Caught by You (28 page)

Tears coursed down Donna's face. Hearing the facts of her experience with hyperemesis and depression laid out in a courtroom was like ripping her insides out for all to see. Nearly five years ago, it had happened. Five years that felt like fifteen.

The lawyer on the other side hurled question after question at her mother, but each one gave her mother an opportunity to respond with facts. Facts like “About thirteen percent of pregnant women and new mothers experience depression. Like Donna, most never experience it again. Donna has absolutely no history of ever trying to harm her child, which is the only reason why an episode of depression would ever factor into a custody situation.”

Donna's jaw dropped. Her mother had done research?
So
not Lorraine's style. But the opposing lawyer didn't seem to know that. He let her go as well, and as she moved down the aisle with her springy, graceful stride, she gave Donna an intimate smile.

That smile didn't erase the decade's worth of hurt lurking in Donna's heart. But the fact that she'd come here today and stood up for her . . . well, that did a lot.

She heard someone say the name “Mike Solo” and snapped back to attention. The judge was asking Ms. Gaynor a question.

“In the last proceeding, the existence of an engagement to the baseball player Mike Solo was brought up as something that would contribute to Ms. MacIntyre's fitness as a parent. Would you like to call him to the stand?”

Ms. Gaynor glanced over her shoulder at Mike, who sat right behind Donna. The lawyer nodded, as if confirming some sort of agreement, and rose to her feet. “No, Your Honor. This hearing is about Donna MacIntyre only. Mike Solo has a statement for the court, however. May I read it?”

The judge indicated her assent, and Ms. Gaynor read aloud from a piece of paper. “First, I'd like to say that I love Zack and want only the best for him. My testimony can't possibly be unbiased because I also love his mother. I hope to talk her into marrying me, but I'm not sure how that's going to go. I may have messed things up too much.”

Whispers stirred the courtroom. Talk about juicy . . . this was going to be all over Kilby by tomorrow. Face heating, Donna kept her eyes fixed on the table in front of her, where a series of old coffee rings in the laminate looked like a drunken Olympics emblem.

The lawyer continued. “Donna doesn't need anyone else to make her a fit parent. She's already that, one hundred percent. If she does allow me back into her life, I vow that I will be the best stepfather I can be. You can ask Father Kowalski back at St. Mary Margaret in Chicago about my record with vows. Or any girl in Kilby, except for the one I intend to marry. Thank you for your time. Signed, Mike Solo of the San Diego Friars.”

A ripple of laughter joined the gossipy whispers. Donna fought back a smile. Mike Solo and his vows.

The judge cleared her throat; she seemed to have trouble smothering a laugh as well. The big tattooed bailiff was staring at the ceiling, as if willing himself not to smile. “Well. Thank you for that, Mike Solo. Is there anyone else you'd like to bring to the stand, Ms. Gaynor?”

“I'd like to give Donna MacIntyre a chance to—­”

The courtroom door opened and closed with a thump, followed by a whirlwind of whispers and shuffling feet. Donna craned her neck to see over the heads of all the taller ­people filling the courtroom. Finally a space cleared and there was Bonita.

With Zack.

Donna jumped to her feet, eyes glued to her little boy. Holding Bonita by the hand, he looked bewildered by the crowd of faces before him. On the opposite side of the aisle, Harvey also bolted to his feet.

Zack's face crumpled, but Bonita lifted him onto her hip. She looked as if she were posing for a glamorous-­young-­mother photo, with a high ponytail and a crisp tailored blouse. On her other shoulder hung a quilted diaper bag, which was ridiculous because Zack didn't need diapers anymore. He wore big boy underpants. She must have grabbed it as some sort of prop.

The judge was banging her gavel through the din. “Who are you, may I ask?”

“I'm Bonita
Wade
Castillo, and I'm engaged to Harvey Hannigan. Since I obviously have a very important role in Zack's life, I thought I ought to be here, not back home babysitting.”

Zack started to cry. Bonita shushed him sharply and bounced him on her hip, which just made him sob all the more.

The judge glared at Bonita. “There's a reason why we don't allow minor children in the courtroom without special permission. A four-­year old doesn't need to be exposed to the legal process, especially one that involves him. That's what the adults are here for.”

“I don't see what the big deal is. I asked Judge Quinn and he said I should come on over. He's supposed to be in charge of this hearing anyway, isn't he?”

