The Ballerina's Stand (24 page)

When had she stopped feeling independent? When had she stopped relishing her solitary time?

A movement at the end of the hall made her look up. The morning sunlight poured in onto the highly waxed linoleum. She could only see the silhouettes of the three people who approached.

As they drew closer, Lauren gasped. Maxine, Dylan and Tina stood there, their arms linked, as if blocking anyone else from coming through. The older woman smiled and, they all walked toward Lauren.

She didn't bother to stop herself from opening her arms and letting her foster mother enfold her in a warm hug. They clung together for a long minute before Maxine pulled away. She didn't sign, she spoke, making sure Lauren could see her lips. “We're here to support you.” She pointed at each of them. “
We're
your family. Today.”

“Every day.” Tina stepped closer.

Lauren blinked away the tears, hoping to—to what? Show them she could do this on her own? She couldn't, and it was time she admitted it to herself and the rest of them. Jason had shown her that she could lean on someone and still be strong.

And it was a lesson she needed to make sure both these kids learned.

The light changed again, and she looked up. Where Maxine had stood a moment ago, Jason entered. He looked as surprised as she felt. She let out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding when a smile spread over his face.

“Now this is what I like to see,” he said, and signed. They all shared hugs.

The bailiff stuck his head out of the courtroom's door just then. “Five minutes.”

Jason nodded. “Thanks, Bill.” He looked around, a frown replacing his smile. “Have you seen the Haymakers?” he asked the group. Lauren shook her head and the others joined in.

As if on cue, Trey came through the closed door at the other end of the hall. Another man who Lauren recognized as Pal Jr. followed him. Both men glared at her. Her heart sank.

She'd never needed anyone before, never let herself want to need someone. So why did their snub hurt? Why did she want them to want her?

Maxine's arm around her shoulder helped.

Trey and Pal Jr. walked over to the door, brushing past the bailiff as if the older man wasn't even there.

Bill frowned, then shrugged and propped the double doors open. “Might as well come on in.”

Jason gestured for them to precede him. As Lauren went to follow Maxine and the kids, he stopped her. She faced him, not sure what he was stopping her for.

Jason leaned in and slowly, carefully kissed her. She wished they were alone, where she could step closer and slip her arms around him. Hold on tight.

Vibrations made her step back, and she looked over Jason's shoulder at the herd of people headed their way. Wyatt and Emily. Mandy and Lane with little Lucas in his baby carrier. DJ and Tammie—minus Tyler who was in school. Tara and even Addie were here.

Wyatt clapped Jason on the shoulder. “I like the way you argue a case there, little brother.” She read his lips as he winked at her.

Jason actually blushed. “What are you doing here?”

“We're here to support you.” Addie stepped forward and took Lauren's hands in hers. “Support you both.” She said it a bit too slowly, but Lauren would forgive her.

Jason took her hand and led the way into the courtroom. Lauren felt all those footsteps follow her.

Trey looked up from his seat at the front of the room, his frown deepening as everyone came in. “What's this?” she saw him say.

She turned to face him and signed, “Family.”

“What'd she just say?” He stood, his hands fisted.

Though Trey wouldn't understand, she turned to face him and finger spelled, “
F
-
a
-
m
-
i
-
l
-
y
.” She plunked down in the chair at the front of the room.

Lauren left Trey sputtering and confused and Jason let her. He joined her at the front, with his family and the important part of hers seated in the gallery behind them. He grinned at her as he sat down beside her.

* * *

J
UDGE
L
ITCHFIELD
HAD
been the head of the family court here since Jason was a kid. He ran a good department and had been one of the reasons Jason had gained an interest in the law. He respected the man, and was glad he'd been assigned this case. Looking over at Pal and Trey, whose lawyer had just hustled in, Jason didn't see any smiles on the other side.

“You think you could have been any later, Jackson?” Pal Jr. grumbled at the man.

