The Boltons arrived at the restaurant twenty mintes later. They did not wait to be seated, seeing only one table open. Troy simply walked that way and a waitress came over with silverware and menus.
"Thank you, Marissa. Please let Zeke know we're here", Troy asked kindly.
"Sure thing, Mr. Bolton", Marissa said smiling. Her face was red as she walked away.
The older Boltons only shook their heads. Troy had always commanded the girls' attention. Minutes later, Zeke came over to the table smiling. "Hey Boltons", he greeted. He looked around. "It's a busy night." He looked at Marissa, who followed him over. "No charge for them. We don't charge family."
Troy gave him a look, but it was Jack who spoke up. "Zeke, how do you expect to make money if you don't charge people."
Zeke grinned at the man that was like a second father. "Look around, Coach. We're not hunting for customers. We can afford to feed you for free." He bent down to Ethan. "You get whatever you want, and if you eat all your food, and if Daddy says you can, I'll get you a piece of that cake you like."
Ethan smiled. "Okay, Uncle Zeke."
Zeke ruffled the boy's hair. "Good boy. When Zane is finished his dinner I'll send him out." He walked away and Marissa pulled out her order pad.
"Okay, what can I get for you guys", she asked trying not to turn red when she looked at Troy.
Troy smiled causing her heart to flutter when he looked at Ethan. "What do you want, Bud? Spaghetti or a hamburger?"
Ethan genuinely thought about it. "A hamburger, Daddy", he finally said.
"Good choice Little man", Marissa said thinking that if she could get along with the boy his father might notice her.
Meanwhile, Gabriella walked in with Taylor. As soon as she heard Ethan's voice she turned in that direction. She watched as a waitress blatantly tried to get on Ethan's good side to get to Troy. Rather than waiting for a stewardess to seat them, Gabriella went in the direction of the Bolton's table. "Well if it isn't my favorite little man", she said smiling.
"Gabi", Ethan cheered as he got up and moved around the waitress to get to Gabriella.
Marissa watched as Gabriella effortlessly gained Ethan's favor, as well as Troy's attention. He watched them with a little smile on his face.
"Hi", Gabriella greeted as she hugged Ethan. When she looked up at Troy he was smiling too. "Hey", she said a little embarrassed. "Sorry for crashing. I just wanted to say hi."
Troy shook his head. "You're not crashing. In fact, why don't you join us. Besides I don't think Ethan wants to let you go", he finished smiling at his son, mentally thanking him for his love of the woman that took up so many of Troy's thoughts.
Gabriella stood up sadly. "Unfortunately, I can't. I'm with a friend. Maybe another night."
Troy wanted to offer to have her friend join them as well, but he could already see the wheels turning in his father's head and he wasn't ready to be interrogated again. He simply smiled and agreed. "Another night."
"Bye Gabi", Ethan said sadly.
"See you later, Little man", Gabriella said with a smile. She waved and walked away to another table. She smiled when she felt Troy watching her as she walked.
He finally turned back to his own table when he heard his father clear his throat. He faced them a little red faced, embarrassed at being caught, but still managed an innocent smile. He saw a questioning looks on his parents' faces and he asked, "what?"
Jack and Lucille only laughed at their son and turned back to their grandson. Troy only shook his head. He didn't need to ask to know what they were thinking, but he wanted to keep his own thoughts to himself for a while longer.
A few days passed before Troy heard from Brock about a court date. Now here they were a week later, April 6, 2017, about to go into the courtroom. Troy looked at Gabriella across the room and she gave him a small smile, enough to let him know that it would be alright.
At nine o'clock on the dot the bailiff stood at the courtroom door. "Court is now in session", he announced. Brock, Troy, and Gabriella all filed in behind Shelby, Michael and Shelby's lawyer.
Troy and Brock sat at one table in front of the judge. Shelby and her lawyer sat at the other. Michael sat behind them and Gabriella sat, discreetly, behind Troy.
"Alright", Judge Rhiner said. "Let's get started." She looked at Shelby first. "While it makes sense that since you don't work, Mrs. Bolton, for you to have your son, it is also mu understanding that the boy has expressed a desire to be with his father, whom he currently lives with. Correct, Mr. Bolton?"
"Correct, Your Honor", Troy spoke up.
"Is the boy's child advocate lawyer here?"
"Yes, Your Honor", this time Gabriella spoke.
"Could you please come up to the witness stand and tell the court what it is Ethan wants and what you, yourself, have observed." Judge Rhiner commanded her courtroom with an ease that made you want to obey.
"Yes, ma'am", Gabriella got up and marched to the witness stand. The bailiff approached her with a Bible.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you, God?
