Following Love (22 page)

Dena stayed on his mind. She'd told him that she loved him and he didn't respond, and it looked like that lack of response had hurt her. Remembering the expression on her face was distressing.

Fifteen minutes into the meeting Jordan stood and unrolled several blueprints.

“I need to step out for a minute,” Julian said. “I'll be back in a few.” He stood and walked out.

Jordan looked at Darius questioningly.

“Dena,” Darius said.

Jordan shook his head, understanding. “I wish they'd get themselves together and stop dancing around. We all know where it's leading. That reminds me, I need to get my tux refitted.”

“Ditto.” That said, they continued with the meeting.

J
ulian went directly to Dena's office. He knocked and waited, then knocked and entered. One quick look around confirmed that she hadn't yet returned. He checked his watch then walked over to the window and glanced out. The parking lot view of the visitors' section was obstructed. Slightly annoyed and frustrated, he sat down and waited.

His thoughts centered on Dena's lackluster demeanor and troubled expression. The easy, joking frivolity of just fifteen minutes earlier had completely vanished. As Lynn and Darius obviously flirted, she was miles away. Then it hit him, the last utterances was with regard to her feelings for him. She loved him. Certainly that had left each of them somewhat thoughtful but this was something different.

There may be a case that the two of them didn't know each other long, but he knew her well enough. And there was definitely something else wrong. He stood and paced the floor, pausing to look out at her window, anxiously expecting her return.

He loved her. He knew his heart was connected to hers and when she hurt, he hurt. Lynn, her attorney friend, obviously had something to do with her demeanor. Helpless for the moment, the only thing he could do was to wait.

 

Dena had gone numb by the time she got back to her office. She walked in without even seeing Julian standing there. She stood in the center of the room and just stared at the back of the picture frame.

Julian, standing at the window, turned as soon as she entered. “Dena,” he said as he walked over to her and touched her hand.

She looked at him as if for the first time.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Not even close,” she said in barely a whisper.

“Dena, about what you said earlier, that you love me. I can see how distressed you are and I just want to…”

“I can't do that now,” she said.

“Yes, this isn't the place but we need to…”

“No, that's not the problem.”

“What is it then?”

She shook her head.

“You don't have to be here, why don't you go home early, we'll manage okay and we can talk about this tonight.”

“No, I need this. Lynn can handle everything else. I need the distraction of work. I just can't lose this time.”

“Lose what this time?” he asked. Her telephone rang. She reached for it. “Let the machine get it,” he said.

“No, I'll get it.” She picked up; it was obviously work-related. She moved behind her desk and pressed a key on her keyboard, the computer and monitor came to life. She sat down and went to work.

Julian watched her, knowing that behind the tough fighter exterior was a melting heart. Whatever was going on had shaken her to the core. And if she wasn't going to tell him, then maybe Lynn would.

“I'll see you this evening,” he said, and left.

Dena opened her mouth to cancel the evening's activities but Julian was already halfway out the door. She made a mental note to call him later and cancel. Not at all paying attention to the caller, Dena asked if she could get back to them then hung up.

Alone again in her office, she picked up and read the letter several times. Each time she got madder and madder. The audacity of Adel to set her sights on Dillon was monumental. Yet, given her vindictiveness, she should have seen this coming. It was a desperate ploy by a desperate woman.

Right now she needed to appear strong and in control. This was no longer just her life, this was her son's life and his future. And there was no way she was going to allow the law to just hand him over to Adel to raise.

She hugged her arms around her body, feeling the protectiveness of one. Her whole world was falling apart and she was alone in this.

There was Julian, but he wasn't part of this drama and she didn't want him to know what was going on. He was very explicit when he talked about his feelings on legal proceedings and lawyers. He'd been hoodwinked by a shyster lawyer then again with a false claim of paternity, the last thing she wanted to do was to drag him into her drama.

So the phantoms of her past continued to haunt her, to rape her new life and destroy any semblance of peace and happiness she might find. Adel concocting this new torture only proved that she was still a bitter, manipulative woman.

Dena looked at the clock. It was just four-thirty. She refused to leave early and allow Adel to win. So she reached over, picked up the phone and returned the earlier call then busied herself in front of the computer. Half an hour later she walked out of the building with the other employees. Granted it was still extremely early for her, but she needed to see her son now.

 

“I need Lynn's phone number,” Julian said as soon as he walked in Jordan's office. He looked at Darius impatiently.

Darius looked at him as if he were crazy. The brothers had never in the past crossed each other when it came to women, so Julian's newfound interest in Lynn, knowing of Darius' interest, was unfounded. “Excuse me?” Darius said.

“I need Lynn Brice's phone number now. Something's going on with Dena and I need to know what.”

“Out of luck there, bro,” Jordan said, “she's not going to tell you anything, girlfriends never betray a trust.”

“She's also an attorney,” Darius added.

“Well, in that case, you're doubly out of luck.”

“She'll tell me, every lawyer has a price.”

“Not all attorneys are the same, haven't you learned that yet,” Darius said, handing over Lynn's business card.

Julian punched the numbers into his cell phone and waited for her to pick up. She didn't, an answering service did. He left a message that he needed to talk to her as soon as possible. Then hung up and handed Darius the card.

“Why don't you just ask Dena what's up?” Jordan asked.

“She won't tell me. The only thing she said was that she didn't want to lose him.”

“Who's the him she doesn't want to lose?”

“I have no idea,” Julian said.

“Doesn't she have a son?” Jordan asked.

“Dillon,” Julian and Darius said.

Julian's eyes widened as he dashed out of the office.

“That's a man in serious love,” Darius said.

“I couldn't agree more,” Jordan replied as he handed Darius a hundred-dollar bill.