Judge Galindez's eyebrows drew together in a scowl. “I'm in charge of this hearing, and I will not allow it to be turned into a circus. Remove the child from the courtroom immediately.”

Zack was screaming now, long, frightened sobs that ripped through Donna's heart. She'd strangle Bonita for this. How could she do this to Zack? Finally, she managed to elbow her way past the chairs to reach the end of her row.

“Mama!” Zack cried when he spotted her. “Mama, Mama, Mama!”

In her desperation to get to her son, she didn't see the foot sticking into the aisle. She tripped over it and went airborne for a brief moment. Then she landed splat in the middle of the aisle with a thud.

Cripes
. So much for impressing the judge. She didn't care anymore. All that mattered was getting to Zack. She scrambled to her knees.

Zack kicked his way out of Bonita's grasp, dropped to the floor like a monkey, and hurtled toward her. On her knees on the courtroom floor, she caught him in her arms, her scared, sobbing Zack. He surrounded her with the scent of peanut butter and exuberant boy, his arms tight around her, so tight, as if he never wanted to let go.

 

Chapter 28

T
HE SCENE IN
the courtroom was utter chaos, but Mike loved every second of it. Bonita's ego had obviously gotten the better of her common sense. Maybe she thought bringing Zack would make her look motherly. If so, that had been a major error in judgment.

Red-­faced and clearly furious, Judge Galindez ordered Bonita to remove Zack from the courtroom or be thrown in jail.

“That's outrageous!” Bonita shouted back, pulling out her cell phone. “Do you know who my second cousin once removed is? Did you hear my middle name?”

“No cell phones in my courtroom. Bailiff!”

The tattooed bailiff moved fast for such a big guy. He plucked the cell phone from Bonita's grasp as she kicked him in the shins.

“Don't you touch my cell phone!”

“Get her out of here!” The judge banged her gavel again. Harvey jumped to his feet and scrambled down the aisle to reach Bonita.

“What the hell are you doing?” The whole courtroom could hear his furious whisper.

“Stay out of this, Harvey,” she hissed back.

“Are you kidding me? You pushed it too far, babe.” With a disgusted shake of his head, Harvey picked her up bodily and handed her to the bailiff.

Mike had never seen a sweeter sight than Bonita being marched out of the room by an officer of the court.

Meanwhile, Zack was still clinging to Donna's neck like a howler monkey. “Judge, can I take him down to the cafeteria?” Donna asked, keeping her arms tight around him.

“You were about to take the witness stand,” the judge reminded her.

“I know. But he's so upset.” Donna dropped a kiss onto Zack's hair. “He needs me. I have a statement I'd like to make, but I have to take care of Zack first.” She lifted her chin, as if preparing herself for the worst. “I'm sorry, Judge.”

“We'll take a five minute rec—­” the Judge began.

“That won't be necessary.” Ms. Gaynor, the lawyer, rose to her feet. “We rest our case. Go, Donna, and take care of your little boy.”

On her way down the aisle, Donna met Mike's eyes, her gaze clinging anxiously to his. A deep thrill sank through him that she'd turned to him, that she trusted him. He gave her a reassuring nod and a smile—­
everything's going to be okay
.

And it was. He knew it. Could anything top the sight of Zack wrenching himself from Bonita's grasp and running to his mother? Or the image of Donna facing off with the Judge, putting Zack's wellbeing before anything else? Not likely. Even the memory of it made Mike grin. No way could the judge possibly rule against her.

In the end, the judge didn't even have to make the call. After Donna and Zack had slipped out of the courtroom, Harvey shocked everyone and announced that he would not dispute Donna's bid for custody, so long as he was allowed to see Zack at least once a week.

Ms. Gaynor instantly agreed to that on Donna's behalf, since Donna had never resisted Harvey's role in Zack's life. The judge banged her gavel one more time.

And that was how Donna missed the ruling that Mike knew she'd been hungering for since Zack's birth. “Donna MacIntyre is hereby awarded primary custody of Zackary Hannigan. She will work with Harvey Hannigan to formulate a suitable visitation schedule. Case closed.”

The courtroom erupted with applause and cheers, as if a Broadway show had just come to a close. It had probably been one of the more entertaining spectacles the sleepy Kilby Courthouse had ever seen. Mike shook Ms. Gaynor's hand, then made his way down the aisle, exchanging hugs with everyone he came across—­Mac, Lorraine, Sadie, Caleb.

Beth Gilbert got an especially big hug, one that lifted her off her feet.

