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Butterflies were dancing a jig in Harper’s stomach as she arrived at the courthouse. Reality was setting in and the fact that she’d just thrown everything away to help a man who didn’t want her was giving her cold feet.
What did she hope to gain from this? Mason wouldn’t suddenly stop regretting their time together. Layla would still belong to someone else. Her painting would never make it to California. Her mother would still cut off her funds.
Harper laid her forehead against the steering wheel. Maybe if she hurried, she could find another post office? One close enough to this town to allow her to still send the painting. It was sitting in the back of the car, almost ready to be shipped. She could finish it at the post office and mail it off. Was it possible to salvage the situation?
Layla needs you.
A small sob broke through Harper’s lips and she clamped her jaw shut to avoid any more. This wasn’t about her. She needed to remember that. Mason didn’t want her for a girlfriend, but he still probably needed a friend, and right now he definitely needed an advocate. Layla deserved a warm and loving home and the only way for that to happen was for Harper to march inside and tell the court everything.
She wasn’t naive enough to think she’d get away without sharing parts of her she wanted to keep hidden. The judge would want to know her relationship with Mason, meaning it would certainly come out that she was his ex-girlfriend, and considering she was still in love with him, she was positive there would be no way to hide that either. Somehow...they’d all be able to tell. It was still written all over her face when she looked in the mirror.
Layla needs you.
She sucked in a deep breath through her nose. She could survive this. She might not thrive, but Harper knew she’d survive and for now, that would have to be enough. Layla deserved the chance to be raised with love and that was on Harper’s shoulders.
She straightened, forced thoughts of post offices and paintings out of her head and stepped out of her car. She walked inside with her head high, despite not really being dressed for the occasion. Fake it ’til you make it. This would have to be her motto today.
Her flip flops slapped against the tile floor and she stopped at the information desk to ask which room she needed to enter. Pausing just outside the courtroom, Harper sent a prayer heavenward and threw back her shoulders. This was it. She would do what she could...for Layla.
She slipped inside quietly, and noticed immediately that Jayden was sitting up front, being questioned.
Harper sat in a seat just in front of the door. An older man, who was speaking to Jayden, glanced her way and gave a subtle nod, which Harper returned. She was going to guess that it was Mr. Thomas, the lawyer Crew had mentioned.
Her eyes traveled over the rest of the room and she saw the back of Mason’s head. He was sitting next to a man of similar coloring, but not quite as large. That must be Crew. The two heads bent together every once in a while and exchanged whispers, but otherwise the room was quiet and fairly empty.
A well dressed couple sat to the left with a man in an expensive suit. The Turleys. Mrs. Turley looked like she’d come straight from a high end fashion show and Harper could only imagine how well a toddler would fit into that world.
“Thank you, Mr. Gordon,” Mr. Thomas said.
When the prosecution turned down a chance for questions, Mr. Thomas turned to the judge. “I have one more character witness I’d like to bring up,” he explained.
The other lawyer stood. “I don’t show any more on the docket.”
Mr. Thomas acknowledged the man. “I realize that, but in this case, we had a last minute schedule opening.” He waved a hand toward Harper. “Ms. Woodson was previously unavailable, but she managed to work us into her schedule, for which we’re grateful.”
Harper stood, not missing how Mason’s head had jerked around and his jaw dropped. She gave a tiny wave to Jayden, Ethan and Gavin, who were sitting together closer to the front of the room, as she walked forward.
“Your Honor—”
The judge held up a hand. “I’m willing to hear what she has to say,” he said. He nodded at Harper. “Take a seat, please, Ms. Woodson.”
After all was settled, Harper kept her eyes on Mr. Thomas. She wouldn’t be able to keep going if she looked at Mason.
“Ms. Woodson,” Mr. Thomas said kindly. “Would you please tell us your relationship with Mr. Turley? Mr. Mason Turley?”
Harper nodded jerkily. This was exactly what she had expected. “I’m...his ex-girlfriend.”
