“It doesn’t.” Her gaze drifted upwards and her eyes landed on him. “He was so cruel. Simon; you’re the only reason I didn’t completely fall apart up there. His lawyer was just relentless.”
“That’s how Charlene is,” Aaron said.
Simon nodded. “Heather, I know you credit me for helping you keep it together, but I honestly think the preparation you did with your lawyer was most important.”
She didn’t respond, merely averted her gaze and turned her attention back to her lawyer. “It’s settled. I’m giving you the okay to go after Gary. Get every piece of dirt you can on him. If he’s going to come after me the way he did today, then I’m going after him.”
Aaron reached for a folder in the stack in front of him and handed it to Heather. “I think switching to more aggressive tactics is the right idea. For now, I’m going to have a talk with the firm’s investigator to get the ball rolling on investigating Gary. Why don’t you look over this list of your court dates in the meantime?”
“Okay,” she said softly as Aaron exited the conference room, leaving them alone together.
Needing to stretch his legs, Simon eased out of the leather swivel chair and walked over to a side table to refill his cup of coffee. He took a sip and turned his attention to Heather.
“I know it’s a stupid question to ask, but how are you feeling?” he asked.
“Honestly, I’m exhausted,” she confessed, her shoulders sagging. “I’m trying so hard to keep it together, but I feel like I’m failing.”
“You’re not failing.”
“You heard what Aaron said back at the courthouse,” she said. “Things don’t look good. The judge is already being swayed to Gary’s side.”
He nodded, trying to show her that he was acknowledging her fears. It wasn’t going to do any good to give her platitudes right now in her agitated state, but he also didn’t want her to sink into despair. “Today was tough,” he said honestly. “But Gary’s lawyer tried to break you. She failed. That’s an accomplishment. I know it might not feel like that now, but it’s important that you’re fighting for Finn. He would be proud of you. Plus, I’m proud of you because I know that, whatever happens, you’re never going to give up, Heather.”
She lifted her chin, the defeat starting to fade from her eyes. “Giving up isn’t an option. I’ll never let them take Finn from me. Not ever.”
“That’s why Gary isn’t going to know what hit him,” Simon said. “All he sees is the nice side of you that put up with all his crap. But now, you seem...”
“Angrier?” A bitter laugh escaped her throat.
“Maybe. But I was going to say more determined,” he replied. “I’ve never known a parent like you, Heather. I don’t think there’s a mother alive who could possibly fight harder for their child than you fight for Finn.”
“I just worry that one day I won’t be able to hide it from Finn anymore,” she said. “I try so hard to look strong and brave in front of him, while inside I’m losing it. Losing it because Gary just won’t let up.”
“How about some coffee?” he suggested. Right now she looked so worn down that he was beginning to worry. The hearing had been just another stressful event on top of all of Gary’s delusional attempts to make Heather pay for supposedly ruining his life by getting pregnant.
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
He set his own cup aside to pour her a cup. After adding some cream and sugar he handed the cup over to her and waited while she took a sip.
“It’s got to be tough to keep your fears from Finn,” he said, picking up the conversation. “I’m not a parent, so I don’t have the right to tell you what to do, but maybe it’s okay to show Finn how you feel. Show him that you’re scared.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t,” she murmured. “If I show Finn how scared and upset I am, that will just make him scared and upset.”
“It sounds like being a parent means you have to hide part of yourself from your kids,” he said sadly.