“You can argue?” said Jack.
“Do you have anyone else in mind to represent you? I’ve got a license to practice in South Carolina, and I’ve kept everything current.”
“Did you practice family law?” asked Mikki.
“I’ve done some of it, yes. And I know my way around a courtroom.” She held up the documents. “But we don’t have much time to prepare.”
“Jenna, you don’t have time to do this. You’ve got a business to run.”
Before she could respond, Liam said, “I can do that. Mom taught me everything about the business. It’ll be fine.”
Jenna smiled. “See?”
“Are you sure?”
“Heck, nice change of pace. You can only bake so many pies before you feel the need to punch somebody. Going to court gives me a chance to whack some idiots — not literally, of course, but you get the point.”
“All right, but you’re going to bill me for your time.”
“We’ll work something out.”
Mikki said, “What exactly is she saying that would make a court take us from Dad?”
Jenna’s face grew serious and she looked at Jack questioningly. He nodded, “You can tell them.”
“Basically that your father is unfit to be your guardian. That he’s a danger to himself and others.”
“That’s stupid,” said Cory, jumping to his feet.
“Yeah, stupid,” said Jackie, though, in an act of surprising independence from his brother, he remained seated, his arms folded defiantly over his little chest.
“I’m not agreeing with her, just telling you what she’s alleging.”
“Does she have any proof of that?” said Mikki heatedly. “Of course not, because it’s not true.”
“She’ll be able to show any proof she has at the hearing,” Jenna explained. She looked at Jack again. “And we have to show proof that you are fit.”
“How do we do that?”
“You can testify. So can Mikki and Cory. Jackie’s too young, of course. I can get Charles to be a character witness. And Sammy here. They can all attest to your fitness. I have no idea what angle she’s using, but I can’t imagine she’ll be able to show the level of proof required to take children away from their surviving parent.”
Later, Jack walked Jenna out to her car.
“Jack, there is one thing I didn’t want to say in front of the kids.”
“What?”
“I don’t think the timing on Bonnie’s action is coincidence. I think it’s tied to your arrest for assault. She could’ve easily found out. And I can guarantee they’ll use that to prove their case.
“But I’m innocent.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s all perception. And if they can convince the judge you’re violent? Not good.”
“Great. Guilty until proven innocent.”
“Jack, if there’s anything to tell me about this, now would be a good time.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean why you think your mother-in-law is doing this.”
“She blames me for Lizzie’s death. She came here pretending to want to reconcile, but I turned down her offer of moving in with her in Arizona. And she only came by once to see the kids this summer. Some grandparent she is.”
“Uh, that’s actually not right, Dad.”
They turned to see Mikki standing behind them.
“What?” said Jack.
“Grandma came by like six times while you were out working.”
“You never told me that.”
“She asked us not to. Said you might get mad.”
“I told her to come and visit. I wouldn’t have gotten mad.”
“Well, that’s not what she said.”
Jenna looked at her. “What did you talk about?”
Mikki shrugged. “Stuff.”
“Did she ever ask about your dad?”
“Yeah,” Mikki said nervously.
“Mikki, you need to tell us everything. We can’t be surprised in court.”
Mikki started to tear up. “It was when Dad was working so hard and he was out in the lighthouse all the time.”
Jack said gently, “It’s okay, sweetie; I understand. Just tell us what you told her.”
Mikki calmed. “She asked what your mood was, if you were doing anything strange. If you didn’t seem to be feeling well.”
“And you told her about the lighthouse and... things?” said Jack.
Mikki nodded, a miserable expression on her face. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t know she was going to sue you.”
“It’s not your fault. It’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” He looked at Jenna. “I’ve got a great lawyer. Now, go back in the house, Mik. Jackie’s probably attempting somersaults from one of the ceiling fans.”
After she left, Jack looked at Jenna. “I lost the kids once. I can’t lose them again.”
She put her hand over his. “Listen to me, Jack. You’re not going to lose them, okay? Now, I’ve got to go. Lots of stuff to prepare.”
She drove off, leaving Jack standing in the front yard of the Palace, looking at the ground and wondering if his second chance was coming to a premature end.
60
The kids were scrubbed and dressed in their best clothes. Jack and Sammy had bought jackets and dress slacks for the courtroom appearance. Jenna was dressed in a black skirt and jacket, heels and hose. Liam had taken time off work to join them for moral support. He and Mikki sat holding hands in the front row.
The courtroom was surprisingly small, and Jack felt immediately claustrophobic as he stepped inside. And it was very quiet. Jack didn’t like such quiet. He had sensed it on the battlefield many times. It usually heralded an ambush.
The judge was not on the bench yet, but the uniformed bailiff was standing ready. Bonnie’s lawyer was already seated at his table. Jack jerked when he saw Bonnie and Fred sitting behind him. Fred was studying his hands, while Bonnie was actively engaged in discussion with her lawyer, and also with another man in a suit. Other than that, the courtroom was empty.
As Jack looked at the young man, he suddenly remembered where he’d seen him before. In a car with Bonnie parked on the streets of Channing.
Jenna walked over and spoke with the bailiff for a minute or so before approaching Bonnie’s lawyer. They went off to a corner to speak in private, while Bonnie stayed sitting and talking to the other man, who was showing her something on a laptop computer.
Jack watched as Bonnie’s lawyer handed Jenna a packet of documents. She frowned and asked him something, but he shook his head. She said something else to him that Jack couldn’t hear, but it made the other man turn red and scowl. She whipped around and marched back over to Jack. She sat down and pulled her chair closer to him and the kids.
At that moment, Sammy walked in with Charles Pinckney. Pinckney greeted Jack, Jenna, and the kids. Then he eyed Bonnie. He surprised Jack by walking over to her.
“Fred,” he said. “How are you?”
Fred O’Toole looked up and seemed surprised to see Pinckney standing there. He took the other man’s extended hand. “Fine, Charles, you?”
“I’ve been better, actually, but thank you for asking.” He turned to Bonnie, who was gazing steadily at him. “Hello, Bonnie.”
She nodded curtly. “Charles.”
“Let’s just be thankful Lizzie and Cee aren’t alive to see this god-awful spectacle,” he said in a tight voice.
Bonnie looked like she had been slapped. But Charles had already turned away.
Jenna held up the stack of documents and whispered to Jack. “Opposing counsel just now gave me these documents. I asked him if he would not contest an extension on the hearing date, but he refused.”
“What’s in those documents?” Jack asked.
“I haven’t had a chance to read them, but I’ve glanced at a few pages. Your mother-in-law apparently has had a private detective follow you this summer.” She pointed to the other man holding the laptop. “That guy.”