“If you ever come to San Diego, be sure to call me ahead of time. Box seats, guaranteed.” He extended the same offer to Mac, to the Hannigans, even to Harvey.

“Thanks, man. Listen, no hard feelings, right? I know things got a little out of hand for a while there,” Harvey mumbled.

“No hard feelings.” Mike shook Harvey's hand. “If everything goes the way I want it to, I'll be in your life for a long time. So let's keep it cool.”

“Cool. Solid. I'm down with that.”

Mike clenched Harvey's hand tighter and leaned in close. “One thing. If you or Bonita ever do
anything
that might hurt Donna or Zack again, I will be on your ass like a freaking warrior, you got me?”

Harvey backed away. “Yeah, yeah, dude. Don't sweat it. Bonita and me are through, anyway.”

“You are? Then why'd she show up here with Zack?”

“I mean, she doesn't know we're through yet, but we've been having some . . . uh . . . issues. I'm sure you'll hear about it, being a ballplayer.” He shifted uncomfortably, shoving his hands in his back pockets. “Water under the bridge, man. Water under the bridge.”

Out in the hallway, Caleb explained the mystery. “Sadie's mom got the lowdown. Harvey caught Bonita throwing herself at Trevor Stark at the Roadhouse.”

“
What?
”

“Yup. She was there for a friend's bachelorette party. She had a few drinks and Trevor worked his magic, and abracadabra.”

“Seriously? That dog.”

“You know Stark. The girls go crazy for him, and he isn't one to say no. Anyway, the word is, she was all set to run off with him to major-­league-­land, but Trevor had her figured out pretty quick. Harvey was mad, but he was ready to take her back. Now it sounds like he's done. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, just . . . meh.”

Meh. That about described Harvey. But from now on, Mike would try to think the best of the guy, since he was Zack's dad.

They found Donna in the cafeteria spreading peanut butter on pieces of banana for Zack. When Mike gave her the news, she burst into tears. They all stood around in a sort of awkward group hug, Sadie, Caleb, Mike, and Donna, with Zack staring up at them with a perplexed frown.

“Why Mama cry?”

Donna reached for him, swung him into her arms, and buried her face in his carroty hair. “Sometimes ­people cry when they're happy. I'm very, very happy right now. I'll explain it to you later. Right now, I feel like celebrating! What should we do, Zack-­arillo? Go to the zoo? Feed the ducks? Play hide and seek?”

“Baseball!”

Laughing, Caleb and Mike gave each other high fives, while Sadie rolled her eyes. “They bribed you, didn't they, Zack?”

“Baseball it is,” said Donna, grinning. “When's the next game, Mike?”

“There's an afternoon double-­header against the Aces, right, Caleb?”

“Got me. All I know is I have to be back in San Diego by tomorrow. What better way to pass the time than at the ballpark? You like peanuts, peanut?” Caleb ruffled Zack's hair.

Zack scrunched up his face. “I'm not a peanut!”

“Well then, do you like Cracker Jack, Cracker Jack?”

“I'm not a Cracker Jack!”

“Do you like big plastic cups of foaming beer—­”

Zack's little body convulsed with laughter, while Donna covered his ears. “All right, all right, this could go on for a while. We'll see you at the ballpark. I need to talk to Harvey and the Hannigans. Sadie, do you mind coming with me to hang out with Zack?”

“Love to.” Sadie gave Caleb a long, passionate, verging on inappropriate-­for-­a-­courthouse-­cafeteria hug before joining them.

After Donna had taken a few steps she turned back and mouthed something to Mike.

It looked an awful lot like,
I love you, Solo
. In his imagination, he embellished that with
and I'll show you just how much the next time I get you alone
.

After the girls and Zack were gone, Caleb slung an arm around Mike's shoulder. “So. I've been meaning to ask you. Best man?”

“You're really doing it, huh?”

“This fall. My little brothers will be the groomsmen, but I want you for best man. You in?”

“Of course. But I might be calling on you first. Fall . . . that's a long time away. At our pace, Donna and I could get engaged and married three times before then.”

Caleb chuckled, his steel-­blue eyes alight with humor. “You two sure know how to keep things interesting. Are you a hundred-­percent sure she wants to marry you? She might want to focus on her new career, you know. She's all over YouTube. I heard she's getting job offers from teams across the United States.”

“
What?
”

“She's got that ‘it' factor, you know? She walks on stage . . . or on the field . . . and you can't take your eyes off her.”

