CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Two weeks passed before a family court judge was ready to hear Brian’s custody case. He and Gerald Johnson walked into the courtroom looking like two men ready for the battle of a lifetime. Olivia and her Atlanta attorney sat at the table across from them. Brian shot a contemptuous glance her way, which she returned with an icy stare.

“Don’t give her any more ammo,” Gerald whispered in Brian’s ear as they took their seats.

Moments later, court was called to order. The honorable Charles White, an imposing man with silver hair and pale skin, was presiding over the case. He took the bench, peering over his glasses at Brian and Olivia.

“The first thing I always say in these kinds of cases is that this isn’t about who the better parent is or ego. We’re here because a child needs to have his mother and father in his life. With that being said, let’s get this case started.” He pushed his wire-rimmed glasses off the bridge of his nose.

Olivia’s attorney, Malcolm Kittle, stood up. “Your Honor,” he said with a thick southern drawl. “My client has been denied access to her son. She divorced Mr. Jackson and moved to Atlanta. Her intention was to come back and take her son to Atlanta once she got her home ready for him. However, when she returned she was met with resistance from her former husband.” The man paused, wiped his round, oily face and continued.

“Olivia Jackson has always been a good mother. While her husband is no doubt a decent father, she was the one the child spent most of his time with up until six months ago when the couple split. Mr. Jackson is a police officer and due to his work schedule, he can’t provide the boy in question with the time and supervision that he needs. During their marriage, Mr. Jackson worked many overnight stakeouts, went undercover for weeks at a time and if it wasn’t for Mrs. Jackson, the little boy would have been pushed off on babysitter after babysitter. That’s no life for a child, but it’s what he’ll have with his father.”

Brian rolled his eyes in disgust as the man spoke. Olivia made it seem as if all he ever did was work and never took up any time with his son. He had been by Olivia’s side when they tucked Mickey in at night, unless he was working undercover. Regardless, he had been there every morning, even if he was coming in from an all night stakeout. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“My client, Your Honor, is seeking sole custody of her son with limited visitation,” Kittles said.

The words hit Brian like a Mack truck. “What the hell,” he mumbled, then turned to Gerald, who looked dumbfounded. “Do something.” Gerald nodded and stood up. “Your Honor,” he said, then shot a sharp look at Kittles and Olivia. “If I may interrupt my colleague, this hearing was supposed to be for shared custody of Brian Jr. And I would like to take this time to say that Mrs. Jackson abandoned her family in the middle of the night and didn’t leave a forwarding address or telephone number. It was weeks before Brian Jr. heard from—”


“Your Honor,” Kittles interrupted. “I think Mr. Johnson will have time to present his case.”


Judge White banged his gavel. “Did my opening remarks go over your heads? What I have in front of me is a petition for shared custody. What you need to do, Mr. Kittles, is get the appropriate paper work to the court. I don’t know if you all in Atlanta play fast and loose with the rules, but we don’t in Elmore.”

“Well, uh, Your Honor, some circumstances came up that made it necessary for my client to push for full custody,” Kittles stammered.

“Regardless, I don’t have that information. And this ruling is of high importance to Brian Jackson Jr. I want the new information before we proceed. This case will be continued next month. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, I suggest you take this time to try and form an agreement that you both can stick to. I don’t like the nastiness that I’m feeling in this courtroom.” He shot a glance in Gerald’s direction. “I will not tolerate grandstanding from either side.” Judge White banged his gavel. “Next case.”

Brian leapt out of his seat and stalked over to Olivia like a tiger that had been released from a cage. “Why are you doing this?” he nearly shouted as they walked out of the courtroom.

“Get away from my client,” Kittles said. 


“Olivia!” Brian said. “You aren’t taking my son from me.”


She sneered at him. “Watch me,” she snapped before she and her attorney walked out the door. 
 Gerald grabbed Brian’s arm. “Don’t do that again. You don’t need to say anything to her,” he said. “I’ll contact her lawyer and see if we can work something out.”

