Vulnerable [Suncoast Society] (Suncoast Society #29)(58)

The doctor headed back into the medical unit, and the judge shook hands with Ed and Ross before leaving.

Laurel shifted enough in Jesse’s arms that she could see her mom as Landry and Tilly walked her over and got her seated next to Jesse, Tilly on her far side, with her arm still around Eva’s shoulders.

Ed and Ross walked over, Ed crooking his finger at Jesse. Jesse wasn’t sure what to do, because Laurel didn’t want to let go of him.

“Honey,” he said, “how about you sit in Mommy’s lap for a little while?”

“Please don’t make me go with Gramma and Grampa,” Laurel begged. “Daddy said I can’t.”

Now Jesse really wanted to hear this story at some point.

“You won’t, honey,” Eva sniffled, reaching for her hand. “I promise. You’re staying right here with me and Uncle Jesse and…everyone else. I promise.”

“Where are you going, Uncle Jesse?”

Eva spoke up. “Uncle Jesse needs to talk to those men for a moment. It’s okay. He’ll be right back. I promise.”

Reluctantly, Laurel let them move her to her mom’s lap. Jesse didn’t miss how Laurel reached out and grabbed Tilly’s hand, too, holding on as if afraid she’d be spirited away.

Damn.

Jesse got up and followed Ed and Ross into the consultation room. He waited until the door was closed to speak.

“What happened? Where did Eva’s parents go?”

“Restraining order,” Ed said. “They had to leave.”

“Restraining order?”

“They threatened to file for custody of Laurel.”

“What? Oh, hell, no! They—”

“Eva shut them down,” Ed said, calming him. “Don’t worry. She’s the one who asked Pat for the restraining order.”

“Eva did?” The attorneys nodded. “Then what’s this about?”

Ross and Ed exchanged a knowing glance. “Eva waived all rights to an attorney, appeared pro se, dropped all her pending motions to delay the divorce, and made a formal petition to the court to deliver a final and immediate ruling on the dissolution of their marriage.”

Jesse had to sit. “She…what?”

Ross nodded. “It’s highly irregular, but Ed dropped a legal tactical nuke by getting Pat here. Leo is Laurel’s designated custodial parent, and they’re officially divorced. You, however, are now Laurel’s legal guardian, for as long as Leo is incapacitated. And here’s the kicker—that’s at Eva’s request.”

His head spun. “What? How is that even legal?”

“Pat’s a judge,” Ed said. “And he’s a friend. We recorded everything on video on Pat’s laptop for a transcript. Before he got here, I warned Eva if she tried any bullshit, to take custody of Laurel away from Leo, that I would make sure she would get tied up in court for years. And that I would work for you and Leo for free, and I would run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills for her and cost her the house and everything. Plus I would make sure Leo went for and obtained full custody. That I would make her and turning her life miserable my hobby.”

Jesse was stunned into silence. “What?” he finally managed.

“She could possibly have the ruling overturned on appeal,” Ross said, “and claim duress, but we offered her an out. That she can have the house and full, unlimited visitation with Laurel, but she needed to agree to an immediate dissolution, now, and that Leo gets primary custody. She is the one who insisted that you be named Laurel’s legal guardian.”

“Leo can’t afford to pay for the house.”

“He doesn’t have to,” Ed said. “We’re going to do a quit-claim over to Eva.”

“She can’t afford the house by herself.”

“Taken care of,” Ross said. “We have friends who will be on the phone first thing tomorrow morning to buy the note from the bank and hold it.”

“Who?”

“Leigh and Lucas,” Ed said. “Tilly called them. Before she could even get everything out, they okayed it as a ‘real estate investment.’”

“Is that legal?”

“Sure,” Ross said. “Banks sell mortgages all the time. You don’t think a cash buyer offers them more than the note’s value that they won’t hand it over? Think again.”

“So…”

“So,” Ed said, “it means that even if Eva can’t afford the house, she’ll never lose it, and she’ll be able to live there, with Laurel, and not have to sell it. And it won’t cost Leo anything.”

“You’re just making this shit up, right?”

Ed smiled. “This isn’t the craziest thing I’ve seen in my career, believe me, but it’s pretty damn close. She agreed to it and signed off on it, and Pat ruled on it. And we got it all on video.”

“What about Leo?” he asked. “Who decides his care?”

“You do,” Ed said. “You already had that power, even though Eva didn’t know it. The last time he came in, he asked me to draw up a power of attorney for you and he signed it, and I notarized it. It’s legal. He was going to get you in to have you do one, too.”

Jesse felt dizzy. “I’m really lost here, guys. What are you telling me?”