Love Me ~ Without Regret (19 page)

I set out for my room to put away my notebook before I pick Bailey up. At the elevator, I almost run smack into Kane as the doors open. I use all of my self-control to be civil to him so I can find out what I need to know.

“Hey, Kane.” I put my fist out for a bump.

He meets my knuckles with his own. “Oh, Clay, I was just about to call you. What’s up?”

Yeah, I bet you were just about to call me a jackass.
“No worries, I wanted to talk to you about Lizzie. Is she okay? You’ve got to be straight with me. I love her, Kane.”

“I know. I’m on your side. She is tore up. What do you expect?”

I expect that I’m about to knock your teeth down your throat.
“I saw that, but what all did she say?”

“She doesn’t want to get in the way of the baby’s chance of having a real family. Look, I’ve got to run. Can we talk later?”

“Yeah, we’ll do that. When will you be done with whatever it is you’re in a hurry for now?” I can even hear the edge in my voice loud and clear.

“After I’m done visiting a friend, I’m heading back home,” Kane smirks.

“Heading home tonight? What’s the hurry? We’re all scheduled to stay until tomorrow.” I can guess his reason but I want to hear his answer.

“Is there a problem, Clay? You’ve never concerned yourself with my agenda before.”

He is pushing me on purpose. He wants me to react. But why? What is he up to?

“No reason, I thought we could grab dinner. I’ll catch you later.”

“Sure. Later, man.” Kane slides his shades onto his face as he walks past me.

Bailey and I arrive at the law office of Dellisola and Associates about ten minutes early. This gives us a few minutes to regroup and go over our story.

“Bailey, I can’t thank you enough for your help. Getting custody of my son is the most important thing in the world to me…besides Lizzie. Did you hear any more from her?”

“I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. Lizzie will come around, I think. She needs time to realize that baby mama ain’t gonna be the baby’s mama.”

“Huh?”

“When she figures out that…Megan, right?” Bailey asks.

I nod.

“When she comprehends that bitch Megan isn’t wanting to be the mama, and what the fucking cunt is trying to do to you, I believe she will be by your side.”

“I hope you’re right. As much as I hate her, she may be my only way to get to see my son. I want to forgive her, I want things to be okay, but it’s hard to get over this kind of betrayal.”

“Clay, no matter what, you need to make peace with her. Forgiving her will be hard, but she’ll always be the mother to your son. Being on good terms with her will be one of the best things for your little boy. Never talk crap about her in front of him, no matter what. Never make her the bad guy. Those things he’ll learn on his own. You’ll be his hero for being the kind of person who always see the best in people, someone who never speaks wrong about a lady. You’ll teach him respect.”

“Thanks, Bailey, that sounds like really great advice. You’re a really good person and I’m proud to call you my girlfriend for the next half hour or so.” I give her my first smile of the day. Lizzie is so lucky to have her as a best friend.

“You’re welcome, honey.” She laughs.

I told Megan how I was dating this amazing woman and how she would be by my side every step of the way. That I planned on marrying her soon and that we would raise him together. I honestly believed that Lizzie will claim him as her own child because that’s the kind of person she is. But, since Lizzie can’t as much as look at me right now, Bailey is stepping in as my loving girlfriend. This is why Cash has a problem with her helping me. I can understand his reserve, I’d been a “hell no,” too.

We walk hand in hand through the door of one of the most distinguished law firms in Nashville. They focus on family law and John Dellisola’s main concentration is fathers’ rights. He wasn’t able to help me when I was here about the abortion because the father hasn’t any rights to whether or not the woman terminates the pregnancy. In fact, she doesn’t even have to have his consent.

“This is a nice office. I bet they get a pretty penny an hour,” Bailey whispers.

“Yeah, they do, but they are the best. They really have a remarkable reputation for fighting for the dads,” I murmur.

The sleek stainless steel and glass receptionist’s desk with the flawlessly dressed secretary behind it is massive. The lady looks all prim and proper and has her hair pulled up in some kind of fancy twist, and is wearing headphones.

“Welcome to Dellisola and Associates. How may we assist you today?” Ms. Prim and Proper asks.

“Yes, we have an appointment with Mr. Dellisola,” Bailey says.

“And you are?”

“I’m Clay Wilson and this is my fiancée, Bailey.”

“I’ll let Mr. Dellisola know you have arrived. Please have a seat.” Prim and Proper presses a button on her telephone and turns her body away from us.

Bailey and I have a seat in the waiting area.

Within a few minutes, the secretary stands up from her desk and announces, “Mr. Dellisola will see you now, this way please.” She gestures with her hand like one of those models on “The Price Is Right.”

Bailey takes my hand and with a fearless stride, we follow right behind the secretary. Bailey looks up at me and gives a little wink. She has completely taken charge of this covert operation.

As we walk into the room, Bailey is the first to speak, “Mr. Dellisola, I’m Bailey Reynolds, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.” She offers him her hand.

“Call me John, please.” John turns to me, shaking my hand, “Clayton, I’m surprised to see you again. Please have a seat.”

“That makes two of us, John.” I shake my head and catch John up on Megan’s decisions since the last time I was here in his office.

