Cross Country Chaos Read online

  “Yes?”

  The woman handed her an envelope. “This is a process service.” The woman left before Kelly could ask for details.

  “What is it, Mom?” Paulie asked.

  Kelly ripped the envelope open and found a court summons for an emergency hearing on Friday morning at ten. David was challenging custody, making accusations that she put Denny’s health at risk by having surgery done out of state, along with several other bogus charges.

  “Help your brother,” she said, racing to the house. Her hands fumbled the keys in the lock.

  She had to call her lawyer. Fortunately, Michelle was still in the office. They’d gone to college together, and Kelly had her private cell number. Kelly locked her bedroom door and kept her voice low. Her tears flowed and her hands shook as she tried to read the paper to Michelle.

  Michelle heard her out. “Calm down, Kel. It’s bullshit and you know it. We’ll get it thrown out, and I’ll go after fees. This will be okay.”

  Kelly sobbed. “Why can’t he leave us alone? Why is he doing this? I called him when Denny was in the hospital, and he was too frigging drunk to even care!”

  “Kelly.” Michelle’s stern tone was comforting. “You have to stay calm. I’ll write up a response and a countermotion and file it tomorrow afternoon. This will be okay. Who’s the judge?”

  Kelly’s hands trembled so badly she had to lay the paper on the bed to read it. “Donaldson.”

  “Good. He’s a no-bullshit kind of guy. He doesn’t like it when people pull this kind of crap. This will be fine, I promise. Be here at my office tomorrow morning at eight. I added you to my calendar. I’ll shuffle a few things around. You have to stay calm.”

  “That’s easy for you to say!” Kelly hung up and collapsed on her bed. David was accusing her of taking the boys out of state without permission, refusing to allow him his rightful visitation, jeopardizing Denny’s health, and oh yes, providing an unstable moral environment.

  Was that even a legitimate charge? She looked at the paper again and realized he was filing pro se—as his own attorney.

  And he was going after full custody.

  She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. This would be okay. Even though she’d successfully beat his past allegations—all false—this was the most serious. Before, it was penny ante bullshit, like not giving him the right insurance paperwork for Denny’s medical bills. Motions he’d lose, but Kelly still had to pay Michelle to defend her. And it was all within a few months of the divorce, when David was still trying to yank her chain because he was pissed she’d kicked him out.

  David had never challenged her fitness as a mother before. Or the custody arrangement.

  One of the boys knocked on her door. “Mom? Are you okay?” Paulie.

  “Yeah, honey. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Don’t worry, it’s okay.”

  Kelly washed her face and shoved the papers in her purse. She didn’t want the boys to know about it yet.

  After dinner, Kelly made them sit at the table to do their homework while she went to her bedroom and called her mom. She broke down during the story.

  “Honey, it’s okay. Where’s Mart? Is he there with you?”

  “No, he had to fly out early this morning to L.A. and won’t be back until Tuesday.” She started sobbing again. “Mom, what am I going to do? I can’t lose my boys.”

  “Michelle won’t let that happen. She’s right, this is bullshit. Especially if he’s representing himself. You go through this every time he pulls crap, and every time you’ve won. Don’t let him get inside your head. Why don’t I come over and spend the night?”

  Kelly thought about saying no, then relented. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Have you told the boys yet?”

  “No. What do I tell them?”

  “Tell them it’s something minor. They don’t need to know the truth.”

  “You’re right.”

  Her next call was to Patty. Kelly didn’t want to bother Mart. She knew he’d be in meetings until after eight her time, and his work schedule was already messed up enough because of her problems.

  Kelly told her the story.

  Patty was quiet for a moment. “Call Mart.”

  “No. Patty, there’s nothing he can do.”

  “If you don’t, he’ll be pissed you didn’t call.”

  “No, he won’t. Mom’s coming over, and I’m meeting with Michelle tomorrow at eight.”

  “I’ll pick you up.”

  “Mom can go with me.”

  “She needs to be home for the boys. Dan has the day off, he can watch Ben. I’ll take you.”