Sure, Caleb might be his best friend, but right now Mike wanted to punch him in his handsome face. He satisfied himself with a warning snarl.

“Or so I hear,” Caleb added quickly. “Haven't seen her in action. I'm just saying, you might want to nail things down with her. A girl like her, funny, smart, tons of fun—­”

“You know something, asshole? It's a damn good thing we're in a courthouse right now, or you'd be in serious trouble—­”

Caleb grinned. “Dude. I'm one thousand percent in love with Sadie. I'm just saying, you better go get your girl.”

Mike did his best to nail things down that very night. With Zack spending one last night at the Hannigans, he had Donna all to himself. Alone. In bed. Naked. At first, all she wanted to do was talk. She stretched her sweet body on top of his and propped her chin on her hands.

“So explain this to me. You told off Judge Quinn? Is he gay? You didn't threaten to out him, did you?”

“No way. No threats. I wouldn't do that. Joey always thought it was crass. I just talked to him. All he did was take back the ruling due to a technicality. Whatever his secret is, it's still safe.”

“Okay, so he stepped down from the case, and then you called everyone?”

“Yup. I thought you should know that ­people love you and you're not alone. It's not always Donna against the world.” He shaped the sleek curve of her ass with his hands. “Especially now that you're with me.”

She peppered kisses along his jaw. “You're amazing. Why were you so nervous? Did you think I'd be mad?”

“Keep in mind, the last time I saw you, you threw me out of your apartment. And you didn't seem interested in anything I had to say. I didn't know how you'd react, but I had to try something.”

Her eyelids flickered. “So . . . at my apartment . . . everything you said . . .”

“I know you were a little out of it, so let me say it again. I love you. I know I told you that I didn't want love. That was pretty much the stupidest moment in my life—­and there have been many, let me tell you. I think I was already in love with you, I just didn't know what to do with it. I told myself I was helping you, and that we got along really well, and that I wanted to fuck your brains out. All true, by the way. But not really the point.”

“So the whole engagement thing . . . was real?” Her forehead crinkled in a perplexed frown. “I mean, you actually did want to marry me?”

“Well . . . the funny thing is, I think I did. As soon as I saw you again, in that hellacious blue pantsuit, I didn't want to let you go.”

She burst out laughing, her sweet breath stirring the hairs on his chest. “The blue pantsuit is what caught your eye?”

“
You
caught my eye. And my heart. And everything else. You're the only woman for me. To me, you're perfect, every part of you. I want you to marry me, Donna. Because I love you, not for any other reason. I want to make a family for Zack. I want us to be together our whole crazy lives.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You really do?”

“I
really
do.”

“But . . . what about Angela?” she whispered.

“Angela . . . I don't want to say anything bad about her. She's a good person, but I'm not sure I ever really knew her. I was such a kid when I fell for her. I had a fantasy image of her, it was never real. Maybe I had to grow out of my childhood crush before I could fall in love for real. All good things take time, right?” He gave her a sleepy smile meant to evoke all kinds of time-­consuming, sensual activities.

She blinked back her tears, eyes shining. Lifting her torso, she brushed the tips of her breasts against his chest. “How much time are we talking?”

“I have nowhere else to be.” He greedily devoured the sight of her pink nipples swelling against the gentle abrasion of his furred chest. “Scratch that. I have to be in San Diego by tomorrow night. Damn it. My suspension's just about over. I wonder if I can start another brawl and get some more time off?”

“Don't even think about it.” She cradled his rising cock between her thighs. “Your kidney and I don't want you taking risks like that.”

“Honey, when you do that, I can't think about anything.” He dropped his head back and groaned with pleasure as she stroked her soft inner thigh along his hardening length.

“I still can't get over everything you did. It's like you waved your magic wand and ta-­da! All my problems are gone.”

“No. It was you, Donna. I just gave an assist at the end. But if you really want to talk about magic wands . . .” He thrust his hips up to push against the soft curls covering her sex.

“I definitely do,” she purred, making her way down his body with a trail of kisses. “Or maybe there's something else I could do to your magic wand.” And then her loving mouth was on him, tasting and savoring every inch of his cock. He twisted his fists into the sheets and gritted his teeth, not wanting to come too soon, to succumb to the incredible feeling of her lips and tongue.

“Wait. You said, ‘I do,' Donna. I heard you. It's official, then. We're getting married.”

She hummed something against his cock.

“Is that a yes?”