I’m happy to comply with you, Walker. I can’t say as much for a few others on the team here. A couple of them work exclusively for your mom and dad. I just can’t stop them from doing what they’ve got the legal right to do.”
“Dig into an innocent woman’s life and possibly drive her away forever? How is that okay?”
“Hold on now, I didn’t say they were doing anything. All I know is that there are grandparent rights in Texas. Couldn’t say if there is anything to your folks poking around here, but I won’t give you my word that they haven’t been here neither.”
“What about you?” I hissed.
“I work for you, Walker. You hired me first as your personal attorney. If it came down to it, I’d decline the work for them due to conflict of interest. Just because your mother is asking questions doesn’t mean she plans on making a move.”
“You seem to have a lot of faith in her,” I said.
“All you were doing was asking questions, right? Nothings come from that, so I’m still going to hope for the best. I promise if I hear anything around the watercooler, I’ll give you a call.”
“Thanks, and do me a favor, don’t leave a message next time.”
My attorney wasn’t the only phone call I planned on making that morning. Still angry from the night before and now loaded with the legal team's information, it was hard not to be furious. It seemed like my mother was going to push me until I made a drastic move.
My mother answered on the first ring. My heart was racing.
“I think it’s time you and I had a talk,” I said.
“I know that you are still upset over the situation, but I really do think everything is going to work out for the best in the end. I won’t be taking any legal action just yet, but you should know if this lady of yours tries to keep our grandson from us, I’ll have no choice.”
“You would go against my wishes?” I asked.
“Please don’t look at it like that, Walker. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I’m really only trying to do what’s best for the boy. He is a Wheeler after all.”
“Then you’ve left me no choice. If the last name is the only thing that matters to you, you’ll be hearing from my attorney. I am going to forfeit my rights to The Calumet and anything tied to your last name.”
“Walker!” She gasped. “You don’t know what you are saying! You need to take some time and really think. I don’t like where your head is at right now.”
“Mother, I don’t care where you think my head is at because, for the first time, it feels like I’m following my heart. Take this as your warning, if you take any action against Stacy or try to find a loophole in any form, I will leave this family and never look back.”
“Walker,” she whispered.
“No,” I said. “I am done letting you treat me like a child and be a pawn in your game. This is my life and my future we are talking about. This is the woman I love, and you are doing nothing but causing more problems. We are done negotiating.”
“Your father is going to be hearing about this. He’ll want to speak with you in person.” She whispered.
“Oh yeah? Tell him he can just leave a message. I probably won’t be around.” I said. “Enjoy your retirement, mother.”
I ended the call, shutting my phone back off and slipping it into my pockets. Taking a deep breath, I felt alive for the first time in years. Stacy was going to take some time, but without my parents hanging over our heads, I didn’t mind starting back at square one with her. She was going to figure out that I loved her more than anything, and when she did, I’d be right there to hold her and Harrison close for the rest of our lives.
23
Chapter Twenty-Two (Stacy)
Just as it had done every day for the past three, my heart skipped a beat when the gallery door opened. The man walking in my direction made my stomach churn; he wasn’t the man I wanted. My jaw clenched as I worked to keep my temper under wraps. There were two other patrons in the gallery. I wasn’t going to lose my cool and give Neil the satisfaction of knowing he’d upset me.