Broken Trust
Lacey's knuckles paled as she gripped tightly the document handed to her earlier. Sherriff Eddie delivered the papers personally knowing that his friend would be upset.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Eddie rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Lacey."
Lacey's eyes had a sheen of moisture alerting unshed tears. "No. When..Ummm. I guess I need to make him an appointment."
"Actually, Thomas has one tomorrow set up at Green Grove Clinic." Eddie hated telling Lacey more details. "The DNA test is only a mouth swab. But I have to be there to witness it. Or another officer. I thought you would want it to be me considering I know Thomas. You're not allowed in the room."
"What?" Lacey snapped her head back in shock. "Why? This is ridiculous! He's my son."
"It is all in the papers." Eddie explained. "Read over them but it is court ordered."
"I never even had a chance to protest this." Lacey squeezed the papers tighter. "How is that fair?"
"This is a court order, Lacey, to prove Danny's paternity over Thomas. If Thomas is Danny's..." Eddie knew that he was but he wanted Lacey to know where she stood legally.
"We all know he is." Lacey placed her hands on her hips. "What happens when Danny is proven to be the father?"
"Then you will have the chance to fight Danny in court for whatever he has in mind for Thomas." Eddie sighed out. "Those intentions won't be known until paternity is proven. Danny is doing this all legal and making sure he crosses all t's and dots all i's."
"Of course he is." Lacey paced back and forth in front of Eddie. "Thanks. Can I at least go with him to the clinic?"
"Yes." Eddie turned and took a step off from Lacey's front porch. He turned back around to address her. "Danny will be there too. I thought I'd warn you."
"Thanks, Eddie." Lacey watched as Eddie headed to his car.
Lacey blinked a few times trying to keep her tears at bay. She noticed a car pulling up to her home. She was relieved to see Trevor step out of the car.
"Hey." Trevor walked up to her. "Jo called. How are you holding up?"
Lacey thrust the papers towards Trevor. "Danny is ambushing me."
Trevor took the papers as he glanced at Lacey. "I have a degree in business law but I can look these over for you."
"Please." Lacey nodded for Trevor to come in. "I hate to ask but I feel completely lost."
"You're my friend. I want to help." He said kindly.
Trevor followed her in then sat at the kitchen counter. He carefully read over the documentation as Lacey prepared lunch for Thomas, Trevor, her dad and her.
"I'm sorry to say, Lacey. But Danny's lawyer has really put everything in motion. There isn't much you can do but follow this court order." Trevor sighed out. "After that Danny will probably file a petition for custody or visitation of some kind."
Lacey swallowed as Thomas came running into the room. She had let him miss preschool due to being warn out from worry the night before. She picked up Thomas and placed him in his booster seat and buckled him in. Thomas took a bite of his sandwich then undid his buckle on his seat and slid down to the floor. He walked around the table taking bites as he went in a circle. Lacey sighed as she rustled Thomas's hair when he passed her.
"I can't imagine not being with him every night." Lacey bit her lip as she turned to Trevor. "Are there options due to Thomas's special needs that Danny only get visitation for a few hours like Thomas goes to school?"
"First we have to see what Danny is after." Trevor stood up. "Then I'll go from there."
"You'll represent me?" Lacey looked hopeful as she stared at Trevor.
"Of course. But it has been years since I've been in the Family Court system. I am going to do the leg work and see if a friend of mine can represent you pro bon o." Trevor walked to the door followed by Lacey. "Sorry, I can't stay for lunch like we planned. But I want to get started on this in case Danny is going all out on this custody thing."
Lacey nodded as she held onto the door knob. "Thanks again."
"Lacey, is there anything you know about Danny that could prevent him from getting any custody to your son?" Trevor hated to ask. "I've heard rumors."
"No , there is nothing." Lacey rubbed her arms uncomfortably.
"Okay." Trevor smiled as he watched Lacey walk back into the kitchen to be with Thomas.
Samuel stood at the edge of the porch holding his gardening tool. He had been working on the front flower bed. "She is still protecting that man after what he is putting her through."
"Excuse me, Samuel. Do you know something that can help her case?" Trevor leaned against the porch banister. "Because with Desai's money, he has the best lawyer in the state."
"How about the fact that Danny is a convicted murderer?" Samuel took off his work gloves. "He claimed later that his dad set him up. Lacey believes him. But he spent from the time he was 11 to the time he was 16 in juvie for murder. Even if Danny is telling the truth, places like that change a boy. Maybe you could check into that history. He also killed his own dad. That was self defense according to Danny. But doesn't Danny's violent side need explored before he can start taking care of a child? No less a child that can be very demanding like our Thomas."
Trevor looked at Samuel as he rubbed his neck. "His juvenile records are sealed. However, I can see what I can do. Are you sure this is something Lacey would want? Perhaps, I should ask her?"
"Listen, Trevor." Samuel breathed out raggedly. "That girl of mine has been put through a lot over the years. Part of what she has endured was all the fault of Danny Desai. She saw his dead aunt's body. She had to see one of her best friends go to prison for that murder. She had to fight her way back from being bullied when she was a child due to Danny's actions. Then Danny gets out of juvie only to swoop in on her. He didn't care that Lacey was happy with a group of friends and a boyfriend who adored her. All Danny thought about was wanting Lacey as his own. Then he pushed her away after she lost all her friends. This was just in a month or two of him returning to Green Grove. Lacey was only sixteen for goodness sake." Samuel glanced down at his gloves in his hand. "The sad part is that I was so busy having my own secret life that I forgot to give Lacey the attention she needed. Her mother was doing the same. We didn't even find out until months later that our own daughter had a sex video out there with Danny."
"A what?" Trevor was shocked. He didn't expect that from Lacey.
