Written in the Sand (Pacific Shores Book 4) Page 5

  A low sound of pleasure escaped his throat and his lips settled on hers.

  She’d been wrong earlier.

  Her feeling of contentment had just rocketed past anything she’d been feeling earlier and soared into the stratosphere.

  Monday morning Riley stepped into the courtroom, her heart in her throat. She’d been prepared for the worst when it came to Mom’s hearing, but she’d just learned from Mom’s attorney that Mom was going to waive her right to a trial and plead guilty. So what had been slated to be her arraignment was now going to be a sentencing hearing.

  On top of that, early this morning she’d finally received a call from Dad. The gist of that conversation was that Dad didn’t want the hassle of raising his son and, according to him, Rem was old enough to fend for himself if Mom ended up serving extended time. A freshman! Riley had wanted to cuss Dad from here to Indiana and back, but had somehow managed to hold her tongue.

  She hadn’t been able to hold back her tears though, once she’d hung up. She’d cried not for herself but for Rem. A kid deserved two parents that loved and cared for him. Rem had certainly gotten a raw deal in the parental love and nurture department. The only thing she could do was give him as much love as she could possibly muster. She could raise him. And that’s exactly what she intended to tell the judge. She and Rem would weather this storm together and hopefully be stronger people for it, in the end.

  But, as if her battle wasn’t already difficult enough, she’d also learned that because of the surety of Mom serving time, Rem’s temporary custody would be on the docket this morning. Judge Alicia Mason ran her courtroom with a conservative iron fist and had apparently declared there was no point in delaying a decision about Rem once she’d made a decision about Mom.

  And her father’s brother was contesting Riley’s request for custody of Rem.

  She clenched her teeth together. She hadn’t seen Uncle Doyle since she was in elementary school. And as far as she knew, Rem had only met the man once. Doyle only wanted Rem for the checks he would get from Dad for his care.

  Remington and Riley’s attorney had been called in. Riley had just left him and Rem to discuss final details, but the game plan was to get her brother remanded over to Riley’s custody.

  Riley settled into a chair in the front row of the public seating area of the courtroom and glanced at the clock on the wall. Ten minutes. Someone sank into the seat beside her and she looked over.

  Jalen.

  Her heart skittered to a halt, and then kicked into overtime.

  Wearing a brown suit and a deep red tie, he looked better than any man had a right to.

  His soft mocha gaze skimmed over her before returning to her own.

  So many questions and promises lingered in his eyes. How are you holding up? Is it okay if I sit here? This will all be over soon. You are going to make it. Hang in there.

  She’d never known anyone who could say so much without saying a word.

  The scent of his cologne, sporty and fresh, wafted to her, slamming home the memory of their kiss. She felt telltale warmth in her cheeks and forced her focus into her lap. She hadn’t seen him all day Saturday. And she’d somehow managed to avoid him at church yesterday, but even a couple days apart hadn’t faded the memory of the wonderful sensations elicited by his lips on hers. In fact, if anything, it might have heightened it.

  They’d never finished the conversation about how they could never be together. Pain sliced through her just at the thought. Why did doing the right thing have to be so hard? Things would sure be easier right now if she’d just resisted the temptation to kiss him in the first place!

  “Morning,” he finally said.

  She nodded a greeting. “Morning.” She pressed her lips together, unable to decide if having him nearby eased some of her anxiety or increased it.

  Movement drew her attention to the back of the room. A couple reporters and their cameramen were setting up in the space behind the back row. She bit her lip. Of course there would be reporters here. She should have expected it. After all, Mom had driven her car at full speed into the front wall of the town’s only grocery store. And they would also be curious about the fate of the local millionaire’s son.

  Riley swung back to face the front.

  Jalen leaned closer. “I’m praying for you.”

  “Thanks.” His words reminded her that she should probably be doing some praying of her own.

  Lord, please just be in the details today. Be with Mom. Help her to heal up both physically and mentally. Help her to find her worth in a relationship with You. Please help me to get custody of Rem. I’ve heard this judge can be a little hardnosed. Just help her to be merciful and understanding today, please. For Rem’s sake. He needs me right now.

  A door at the front of the court room opened up and Mom shuffled in, escorted by a female officer who resembled a grizzly bear in tennis shoes. Mom’s orange jumpsuit only highlighted the purple bruising around both eyes and across her swollen and split-skinned nose. Her face must have smashed into the steering wheel. The back of one of her hands was nearly black. That bruise disappeared under the plaster of the cast on her arm and looked even more painful than the ones on her face. Mom’s expression remained lifeless even when she noticed Riley sitting just behind the bar near her defendant’s table. Without even an acknowledging nod, she dropped into the chair the officer pulled out for her as though she’d just lost all the strength from her legs. Her indifference hurt like a slap to the face.

  A warm touch drew her attention down to see Jalen’s broad brown fingers covering both her hands that she had fisted in her lap. Her fingernails were biting into her palms. She eased in a slow inhale and forced herself to relax.

  Seemingly relieved that he’d helped ease her tension a little, Jalen squeezed her hands softly and started to pull away.

