Page 20 of Their Stolen Kisses
I didn’t manage to do that, but I did finally manage to drink myself into a state where I could sleep. I woke up with a headache and a grumbling stomach that reminded me I’d forgotten to eat the night before.
Finally sober, I sat at the table on the balcony with a breakfast of scrambled eggs and avocado on toast, able to think with a clear mind.
I’d learned one thing from the bottle of wine the evening before - I wasn’t ready for a relationship. After all the counseling and effort we’d put into recovering from the divorce, I had thought I was in a better place. Really, Noah was the strong one. Despite his age, he had managed to move on and adjust to a life without a mother. I was weak. I hadn’t even been able to cope with not having a warm body in bed with me every night.
What I’d done with Diana in the office, how I felt about her, it might feel real and wholesome, but I wasn’t in a position to judge. I needed to work on myself and figure out who I was alone, not leaning on someone’s shoulder and having sex with them.
Besides… Noah already loved Diana. What if I invited her into my life - into his life - and she left us, like Jo had? I was a full ten years older than Diana, and she was my employee. Jo had been my employee, and I’d been older than her too. And she’d left me for someone new. Noah couldn’t lose another person in his life. Letting her get any closer to me or my son was just setting us both up for heartbreak.
That settled it. I would still pay off the mortgage as I had intended, because even if I couldn’t pursue Diana, I still cared about her. But after that… business. Our relationship would be strictly professional for her sake, my sake and Noah’s sake.
Dating an employee never ended well. It was high time I remembered that. I should never have forgotten.
Luckily - or maybe terrifyingly, I could tell because my heart and mind were racing in tandem - I had a visit to court to focus on. In fact, my thoughts had taken me all the way through breakfast, dressing and the ride to the courthouse.
“Good morning, Cameron.” My attorney stood when I entered, abandoning her seat on one of the benches scattered around the lobby. She had fought hard for me, and last time Jo had definitely had the upper hand - but today, Millie assured me we had an excellent case. This time, we had handwritten and spoken testimonies from Noah’s teachers that he was socializing much better, and an official letter from our counselor lauding Noah’s progress in handling the divorce.
Basically, we had proof that Noah was happy and in good hands - and that those good hands were his father’s.
“Good morning.”
Millie spotted my nervousness and smiled reassuringly, patting her briefcase. “Don’t worry. Like I said over the phone, we have an excellent case to present to Judge Harford.”
“I know.” I gave Millie a quick smile, not really any less nervous. Judge Harford was the only one who could give me any words that would comfort me.
I was wrong. “No, I mean we have anexcellentcase today. I only just learned this. Johanna’s husband filed for a divorce a few days ago. Part of her case was that a family with two parents would be better for Noah than just a father, and don’t worry - I intend to use her divorce to pick that to pieces.”
I soundlessly pressed her hand, unable to speak through the thickness in my throat.
We entered the courtroom and sat down. I tried to keep my eyes straight ahead, but every once in a while, I couldn’t help but glance back. Jo didn’t deserve the satisfaction of seeing me staring over the heads of those present, awaiting her arrival, but…
Suddenly, we didn’t just have a chance that Noah would stay with me. The way Millie was talking, there was no doubt.
I managed to not be staring when Jo arrived, but I caught the tiny smirk she gave me when she caught my sideways glance at her. Of course, she looked perfect as usual. Too perfect. Jo tried too hard, always had, and it had taken me far too long to realize that was her way of covering up an empty, vain personality.
Suddenly, I realized something else. I might still have issues, but they didn’t revolve around Jo anymore. Finally, at long last, I could look at her realizing I didn’t have a speck of love for my ex anymore. I still missed what we had and how our family could have grown together, but now I knew Jo could have never given me that.
I listened as Judge Harford stated the case number and name, then the attorneys made their opening remarks. This had happened last time. I was waiting anxiously for the moment when Millie could unveil our new argument.
Finally, it was time. Armed with documents and spoken word, Millie stood and delivered the new information to the judge. She talked about Noah’s devotion to me, his rapid improvement, the things I gave up to spend all my time with him. She read sections from the counselor’s letter that stated she believed it would be detrimental for Noah to leave me when he was making so much progress right where he was.
There was a short back and forth between the attorneys, but I could tell Jo’s was caught off guard by our excellent testimony and Millie’s flawless presentation. Jo’s attorney couldn’t seem to make any sort of real argument for my ex, and she kept trying to redirect the judge’s attention.
Finally, Judge Harford stood. “I’ve heard enough, thank you. I listened carefully to the arguments presented, and I’ve come to a decision. Based on evidence and testimony, I have determined that it is in Noah Hart’s best interests to continue to live with his father, Cameron Hart. However,” she said, raising a hand as more than one mouth opened, “I will allow Johanna Landry six weeks of visitation per year.”
“Six weeks?” Jo finally spoke up, unable to contain herself any longer. I wondered when was the last time that pretty face hadn’t gotten exactly what she wanted. She at least had enough decorum left to respect the judge’s stern glare? “Excuse me. Your Honor, six weeks isn’t a fair amount of visitation, and Chicago is so far from San Francisco - ”
“And how is that anyone’s problem but your own? Mrs. Landry, you moved away from Chicago where your son lives.” Judge Harford’s eyes dared Jo to keep complaining.
Jo stood there, seething so hard that I expected steam to whistle out of her ears like a cartoon character. “This is your fault!” She whirled to her attorney and swept her case and documents off the desk and onto the floor. “You just cost me, my son.” The astonished woman only stood and watched along with everyone else present as Jo stomped down the aisle and out of the room.