The tall silver-haired man with the polished silk suit met Pal Jr.'s stare. Jason barely resisted the urge to shake his head. The man had been Pal's lawyer for nearly fifty years. Like Pal Jr. or Trey was going to bother him?

“I could turn around and go back to Dallas if you'd like.” The man's stare was intimidating. “Would that be late enough for you?”

Ouch.
Trey and Pal Jr. were contesting the will this man had drawn up at Pal's direction. He didn't look like someone who took kindly to being questioned. Jason wasn't sure why he was sitting on their side.

This was going to be an interesting day. He looked over at Lauren, wondering how much she was getting just reading lips. He couldn't sign and explain at this point. Where was the interpreter?

Judge Litchfield's court was minimally formal. “Let's get started,” he said, looking first at Pal Jr. and Trey and then over at Lauren. Jason couldn't read his expression.

“I've read the document, and I'm aware of all the parties, including Pal Sr.” He pinned the Dallas attorney with a stare. “I don't see anything to make me overturn it. Do you have anything to explain?”

The attorney stood, formal despite the casual environment. “I drew up the document, but my clients, who are the primary beneficiaries, feel there was some issue with the last set of changes Pal Sr. requested.”

“Did you draw up that part?”

“I did.”

The judge frowned. “Do you feel it was appropriate?”

“I didn't have a problem. Pal was competent at the time. My clients can perhaps explain more clearly.” He waved at Trey.

“Go ahead.” Judge Litchfield sat back in his big chair, its leather frame creaking. “This ought to be good.”

“Don't I even have to be sworn in, or go to the witness stand?” Trey demanded.

Litchfield's lips minutely turned up. “Son, this is probate court. No one's on trial. But if it would make you happier, be my guest.” He waved at the seat on the raised platform beside his desk.

As Trey strutted toward the seat, Jason stood. “Your honor.”

“Yes?”

“My client is deaf, and while we tried to get an interpreter, she hasn't arrived. May I sign for my client?”

“Of course. Is there anything from before we need to repeat for her?”

Jason signed the question to Lauren, but she shook her head. Relieved that she was keeping up.

“How do we know if he's not telling her the truth?” Trey stopped and asked.

This time Litchfield actually rolled his eyes. “Why would he do that? You're the ones contesting this will. Not her.”

Trey barely paused before taking the seat. “I still don't trust him.”

The judge ignored him. “Okay, counselors, proceed.”

The Dallas attorney remained behind the table, though Jason came around to the front, facing Lauren so she could see him and read what she could of Trey's lips.

“Why does he have his back to me?” Trey asked. The judge still ignored him.

Jason saw Lauren smile. Guess she
was
able to read his lips. Still, Jason prepared to sign, waiting for the questions to begin. This would challenge his skills, but he'd do his best. If he couldn't do it, he'd ask the judge to let Dylan give it a shot. But Jason
wanted
to do this.

Jason moved closer to Trey. “Better?” Trey simply glared.

“Would you please explain why you think this will should be dismissed?” Jason asked.

“She's lying. She obviously got to Grandfather and tricked him somehow.”

“Can you prove it? The file, your honor, marked exhibit A, is pretty solid.”

“Looks good to me,” the judge said.

“She has to be lying. My grandfather never mentioned anyone else. He might have been a harsh man, but he loved my grandmother.”

“No one's arguing that, son.” Litchfield actually seemed sorry for Trey. “This is about Pal's competence and the document.” He turned to Trey's lawyer.

“Do you have any questions, or information we don't have?” the judge asked Trey's lawyer.

“No, your honor. My client's dug himself a deep enough hole without my help.” The man faced Lauren, smiled albeit stiffly, then grabbed his briefcase and headed to the door without another word to anyone.

“He can't do that.” Trey stood up, pointing at the attorney.

“He just did,” the judge said.

“But—”

Lauren stood and faced the judge, signing slowly. Jason spoke, translating exactly, not interpreting for her. “May I speak?” she asked.

“Of course.” The judge smiled at her. “Step down, Trey. You've had your turn.”

“But—”

“Now.”