Samuel held up his hand. "No. Not like that. Sorry. That sounded bad. Danny and Lacey were filmed without their knowledge. My point was that Judy and I were so caught up in our own lives that we neglected our sixteen year old daughter. I won't do that to her ever again. If Lacey can't think to go at Danny full force because of her left over feelings for him, I most certainly will."
Trevor nodded as he stepped down from the porch. "I'll work on it, Samuel. I'll dive into Danny's background. However, I won't do anything without talking it over with Lacey."
Both men noticed Thomas standing in the doorway rocking on his heels. He stared at the sky as he hummed.
Trevor and Danny's lawyer, Macy Winthrop, stood with Lacey and Danny. Thomas clutched onto Lacey's hand tightly. He didn't like being in this strange place with these strange people.
Eddie walked through the door about the same time the nurse walked out. The nurse called Thomas Porter back to the medical room. Lacey picked Thomas up to place him on her hip to follow the nurse. Ms. Winthrop stepped forward.
"Only the lawyers and the police officer are allowed to be present. No parents. That way there will be no claims of foul play on both parties." Ms. Winthrop nodded for Officer Eddie to take Thomas from Lacey's arms.
"No." Lacey stated. "He doesn't like to go in strange places without me or someone close to him." Lacey was visibly upset.
"I'm sorry." Officer Eddie put his hands back down.
"This is ridiculous." Danny shook his head. "Let him have the test made, Lacey. Quit fighting the inevitable."
"NO!" Lacey's voice grew louder causing Thomas to cling to her tightly around the neck.
"Officer have this woman arrested for not following a court order." Ms. Winthrop spoke hoping Lacey would allow her son to go with Eddie.
Before Danny could protest that wasn't necessary, Trevor spoke up. "Seriously, Macy. This mother is only trying to protect her son."
"And I'm trying to protect my client's rights, Trevor." Ms. Winthrop glanced at Lacey. "What is it going to be, Ms. Porter."
Lacey felt a tear roll down her cheek as she tried to hand her son off to Eddie. Thomas wailed and cried as he clung tighter to his mother. Eddie hated to do anything but Danny's lawyer threatened a law suit if the court orders were not complied to. He reached and tried to pry Thomas from around Lacey. This only caused Thomas to wail louder and hit his head with his fist.
When Danny saw his son visibly shaken, he spoke up. "Let her go. Just let her take him." Eddie was relieved and took his arms off Thomas. Thomas snubbed up against Lacey's neck. Danny walked up and touched Thomas's cheek trying to calm the child. "You can go with your mommy."
Lacey pulled Thomas away due to the anger she was feeling about having her son to be made this upset. It wasn't like she'd protest a paternity test. Why was Danny acting like this?
"Are you sure, Mr. Desai?" Ms. Winthrop felt it was best to show Lacey how serious Danny really was. Danny had already said he'd prefer to settle out of court. This was a scare tactic to get Lacey to come to an agreement with Danny once the child was proven his.
"Yes. But I'm going to." Danny glared at Lacey. "Considering his mother deliberately tried to upset the child so she could get her way."
"How dare you!?" Lacey pulled Thomas into a tighter hug. "You are abhorrent."
"Whatever, Lacey." Danny smirked at her. "You got your way this time. Next time, I won't be so nice."
Lacey started to say something but Trevor touched her arm and whispered. "Let this go. He may be a jerk but the court order could be enforced. At least you get to go back with Thomas now."
Trevor placed his hand on the center of Lacey's back as he escorted her into the clinic room. Thomas still clung to her making little sniffling sounds. Trevor touched Thomas's back with his other hand as he tried to help Lacey soothe the little boy. Danny felt indignation run rapidly through. How could Lacey let her boyfriend get to know Thomas when he was never apart of his life? He would not allow this child to be taken from him any longer.
Danny turned to Ms. Winthrop. He made sure Lacey heard each word. "When this proves that child is my son, file the papers immediately. I don't care how much it costs. Get this done."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Desai." Ms. Winthrop had already been told by Danny to be easy on Lacey. That coming to an agreement out of court was better for them all. It seemed Lacey's bringing her lawyer boyfriend backfired.
"What the heck, Danny?" Lacey addressed him angrily. "You're betraying every bit of trust I have left in you."
Danny merely raised his eyebrow and smirked. "That's rather self-righteous of you, Lacey." Danny glared at Trevor daring him to say a word. "This isn't about you and me. It is about OUR son. Let's get this over with."
The nurse nodded as all watched. Thomas clinched his jaw so that his mouth remained closed. The nurse spoke soothingly. "It won't hurt. I promise."
Thomas moaned but kept his mouth sealed shut. The nurse glanced at the lawyers. "Should I pry his mouth open or take blood."
"Don't even dare." Lacey pulled Thomas closer to her.
"Lacey, quit being so self serving." Danny stepped up to Thomas and Lacey. He whispered in Lacey's ear. "I know you can ask him to do this for you. Don't make this baby suffer for your pride."
"MMm..mmmmm." Thomas rocked in Lacey's arms nervously.
Lacey wanted to slap Danny. This had nothing to do with pride. Thomas was frightened. Everyone was staring at him. He didn't like strangers at all. If Danny hadn't been so stubborn, she could've taken Thomas in alone to get this procedure done and over with.
"Thomas, will you open your mouth for mommy?" Lacey pulled him to look at her. "I love you. Mommy won't let anything bad happen to you."
Thomas's eyes didn't focus on Lacey. However, he still opened his mouth wide enough for the nurse to get a couple of swabs for the DNA test.
"Satisfied?" Lacey glared at Danny and his lawyer.
"Very." Danny wanted so badly to hold the child Lacey had in her arms. However, he would wait. He knew that time would come soon enough.
Thomas turned to look at Danny. He muttered loudly to Danny. "Murderer."