“His ex-girlfriend?” Mr. Thomas repeated.
Harper nodded.
“Then tell us, Ms. Woodson. Why would you come to a custody battle such as this on behalf of someone you’re no longer dating?”
Harper took one last breath, forcing her chest to open and relax. “Because Mason Turley is one of the best men I’ve ever known and if anyone in this room wants Layla to have even the smallest chance at a wonderful life...they’ll leave her right where she is.”
The prosecutor stood and started to shout, and it took the judge a few moments to calm him down before he turned to Harper. “I’m guessing you spent a lot of time with Mr. Turley and the girl?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“You saw them interact on multiple occasions?”
“Yes,” Harper said again.
“And do you find him to be neglectful?” the judge pressed. “The question here is whether she is in danger because Mr. Turley is not yet ready for the responsibility of raising a child.”
“He wasn’t ready,” Harper said softly. “No one is ready to have a two year old thrust on them and go from a completely single life to one where they’re responsible for a toddler.” She leaned forward, adding emphasis to her words. “But I was with Mason from the beginning and I watched him grow, change and adapt. He not only would put Layla’s safety above his own, but his desire to give her a good life, one filled with happiness and love, cannot be matched.” She purposefully darted her eyes toward Mr. and Mrs. Turley, then back to the judge. “Not by anyone.”
The judge leaned back, studying her. “You and he obviously didn’t work out, yet you seem like a very nice young woman, Ms. Woodson. Do you really believe he’s capable of loving that little girl?”
Harper knew the answer to this, but it would expose the very inner workings of her heart to say it. For Layla. “Your Honor,” she said softly. “Anyone, whether adult or child, who manages to have Mason Turley’s love, can count themselves the very luckiest of individuals. It’s worth fighting for.”
*****
SOMEONE NEEDED TO HOLD Mason back. In a minute, he was going to rush across the room and grab Harper, kissing her until she didn’t know up from down, and then he was going to beg her for forgiveness until her muddled brain accepted him into her life once more.
“Easy,” Crew muttered out of the corner of his mouth. “There’ll be time for that later.”
Mason started. “Please tell me I didn’t say any of that out loud,” he whispered back.
Crew quietly snorted. “No, but the look on your face isn’t lost on me.”
Mason tried to force his emotions into compliance, but it was a losing battle. Why had Harper come? Why had she been willing to drive all the way up here and spend her day testifying on his behalf when he’d done nothing to earn her loyalty?
Because she’s an angel.
It seemed like every time he saw her, the term angel became more and more relevant. He had no idea what was going to happen with Layla and the custody of her, but Mason knew one thing for sure. Layla or no Layla, he couldn’t let Harper go. He’d thought he could do it. He’d thought losing Layla would take away his chance for happiness with the beautiful artist, but seeing her again brought all his feelings back to life.
She’s worth fighting for.
She sounded so confident, so put together and honest as she spoke of his virtues. By the time Mr. Thomas finished, the very air in the courtroom had changed.
“Mr. Thornbull?” the judge asked.
For the first time since the defense began, the lawyer stood. “Yes, I do have a few questions,” he said with a tight smile.
Mr. Thomas walked away and sat down next to Mason. “I don’t know why you let her go, but I hope you know that I think you’re an idiot.”
“I am,” Mason admitted. “And I’m hoping she likes idiots.”
“She’s still in love with you,” Crew said from his other side. “Any fool can see that.”
Hope surged forward, but Mason held it in check. He wouldn’t put the cart before the horse this time. Too often in the past, he’d decided Harper’s response before giving her a chance to give her own. He’d controlled his future by simply holding back and he wasn’t going to do that anymore. This was exactly what Crew had been talking about. There was every chance that Harper wouldn’t take him back, and in all honesty, he wouldn’t blame her.
His words at the hospital had been aimed to hurt. It was the only way he knew to get the always-helping Harper to leave. Small excuses would only have given her more of an opportunity to serve. He’d had to cut the ties completely and his words had been nothing but lies.
