Page 59 of Waiting for Redemption

Max

Heading to the hospital. It’s baby time boys.

Tucker

Yes, Taylor is already yelling at me. We’ll probably beat you guys there.

Me

On my way.

“Oh shit, you really brought balloons?” Tucker laughs when he sees me walk into the waiting room.

“Don’t be snarky just because you didn’t bring something,” I snap back.

“I brought the woman who will undoubtedly be buying clothes for this child every time we leave the house until it graduates.”

“Alright, that’s fair.” I chance a look in Ruby’s direction, but she, Leah, and Lauren are all huddling around each other, waiting for any incoming text updates from Taylor.

She seems different, but I’m not surehow. She hasn’t looked my way, she hasn’t spoken to me again, but there’s an energy around her that just isn’tRuby. I may have been gone for six months, but I still know my girl and something is heavy on her mind. Maybe I really crossed a line at the soccer fields the other day, or maybe she’s still mad at me for not being around as much. Regardless of what it is, or how much I want to work things out with her, this isn’t the place and it’sdefinitelynot the time.

“IT’S A GIRL!” the three of them shout in unison, as tears begin to fall and they embrace each other. Not long after Max walks through the door, eager to introduce us to their new baby girl.

CHAPTER22

RUBY

“How isany of this even possible? Can he really do this?” I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience as I sit here in an attorney’s office discussing the possibility of losing my son. My pride and joy, the reason I live, myeverything.

The day after Hendrix’s soccer game I was served papers that stated my ex was suing me for custody of Hendrix. After the initial shock and panic attack wore off, I spent the next day and a half googling every reputable law office in the area with an attorney I could afford.

“Unfortunately, he can.”

“But he’s not even on his birth certificate. He has no legal rights to him. Right?” I argue helplessly.

“In that case, he will probably request a paternity test first, and then see where things go from there. Unless you’re wanting to skip that and just confirm the paternity without it.” I let out a frustrated groan.

“Doesn’t the state of Tennessee take into consideration that he’s been with me for hisentirelife, that he’s in school, he never misses a checkup at the doctor, and has a full support system outside of just me that ensures his well-being? He’s safe. He’s loved. He’s healthy. What more do they need to see he’s exactly where he belongs?”

I know the words coming out of my mouth make sense, so why the fuck is she shaking her head no at me.

“Since the father had no prior knowledge of the child’s existence, he’s claiming he was never given the choice to be involved in his life and help raise him.” The tone of her voice, along with the words coming out of her mouth feel like needles in my skin. I can feel myself staring at her like she’s from another dimension because shehasto be if she believes any of the things she’s saying.

“All of that is such bullshit.” My eyes widen as I look back at her apologetically, though she just lifts a brow back at me. “He knew about him. He didn’twanthim, and he even went as far as to threaten me if I didn’ttake care of it. That’s why I made sure he didn’t know about him after that, he’sdangerous.How doesnoneof that matter? How is he still in a position to takemychildaway from me? A child hedidknow about and didn’t want.” My eyes are overflowing with tears, as she keeps herself mechanically professional.

“Do you have any proof of those things? A police or hospital report? Any witnesses? Threatening text messages? Handwritten notes or emails?” I hang my head, knowing my answer leaves us in the same position we started in.

“No.”

“Did you ever file a restraining order against him?”

“No.” Because to do that he would have to be notified about it, and I didn’t want to give him any leverage to find me.

Howdidhe find me?

She lets out a sigh, straightening her shoulders as she reaches across her desk.

“With you being a single mother, relying on his school and childcare to take care of him a majority of the time, the judge may see it as a good thing for him to finally get to know his father. Being in a more financially stable home, or a home withtwoparents—or both—could be good for him.”

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