Page 67 of Forbidden Dreams
I spot Harmony walking past Ryleigh, and I’m out of my chair. “Just for the record,” she says to Winston, “Ryleigh wasn’t able to enter this evidence last minute without getting in trouble with the judge because, unlike your attorney”—she looks at Mr. Belfast, who is now running his hands through his ever-balding hair—“she’s ethical. But I had two paternity tests performed, and Wyatt is your son. If you don’t believe me, take some of his hair from his hairbrush in that ridiculous shrine your mother has in her living room and get your own DNA test. I’m positive it will show that it’s a ninety-nine point nine percent match.” My mouth opens, as does everyone else around but Ryleigh and Casey.
“You f—” He stops when the lawyer slaps his hand on the desk.
“Don’t be stupid,” he snarls, “you’re in a court with witnesses.”
“I don’t care,” Winston hisses at him.
“Funny,” Harmony notes, “neither do I. Now I’m finally free of you.” She turns and comes to me with a huge smile on her face. When she is close enough, I wrap my arm around her waist. “Did you hear?” she asks me, putting her hands on my chest. “I got custody.”
“And a boatload of money.” I kiss her lips.
“I couldn’t care less about that,” she retorts. “Now let’s go get him.”
“Celebration at my house,” my father announces. “You get the cake, and we’ll go get Wyatt.”
We all laugh as Ryleigh comes over to us. “Well, I’ll be heading out,” she says. “This was a lot of fun.”
“Ryleigh,” Harmony responds, “thank you so, so much for everything. I know I couldn’t have done it without you.” She hugs her.
“You come and visit soon, and we’ll take him to a hockey game,” Ryleigh suggests, looking at Matthew and Max, and they smile at her as the three of them walk out.
“Okay, listen, I don’t want to rush anyone,” Autumn interjects, “but my baby needs food.”
Two hours later, we’re in the middle of the backyard with Wyatt and me tossing the ball to each other. “So now what happens?” he finally asks, and I look at him as he looks at his mother.
“Do we move back into the other house?” I stop with the ball in my hand midair.
“It’s time Brady has his house back, don’t you think?” Harmony replies, and she avoids looking at me. Wyatt doesn’t say anything either. He just passes me the ball until Harmony stands up. “I have to get ready for my shift.”
“I marked you off,” I tell her, and she looks at me, “and myself.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, for one, you were going to court, and for two”—I toss the ball to Wyatt—“I was thinking maybe your head wouldn’t be there.”
“Oh, can I go back to Charlie’s?” Wyatt asks.
“No,” Harmony snaps, “I don’t work, so you stay home, and then maybe tomorrow you can go over.”
Wyatt tosses me back the ball as he looks at me and then his mother. “Are you and Mom boyfriend and girlfriend?” I look over at Harmony who goes ashen white.
“Yup,” I say, tossing him the ball without missing a beat.
“Yeah, I thought so since I see you guys kissing all the time.” He catches the ball and throws it back to me.
“We don’t all the time,” Harmony pants out.
“You okay with this?” I ask him, holding the ball in my hand.
“You make Mom happy,” he says and I nod at him, “and she’s never scared with you.” I see Harmony put her hand to her stomach. “So I’m okay with it, plus you never yell at me or call me stupid and dumb.” He shrugs. “So yeah, I’m okay with it.”
“Thank you,” I tell him and he looks at me with confusion on his face, “for taking care of her for so long.” He nods his head. “Now I get to take care of both of you.”
“Cool,” he says, tossing me the ball like we didn’t have a deep and meaningful conversation right now.
“Cool,” I repeat what he says and look over at Harmony who exhales a deep breath.
We leave right before dinner, but everyone is still full when we get home. “Shower,” Harmony instructs Wyatt as soon as we walk in the door, “right now before you touch anything.”