  But, as if on reflex, she clutched hold of him, and then realized what she’d done. What had she just been telling herself about resisting temptation? Discouragement rolling through her, she quickly let go.

  Why did this have to be so difficult? Couldn’t she just let her guard down for a little bit and have a normal relationship with this wonderful man?

  His hand stayed where it was, hovering over hers for a moment, and then his fingers slipped across her palm to slowly intertwine with her own. All the while she could feel the intensity of his scrutiny on her face.

  Just for now. Riley gave in to her weakness and didn’t withdraw from him again.

  It was silly, not to mention emotionally dangerous, to feel the need to have him there holding her. Especially since she’d already told him this could go nowhere. It would only make the conclusion of the conversation she needed to have with him harder, but with all that she was facing at the moment she couldn’t seem to find the willpower to do the right thing and let him go. She glanced over and mouthed, “Thank you.”

  He nodded.

  “All rise!”

  Jalen stood beside her, strong and steady, like a life preserver in the midst of a stormy sea.

  Rem and his attorney slipped onto the bench on the other side of Riley.

  Judge Mason was shorter than Riley had pictured her, and much more petite. Her graying hair curled around her sun-spotted face and rectangular spectacles. She lowered herself into her seat at the bench and eyed the courtroom above her glasses. “Thank you. You may all be seated.”

  Mom’s hearing was short. Her attorney placed a guilty plea on her behalf and the prosecutor mentioned he had video footage from the surveillance equipment at Thrift and Save if the judge wanted to see it.

  The judge waved a hand to dismiss the idea. “We don’t need to take the time for that since she’s pleading guilty, counselor.”

  Rem squirmed beside her and Riley felt her own relief that they’d been spared the sight of Mom’s Jag crashing into the brick façade. Jalen’s thumb stroked a warm trail along the side of her hand and she was thankful once again for his steady presence.

  Judge Mason asked for concluding statements, both of which were short, and then she pronounced that because Mom had been driving under the influence, and for the third time since her license had been revoked, she was sentencing her to eighteen months with mandatory blood screenings, and rehab meetings.

  All the strength seemed to ebb from Riley’s body. She’d expected several months. Maybe a year at most.

  Even with credit for time served, it would be well into the next school year before Mom got out.

  Mom was escorted from the room and left without even a backward glance at her two children sitting on the front row.

  “Now, let’s see…” Judge Mason studied the docket in front of her. She called out Rem’s case and took a sip of water as she waited for the respective attorneys and clients to take their positions. Remington’s lawyer presented a few facts and then stated that Riley would like to be given temporary custody of Remington until his mother could once again resume her role in his life.

  Judge Mason peered at the attorney over her spectacles. “And is this sister here in the court?”

  “She is, Your Honor.” He swept a hand in Riley’s direction.

  And, as previously instructed, she stood to her feet, reluctantly leaving Jalen’s comforting grip behind.

  “Hmmm,” the judge’s gaze skimmed her from head to toe. “She’s not much older than he is.”

  “She’s ten years his senior, Your Honor.”

  “Very well, you may retake your seat, Miss Ross.” The judge nodded at her, pinched lips offering neither approval nor disapproval. Her focus swung to the opposing attorney. “And what does your client have to say about this case?”

  “Your Honor, my client is contesting Miss Ross’s ability to care for her brother. He feels it is important to remind the court that Miss Ross formerly resided with a man who repeatedly endangered her. In fact at one point she was beaten so badly that she lost their child.”

  Jalen stiffened enough that she felt the bump of his shoulder against her own. He’d already known about Nate, and her abuse, so his anger had to be directed at her uncle for bringing it up.

  Riley frowned. Of course Uncle Doyle would dredge up her relationship with Nate. She should have expected that. But she hadn’t. Please God, don’t let my past mistakes prevent me from getting custody of Rem.

  The twist of the judge’s lips was decidedly unfriendly this time. “Get to your point, counselor.”

  “My point being, Your Honor, that while Miss Ross remains unattached at this moment, she is still of a young impressionable age with a proven track record of associating herself with dangerous characters. The boy’s uncle is concerned for his safety due to this reason, should he, too, be given into her custody.”

  Judge Mason leaned in to the back of her chair and tapped a pen on the bench. “Really, Counselor, if that’s all your client has backing his—”

  “There’s more, Your Honor… If I could approach the bench?”

  Riley’s mouth was as dry as driftwood, and her heart was pounding so hard everyone in the courtroom could probably have heard it if silence had settled for a moment. She wasn’t going to get custody. What was going to happen to Rem? Uncle Doyle lived hours away in Eugene. Jesus, please…

  “Come, come.” The judge waved impatiently for the man to approach as though she might have a round of golf she was late for and this trial was keeping her from it.

  “I would like to submit these statements from several citizens regarding the fact that just last Friday while in the temporary care of his sister, Remington Ross skipped out on almost a full day of school and went all the way to Portland before his sister even knew he was missing.”

  Riley gasped. How had he found out about that? And would they really use something like that against her now?

  At his table, Remington squirmed in his seat.