John makes several notes on his legal pad. “I see. Historically, unmarried fathers have had fewer rights with regard to their children than either unwed mothers or married parents. Over the past several decades, unmarried fathers have challenged the termination of their parental rights under the Fourteenth Amendment in cases in which birth mothers relinquished their children for adoption.” John leans forward, clasping his hands then laying them on his massive wooden desk.

“So, that means what exactly?” I raise my eyebrows. It sounds promising.

“In the state of Tennessee, you as the father have rights. The first thing we need to do is petition the court for paternity. You said that with the adoption attorney she listed the father as unknown?”

“Yes, that is correct,” Bailey tells him.

“What we will also do is send a Cease and Desist letter to the attorney handling the adoption, putting them on notice that you have stepped forward claiming paternity and you do not give your consent for the adoption.”

“Will that be enough to get the adoption stopped?” I ask him.

“More than likely, they will demand DNA testing, to see if you have a legitimate claim.”

“That’s not a problem, I’ll be happy to do a DNA test today.”

“These things take a little more time than that.” John gives me a friendly smile.

“Wait, how will they get the baby’s DNA sample? Won’t it be dangerous to do any kind of procedure this late in the pregnancy?” Bailey asks.

I’m glad she is here. I would have never known that. How the hell does she even know that kind of shit?

“With all of the advances in genetic testing, there are noninvasive tests, but bear in mind the price for these types of procedures are about three times the cost of the regular paternity test. Your choices are to do the expensive test now or wait for the child to be born.”

“I want to get the test done as soon as possible. I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary to file for full custody, John.”

We do the paperwork, and our consultation leaves me more confident than I was when I entered the office. I owe Cash and Bailey a huge thank you for the help.

“Clayton, I’ll be in touch in the next few days. I don’t think it will take long for Megan’s attorney to answer the Cease and Desist. We’ll know more where we stand then.” John says, standing up to dismiss us.

“John, we can’t thank you enough,” Bailey extends her hand. “We’ll be back in Alabama, but we can be back in a few hours’ notice.”

“I didn’t realize you’d moved, Clayton. How long do the two of you plan to stay in town?” John asks, leaning back on his desk then crossing his arms.

“Sweetheart, I was planning to stay and see all of this through if that is acceptable with you?” I look down at Bailey, putting my arm around her shoulders.

“Of course it is, Honey.” She places her hand on my chest.

“That is splendid, I like you being in town,” John says.

“Thank you again, John,” I extend my hand.

I escort Bailey out to the car with my hand at the small of her back. We both take our seats and let out big sighs.

“The Academy Award for best fake girlfriend in a drama goes to Bailey Reynolds.” I lean over and give her a quick hug. “Bailey, thank you so much. I feel like if they think there is a woman in the picture, I’ll have a better chance for custody. I owe you big time. You’re my favorite future sister-in-law.”

“I would like to thank God for my natural talents and my dear ol’ Granny for all of her love and support, thank you all.” Bailey kisses two fingers and throws a kiss to an imaginary crowd.

“You’re priceless, ya know that? Now, operation number two, help me with my woman.”

“You’ve got it, Clay, I’ll do my best to help. She is headstrong and unyielding, but I’ll have Granny talk to her. She can work magic.”

ten

Lizzie

I’m sure my summons to appear has everything to do with my best friend meddling in my business. No sooner had Ryder dropped me off, Granny was calling me needing my help tomorrow. She doesn’t take no for an answer when she is determined to fix you.

I told Bailey I needed one day and that’s exactly what she permitted me, one day. I wasn’t meaning one day for Granny to get a hold of me. I need more like a week or a month before I’m ready for her sermon. Tonight, I want a bottle of Moscato, maybe even two, and my bed. I’m locking my door and pretending I’m not home.

Clay has texted me a couple of times, checking on me, asking if I’m okay. I keep debating if I should text him back, or talk with him and get it over with. I’m confused on what to do. I feel, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Clay loves me. I love him, too. But this has nothing to do with love.

That’s what really sucks. Knowing that letting him go is the right thing to do but having to do it hurts so damn much. I pop the cork on my bottle of wine. I don’t bother with a glass. I sit in the middle of my bed with the lights off, allowing the blackness to envelope me.

The darkness will not dissipate.  It has taken a hold of me and won't release me. Clay hasn’t scared me. I have scared myself, as far as I can tell. Everyone says he didn’t know she was still pregnant, I believe that, but that doesn’t relieve him from being a dad, having a little family now. He was going to marry her, then. How can I stand in the way of him doing that now?

Why did destiny pull us together simply to tear us apart? Destiny is one cruel ass bitch, letting me think I had something that was mine. Clay can never be mine when he belongs to someone else. I decide to text Clay back.

Lizzie:  We can talk about this when you get back.

Clay:  I’m staying until I can bring my son home with me. Please wait on me
, Lizzie. I love you. I’ll have all of this worked out soon.

Now what? He’s staying how long? Does that mean he is moving that girl down here with him? I finish the bottle of wine. I feel worse after texting him, I should have stuck with my gut and not made any contact. Getting free from the thoughts of him is impossible. I need more wine to make this better.

Back in the kitchen, I pop the cork on the last bottle of Moscato I have on hand. I want to numb the pain for tonight. I hope this does the trick. I keep playing last night over and over in my head, but I want it to go away. I’ll start dealing with reality tomorrow. I deserve one day to wallow.