Nikki sat in her room crying, like she had for the past week. She was miserable without Mark. She had run in to him two days ago and he had been a complete bastard. He told her he was glad she left and he found out now what an immature child she was. Nikki had slapped his face and walked off. She knew it was over between them for good. But damn it hurt so badly. Glen had told her Mark went to Austin for the custody hearing. He wanted to check out this Uncle and make sure he was a decent guy before he just gave away his rights. At least he had the sense to do that, Nikki thought. The only thing that seemed to be going right is her relationship with John. The two of them seen a lot of each other and she talked to him a lot. She was finding out he was a great guy. Now if she could just get over Mark. She sighed and decided to head down to find Glen.
Mark sat in Mr. Jensen's office.
"I'm glad you decided to come Mr. Callaway. I think you should at least have some input before you make a decision like this. Mr. Bentsen is 60 years old, but he is married. He has money and owns his own business." Mr. Jenson said.
"Whoa hold on just a minute, 60 years old. I thought he was Jasmines brother, Anna's uncle." Mark said.
"No he is Jasmine's Uncle, the one who raised her." Mr. Jenson said.
"Oh Hell no, Jasmine told me about him. She said he was abusive, the reason she was so screwed up was because of him." Mark said getting angry.
"Well there are no records of abuse their, so that's hearsay." Mr. Jenson said.
"Well I change my mind. I'm taking my kid." Mark said.
"Mr. Callaway it's not that simple. If you contest this, we will have to cancel today's hearing and have a custody determination. It would probably be in a couple of weeks. I have to be honest with you. Your single, you travel a lot, chances are you wouldn't get custody." Mr. Jenson said.
"Should I get a lawyer?" Mark asked.
"Yes. I will cancel today's proceedings and get back to you." Mr. Jenson said.
"Okay." Mark said.
Mark left and got on the phone. He called a lawyer friend of his and set an appointment to see him tomorrow. Hell if some abusive old bastard was going to get his kid. He got in his truck and headed for his hotel. Maybe I do have some parental instincts Mark thought. He knew he couldn't let an already abused child go into another abusive situation. He thought about Nikki. Maybe he should call her. "Oh come on Mark, after what ya said to her, she'll never speak to you again" Mark told himself. Mark was completely miserable without her, but it was to late now. He would have to get over it.
Mark was lying on his bed staring at the TV when the phone rang.
"Hello." He said.
"Mr. Callaway, its Mr. Jenson. The custody hearing is in two weeks." He said.
"Okay, I'll be there." Mark said.
"I'm going to give you some advice Mr. Callaway. The judge would probably lean your way if you were married. You are the natural father, but this judge goes for a family unit. He wants this child to go to a family." Mr. Jenson said.
Mark was silent. Where the hell would he get a wife in two weeks?
"I would suggest you propose to that pretty girl, you were with. She seemed genuinely concerned about your daughter." Mr. Jenson said.
"Thank you for the advice." Mark said.
Mark hung up. He would talk to his lawyer tomorrow and see what he had to say. Besides there was no way in hell Nikki would marry him now or would she? She seemed really concerned about Anna. A smile slowly lit his face. She would probably do it to help him get custody of Anna. Then over time she would forgive him and he would have his girl back. He smiled, it was perfect. They would be a family, Nikki would be happy he decided to take Anna, she would forgive him. They would make it work. Yep it was a perfect plan. He would talk to his lawyer tomorrow and then go home and talk to Nikki. For the first time all week Mark felt happy. Soon he would have his girl back and his daughter. He felt a tightening in his chest. He didn't know when his feelings had started to change for his daughter, but they had. The more he looked at her picture and her sweet little face the more he wanted her with him. Soon he thought, I will have both my girls.