Page 74 of Justice for JoElla

“You’re goingwhere?”

“Barbados. With Troy.” Brandon shot a look at William, who just shrugged. “So I need someone for them to stay with.”

“That’s fine, but you’d better ask them. They don’t care much for me these days, seeing as how I’m no longer the cash cow I used to be.” William picked up a toss pillow and lobbed it at Brandon, but it was easily deflected. “And who is Troy?”

“We met at the tennis courts. Very nice. Owns apartment complexes all over this end of the state. They do very well.”

“Good. Attorney appointment on Tuesday. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t. The sooner the better. I’ve got to run. Goodbye.” And the phone went dead.

“Oh, thank you for asking, Maria. I’m doing quite well. And yourself?” Brandon turned to William and handed back the phone. “So you heard all that. I’ll talk to your UncleLandon and AuntJerrica and see if we can stay over there while you’re with me. It’s a little roomier.”

“You mean and you stay here?”

Brandon shook his head. “No. I mean all of us stay over there.”

“Even their house isn’t that big,” the boy pointed out. William was right; it wasn’t.

“We’ll work out something.”

JoElla smiled. “And I think I know just the thing.”

* * *

“I’m soglad you guys will be here! This is so exciting! So the only two house rules we have are pick up after yourself and tell somebody if you eat or drink the last of something. That’s it. Pretty simple.” AmyLigon was beaming, and Brandon was very thankful JoElla had thought to ask them if they had room for the little family. Their four bedroom house was perfect, and JoElla and Brandon had already planned a gift for them as a thank you?an overnight stay at the Galt House in Louisville and a nice dinner at the steakhouse downtown.

Once everyone was settled in, JoElla and Amy set about getting some kind of dinner ready. JoElla was no cook, but Amy seemed very comfortable in the kitchen, and the younger woman really enjoyed being there with Jerrica’s mother. Every time Brandon caught a glimpse of her, she was smiling, and that was what he wanted more than anything.

They spent the weekend entertaining the kids, which wasn’t easy. Brandon wanted to take them to the butterfly farm, but Elizabeth deemed that “basic,” whatever the hell that was. They went anyway, and before they left, they bought a painted rock to put in the garden in Elizabeth’s honor. She acted like it meant nothing to her, but she took great care in writing her name and the date on the back before she chose a spot for it.

By the time they went back to their mother’s late Monday, everyone was exhausted. Brandon hadn’t been released to go back to work, so JoElla knew he’d be at the apartment by himself and suggested he go to Landon and Jerrica’s, but he declined. He had the attorney meeting the next day, and he wanted to be ready.

When JoElla got in on Tuesday, Brandon was on the sofa, watching the news. “How’d the meeting go?”

“Well, I got them to cut back the maintenance, since she’s got herself a wealthy boyfriend. I showed them my check stubs and they told her there was no way I could pay her what she wanted, so they came up with another number, which my attorney shot down. By the time we were finished, I’m not paying her any maintenance. She has a college education. She can go get a job.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, and my attorney negotiated joint custody, so I’m not paying child support. Neither is she. As long as the kids are being provided for, that’s how it’ll be.”

“So when is it final?”

“Next week. We go before the judge, and then we sign.”

“Okay.” That was all she said, and Brandon wondered what was going through her mind. “And the day after it’s final, we’re going to celebrate.”

“Oh? How’s that?”

“We’re just going to celebrate. That’s all.”

“Well, okay then. Celebrate we shall. What do you want for dinner?”

The week flew by, and before he knew it, Brandon was in front of the judge. An hour later, all the paperwork was signed and it was final. And it was time to set his plan in motion.

When JoElla came home the following afternoon, he was ready. “You’re all dressed up,” she pointed out.

“I’m not dressed up. I’m wearing a polo and slacks.”

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