Brian shook his head and dashed out of the courthouse. He sat in his truck and pounded his fist against the steering wheel. He wanted to take his son and disappear. But he wouldn’t because Mickey deserved to have his mother in his life. The old O’Jays song, Hooks in Me, popped into Brian’s mind. He didn’t know what he had ever seen in Olivia, looking at her now. There didn’t seem to be a trace of the woman he’d fallen in love with in this cold Olivia. Maybe her new haircut had cut her heart out too. She used to be a loving and caring woman who he’d shared his dreams with while watching the stars at the lake. But she was different now.

“Damn you, Olivia! As much as I used to love you, I will fight you for my son!” Brian exclaimed as he started his the engine. He headed to the police department where he had to start his shift.

Paige hadn’t talked to Brian since her fight with Olivia. Embarrassed and certain that he would never speak to her again, she kept herself busy by redecorating her house. She moved her sofa three times, took the paintings off the walls only to hang them up again in the same spot. But today, Paige couldn’t spend another three seconds in her house. She dashed out of the house, hopped into her car. I should’ve stayed in Nashville, she thought as she headed for the bypass.

Paige didn’t care that she was doing ten miles over the speed limit. As she shifted gears to pass a slower driver, she didn’t notice the police cruiser planted on the shoulder of the road looking for speeders. The next thing she knew, blue lights were flashing behind her.

“Damn it,” she muttered as she pulled over. Reaching for her purse, she noticed it wasn’t in the car. Paige looked up and saw the officer was none other than Brian Jackson.

She rolled her window down.


“I warned you,” he said. 


“Hello to you too,” she replied. 


“License and registration,” he said in a voice that was all business.

“I left my purse at home.”

Brian pulled his aviator sunglasses off and looked at her with a cold stare that chilled her. “I don’t have time to play games with you,” he said.

“And I’m not playing a game. I ran out of the house to clear my head and I guess I left my purse, which contains my driver’s license.”

“Wait here,” Brian said. He walked back to his squad car.

Paige watched him as he walked away. No one wore a police uniform like Brian Jackson. She had to wonder if she’d ruined her chances with him. When he walked back to the car, she was poised to apologize—until she saw the pink slip in his hand.

“What is this?” she asked when he handed it to her. 


“A written warning. Next time, Paige, you’ll receive a ticket.”


She raised her eyebrow but kept her attitude in check. “Brian,” she called out as he started to walk away. “Do you think we can talk?”


“Not right now, I’m working.”


“What about later? I have a lot to explain,” she admitted.


“Tonight after work,” he said. “But right now I have to get back to patrol.”

Paige nodded and drove off, this time following the posted speed limit. She had to make things right with him. She returned to her house and retrieved her purse, then headed for the grocery store.

At the farmer’s fresh market, Paige picked up food for a sexy midnight snack—red ripe strawberries, a bunch of red cherries, a large can of whipped cream and milk chocolate dipping sauce. I hope he likes things sweet, she thought as she headed to the register. Despite the risk, Paige was ready to seduce Brian. She wanted him and it was time for her to let him know that she was ready to be a good part of his life, not just another problem.

Paige had never fallen so deeply in love before, not even with her ex- fiancé. She took a twisted pride in the fact that she could run a man away. Just like her mother, she thought her destiny was to be alone. But Brian had gotten to her and made her want to be a part of a couple. She cared about him and his son and she didn’t want to lose him. She wanted to be there for him, support him and his dreams.

Being with Brian was just as comfortable as slipping into a pair of cotton pajamas and sleeping underneath handmade comforter.

But Paige was also a realist. Knowing that he had lingering feelings for Olivia wasn’t something she could ignore. But she couldn’t let Olivia know how easy it was to provoke her, either. Fighting like a high school kid wasn’t cool and she knew better. Now she was going to have to convince Brian of that.