I swallow a lump in my throat and nod. “Yeah. I want full custody.”
“Good,” says Larry. “Because if everything these three people have told me is true, and I have no doubt that it is, then it’s the right move. It sounds like the infant’s mother isn’t fit.”
“I don’t know that. She could be going through a rough time.” I’m not sure why I’m defending Marli, because I actually agree with Larry. I guess a part of me still hopes there’s a logical explanation for all this. For Fia’s sake. What kid wants to find out their mother just walked away? For me, it changed my life, and not in a good way.
“Well,” says Larry, looking at his watch, “for the benefit of your daughter, assume the worst and prepare for the best—best for her. The last thing you want is for the mother to turn out to have mental issues and then come out and say you stole the child or aren’t the real father.”
“You think she’d do that?” I hope not.
“I’ve seen it all when it comes to custody battles. But the first step is determining if you’re the biological father. Once we have that, you have choices, and we can figure this out. Fia comes first, though.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I thank Larry, and he heads to his car—a sleek silver Mercedes. I can’t imagine how much hiring him must have cost.
I turn to Hector and Coach. “I don’t know what to say other than thank you. How did you even know I was here?”
Hector glances at Lara, who’s still in her yellow dress, looking both cute and somber. “Lara heard what was happening and called your roommate Mike. He said you were here.”
“He was blubbering about being a bad person,” Lara adds. “Oh. And that he would burn in hell for fucking you over.” Lara looks at Hector. “Crap. I mean crud! Sorry for swearing, boss.”
“’Tsallright.” Hector grins. “I forgive you. And I’m glad you got me involved. Larry’s an old friend and the best family lawyer money can buy.”
I am incredibly curious how an ex-monk-turned-winemaker would know this, but now’s not the time. All that matters is getting Fia back. Also, I’d really like to punch Dannie in her kneecaps. Not that I advocate violence against women. I only advocate it against assholes who get your child taken away and turn the world against you by claiming you’re a baby thief.
“Larry sounds like he knows his stuff,” says Coach.
“How’d you get involved?” I ask him.
“Your teammates bombarded me with texts. They know the rumors were bullshit.” Coach looks at Hector. “Excuse the language, padre.”
“I’m not a padre. But no problem,” says Hector.
Coach continues answering my question, “I called you, then Mike and Igor, but couldn’t reach anyone, so I tried the Grape Ranch. I figured someone would know how to get a hold of you. Hector got on the horn and told me he was already working on a plan.”
“I’m, uh, speechless.” I run both hands through my hair. “I really don’t know what I’d do if you guys hadn’t showed up. That detective looked like he was about to drag me off to prison.”
“He was just doing his job,” says Hector. “He would have eventually gotten to the truth.”
“I wish I knew what that is.” It never crossed my mind that Fia wasn’t mine. Okay, it did, so let me rephrase. I considered that Marli might’ve slept with some other guy and gotten pregnant. It never crossed my mind that Fia wasn’t Marli’s. I never considered that the baby was “borrowed” and given to me for safekeeping. But now that I’ve heard this theory, I can’t stop thinking about it. Especially because I’ve been questioning Marli’s sanity all along.
Lara takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “We’re going to figure this out, Dean. I promise.”
Heat surges up my arm and swirls around my heart. I beam into Lara’s warm brown eyes and suddenly have the urge to kiss her again.
Last we spoke, she wasn’t happy with me because Dannie showed up at my apartment, and I didn’t hold back the drool. I acted like an immature jerk who thinks with his cock. She had every right to knock me down a few pegs. But the fact that she’s here by my side means everything. She didn’t turn away, run, tell me to cover my ass and ditch the baby. She put her anger aside for me. For Fia.
And suddenly it clicks.
That impenetrable ten-inch-thick coating around my heart, made up of scar tissue, melts away.
I’ve always believed that love is man’s greatest liability. His ball and chain, holding him back from his dreams. Just like my love for Flip has always been a boat anchor.
But right now, seeing Lara and how she doesn’t want or need anything from me—not even an apology for how shitty I behaved—it lights something up. For once, I’m not trying to convince myself that love is a waste of time. I’m telling myself how lucky I’d be to have it. From her.