"I do", she promised.
"Ms. Montez you went and observed both homes, correct", was the judge's first question.
"Yes ma'am. I did."
"Could you describe, for the record, what you found?"
Gabriella already told the judge all of this, but they needed a record of her evaluation. She took a deep breath and looked at Troy. He nodded giving her the courage to do what she knew she must, because she really did hate to have to take Ethan from Shelby, but she could not, in good conscience, let him go back there. She looked over at the judge and spoke. "I went to Mr. Bolton's home first, because he was the parent brave enough to get Ethan his own lawyer. When I went to the home, I walked in one a family dinner of sorts. Troy's", she slipped up. "Mr. Bolton's parents were there. Ethan was doing his homework while Troy, Mr. Bolton made dinner. When it was time for dinner, Ethan obediently cleaned up and sat at the table. He ate all of his food, and desert. After dinner, Mr. Bolton took Ethan outside to play. He didn't just sit outside and watch Ethan play. Mr. Bolton and his father both played with Ethan and when it was time to go in, he went without a fuss."
"What about at the home of Mrs. Bolton", Judge Rhiner prompted wanting to get to the important part.
"When I went to visit Mrs. Bolton's home, I first saw Ethan in the backyard alone, looking sad. When I knocked on the door, Mrs. Bolton answered, but when I explained who I was she got agitated and defiant. She didn't want to let me in, saying she had a busy day planned. She had to take her young daughter to the doctor and then they had a mother/daughter day planned. When I pointed out that that wasn't fair to Ethan Mrs. Bolton got even angrier, saying she wasn't going to change her plans just because her son was there. When I asked where Ethan would be staying she said her boyfriend, Michael Turner, would be watching him. What concerned me was when I asked her where Ethan was, she didn't know. He was outsidr alone and she had no idea. It was clear to me that she didn't care about her son, so I took him out of there."
Is it also true that Ethan expressed to you which parent he preferred to be with", Judge Rhiner interrupted.
Gabriella smiled. "Yes. He tells me that he wants to be with his daddy, because he heard Mrs. Bolton tell Michael that she hated looking at Ethan, and, in my professional opinion, he is correct. I witnessed more love for that boy in five minutes of being with Mr. Bolton than I did in the twenty I spent at Mrs. Bolton's door. Ethan wants to be with his father, and, in my opinion, that is where he belongs", she finished.
"Thank you, Ms. Montez", Judge Rhiner said. "You may step down."
Gabriella left the stand and felt Shelby's glare as she walked back to her seat.
The judge took a deep breath and sat straighter. "While the court does not usually take a child completely away from a parent in a divorce case, it is clear to me that you, Mrs. Bolton, do not care about your son, so it is the opinion of this court that full custody of young Ethan John Bolton be granted to the father." Troy took a deep breath of relief as Brock squeezed his shoulder. "In the matter of the paternity of Sara Turner", the judge went on. "Mr. Bolton, you are not her father." She banged her gavel. "Court is dismissed."
Troy had mixed emotions. He was relieved to have his son, but he felt bad for Sara. He felt horrible that he couldn't save her. Sara deserved better and Shelby should not have children. She was too needy. Too jealous. She needed a man's full attention. He hoped that Michael saw that sooner rather than later. For Sara's sake.
Shaking himself free of his thoughts,Troy turned to shake Brock's hand. As he walked out he shared a look with Gabriella. She followed him out, and felt Shelby's glare again as she went. She got on the elevator with Troy and he did what he wanted to do from the moment she got off the witness stand. He pulled her close and kissed her.
Just like before, his kiss was gentle. Gabriella almost wanted to cried at how cared for she felt. His lips glided across hers and she could feel his gratitude. "Thank you", he said when he pulled away just before the elevator doors slid open. Troy walked her to her car, pinning her between his arms against her door. "Would you like to come with me to give my parents the good news?"
She looked at him, surprised for a second. "This is a family thing, Troy. I don't want to intrude."
"You're not", he shook his head. "You're invited." He gave her that devastating smile that had her awake at all hours of thd night.
"Okay. I'll come", she said shyly.
Troy grinned as he pulled away. He opened her door and let her climb in. When she was comfortable he leaned in to kisd her and said, "follow me."
Gabriella could only smile. At this point, she knew she would follow him anywhere.
Author's note: Thanks again for your reviews and follows. I love that others love this story as much as I do. Keep reading, because I'm developing a few ideas for future chapters and if you have a thought please share. Private message me. I'd love to hear your thoughts on where the story should go. Thanks Loves!
