Knock. Knock. Knock. “Open up, police!”
“Police?” Nana says. “I wonder what they want. We told them everything yesterday.”
She walks to the door and shouts, “We’re okay in here. Nothing to worry about. You must have the wrong house.”
“Is this the residence of Jamie Rush?” a deep voice asks. “Because we have a court order to enforce.”
“A court order?” Nana tips on her toes and peeks out the peephole. “Holy smokes. It is the police.”
She opens the door, and two policemen come into the house followed by Dad and Alyssa.
“There they are,” Dad says. “Come on, boys, we’re going to the ball game.”
Drew clutches me so tight his fingers dig in and it hurts.
“Ow, Drew.” I try to push him away. “Stop scratching me. It’s only Dad and Alyssa.”
“Now you wait a second.” Nana gets in front of us. “They’re not going anywhere. There’s no ball game until tomorrow, and Jamie says they can’t go.”
Dad waves a piece of paper in Nana’s face. “Jamie doesn’t have custody of them anymore. They’re coming with me right now and these nice police officers are here to see that you don’t interfere.”
“Why I never,” Nana shrieks. “You can’t come barging in here and take the boys. Officers, there’s been a mistake here. My daughter has sole physical custody of Ben and Drew.”
“I’m scared.” Drew buries his head into my back. “Don’t let them see me. I’ll hide behind you.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” I tell him. “It’s Dad and I swear, he won’t hit you with the baseball bat.”
“He will. He will.” Drew snuffles. “I want Mommy.”
I try to stand straight and tall and be brave for my brother.
The policemen say something to Nana, and she grabs the piece of paper. “This is wrong. This can’t be.”
Her face turns white, and she scrambles to the kitchen and grabs her cell phone.
Dad comes over and gives me a hug. “Hey, big boy, you ready to sit in the dugout tomorrow? I’ve got a buddy who’ll let you two boys into the dugout before the game.”
“Really? We get to be in the dugout?” I jump and clap my hands. “Who’s your buddy?”
“Josh Johnson,” Dad says. “He has the most runs batted in of any of the Rattlers.”
“Awesome sauce!” I raise my hand for a high five, and Dad slaps me one. “Can Drew come too?”
“Of course he can,” Dad says, smiling. “Alyssa’s going to be your new mom now, and she’ll take extra special care of Drew.”
Alyssa used to be Miss Fierro, and she was my kindergarten teacher, but Drew never went to regular kindergarten so he doesn’t know her. She’s my favorite teacher, and I visit her all the time during recess. I like helping her, and I tell her everything because she’s so nice to me. She’s not scary at all.
Drew is still hiding behind me, thinking they can’t see him.
Nana puts her arms around me and Drew, shielding us. “Officers, this is all a bunch of lies. Andrew has been threatening to take the boys for no good reason, and now he’s gone too far, getting you guys involved.”
One of the policemen takes off his hat and palms it in his hands. “Ma’am, this is a real court order issued by the judge this afternoon. Mr. Rush requested our assistance because he knew there would be resistance. We’ve come to help him take legal temporary emergency custody of these two boys.”
“Why? What emergency is there?” Nana pushes us behind her big butt.
“Clear and present child endangerment and physical abuse. It’s all spelled out on the court order.”
“It’s a pack of lies. There’s no danger.” Nana stands her ground. “My daughter’s on her way home, and she can explain.”
Dad comes forward and points his finger at Nana. “She can’t explain away Drew’s drowning or the bruises he had on his forehead that Dr. Sampson testified to. She can’t explain away the fact that just last night, Drew went missing in a house full of adults. Or that he’s afraid of that baseball player Jamie’s screwing around with. She can’t explain how I was a witness to that baseball player lying down in the bedroom with Drew while the door was closed. Yes. Don’t lie, Doreen, because you were there too. I barged in on them, and he jumped up like he was guilty. Because he is guilty and furthermore, he’s a head case. I dug up the dirt on him. He was expelled from his senior year baseball team for taking a bat and bashing all his trophies. He’s violent and dangerous, and he can’t control himself because he’s autistic.”
Nana staggers back at all the horrible accusations. She claps a hand over her heaving chest and yells, “I can’t believe you’re lying in front of the kids. You’re not taking them, bottom line.”
“The court says they’re coming with me.” My father glares at her, then turns to his new wife. “Alyssa, can you help Drew pack his things? Ben, go to your room and grab your backpack. Pack your pajamas and toothbrush and your favorite hat. Don’t forget your bat and glove.”
I stand there, frozen, not sure what I’m supposed to do. Drew is crying by now and he wipes snot all over me.
“There’s been a misunderstanding,” Nana insists. “We’ll see you in court, but these guys aren’t going anywhere.”
“Yes, they are,” Dad says. “Ben, do as I say.”
“But shouldn’t we ask Mom?” I sputter.