  Kelly closed her eyes and tried not to cry again. She could do this. She had to do this. If she couldn’t stand up to David now, it would only get worse.

  “Okay. Meet me here at seven-thirty.”

  Kelly washed her face, went to the kitchen, and sat at the table.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” Paulie asked.

  She took a deep breath. “Apparently your father is upset about us taking the trip to Birmingham. He’s filed a motion with the judge for a hearing on Friday.”

  “But that’s not fair,” Denny yelled. “He said we could go.”

  “I know, sweetheart. And that’s what Miss Michelle will tell the judge.”

  “I hate him,” Paulie said.

  “No. Don’t be like that.”

  “Why not? He doesn’t like you. He tells us all the time. He’s mad you’re marrying Mart.”

  Another deep breath. Don’t say anything she’d regret later. “What exactly did he say?” She didn’t normally ask them what their father said about her, but this time, she’d make an exception.

  “He hates Mart. He’s mad Mart spends so much time with us.”

  “What else has he said?”

  Paulie looked at Denny. He obviously didn’t want to repeat it in front of his little brother. “Lots of garbage like that.”

  She touched Paulie’s hand. “You might have to talk to the judge and tell him. Can you do that?”

  Paulie nodded. “I sure will.” He looked at Denny. “You will too, right, Squirt?”

  Denny looked sad but nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Guys, I know this is hard for you. I’m so sorry.”

  Denny’s eyes filled with tears. “Why can’t he get along with people? Why does he have to be jealous of Mart? Why can’t he be happy Mart loves us?”

  It nearly broke her heart. “I don’t know, sweetheart. I have to talk to Miss Michelle tomorrow morning. Grandma will spend the night so she can help you get ready for school, and be here in case I’m not home after school. Are you done with your homework?” They nodded. “Go get ready for bed. You can watch TV after your baths.” She hugged them. When they left the kitchen, she put her head down on her arms and cried.

  Kelly jumped when Paulie touched her shoulder. She quickly wiped her eyes. “What is it, honey?”

  “Does Mart know?”

  She shook her head. “He’s supposed to be in L.A. until Tuesday. I don’t want to worry him.”

  “He should know. He’d want to come back.”

  “Honey, there’s nothing he can do. Miss Michelle will take care of it. I don’t want him to miss more work. It’s all right.” Paulie frowned but went to get his bath.

  Sharon showed up an hour later. She hugged Kelly and took her into the kitchen. “What did Mart say?”

  “I’m not telling him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’ll worry.”

  “Well, duh. You have to tell him.”

  Kelly glanced toward the living room and shushed her mother. “Mom, I can handle this.”

  Sharon shook her head. “Look at you. You’re a wreck. I’m not saying you can’t handle this, but that’s the point of having someone in your life. You lean on them when you need them.”

  “He was there when Denny had surgery. That’s what matters. This is a legal ma
tter. I can handle it. I can’t ask him to fix every problem that crops up in my life. That’s not fair to him.”

  “Who says you have to ask him to fix it? He’ll want to be there for you.”

  “No. I am not going to worry him.”

  Sharon left her alone and watched TV with the boys. Kelly was wiped out. “You boys be in bed by eight-thirty, okay?” She hugged them and looked at her mom. “I need to go to sleep.”

  Sharon nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Kelly locked the door behind her and looked at her BlackBerry. She sent Mart a text message.

  Going to bed, really tired. Talk to you tomorrow. I love you.

  Kelly turned off the phone and hoped he wouldn’t call the house. Knowing the boys had school tomorrow, he probably wouldn’t. Tossing and turning, Kelly drifted to sleep and woke around three. She lay there for two more hours, then got up at five and turned her phone on. She read Mart’s reply.

  I love you 2. I miss you. R you ok? Love 2 the boys.

  Kelly knew she’d get a double-barreled ration of hell from her mother and Patty for not telling him. She wasn’t going to ruin his career because of her ex-husband. She’d tell Mart tomorrow, after the hearing. Yes, he’d be upset, but it was better this way.

