Waking at 4 a.m., she had a long day ahead. She went down and had a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Putting her game face on, she steeled herself for the day ahead. She fixed her hair, so the two-inch-long hair showed. Her scar is very evident, forcing the hair to part with cowlicks sprouting in strange directions. She made up her face to show her beauty dressed in a classic pencil skirt and silk blouse. She placed a colorful scarf around her neck. She planned to wrap it around her head once the meeting was over. One call to Gentry and he will pick her up at the courthouse and take her to the police station. She needed to make a statement for them to be able to hold the trio. They were a dumb combo. None of them put two and two together. Setting her brush down as she finished off the touch of blush on her cheeks, she thanked God they were so dumb.
She had seen the TV show Dumb Criminals and thought no way someone was that dumb, but some even are dumber. Her mother came in at 9:30, they needed to go.
"You are going to be late if we don't get going."
"So how do I look?"
"Beautiful and expensive. See what they have done, but you did survive."
"Perfect that is what I'm trying to express," she told her, taking one last look at her face.
She felt like crying, she had been so lucky, a number of faces from the rehab flashed before her eyes. She could have easily been one of those staring into nothingness people.
Reading the depression in Tomorrow's eyes, she took her arm, "come on sweetie lets go. Your only saving grace is I'm just dropping you off," her mother chided as she pulled her along.
Tomorrow found herself sitting at a table surrounded by men and to her surprise, John LeMoine sat at the far end with a frown on his face. She had been told Billy wouldn't be there; she hadn't expected John to be there either. She ignored him and focused her attention on the man in front of her. He seemed to be the one with all the questions and the tablet to write down the answers. Some woman sat with a strange contraption in front of her as they started the conversation, she started pressing buttons on the strange thing.
He started with her childhood and quickly progressed to when Billy and she met. How they got along and then dove into what happened.
"We were doing great; I thought he was going to ask me to marry him. We had been together for two and a half years, and then he went to his parents for dinner, they invited him not me. He came back angry and was rude to me and that continued for weeks." She glanced at John and then turned her attention back to the inquisitor, "I was around for a few of their shouting matches, his father seemed to feel he couldn't do anything right, and he lumped me in with him. They had another big blow out a week before I left him or at least tried. I tried to get along, to overlook his behavior. I knew he was dealing with a lot from his father."
"His father, who paid for everything," John LeMoine quipped down the table. Acting as if it was his right to be critical.
"He tried to find jobs, but they weren't good enough for you, the same with the one job I found. 'My dad says you can do better.' Billy harped at me, so I quit what was an enjoyable job to do better for you. As for you paying for everything, I have money I paid my way. My car that your son forced off the road took quite a bit of what I had. I want Billy's truck to replace mine or you can just give me the sixty thousand cash it was worth. I hold you responsible for everything that has happened. He could do nothing good enough for you. I was not good enough for you, but I do believe Billy didn't want to lose me. I think that is why he so desperately wanted me to pull over," Tomorrow told him just figuring it out herself as a tear rolled down her face. "All his bridges are burned here," she said touching her chest. "Trying to kill me was his way of covering up another failure of his. Something he was tired of being. I blame it all on you. Too bad the law does not see it my way," she told him and turned her attention back to the inquisitor. She continued on with the story, which she has told too often, and walked out with her attorney following her.
"Find out when I can pick up the keys and title to that truck," Tomorrow called back to him. Her attorney turned to go back into the room Tomorrow walked out of. She felt good, better than she has in a long time, venting at John did that for her. She did blame him, but she had to take responsibility for letting him have so much control over their lives.
The handicap ride picked Dante up an hour before court. His attorney met him at the entrance. "I spoke to the case worker, and she is all set to request placement with you."
"I'm so glad this will be over soon," Dante told him as they entered the building, and the cool air helped him breathe in deeply. Something he had not done since Helen had taken Mandy from him. He had a hell of a night, bad dreams and all. His usual sex dreams about Tomorrow were replaced with fear for Mandy with a smoke dragon pulling her breath out of her.
"We should be called in soon, things are moving quickly in this court," his attorney said as Melissa charged towards them.
"What are you doing bad mouthing me? I'm the one who has been taking care of your daughter with no help from you," Melissa sneered. Helen came walking up quickly.
"First, I have said nothing about you. I know nothing about your life. Second, I gave you the money for your life so back off woman. I will care for Mandy now and you can go on and party all you want."
"With what I have no money," Melissa complained bitterly.
