Page 68 of The Seal's Promise

Dalton took a deep breath. “That’s exactly what Tyler is hoping to do, scare you and make you second-guess yourself. You can’t let him have this kind of power over you.”

Brooke stepped out of his arms. “Until you have a child with someone and they threaten to take them away, please don’t tell me how to feel or react. You have no idea what I’m going through.”

“You’re right. Why don’t I drive you over to Declan’s office, and we can go out another time?”

“Dalton, I’m serious. I can’t date you if Tyler is going to use it against me in some custody battle. I can’t do anything that would risk my time with my son.”

“Okay, let’s go speak with Declan and see what he says. I’m just a concerned friend right now. You’re upset, and I’d feel better if I drove you there.”

She nodded and grabbed her bag and cell phone, sending off a text to Declan saying she needed to see him for an emergency.

Dalton helped her lock up the front door before he opened the passenger door for her to get in his truck. The memory of the first time she sat in his truck flooded back, his mouth on her skin, his hands holding her close as she’d straddled his lap. She had been so reckless. What had she been thinking? Tyler was right, it wouldn’t look very good to a judge in a custody battle if he could prove she was being promiscuous. Dalton fired up the truck but remained quiet as he buckled his seat belt and pulled out onto the street. When he parked in front of Declan’s house that also doubled as his law practice, he stayed in his seat.

“I’ll wait out here unless you want me to come in.”

“It’s probably better if you don’t. In fact, maybe we should just call it a night now. I don’t want to drag you into this mess, and your presence only seems to instigate Tyler into behaving badly.”

“I’m not going to let you walk home alone. Go talk to your lawyer and I’ll be waiting right here.”

“Okay.” She let herself out of the truck and Declan opened the front door before she even had to knock. His twins ran up to greet her.

“Is Max here too?” they asked with excitement.

“No, sorry, kids, Max is with his grandparents.” She looked up from their frowning faces to Declan. “I’m sorry to burst in on you like this, but Tyler showed up at my house and he was pretty adamant that he’s going to get fifty percent custody of Max. I feel like maybe I should just stop with this process now.”

Declan waved out at Dalton and then opened the door wider. “Come on in and let’s discuss it over ice cream.” The twins squealed. “They were just about to have some and it’ll help.”

“Ice cream always helps!” the boys yelled in unison, and ran into the kitchen to pull out the ice cream and cones.

Declan closed the door. “Are you sure you don’t want to let Dalton join us?”

“No, I think I need to refocus my priorities.”

“I know a little about that, but we both also know that’s a lonely place to be.”

She dropped her purse on the side table and let out a huff. Part of the reason she trusted Declan so much was that he understood what it meant to be a single parent. She’d been friends with his wife and the entire town had been devastated when she died. He understood what it meant to put his own needs aside while he raised their boys.

“You’re allowed to date and be a good mom, Brooke. Dalton is an upstanding member of society, a former Navy officer, an ER doctor, and from a prominent family. Dating him won’t hurt your reputation, so don’t let Tyler get into your head.”

“Dad, we can’t get the scooper to work!” Owen called out.

Brooke had to smile. “I know what you’re saying is logical, but when my rich ex shows up and starts throwing insults at me and telling me he’s going to take our son from me, it works.”

“Alright, so let’s go over the basics, but first let me get these two a few scoops or we’ll have a disaster.”

Ten minutes later Brooke was holding a big bowl of ice cream with sprinkles, sitting across from Declan at the small eat-in kitchen while the boys sat in the other room and ate their treat.

“So, I can’t promise you anything, but what I can tell you is that Tyler will have a tough time trying to get fifty percent custody of Max. In the state of Georgia a child can’t be expected to attend two schools, so the most Tyler could hope for is every other weekend. No judge will uproot Max and send him to a new home with a father that has not had consistent visits for the first seven years of his life.”

“What about finding me unfit? I work a lot and my parents have to help me. And one time I was late to pick him up from baseball practice.”

Declan shook his head and then looked her dead in the eye. “You, Brooke Garcia, are a fantastic mother. You have a safe, clean home, work full-time, have a family support system, and Max is thriving. There is literally not one fault to be found.”

A lump of emotion swelled up in her throat.

“And you have been doing it all on your own from day one financially. I think the fact that you do let your parents help, and that Miles gets time with Max, only proves you understand the balance of parenting and self-preservation. Which, as I’ve learned, is a sign of great parenting.”

“It’s so hard to let anyone help you because you want the best for them, but then even a little break gives us time to recharge and remember who we are,” Brooke said.

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