  Michelle was right. This was bullshit, and the judge would throw it out. Or at the very least he’d issue a continuance, and she’d have time to prepare a bullet-proof case against David, as well as a counter-claim to bury him under the courthouse in paperwork. With the initial shock out of the way, Kelly felt calmer, steadier.

  Before, she’d never wanted to fight back. She chose to get it over with, defend herself and not file her own legitimate counter-claims despite everyone’s encouragement. She didn’t want to look vindictive, and she didn’t want the boys dragged through a nasty battle if she could avoid it.

  Even if it meant she had to swallow her pride and not nail David’s balls to the wall. He was still their father. Kelly wanted to preserve that relationship, if at all possible. Unfortunately, David seemed determined to drive a wedge between himself and the boys despite Kelly’s best efforts.

  Kelly thought about the thick notebook of paperwork locked in the bottom drawer of her file cabinet. The binder with all the evidence, emails, pictures, things she found out about David before the divorce and her documentation since. Calendar sheets noting David’s visitation record—and frequent cancellations. Journal entries about his comments, snide remarks, notations about the confrontation with Mart. A cassette tape of Beatrice’s voicemail message.

  She’d have to remember to take it with her in case Michelle needed it.

  Kelly replied to Mart’s text message.

  Miss you too. I’m fine. I’ll talk to you later, have to run errands this morning. Love you.

  Her BlackBerry rang a minute later. Mart’s sleepy voice sent her heart hammering in her chest. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

  “What are you doing up at—” she did the math, “two a.m.?”

  “I left the phone by the bed in case you called. Your text message woke me. Why are you up this early?”

  I can’t lie to him. “I couldn’t sleep.” That was the truth.

  Technically. She fingered the pendant around her neck, feeling guilty.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “You don’t sound good.”

  “I’m okay. Just a lot of things to do today. I’m sorry I woke you up.”

  “Is Denny okay?”

  “He’s fine. You need to go back to sleep. You’ll be a wreck today if you don’t get some sleep.”

  “I can’t argue with that, sweetheart. I’ll be in meetings this morning until noon, so text me if you need me. I’ll try calling you at lunch. Then I’m in meetings from two until six.”

  “I will. Thank you for being there for me with Denny.”

  “Hey, that’s why I’m here. Well, you know, there when I’m there.” He chuckled, and she smiled.

  “I love you. I can’t wait for you to get home.”

  “I love you, too. I’m going to see if I can cut out of here sooner, maybe get home Monday night, but I can’t promise.”

  “Okay. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

  They said good-bye. She hung up and cried, knowing she hadn’t exactly lied but still feeling horrible. He’d be understandably upset when she told him. Better that than ruin his work trip over something he couldn’t do anything about.

  Kelly heard her mom moving in the living room and went to the kitchen, laid her BlackBerry on the table. “Why are you up?”

  “Denny snores. And kicks.” She put a pot of coffee on.

  “You should have made Paulie sleep on the couch and taken his bed.”

  “Did I hear you talking to someone?”

  “Mart. I replied to a text message he sent last night, and he called me.”

  “What’s he doing up?”

  “The phone woke him.”

  “That’s sweet of him to call. Did you tell him?”

  “No, and I’m not going to. Besides, he has meetings today. I don’t want to worry him. I’ll tell him tomorrow once we know something.”

  Sharon handed her an empty mug. “He’s going to be upset, and I won’t blame him. You’re so stubborn. Why won’t you let him help you?”

  “Mom, he was there when I really needed him, when it counted. I can do this.” Kelly poured her coffee and checked the time. “I’m going to get my shower. The boys need to be up by six-thirty.”

  “I know. Go on.”

  Kelly left her phone on the table.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Patty looked a little bleary but had a Starbucks cup in hand. “I don’t remember how to get there.”

  “It’s easy.” Kelly pointed Patty in the right direction and sat back, nursing a travel mug full of coffee.

  “Did you tell Mart?” Patty asked.

  “I swear, you and my mother. For the last time, no, not until it’s over.”