"I'm sorry I have done all that I can," Dante told her. He was sorry she looked like hell. At least she has lost some weight. She gained lots of baby weight and never lost it, now she was almost back to normal. But it didn't look like she lost it in a good way. Lord, it hadn't been that long ago that he had seen her.
Helen walked between them. "It is time to go in, let's do it quietly," she admonished Melissa.
Melissa turned in a huff and pushed open the door to the courtroom. A number of people looked very unhappy, as did Melissa. Dante was thrilled but kept his emotions under control and the smile was only in his heart. He didn't want to set her off right now.
The woman in front of the judge was being reprimanded for failure to keep up her child support payments and failure to see her children at the appointed time. Her reply was so mumbled he couldn't hear her excuse, nor did it look like the judge could either. She was not happy being there. "You have three months to get it together or I will take your parental rights away from you. Do you understand," the Judge admonished her.
Again, a mumbled response and she left the courtroom. She looked to be quite young, and Dante's heart went out to her, but she had made some bad life choices.
"Melissa Hollis case number 342876. State of Texas verses Melissa Hollis. Child abandonment and neglect."
"Yes, sir, this is my case. We found the child's father and he is willing to accept custody of the child today, your honor," Helen told the judge.
"I was told he was mentally unable to care for her." The Judge queried, looking over his paperwork.
"That was the impression Miss Hollis led us to believe." Helen explained.
Dante rolled forward, "your honor, I had no idea any of this was going on. Yes, I was injured, but I'm physically fit enough to live on my own and to care for my daughter."
"Your honor, I have been to his home and have spoken to his doctors, and he is emotionally and physically able to care for his daughter."
"Miss Hollis, why did you tell the court differently just days ago," the Judge admonished her.
"The last time I saw him; he was in an old folk's home not doing well." Melissa told him.
"Your honor, which was over a month ago and I was doing well. I have moved from there to an apartment and have been taking care of myself just fine for quite some time. I called Melissa three times to see my daughter in the last month and she refused to let me see her. I told her I had my own place. She knew I was doing better. She was angry that I wasn't able to go back to my job yet and give her as much money as she was used to receiving."
"You do realize you have court, and all this information will be going to the judge in that case. You need to stop with all your lies young lady."
"Sole custody is given to," the Judge said, looking at the paperwork, "to Dante Cabot. Miss Hollis may see Amanda Sue Cabot once every two weeks for one hour supervised. Miss one visit and I will cancel them, you hear me." The Judge boomed at her. Melissa turned and walked out without a word to anyone. His attorney patted Dante on the back. "Thank you, Sir, I will guard her with my life," Dante assured him.
"Mr. Cabot don't let her work you so she can come back into your life. She is trouble," The Judge warned.
"Yes, Sir I understand, and she won't come near us," Dante assured him.
"You know the drill. Only in the office under supervision with a clean drug screen," The Judge told Helen.
"Yes, sir, I understand."
She turned to Dante. "I will bring her by 4 o'clock this afternoon."
"Thank you, I'll be waiting," Dante told her with a smile.
His attorney was all smiles too. He didn't even open his mouth and made quite a bit for sitting on a bench.
The company Dante worked for thank God pays all his attorney fees stemming from the time of his injury. Once the Social Security is settled and the settlement is done Dante will be on his own. For now, anything he needs James T Smith, Attorney at Law is at his beckon call.
They left the courtroom together; Helen had another case before the judge soon. Walking down the hall looking not too happy was his goddess. She was trying to wrap a scarf around her head, and he knew why.
"Why are you trying to hide it?" Dante called out stopping Tomorrow in her tracks.
"Because I look dumb," she said, walking towards him, scarf hanging at her side. "How have you been," she asked, leaning down to kiss his cheek. His hand slipped to her waist and stayed there. But that was Dante always copping a feel.
"I have been good; Tomorrow this is my Attorney James Smith. I just got custody of my daughter," he told her proudly.
She smiled at his attorney and shook his hand. "Daughter, I didn't know you had one," she said, letting his hand stay on her waist.
"I guess I never got around to telling you. James, we were in the same rehab."
Tomorrow turned her head so he could see her scar.
"We were matchy, matchy with our cut open brains," she teased.
"But as you can see, she is doing much better than I am," Dante shot back.
"Yes, she looks good," James said. "Call me Jim," he said with a sexy smile.
"Hey back off man I saw her first," Dante teased, rolling his wheelchair up to cut off his approach.
"Ok I see I'm out manned, I'll let you two catch up. Call if you need anything. Congratulations you did good," he told him as they shook hands.