 

“Aunt Ellen,” Dena called as she hurried inside.

“Out here,” Ellen hollered from the back porch.

Dena walked outside to her aunt. “Would you watch Dillon this evening please?” she said.

“Sure, of course. Truth be told, I missed that little charmer while I was away, and Louise fell head over heels in love with him. She's already talking about matchmaking with her great-granddaughter,” she said happily. “Is Julian taking you out?” She looked up from her planting, seeing Dena's desperate expression for the first time. “Dena, what wrong? What happened?”

“Lynn came by the office earlier. She gave me a letter from Graham, Whitman & Morris. Adel wants temporary custody of Dillon.”

“She wants what?” Ellen asked, not sure what she heard.

“She's decided that I'm an unfit mother and that she's better suited to raise my son.”

“Oh, my goodness, she really is insane,” Ellen concluded.

“She wants to corrupt and control him like she did her own sons and her husband. Nelson was completely whipped, Kirkland was an alcoholic and Forester was both. But she's not doing that to my son. She'll have to kill me first,” Dena said. By the time she finished talking tears were streaming down her face.

“She'll have to kill the two of us,” Ellen said, hurrying to her niece's side. Dena breathed hard and fast as she looked around like a rabbit in a foxhole. “Sit down, child, you're about to jump out of your skin.”

“She can't have him.”

“She won't,” Ellen whispered gently. “She's alone, marinating in her own hatred and self-pity, and she's desperate.”

“Yes, she is. But that doesn't mean she won't win or at the very least tie this up in court for years. The state laws are clear. Dillon would be sent to foster care. And that's not happening.”

Ellen sat down, suddenly finding her legs weak. “What did Lynn say to do?”

“She told me not to do anything until I hear from her, but she doesn't know Adel like I do, she's dangerous. I can't just sit back and do nothing while Dillon's life is in jeopardy. I need to go to the house and take care of some business. I have books there with legal precedence, I need to look some things up, then I'm going to visit my mother-in-law.”

“You're what? Is that wise?”

“I don't have a choice. She's not taking my child.”

“Dena…” Ellen began.

“I don't know how long I'll be, probably late.”

“Then stay overnight, Dillon and I will be fine.”

“Thanks, Aunt Ellen, I better go now. Dillon's in the kitchen eating a snack. I'll be back as soon as I can. Call me if you need me.” She turned and went back inside.

Ellen followed her into the house and watched as she wiped Dillon's milk mustache and cleared the peanut butter and jelly spill on the kitchen table.

“Hi, Aunt Ellen, you're home again,” he said. “Guess what? I went to a construction building and got on a elevator and went all the way to the top. Mom was scared,” he said, then laughed out loud.

“Don't talk with your mouth full, sweetie,” Dena said, and she tucked another napkin under his chin.

He took another bite from his sandwich, swung his legs quicker, then continued to work on a construction site puzzle Julian had given him earlier that week.

“Aunt Ellen, I'm sorry, I completely forgot. Welcome home. How was Crescent Island and Mamma Lou?”

“I had a good time. Louise and the island are fantastic as usual. But truth be told, looks like you could use a trip there for some R and R when all this is over.”

“That sounds perfect, I just might do that. Thanks again for watching Dillon this evening.”

“Go, do what you have to do.”

She nodded then knelt down to Dillon. “Hey, sweetie, I need to dash out for a bit this evening.”

“To California?” he asked.

“No, sweetie, not that far. That's
after
your birthday, remember? You gonna be a good boy for Aunt Ellen?” He nodded, his mouth full and stuck together with peanut butter. “Good, I'll see you later, be good now. I love you.” She kissed his forehead and tickled his ear. He giggled. She stood and nodded to Ellen then left.

Moments later Dena headed home, to her real home.

She charged in and went directly to her office right off the family room. She turned on the light, grabbed and piled books by her side from the bookcases, then went to work studying up on every bit of information she could find on negligence, child endangerment and custody battles. If Adel wanted war, she intended to arm herself to the hilt.

 

Julian knocked on the door and waited. Ellen opened and smiled. “Perfect timing. I have a sink that's backed up and I need…”

“I'll send someone over first thing in the morning. Is Dena here?” he asked abruptly.

“No, she's not.”

“Is Dillon here or with her?”

“Dillon's here with me,” Ellen said.

A wash of relief flowed through him. He was wrong, Dillon was fine and safe. “What's going on, Ms. Ellen?”

“Come on in, you and I need to talk.”

Julian walked in and headed to the kitchen. “No, in here,” Ellen said as she walked into the living room and sat down. Julian sat beside her and waited impatiently.

“Ms. Ellen, I know something's going on with Dena. She mentioned something about not losing him. I thought it had something to do with Dillon but since he's here with you I…”

“If I'm not mistaken I think it's about time you called me Aunt Ellen.” He nodded. She began, “Dena has a friend, Lynn…”

“Brice. Lynn Brice. Yes, I met her this afternoon.”

Ellen nodded. “They're not just friends. Lynn is representing Dena in a four-year lawsuit against her former mother-in-law, Adel Graham, and the law firm Graham, Whitman & Morris.”

“She's suing them for money,” Julian said, obviously disappointed.

“No, she's suing them for Dillon. She doesn't need their money, or anyone's money for that matter, in case you have any lamebrain ideas. Her parents' life insurance policy hasn't been touched. Over the years it's grown considerably, believe me, she's just fine financially.”

“Then why the lawsuit?” he asked.

Ellen began at the beginning and laid out the saga of Dena's legal battles. She briefly mentioned her niece's marriage then Dillon's birth and finally the latest accounts as per the letter Lynn brought to the office. Julian asked questions, most Ellen answered without elaboration, others she left for Dena to fill in the blanks.