How could he ever regret his time with her? His dreams weren’t filled with diapers and crashing toddlers... They were full of a stunning artist who was one of the best things to ever happen in his life.
How he had overlooked her for so long while they were merely friends, he couldn’t begin to understand, but he was willing to make up for lost time now...as long as Harper was willing to let him.
“Thank you, Ms. Woodson,” the judge said. “You may go.”
Mason sat up straighter. His wandering mind had missed the whole conversation between her and Mr. Thornbull. Looking over, Mason noticed that the lawyer didn’t seem quite as smug as before and he prayed it was because Harper’s testimony had gone in Mason’s favor.
Mr. Thomas patted his back before standing. “Thank you, Ms. Woodson. We appreciate your time.”
Harper nodded, and then she gave a small smile to the judge, Crew and the boys in the back, but not once did her eyes meet his.
Crew chuckled softly. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“That’s the understatement of the century,” Mason grumbled. He sighed. He deserved that. He actually deserved a lot more than being ignored, but in the least, he deserved her disdain.
“We will take a short recess where I will look over the evidence presented,” the judge said. “When I have made my decision, we will come back and settle the matter.” The room stood and the judge left in a door through the back.
Mason watched him go, knowing half of his future went with the old man.
“Nothing to do now but wait,” Crew muttered.
Their parents walked by and Mason noted that his mother ignored him even more studiously than Harper did. His father, however, paused. “Mason,” he began.
Mason raised an eyebrow. “Dad.”
Timothy Turley hesitated, then shrugged. “You know how your mother gets.”
Mason nodded. “I do. But also know that you don’t have to agree with her.”
“I don’t agree with this,” his dad said with a huff. “Having Aimee and your mother fight for eighteen years was bad enough. I’m not ready for another two decades of it.”
“Then why didn’t you stop her?” Crew asked, stepping up to Mason’s shoulder. “Being here means you’re supporting her.” He shook his head in disgust. “You do realize any relationship you had with us is over, right?”
Their dad’s face fell. “I’m not trying to choose sides.”
“You already have,” Mason said in a low tone. “And in a family matter like this, you can’t not choose sides. There are only two choices for Layla. With you or with me. One side or the other.”
Their dad sighed and rubbed his forehead, looking older than he had only a few minutes before. “I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen.” He splayed his hands. “She’s my wife.”
“Yeah...and Layla’s your granddaughter,” Mason shot back.
“And Mason’s your son,” Crew added.
Their dad nodded sadly and walked away.
Somehow, it felt more final than it should have. A little voice in the back of his head told Mason that this courtroom would determine whether or not he ever saw his father again, but the notion felt ridiculous.
A low whistle caught his attention and he turned to see his friends waiting. “And I thought Aspen brought drama into the family,” Jayden said with a half smile. He reached out and shook Mason’s hand. “I’m sorry about all this, man. It stinks.”
Mason nodded. “It does, but I’m grateful you’re here. Thanks for taking the time to speak on my behalf.”
“Not sure why we even came,” Gavin said with a grin. Of all their friends, he was the closest in size to Mason, being a firefighter who enjoyed staying in shape between runs on the truck. “Harper put all our testimonies to shame.” He leaned in. “Was I hearing things, or did she say she was your ex-girlfriend?”
“You heard right,” Mason admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
“When the heck did that happen?” Ethan jumped in. “You were together the night we all met Layla, right?”
Mason nodded. “It’s...a long story.”
Ethan’s right eyebrow rose high. “From your tone, I doubt it’s a happy one.”
“No...it’s a story of how stupid I am.”
Jayden chuckled, then shrugged. “Sorry. But I think every guy in existence has a story like that.”
“Mason!” Mr. Thomas came rushing back into the room. “He’s ready.”
“Wait...what? Who? The judge?”
Mr. Thomas nodded and settled himself, standing at the table while Mason’s parents and their lawyer came back in as well. “Get ready men, your fate is being decided now.”