Lauren settled in the seat Trey vacated.

“Go ahead, my dear,” the judge said.

“Hey,” Trey protested. “You didn't treat me like that.”

“Look pretty funny for me to start calling you dear at this stage of my life, Trey.” Everyone laughed.

“Go ahead.”

Lauren took a deep breath and faced Jason. “I didn't know anything about any of you until Jason came to see me.” She pointed at Jason and she saw him repeat her words. “I grew up in California. I've never been here before. I was in foster care from the time my mother died when I was five until I turned eighteen.” She paused and faced the Haymakers. “I didn't come looking for any of this.

“All I ever wanted was a family.” She looked over at Pal Jr., who looked down and squirmed in his seat, and Trey who frowned but didn't look away.

Jason swallowed, taking a step forward. She lifted up a hand. “Let me say my piece.” He nodded and stepped back. Lauren took a deep breath and faced him. He waited, ready to translate her sign for the court. She lifted her chin and confronted her fear. She'd come too far to let the past or Kenny or any of the other hurdles in her life get in the way. This was what she wanted.

“Your Honor,” she signed and saw Jason's lips form the shape of the words. The judge looked at her, while he listened to Jason.

“It's true. I never knew my father. I have vague memories from when I was five. I didn't know about the ranch. The money. None of it.” She glanced at Pal Jr. and Trey. “I didn't know them. I—” She stopped her hand against her chest. “I still don't.”

The judge held up a hand to stop her. He turned to Jason and spoke. She watched, waiting for Jason to repeat the question. “Have you talked with them?”

She shook her head. The older man frowned. “Continue.”

“I didn't know any of this until the day Jason came to my house.” She looked at Jason then, catching his eye. “You—” She pointed at him and he frowned, knowing this was shifting. “You gave me my family.” She turned to face the judge. “I didn't know about any of this. And I still don't care about most of it.”

“What do you care about?” The judge faced her and she didn't need Jason to sign. She could read the old man's lips.

“My family.”

The judge frowned, looking confused. “I don't understand.”

“Blood doesn't make family,” she signed. “The cabin gave me back the memories of my parents.” She faced Jason again, seeing all those faces behind him. “Maxine Nightingale took me in as a kid. I have a huge family of kids at my studio. All of you—” She waved at Jason's siblings, all sitting there with Maxine and the kids. “You've given me more than my real family.” Slowly, Lauren stood and walked over to Jason. Stopping in front of him, she reached up and put her hand against the rough edge of his jaw.

She took a deep breath, then carefully moved her lips to form the words. Her voice needed a lot of work, but she'd already decided to do this. She'd practiced. She spoke. “I love you.”

Jason stared. He'd stopped translating for her—probably in shock.

“This is ridiculous!” Trey shot to his feet, startling everyone.

Judge Litchfield's gavel slammed down on the desk, and even Lauren felt the impact. She stared at the older man, surprised by the anger on his face.

“That's enough,” he said to Trey, his enunciation distinct with his anger. “Trey and Pal Jr.” He pointed the gavel at them. “I've known you all your lives. Your family has wreaked havoc in this community. I knew your father better than I'd like, and he robbed the legal system of the chance to bring him to justice.”

Pal Jr. stood and Lauren looked back at him. “Now, Warren—”

“No, we're done here.” Litchfield slammed the gavel again, and several people jumped. “The will stands. Case dismissed.”

Jason turned to face her, his smile wide. “You won.”

She smiled back. “We did.” She waved at everyone.

“Your Honor?” Jason said, not looking away from Lauren.

“Yes?” The old man had stood, preparing to leave.

She saw Jason swallow. “You got time for a wedding?”

Slowly, Jason got down on one knee, his heart in his eyes. “Will you marry me, Lauren Ramsey? I love you, too. I always will.”

For the first time in what seemed like ages, happy tears filled her eyes and she let them. She nodded and gently tugged on Jason's hands, for him to stand. “Yes. Now.” She looked over at the judge, who smiled and nodded as well.