  Patty tried again a few minutes later. “This isn’t fair to him. He’s your fiancé. You should tell him.”

  “Goddammit, no!”

  The force of her anger startled Patty. She looked at Kelly. “Jesus, all right already. But you’re going to hurt his feelings.”

  “He’ll understand.” Kelly fingered the pendant, hoping she was right.

  Hoping he’d forgive her.

  Patty shook her head. “You are too friggin’ stubborn for your own good, you know that?”

  They reached Michelle’s office at ten till eight. “Let me see Asswipe’s motion,” Michelle said.

  Kelly handed it over. She watched Michelle’s face as she read it.

  Michelle snorted. “God, this guy has a set of balls, doesn’t he?” She looked from Patty back to Kelly. “What’s with the ‘unstable moral environment’ crap? Doesn’t he have Barbie living with him?”

  “Bernice,” Kelly said.

  “Beatrice,” Patty corrected, and Kelly sighed.

  “Right, Beatrice. I’m guessing it has to do with my fiancé.”

  “Fiancé? Congrats. I’d think Asswipe would be happy you’re getting married. It means the alimony stops, saves him five hundred a month.”

  “Asswipe” was only one of Michelle’s many colorful monikers for David Alexander over the years, but it was her current favorite.

  “He’s jealous of Mart,” Kelly said.

  “Really? Not hard to marry someone better than Asswipe. Sorry, but it’s the truth.”

  Kelly nodded and forced a smile. “I know. The boys love Mart. And he’s Denny’s coach.”

  “Coach? What sport?”

  Kelly told her the short version, and Michelle’s eyes widened. “He’s in a chair too? Wow. I mean—wow.”

  Patty nudged Kelly. “Tell her about the attack.”

  Michelle frowned. “What attack?”

  Kelly told her the story of David’s drunken rage. “I have the tape of Beatrice’s voicemail message.”

  “Mart
put Asswipe on the ground?” Michelle leaned back in her chair and smiled. “I can’t wait to meet this guy.”

  Patty grinned. “Wait’ll you see him. He’s a hunk.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Guys, can we focus?” Kelly knew her friends meant well, but she was on her last nerve.

  “Sorry, Kel,” Michelle apologized. “We’ll work something out, get it typed up so I can file it. The worst that will happen is we get a continuance. The best is the judge sees it as Asswipe’s toilet paper and throws it all out.”

  “No, the worst is David gets custody of my kids.”

  Michelle’s voice hardened. “Kelly, that will not happen. Where is your fiancé anyway? We might be able to use him to testify.”

  Patty glared at Kelly. “He’s in L.A. on a business trip,” she said. “Kelly won’t tell him about the hearing.”

  “Why not?”

  Kelly kicked Michelle’s desk. “I’m tired of explaining myself. I don’t want to mess up his job. He was with me last weekend when Denny got sick. I don’t need to bother him with this.”

  “Easy on the furniture, girlfriend.” Michelle studied Kelly. “You’re stubborn. You’ve been stubborn as long as I’ve known you, but this takes the cake. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Not up for discussion. Let’s get this done, all right?”

  Michelle sighed. “Fine.”

  * * * *

  The boys were unusually quiet. Sharon made them breakfast and tried to keep them on schedule. When Denny went to the bathroom one last time before catching the bus, Paulie cornered her.

  “Is Dad trying to get custody?”

  Sharon hedged her answer. “Honey, you can talk to your mom about that this afternoon.”

  “I won’t live with him. I’ll run away before I live with him.”

  Sharon sat down. “I’m sure it won’t get to that point. Don’t scare Denny.”

  “When is Mart coming home? Mom told him, right?”

  Sharon looked at the doorway to make sure Denny wasn’t coming. “Your mother doesn’t want to worry Mart.”

  “He’d want to know. He should know.”

  Sharon nodded. “I know.”

  She put a piece of paper with Mart’s cell number on the table and slid it toward Paulie. She’d pulled it from the BlackBerry while Kelly was in the shower. “If I call Mart, your mom will get very upset with me.”