Barbara Wallace - I Do... - Her Accidental Engagement / A Bride's Tangled Vows

“I’m the one they’re going after,” she told her mom. “And Charlie.” A sob escaped her lips and she clamped her hand over her mouth.

Lainey rushed to her side and Julia let herself be cradled in her sister’s warm embrace. Silence descended over the trio. This was the time Julia would normally make a joke or sarcastic remark about her propensity to ruin her own life. But, right now, she was just struggling to not break down completely.

This was the reason she hadn’t told her family. Their sympathy and the disappointment she felt from them brought back too many memories of the past and the feelings that went with it. Her LD and the shame that went with it had made her put up walls against everyone around her. She’d gotten used to getting by, keeping secrets, not letting on how bad things really were. It was a difficult pattern to break.

From the time she’d been younger, Julia had made an unintentional habit of disappointing the people she loved. She’d let other people’s judgments guide the way she lived her life. The belief that she was lazy and stupid had stopped her from getting help so many times. It was easier not to open up to her family about her emotions. She was too afraid of being exposed as weak and lacking in their eyes.

Even when she’d shown up on her mother’s doorstep, pregnant, broke and alone, she hadn’t cried or offered long explanations or excuses. She just kept moving. Now she felt stuck in quicksand, as though nothing could save her.

Vera’s palm slammed onto the desk. “We won’t let this happen. Have you consulted Frank?”

Julia nodded. Frank Davis had been practicing law in Brevia for as long as she could remember and was a friend of her mother’s. After Sam’s suggestion that she see an attorney, she’d hired him to represent her. “He’s helping with the case.”

Vera nodded. “That’s a good start. You need to talk to Jeff. To understand why he’s doing this now when he had no previous interest in being a dad. Surely you’ll be awarded sole custody. You’re Charlie’s mother and you do a wonderful job with him.”

“I don’t know, Mom. Jeff’s family is arguing that they can give Charlie opportunities he’ll never have with me.”

“A child doesn’t need anything more than a loving family. Let them set up a college trust if they’re so concerned with opportunities.”

“What do you want to see happen?” Lainey asked.

That question had kept Julia up many nights. “I’ll support them having a relationship with Charlie. I’m sure as he gets older he’ll have questions about his father’s family. I want him to be surrounded by all the people who love him.” She paused and took a breath. “I’m afraid he’ll eventually choose them.”

“He won’t,” Lainey said softly.

“You can’t know that. But he needs to live with me now. Full-time. Swapping him back and forth is ludicrous.”

“I’m going to the mediation,” Vera announced.

Julia’s stomach lurched. As much as she appreciated and needed her family’s support, she was afraid it would only make her more nervous to have her mother with her. “That’s not a good idea. I appreciate the offer but I need to handle this on my own.”

Lainey squeezed her shoulder and asked, “Has Jeff contacted you directly or tried to see Charlie?”

Julia shook her head. “No. Neither have his parents, other than when I got messages about discussing the custody arrangement.”

“When did that start?” Vera came around the side of the desk.

“About a month ago. I ignored them until the certified letter arrived last week.”

“Ignoring your problems doesn’t make them go away.”

Funny, it had always worked for Julia in the past. She’d taken the easy way out of every difficult situation that came her way before Charlie. And thanks to the complexity of her difficulties processing both words and numbers, problems seemed to plague her. From bad rental agreements to unfair terms on a car loan, her inability to manage the details of her life took its toll in a variety of ways. Still, nothing had prepared her for this.

A knock at the door interrupted them.

“Come in,” Vera said.

A member of the shelter staff entered, leading in a gray dog. Or more accurately, the gray dog led her. Upon seeing Julia, the animal pulled at the leash, his stubby tail wagging. His lips drew back to expose his teeth.

“That’s quite a greeting,” Lainey said with a laugh.

“Sam thought it was a snarl when the dog first came at him.” Julia bent to pet him. The dog wiggled and tried to put his front paws on her chest. She body blocked him. “Down.”

“What’s the report?” Vera asked the young woman.

“We’ve done his blood work and tested him for heartworm and parasites. Surprisingly, he got a clean bill of health.”

“That’s great.” Julia felt relief wash over her. “Have you had any calls about a lost Weim?”

The young woman shook her head. “Not yet.”

“We’ll do a three-day hold before he moves onto the available-dog list.” Vera dropped to her knees next to Julia. The dog lunged for her, teeth gleaming, but Vera held up a hand and gave a firm “No.” The dog’s rear end hit the carpet, although one corner of his mouth still curled.

Julia met her mother’s gaze. “The smile’s not good for him, is it?”

Vera shrugged. “It depends on the potential adopter, but a lot of people might think the same thing Sam did. We’ll find a place for him. We always do.”

Julia stroked the dog’s silky ear. She’d planned on leaving the Weimaraner at the shelter this morning. “Can I foster him? Until the waiting period is over or someone shows interest. I’ll work on basic training commands to help offset the shock of the smile.”

Vera hesitated. “You’ve got a lot going on right now, honey. Weims aren’t easy dogs. They can have separation anxiety and get destructive.”

Frustration crept across Julia’s neck and shoulders. “You know being in a foster home is better for a dog’s well-being.” She couldn’t believe her mother would insinuate the dog would be better in the shelter than with her.

“Of course,” Vera agreed, as if she realized she’d crossed some imaginary line. “If you’re willing to, it would help him immensely.”

“Have they named him yet?” Julia knew the shelter staff named each animal that came in to make their care more personal.

The young woman shook her head.

“Call him Casper,” Julia said.

“The friendly gray ghost?” Lainey asked, referring to the breed’s well-known nickname.

Julia nodded. “It fits him and will give people a sense of his personality.”

“Perfect,” her mother said then asked the young woman, “They’ve done a temperament test?”

She nodded. “He’s a big sweetie.” The walkie-talkie clipped to her belt hissed. “I’ll finish the paperwork with Julia as the foster.” When Vera nodded, the woman smiled and walked out of the office.

“It’s settled.” Julia was going to make sure this dog found the perfect home. She straightened. “Charlie will be thrilled.”

She turned to her mother. “I need to get Charlie from Ethan and drop him to the sitter before heading to the salon.”

“I’ll take him today,” her mother said, in the same no-argument tone she’d used earlier.

“Really? I’m sure your schedule is packed after your trip.”

“I’d love to.”

Julia gave her mother a quick hug. “Thank you.” She turned to Lainey. “Both of you. It helps to know I’m not alone.”

“You never have been,” Vera told her.

“And never will be,” Lainey added.

* * *

As she gave Charlie a bath later that night, Julia had to admit Sam had been right. Talking about the situation with Lainey and her mother had made her feel more hopeful. She might have flitted from job to job and through a number of cities during her twenties, but now she’d settled in Brevia. She was close to the point where she could make an offer to buy the salon, assuming this custody battle didn’t wipe out her meager savings.