  Judge Mason squinted at the paper presented to her and then peered at the attorney over her bifocals. “And you are prepared to call on these witnesses if it proves necessary?”

  “I am, Your Honor. I also have these statements—” he pulled another sheet of paper from the folder in his hands”—stating that there have been several nights when she left the boy home alone.”

  That was a lie!

  Judge Mason’s horrified expression darted to Riley for the briefest of moments before a cloak of composure fell over her features and she focused on the new evidence before her. Sighing dramatically she tossed the papers onto the bench and leaned back in her seat, tapping steepled fingers to her lips. Her gaze drilled into the ceiling tiles at one corner of the room. Collectively those in attendance seemed to hold their breath.

  Finally the judge threw up her hands. “Very well, bring in your witnesses, Counselor.”

  Riley thought her heart might just quit working right then and there.

  Chapter 5

  Riley listened to one witness after another recount the details of how Rem had skipped school and gone to Portland. How she hadn’t known where he was, and how she’d been searching for him after soccer practice. The attorney even brought in the trucker who had picked up Rem while he was hitchhiking and given him a ride home from Portland.

  After that, the man delved into her history, bringing in a couple of witnesses who had tried to talk her into leaving Nate multiple times.

  Riley blinked as the next witness took the stand. Dakota!

  Dakota looked pale and ill at ease. She glanced at Riley and there was so much pain in that one glance that Riley felt the bottom drop out of her stomach.

  Dakota’s testimony would certainly be damaging, but Riley couldn’t feel anything but pity for her. There was no way Dakota would be up there unless they’d forced her to be.

  “It’s okay,” Riley mouthed to her.

  Dakota blinked and pinched her lips together in a grim look of defeat.

  The attorney paced before the podium. “Miss Trask, please tell us how long you’ve known Miss Riley Ross.”

  “A couple years.” Dakota brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

  “And in what capacity did you first come to know Miss Ross?”

  “I was a counselor at House of Hope when Riley moved in.”

  “And House of Hope is a shelter for battered women, is it not?”

  Dakota looked like she’d rather bite the man’s head off than answer his question. “It is.”

  He pressed her for every detail until she was forced to reveal Riley’s complete physical condition at the time she had moved to House of Hope.

  Riley shuddered at the memory of how lost and helpless she’d felt at that time. And then she’d met Jalen not long after. She glanced over at him.

  His jaw was working back and forth like a mad bull about to charge.

  And suddenly a sense of peace filled her. That sludge at the bottom of the barrel was exactly where God had needed to take her in order to reach her. It wasn’t until then that she’d recognized her need.

  It would be the same this time. She wasn’t going back on the lessons she’d learned now. Whether she got custody of Rem or not, she had to trust that God was working in all this. Bringing about the good He desired. Because she definitely loved Him.

  She squeezed Jalen’s hand.

  He glanced over. His face was hard, but he squeezed her hand back.

  And that was enough.

  When she looked back up, Dakota was leaving the stand, and then came the doctor who had delivered her stillborn child the night Nate had beaten her so badly just before he killed himself.

  This lawyer was obviously slated to get a nice percentage of each of Uncle Doyle’s custody checks if they won because he was certainly pulling out all the stops.

  Beside her Jalen was stiff, every muscle and breath taut with anger.

  Riley couldn’t quite tell if he was angry with her for the way she’d endangered her child, or with the attorney who was dredging all this up. But when she tried to pull her hand from his, he tightened his grip and kept her there, which made her feel better.

  The judge on the other hand — her face grew more distraught with every word that was spoken.

  Finally, the attorney said he had no more witnesses. The judge asked if Riley’s attorney had any rebuttal and he said, “Your honor, I’d like to call Miss Riley Ross to the stand.”

  Riley’s legs almost didn’t have the strength to carry her to the box and keep her upright as she was sworn in. He asked her some preliminary questions like how she was related to Remington, and where she lived. Then he asked her the question they’d rehearsed. “Miss Ross, why do you want custody of your brother?”

  They’d practiced a long-winded answer with all the political aspects the judge would be expecting to hear, but when her gaze landed on Remington looking so forlorn at his table, only one answer would come to mind. “Because I love him and he needs me. We need each other.”

  Her attorney gave her a subtle nod, as if that was a brilliant answer and then pressed on with their planned questions. “Miss Ross, you’ve heard a lot of damaging testimony about yourself today. Would you care to defend yourself?”

  This question she answered as they’d practiced. “No. Except for one accusation. Everything stated here today has been true. I used to live with an abusive man, and many people tried to talk me into leaving him. But I’m different now. I gave my life to Jesus two years ago and with His love, I’m not the same person I used to be. I completed the full treatment course at House of Hope and graduated a year ago. I’ve remained committed to what they taught me and attend church regularly. The only thing I would contradict is that I haven’t left Remington home alone all night like they made it sound. I have left him up at our house in the Bluffs and then returned to town on a couple nights to finish some work on a house I’m remodeling. But I’ve been home by eleven each night and our housekeeper lives in an apartment above the garage, so if anything had happened he could have gone to her for help.”