They watched him walk away and Dante slowly rolled towards an empty bench. "Sit, please you look wonderful, but tired."
"I am but you look great. So, a daughter?" She added with a smile.
"Yes, she is two and a handful, but my ex-girlfriend got into some trouble, and I stepped in to take over."
"That was nice of you."
"Oh, no I'm thrilled about having my daughter live with me. Hey, you never came back to see me."
"I couldn't, my mother refused to bring me. She was like you're out of there, be glad. But I have thought of you often," she told him with a reassuring smile.
"I know, what do I have to offer? A ride in my chair?" he said, sounding disheartened.
"That sounds like fun." She stood and swung around and sat in his lap. "Where do you want to take me," she cooed and settled in hugging his neck.
"Keep moving like that and you will find out," Dante whispered in her ear.
She smiled and brushed her lips across his. "I can feel there is nothing wrong with that part of you," she whispered into his mouth and deepened her kiss. A hot poker shot to her middle and she thought, oh damn is he the one. The moans he gave told her he felt the same. She pulled back and smiled, then remembered where they were. Slipping out of his lap, she straightened her skirt.
"OK, you can't be lost to me again, give me your phone number," Dante demanded, pulling out his phone.
"Right, let me see your phone and I will put it in there," she told him, watching his every move. "So, tell me how you have been?"
"Good, I got my own place, and as of tonight I will have my daughter living with me. I'm working on walking still, but I can stand on my own, and move around a little, as long as I hang on. Like I can take a shower and stand at the sink," he told her, watching her type in her information to his phone.
"That is good. Sounds like you have your life in better shape than I do. I'm still under my mother's thumb."
"You know they do have this thing called the Handi Ride for people who can't drive for whatever reason."
She handed back the phone.
"Yeah, it is a great thing you just call, and they come by and take you wherever you need to go cheap." Dante told her.
"Are you inviting me to come and see you?"
"Why yes, I am. I would love to see you, and have you meet my daughter and maybe do a little more kissing, that last one kind of…"
"Made an impact," Tomorrow tossed in.
"Yeah, you could say that." Dante said, reaching for her hand.
"I would say a pretty strong impact," Tomorrow added as she laced her fingers with his.
"Let me call the Handi ride and you could come see my place now," he suggested, thinking he has a few hours before Helen was due to bring Mandy, and he could expand a lot of energy on her.
"I would love to," she said hesitantly.
"But" Dante said and waited for the rejection.
"But I have to go to the police station and make a report. I was attacked last night, and I have to make a statement."
Dante rolled back about a foot and looked her over and rolled right back. "What happened, you don't look like you're bruised."
"I should be dead, but I outsmarted them. Call for your ride, I have to call for mine." They both pressed their numbers and asked to be picked up.
As they moved to the front of the courthouse, she told him her story.
"And they came that morning for their money," Dante asked, dumbfounded that anyone could be that dumb.
"Yep, dumb as dirt, and I have to make a report, so they don't go free."
"As smart as she can be," Dante noted to her, "Ok, so you tell your story and have them drop you off at my place."
Tomorrow smiled, she didn't think Gentry would be too excited to drop her off at another man's place.
"Let's talk tonight and I'll come and meet your daughter. How late does that Handi-Ride run?"
"I don't know, but I will find out today and let you know tonight. I'll call later, after Mandy falls asleep."
"Oh, such a sweet name."
"Actually, it is Amanda Sue Cabot, Melissa named her after some aunt or somebody, but she looks like a Mandy to me."
"I know you're excited."
"I am, I haven't spent a lot of time with her lately. Melissa used her like an ATM machine. Give me money and you can see her; but once I was hurt, I wasn't made of money anymore," he told her. She could see the anger and hurt in his eyes.
"The Handi-Ride guy shouldn't be long. I told him I would need him again soon. The guy says he isn't very busy today."
"My ride is a cop car, he should be here soon too," as soon as she said that Gentry drove up, then a large white van right behind him.
She gave him a quick kiss and the same poker hit her. "Call me tonight," she called out and ran to the police car.
Gentry was just coming around to open the door and Dante saw him and remembered him from the rehab. "So, you're still hanging around, huh," Dante said through clenched teeth. He rolled down the ramp as Randy from Handi-Ride lowered the lift for his chair. He could stand and sit in the front seat, but that was too much trouble for both of them. He watched as a man ran out and handed Tomorrow what looked like a check through the window. They spoke for a few seconds and then drove off. He will have all the answers tonight Dante thought. He was determined in that. He was not going to lose track of her again.