He stands, stacks up the files on me—well, for this case anyway—and stuffs them into his briefcase. I pick up my clutch and dread turning on my spiked heel toward all the people who just saw Trig plant a celebratory smacker on me.
As opposed to last night, and again this morning when he was nothing but sweet and considerate of my feelings, it’s like he wants to shout it from the rooftops that we put a decent size dent in the giant box of condoms last night. And despite him keeping me up late in an effort of making up for years of separation, I managed to glue myself together and look like a shorter version of my sister—conservative dress, perfect hair, Jimmy Choos. Hell, my bra isn’t even showing. I’m not me at all.
Trig grabs my hand and pulls me to him. When my side is fit to his front and he puts a hand low on my hip to hold me there, he dips his face to my ear. “Where are the pompous jackwads?”
My eyes dart around the courtroom until I find them and my eyes widen. “They’re in a huddle with the CPS worker. What the hell?”
Trig’s head pops up and he glares at the threesome deep in conversation, most likely about me since I’m sure I’m their only common denominator. Trig is about to head over there when my parents appear in front of us and Trig stays by my side.
My mom is ecstatic, like I was just named homecoming queen. My dad, on the other hand, is incensed. He’s glaring at my attorney who just kissed me at the defendants’ table and now has his hand curled around my hip in a way it’s comfortable there and everywhere else on my body—which isn’t a lie.
My mother gleams. “Well now, that’s one less thing to worry about, right? By the way, you look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I try not to roll my eyes, because I guess being beautiful is important when trying to prove one’s innocence.
“It’s not a beauty contest, Mom.” Jen has the nerve to speak her mind to our mother. With Eli standing at her side, she reaches through all of us and squeezes my hand. “It’s over and once CPS pulls their heads out of their asses, you can move on, once and for all.”
“Jensen.” My mother glares at my sister at the same time I shush her.
“Ellie,” my dad bites not taking his eyes off Trig. “Was that display necessary?”
I don’t move from Trig’s hold and lower my voice. “I’m not doing this with you right now. Robert’s parents just walked in.”
My mother gasps and turns to find them. “Shut your mouth and deliver me to heaven’s gates! Where are they?”
I grab onto her arm and pull her back around. “Stop it and be quiet. The last thing I need right now is a scene,” I pause and look back to my father, “about anything. Teresa and Carl are the ones who made reports about me to CPS and they’re over there right now with the same worker who was at my house—twice.”
“Hattie, Kipp, excuse us.” Trig puts his hand to the small of my back, giving me a nudge. “Let’s say hello.”
I stop and turn to look up at the man who’s clearly lost his mind. “Are you serious?”
He leans just far enough to whisper in my ear. “You’ve done nothing wrong and I want them to know that we know they’re in contact with the social worker. Look at her.” He juts his chin to the other side of the room. Paula might as well be holding a cocktail instead of the overflowing file on me. “Her job is to make sure children are safe, not to entertain socialites who are used to getting what they want by writing a check, which I know is true thanks to Eli’s investigations.”
I don’t know why this surprises me. People with money tend to get what they want thanks to shortcuts they can afford. I should know, my own parents are examples of this. Hell, I’ve probably benefited from it in some way during the course of my life because they’re that overbearing.
I turn back to Trig. “You think they’re paying off the CPS worker?”
Trig tips his head like it’s no skin off his back if they are and sort of like he hopes it’s true. “Hold your head high, angel, and work the room with me.”
Like we’re at a fundraiser for bitchy in-laws all across the land, Trig gives me another nudge that doesn’t allow me any space to argue. We move through the room and the next thing I know, I’m standing in front of Robert’s parents for the first time since after he died. They walked into my house under the pretense they wanted to see how I was doing but instead, accused me of all sorts of horrible things—from being an awful wife and mother to blaming me for the situation Robert clearly orchestrated himself. Jen kicked them out of my house with her nude Louboutin and told them they weren’t welcome there again.
It was a dark time for me, almost as grim as when I lost Trig and our baby within a matter of days. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best way to handle them despite their actions, but I was reeling with the havoc Robert caused because I brought him into my family.
Teresa glares down her pointy nose and I don’t know what to say, but I shouldn’t have worried. Trig takes the lead.
He doesn’t offer a hand and his tone isn’t warm, nor is it welcoming. “Paula Watson. I had no idea CPS workers were required to show up in court when it isn’t their case. You’re obviously dedicated to the mission.” His eyes move over Carl and Teresa with blatant interest before looking back to her. “Whatever mission that might be.”
Paula stammers as she tries to justify her presence. “I’m only following up on my case, you know, with Mrs. Ketteman and her other … issues.”
“Like I said, dedicated,” Trig clips, unimpressed and turns to Robert’s parents. When he speaks, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him so cold. “I’m Easton Barrett, legal counsel for Ellie Montgomery.”
At that, Carl’s malevolent eyes narrow, slicing to me.
That doesn’t stop my former, and now current, lover. “This is interesting—your involvement with Paula, whose only job is to ensure the welfare of children in our county. It almost appears that she’s representing you and not the child in question.”
“I’d never,” Paula interrupts, flustered. “My only interest is the child—”
Trig doesn’t afford her a glance and keeps speaking. “My file on you both is growing by the day and I plan to make sure the court sees who you really are and how your influence over Griffin would be,” he pauses and tips his head, “let’s just say, less than righteous.”
