Page 87 of Wed to You-
“He went to his office.”
Mrs. Stanton looked out toward Kaden and then to Chelsea.
“I’ll watch him.”
With a nod, she left. Chelsea tried not to think that a better wife would be comforting Jagger. Instead, she had to focus on what would best help him. Mrs. Stanton had raised Jagger. She’d know better than anyone how to get him out of his brooding mood.
“Miss Chelsea.” Kaden waved. “I’m playing pirate. Want to play too?”
She trotted out toward him. “Let me find my sword.”
Jagger was workingin his office the following Monday when Mrs. Monroe called. For days he’d been living with the fear of losing Kaden. It wasn’t right. No matter how much room Chelsea tried to give him to stew or Mrs. Stanton tried to placate him, they couldn’t help him manage the powerlessness he felt. Damn Tanya! Seeing Mrs. Monroe’s name on his caller ID only ratcheted up his agitation.
“The guardian ad litem will be Meg Carter. That’s good. She’sgenerally fair to dads, and we have a good case to depict you as a father figure to Kaden.”
Jagger ran a hand through his hair, hoping she was good to nephews too.
“The visitations are set up for Tuesday and Thursday from two to four, unless there’s some reason that can’t be done. You told me your schedule is flexible.”
“It is.” Jagger sank back in his chair, feeling like everything good in his life was slipping away. Even Chelsea was detached, despite her attempts to play her part, which she’d improved at. In many ways, she reminded him of the women he knew in New York. Not that she was shallow, but everything about her was an act. Of course, wasn’t that what he’d asked of her?
“There’s something else.”
Jagger sat up at the edge to Mrs. Monroe’s tone. “What?”
“Mr. Masters’s fee is being paid by an attorney in New York. A Ralph Johnson.”
Jagger went completely numb. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. You know him?”
“He’s my father’s attorney.”
There was a pause. “Your father doesn’t like you, does he?”
“This is about money. He’s probably worked something out with Tanya to get at Kaden’s trust.”
“Can he do that?”
“No. The trust is separate from the guardianship. I’m in charge of it.” Still, a niggle of worry crept up Jagger’s spine.
“If she’s in cahoots with your old man to steal Kaden’s money, that’s something the court should know about.”
“That would be illegal?”
“Depends. What’s worse is that it would look like she was using her son to get rich.”
A part of Jagger believed his chances would be better if Tanyawas using his father to get access to Kaden’s money. He wished she would just ask him for money, because he’d pay any price to have her out of their lives. Another part of him was angry at the possibility that her quest was to get Kaden’s money and not to be his mother. Jagger knew firsthand the pain of parental rejection and didn’t want Kaden to experience it.
“Can you use it?”
“I can certainly try.”
Jagger didn’t hang up after talking to Mrs. Monroe. Instead, he immediately dialed Alexis and told her about this new situation. “I need you to go over those trust documents again and make sure there’s no way my dad or Tanya can have access to Kaden’s money.”
“Your grandfather wouldn’t allow for that.”
“I need you to make sure.”
