“We can end this. Let’s focus on today,” Jefferson reminded her.
“No!” She put her hands to her head. “No. I need to focus on Noah’s future. His every day. I don’t want my son to grow up to hate me. What if I’m wrong and this man, deserves something too.”
“What are you saying?” Jefferson walked over to her and grabbed her by the left elbow. “You don’t know this man. He is not Noah’s father. Charles is.”
Delilah shoved her attorney away. “Charles? Who the hell is Charles? He lied to me. All of you lied to me. You knew what Jaxon Price and his father did in that clinic. Now my best friend is missing, she might even be dead. And you knew.”
“I didn’t, Delilah. I would never hurt you. I care about you,” Jefferson said.
“What?” She frowned and wiped her tears.
“I care—”
“Don’t. Don’t even say it.” She put up a finger. “I don’t want to hear it. Not now. Not ever Jefferson.” She shook her head at the hurt on his face.
“Let’s finish this.” She grabbed her purse and walked out.
MAVERICK SAT AT THE table with his attorneys. They were going over what was to happen next when Delilah returned. He glanced over at her. She looked at him. It was apparent she had been crying. He felt a bit remorse for what he said to her. He believed her hatred for him had a really solid reason based on his actions.
“We have the police record about the school investigation into the death of that counselor I told you about. Some of the records are protected by law. Mr. Al Jabaar gave us something even better.” Attorney Richards whispered.
“What’s in the police report?” Maverick asked.
“An accusation of sexual misconduct perpetrated upon Delilah Montgomery and two other children. We believe from a reliable source that they killed this teacher when they were kids. I’m going to press her on it.” Richards smirked. “They want to play dirty, then so can we.”
“Killed a school counselor?” Maverick glanced over to Delilah. She didn’t look like a killer to him. Just a woman fighting for the same rights he was. “That’s bullshit.”
“What?” Richards asked.
“Whatever it is, it’s bullshit. Don’t use it,” Maverick said.
“We have her—”
“You’re my fucking attorney. I said, no!” Maverick hissed. The Judge walked back in. Everyone stood. The Judge sat, and so did they. Maverick wasn’t about to give up, but he wouldn’t play dirty like her. If he wanted his son, he had to prove to her and the Judge that he was the man who could raise him.
“Your honor,” Delilah said, as she remained standing. Her attorney looked shocked that she spoke. The Judge looked up. They all were surprised.
“Yes, Ms. Montgomery?”
“Before we proceed. I’d like to ask to return to mediation with Mr. Lennon.”
“You rejected the court's offer to mediate an agreement for visitation. Has something changed?” the judge asked.
Delilah looked over to Maverick. She looked back at the judge. “Yes, your honor. I spoke with Mr. Lennon, and I think we have an understanding between us. We need to return to the negotiation. We both want what is good for my, ah, our son. And I’d like to see if we can determine that today. If he is willing?”
“Mr. Lennon?” The judge asked.
“Yes, your honor. I’d like to meet with her,” Maverick agreed.
“Very well, we will suspend proceedings. I will wait to hear from your attorneys about what this mediation brings. The court is dismissed.”
“What just happened?” Maverick asked his attorney.
“A miracle,” Kenneth Richards mumbled.
Maverick glanced to the back of the courtroom. Armand Al Jabaar gave him a nod of assurance. It was as if he knew that Delilah would break at some point. He nodded at his benefactor and watched him stand then walk out of the back of the courtroom.
“Let’s see what Ms. Montgomery has to offer,” his attorney said. “This should be good.”
“We negotiate. All I want from her is to meet my son,” Maverick said.
“She may offer you much more,” the attorney smiled.
Chapter Six
THE COMPROMISE
Maverick took a seat at the table with his team of lawyers. Delilah had spent her entire professional career in and out of courtrooms. Still, she felt unprepared for what she knew had to be done.
“I know this custody battle between us won’t be resolved overnight. But earlier, you said something to me that made sense,” Delilah began. “You said you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Noah. I never introduced you to your son. For that, I apologize. I was wrong.”
“Delilah,” Jefferson whispered.
“I’m handling this Alvin, you’re off the case,” she said to her attorney. She never trusted Alvin Jefferson. Even when Charles was alive, he would find reasons to touch her hand or knee and linger in her personal space. He was a Charles loyalist. Since his death, he talked of Charles's life and their marriage as if he admired it. She was beginning to believe all men except her father were scum. For this fight, she had to hire scum to defeat scum. At least that was her initial reasoning. Maverick may not be a man she’d ever envision herself with, but there was something noble about how he fought for Noah. She returned her attention to Maverick. “I live in a city called Falcon Cove. I have a ranch on twenty acres of land. I want to invite you to my home.”
“For a visit?” Maverick asked.
“Yes, for a week. Stay with us for a week, and get to know your son.”
Maverick glanced at his attorney and then back to her. “And?”
“If you want visitation with Noah, you need to gain his trust. He’s barely two. He’s a baby. He remembers the father he had. All he has now is me. My ranch is big enough for you to visit in privacy, but supervised.”
“Supervised?” Maverick scoffed.
“I’m sorry if that offends you, but I am not giving my child to anyone unsupervised. I don’t know you. And what I do know isn’t enough. I need trust here, and you need it too. For Noah’s sake, we have to try.”
Maverick narrowed his eyes on her.
“I think a visit might allow us to understand each other’s intentions is a good start. At the end of the week, we return to New York for mediation, and we decide together what is best for Noah. Agreed?”
Maverick’s attorney leaned over and whispered in his ear. Delilah didn’t like that. Maybe she should have insisted that the attorneys were out of the room. She felt so anxious her knee began to shake. Without provocation, Jefferson reached under the table and placed a hand on her knee. It was inappropriate. She didn’t like his touch or want it. However, she needed an ally; she needed courage because the fighter in her wanted to go back in that courtroom and take her chances with the judge. Jefferson was there, like a lifeline, and she clung to it. Her hand slipped over Jefferson’s under the table. She gripped his and squeezed it. At that moment, she wasn’t alone.
If Maverick rejected her offer, then the judge would come in and decide that her baby would be split in half between them. Unsupervised with this man. Away from her care. The thought of it made her want to scream.