proved how dangerous he was. He could read her needs and that was terrifying.

She set everything on her desk and moved the cart back down the hall then closed her door again. If they needed her in the main hospital they could page her, but for now she was going to do what administrators did and hide in her office as long as she could. She had a feeling Tyler was going to play as dirty as possible in court on Wednesday, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he even attempted to make up stuff about her. It was a problem of her own making, and now she was going to have to wait and see how bad it got.

Two days later, Brooke stood next to Declan in her nicest dress in a small county court house one town over from Sandy Point. They were both facing the judge as he read over the case documents, something Brooke would have thought he’d have done before today.

“I thought you said our judge was fair,” she whispered to Declan.

He leaned over to whisper back, but didn’t take his eyes off the judge. “She broke her leg and is on an extended leave of absence, so we’ve got a new judge.”

“And?”

“We’ll see. The law is on your side, but this judge is a bit of a wild card.”

The sound of the gavel made everyone in the room fidget. She could see Tyler standing tall next to several lawyers, all of them dressed in fancy suits. She was just grateful these were closed court sessions so no one else was allowed to sit in, otherwise they’d probably have half the town as spectators.

“Alright, folks, I’ve reviewed the child support claim but I have a few questions.” This judge, an older man with thin white hair and crinkled tan skin who clearly spent a lot of time outside, shuffled the papers on his desk. His bench sat a good four feet above everyone so he could look down on them and watch their reactions. “Mr. Banks, did you truly not believe your ex-wife’s child was your biological son seven years ago when he was born?”

“No, Your Honor, I didn’t even learn she was pregnant until the divorce was finalized. At that point we had been separated for months, so why would I think she was carrying my child? At the time my attorney advised her that if she wanted to make a paternity claim she could once the child was born. And she never did until now. Almost eight years later.”

The judge looked over at Brooke as she digested Tyler’s well-spoken, calm response.

“And yet you have established a relationship with the child, and your family has acknowledged the child as your son, have they not?” The judge picked up several pieces of paper but it was impossible to see what they were.

Tyler rolled his shoulder, a sign that he was pissed.

“My family doesn’t like scandals, and yes, on the off chance he was mine I have established rapport with the child. Sandy Point is a small town.”

“I see that. And now that you have confirmed the results of the paternity test, you would like to establish a shared custody arrangement? You’re interested in parenting the young man fifty percent of the time?”

Brooke gasped, unable to remain quiet. “What?”

Declan’s hand was on her back. “Hang on,” he whispered.

“Your Honor, now that I know Max is my son, I would like to spend more time with him, establish a father-son relationship. The only way to do that is if I get to spend as much time with him as his mother. I have years of missed time to make up for.”

Brooke leaned forward and looked Tyler into his smug eyes, which he’d narrowed in on her. “You don’t want any custody of Max, you’ve made that clear the last eight years. If I drop my request for child support, then you can go back to the city and leave us alone again.”

Tyler sneered, but before he could answer the judge interrupted.

“Ms. Banks, unfortunately, in the state of Georgia it’s not truly up to the mother if a father should pay child support. Once you filed that paperwork, I am beholden to ensure that Mr. Banks pays to support his child. In addition, since his lawyers have filed his custody request, we’re going to have to let this play out.”

“But Max barely knows him and he can’t live in Savannah half the time—he has school, friends, and all his family in Sandy Point.”

“That’s not up to you, Brooke, you don’t get to call all the shots anymore,” Tyler accused from across the small aisle.

The judge used his gavel just once to silence the room.

“Enough! Now, I’m not convinced this custody claim is anything more than a bargaining tool, but, Mr. Banks, there is only one way to find out. You will spend one day with Max Banks, each week, in Sandy Point this summer. I will receive a report from you and Max on how these visits go. Then I can make my decision in three months on this custody request.”

“Your Honor, our client doesn’t live in Sandy Point and he has a life in Savannah,” one of Tyler’s lawyers piped up.

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