CHAPTER FOUR

Sam washed his hands in the sink watching as the clear water turned red. He then studied his face in the mirror. There were a couple of cuts from where the landlord tried to stab him but they will heal.

He stepped over the landlord's body before leaving the house. He slid into his car and reached for a brochure he had found in the man's briefcase.

Summer Bay. Picturesque seaside town. Please, sounds a bit too tacky. He wondered what his son thought of it. Jake would hate it there.

Jake was better off with him. Sam grabbed his mobile and dialed his lawyer's number.

" Pete, I need you to do something for me."

" What is it?"

" I want sole custody of my son. Think you could do that for me?"

" I'll get the papers to your wife."

" Thanks." Sam hung up and smiled.

" Hey Mum." Jacob entered the living room the following morning. His mother was sitting up and yawning.

" Jacob…what time did you come home? I must have fallen asleep on the couch." She rubbed her neck, " It may look comfy but looks are deceiving."

" Not late. Around 9ish." Jacob fibbed. It was well after midnight since he got in. His wet clothes were now dry thanks to their new dryer. Whoever invented those things should get a medal. She would never need to know about his midnight dip in the ocean.

" Oh. Had some breakfast?"

" Nope…I'll make it. Do you want anything?" Jake asked cheerfully.

" No thanks." She was frowning at him.

" What?" Jacob asked warily.

" Why are you so cheerful? You're usually cranky in the mornings."

Be careful. Jacob warned himself, " I guess I slept ok and woke up feeling good." Jacob shrugged and helped himself to a generous bowl of cornflakes.

Laura stood up and headed for the bathroom when her mobile beeped. She glanced down at it. It was a text message from Morag, she wanted to have lunch. She replied and agreed to meet her at the diner. They were slowly becoming friends. Underneath Morag's tough exterior, she was a lovely person to get to know.

That afternoon, Laura met Morag at the diner. The woman smiled and invited her to sit down when Laura's mobile went off.

" Hello?"

" Mrs. Tate?"

" Ms. Tate." Laura automatically corrected the caller, " Yes?"

" This is Peter Westerman. I'm calling on behalf Sam Tate."

" Yes?" Laura said again, her hand gripping her phone. This was the call she's been dreading.

" I'm unfortunate to tell you Sam is suing you for sole custody for your son."

" What?"

" We have to arrange a meeting-"

" I'm not seeing anyone until I get a lawyer. My ex-husband will not get his hands on my son." Laura told the lawyer firmly before hanging up on him.

Laura turned to Morag, her face pale, " It looks as though I might need your services after all Morag. My ex husband is suing me."

" For what exactly?" Morag took a sip from her coffee. She liked the younger woman, she was warm and friendly. It was nice to meet someone who hasn't lived in this town for bloody ages.

" He wants sole custody for Jacob." Laura frowned, " I could understand it I guess, I was the one who left and took our son. Jacob didn't get to say goodbye to his father…not that he wanted to."

" How old is your son?"

" Fifteen. He'll be sixteen next month."

" I'd like to meet him one day." Morag said, " in the meantime, I'll get the papers ready to fight for him. I've heard of Peter Westerman, he has won every court case. He's a tough one to beat."

" If I have you as my solicitor, he'd lose his very first case." Laura said confidently.

" Do you want me as your solicitor?"

" Yes…if you want to be."

" Of course I do. I wouldn't have offered my services otherwise. We will have to talk about the court costs but-"

" Money is no object." Laura interrupted, " Not when it comes to my son." She took a long gulp of her coffee.

It seemed to Morag Laura was very devoted to her son and would do anything for him. Morag decided she would fight tooth and nail for Laura.

" I must warn you," Westerman was saying as he rifled through the bunch of papers, " The court does not take favorably to parents who wish to seek retaliation by way of child custody arrangements. Unless you can prove Ms. Tate is an unfit parent, we might not be able to proceed with the case."

" Oh she is unfit all right," Sam waved his hand dismissively. He didn't know what Westerman was blabbing on about. Westerman was one of the best solicitors in the country. He'd win this case, hands down.

" So you think Sam is doing this out of pure retaliation?" Laura asked Morag.

" Unless he can prove you are an unfit parent."

" Unfit parent!" Laura exploded, " He's the unfit parent Morag. I should be suing him but I have our son."

" We have a tough battle ahead of us-" Morag was interrupted when her phone rang. She spoke a few minutes before turning back to her client.

" I have some rather…good news."

" Oh?"

" There was a hearing scheduled in a couple of weeks but it has been cancelled. I suggest we take up on the offer of having our hearing in place."

" Two weeks?"

" In two weeks. I will let Mr. Westerman know."

" Morag, we won't be ready in two weeks."

" We will be ready…you just need to find proof that Mr. Tate is an unfit parent. Just stay calm, we can do this."