Rushing the Goal
Page 146

He let out a long breath as he read the documents, and Benji figured he was frustrated. Like everyone else. Looking over at Rick’s lawyer, the judge asked, “Mr. Holloway, do you need a moment to speak with your client on the requested changes to Angela Hart’s parenting plan?”
The lawyer didn’t hesitate. “No, sir. My client does not want to change the parenting plan. He only wants to alter the physical custody of Angela Hart.”
The judge leaned on his hand. “How do you mean?”
Rick’s lawyer swallowed hard. “Mr. Hart would like to request full physical custody of Angela Hart.”
Benji looked at the judge as Angie asked Lucy, “What does that mean?”
But Lucy shook her head, holding Angie’s hand as Mark stood. “Judge, obviously we have a problem with that.”
“I’d say,” the judge said, letting out another breath. “Mr. Holloway, reasoning?”
Standing too, like Mark, he nodded, holding a sheet of paper in his hand. He was a small man, kind of scrawny, not sure of himself. Unlike Mark, who stood proudly and took up the whole room with his presence. It was hard not to appreciate the guy, not that Benji would make that public knowledge if he was around a Sinclair.
“My client feels that Ms. Sinclair isn’t raising Angela the way he would. He feels she is spoiled and rude. That the diagnosis they have is fake—”
“I have paperwork saying otherwise,” the judge interjected and the lawyer nodded.
“Yes, but he feels that Ms. Sinclair paid to have that written up.”
The judge looked to Mark. “Where did you get this from?”
“I had the doctors and therapist fax the paperwork to me. The cover letter is attached and the medical professionals have affixed their seal to each page.”
Man, Mark Sinclair didn’t play.
Shifting the papers around, the judge nodded. “This paperwork seems accurate to me, Mr. Holloway. Anything else?”
Rick looked pissed, probably because the judge thought he was a joke. Or maybe that was just Benji’s feeling. He wasn’t sure, but when Lucy looked back at him hopefully, he smiled.
“We got this,” he mouthed and she nodded before looking up at the judge who was waiting for the lawyer to speak.
“Yes, sir. He has an issue with Ms. Sinclair’s boyfriend, Benjamin Paxton.”
Well, shit.
He knew Rick would bring him up, but it still made his stomach drop.
“Okay? What’s the issue with him? You know what? Wait. Angela, tell me about Mr. Paxton.”
Angie sat up and Lucy smiled as she leaned on the table, her little feet kicking. “Benji’s the best,” she said and the judge smiled. “He plays hockey with me, and he teaches me how to do different things. He leaves a lot ’cause he’s a pro hockey player, like, the best in the league. He had two Stanley Cup rings, and they are so huge! They don’t even fit my fingers. It’s crazy, but…” She paused, her little feet still kicking happily as she leaned on her hands. “He loves me so much, tells me all the time. And he plays with me, we have dance parties, and he picks me up from school—and he’s just great. I want him to marry my mom so he can be my dad.”
Sucking in a breath, she went to say more, but the judge stopped her as Benji’s heart took flight. To be that girl’s father would be an honor.
“So you like him?”
“Oh, yes, sir! I love him! He’s amazing and so funny,” she giggled, looking up at Lucy, who beamed. Benji couldn’t stop grinning, his heart skipping a beat in his chest. When Angie glanced back at him, he winked, and she smiled so wide he could see the tooth she had lost the night before.
Man, he loved that little girl.
The judge nodded before looking back at Rick’s lawyer. Rick was fuming, his whole face red, as his lawyer fumbled with papers. “As you were saying, Mr. Holloway?”
Benji watched as he cleared his throat, holding the paper in front of him while Rick glared over at him. Benji rolled his eyes as the lawyer said, “Mr. Paxton is an alcoholic—”
“Recovering. He’s been clean twelve, going on thirteen, years, your honor,” Mark corrected and the judge nodded. “Hasn’t had any run-ins with the law. I have documentation of his stay at the Rehab Center of Chicago, documentation from his AA leader, who says he is a good man. Even letters from his boss and some of his fellow players. Everything is here if you need to see it.”
The judge motioned for him to bring it forward as he said, “Thank you. Mr. Holloway, next complaint against Mr. Paxton?”
“My client feels he is trying to steal his daughter. That he is trying to buy her off, to make her love him.”
Benji’s face twisted, matching the judge’s as he shook his head. “Proof of this?”
When the lawyer actually got up, Benji’s heart stopped as his eyes widened.
What the hell?
Lucy looked back at him, her eyes full of distress as Mark looked over at her. The lawyer said, “There was a savings account opened in her name where he makes regular deposits.”
The judge looked at the paperwork and then up at Mark. “Counselor?”
Mark looked over at Lucy and she panicked, looking back at Benji.
Leaning toward Mark, he said, “It’s for Angie, for college.”
She made a face as Mark cleared his throat. “Apparently, it’s an account that Mr. Paxton opened for Angela for when she goes to college.”