“No, I’ll see her in court. This place is dangerous for you and Drew.” He runs after Drew who’s screaming hysterically.
“Drew’s going to have a meltdown,” I explain. “We need to get his huggy blanket.”
Alyssa comes forward and takes me by the hand. “Come on, Ben, let’s go pack your things.”
I follow her mutely. I hope Mom won’t get mad at me, but the way the policemen look, I better do as they say.
“You can’t take them. You can’t,” Nana screams as Alyssa leads me out the door with my backpack and my things.
Drew is in full meltdown mode, kicking and biting my dad. They struggle and Dad gets control by clamping his hand over Drew’s mouth and putting him in a headlock.
Tears well in my eyes as I wonder if I’ll ever see Nana and Mommy again. Nana’s screaming and being held back by one of the policemen, and the other one helps Dad strap Drew into his car seat.
“Dad, is Mommy in trouble? Why isn’t she here?” I ask him once he gets the car started. “Will we see Mommy again?”
Dad doesn’t answer. He drives off while Alyssa sits next to Drew, holding his hands at his side to keep him from unbuckling his seatbelt. Drew keeps hitting his head against the back of his car seat and kicking and screaming. I hope he doesn’t hurt himself. Mommy will be so mad.
I stare out the window and watch my home disappear. We drive by the tree where Ryan crashed and the house Alyssa used to live in. We pass my school and get on the freeway. It’s dark now, and I don’t recognize anything.
It isn’t until we get to Dad’s house that my heart stops and I yell, “We forgot Hershey.”
And I burst into hot, shameful tears.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Jamie wanted to strangle the cab driver for going so slow. There was some kind of convention or event in downtown Phoenix and many streets were blocked off with barricades.
She clutched her phone, listening to all the noise and shouting in the background while her heart shattered and chills gripped her with icy fingers. Her mother had called and said something about Andrew and the police taking the boys. She’d then put the phone down and ran over to try and stop them.
Drew’s screams sliced through Jamie’s soul, and his heartrending cries ripped chunks from her heart. Her baby was terrified and there was nothing she could do.
“Can we go faster?” she asked the cab driver. “Ryan, can you call the police and find out what’s going on?”
With chattering teeth and stuttering breath, she described the scenario at her house and the pandemonium in the backg
round.
Ryan’s breath sizzled as he called the police, trying to get through to someone in charge.
Jamie was helpless, clutching her phone as if it were her lifeline. Her heart was in her throat and her fingers tingled as she tried to hold herself together. How could this be happening?
“Ryan, anything?” she asked.
“They have me on hold. They’re investigating.” Ryan’s voice was shaky. “I can’t believe the police would help Andrew. Maybe they’re not real policemen.”
Jamie heard the screams disappear and the door slam. Noise came through the line as the phone was being shuffled around and then her mother’s heavy breathing and sobs.
“Th-they took the boys. They took Drew and Ben.”
“How? Why? Were they really policemen?”
“Yes, at least they had badges and a police car. They had a court order for temporary custody of both boys. They left it here. It looks official, signed by a judge. Are you on your way home? What are we going to do?”
“We’re trying to get out of this traffic jam,” Jamie said. “Ryan’s on the phone with the police department to see if those were real policemen. I hope Andrew doesn’t hurt them. I don’t know what to do. Drew sounded terrified. Is there a way we can talk to Ben?”
“It gets worse,” her mother said. “Andrew’s talking about Ryan molesting Drew. He’s accusing me of leaving Drew alone with him that night you went out with Brock and Marcia.”
“No one molested anyone. I should know. Andrew is lying. I don’t believe they were real policemen. He could have hired actors. I wouldn’t put anything past him.” Jamie tore at her thick, disobedient hair. “We have to call the real police.”
“Jamie.” Ryan tapped her on the shoulder. “I’m speaking to a sergeant right now. He says Andrew requested police assistance. The court order is real, but I told them the charges are false. He says that you have a court hearing on Monday and an appointment with child protective services.”
“Child protective services?” Jamie screeched. “It’s Andrew who might hurt the boys. Why is he lying about us? Can’t the police tell he’s lying?”
Ryan spoke into his phone. “Is the judge around? We’d like to speak to him. We suspect Andrew of being abusive. Yeah, yeah, I know you think everyone claims abuse to retaliate, but in this case, the boys have told us that Andrew swung a baseball bat at the younger boy, the one who has autism.”
Jamie grabbed Ryan’s phone and spoke to the sergeant. “Isn’t it abuse to forcibly remove a child from his home? He’s autistic. He’s in a meltdown, and his nerves are going haywire. He needs me to calm him down and to get him back to baseline.”
“Ma’am, I know you’re upset,” the sergeant said. “My men were only following orders and in this case, your ex-husband had a valid court order.”
“He must have paid off the judge. Who was it? It must be one of his golfing buddies. This is completely unfair and unwarranted.” She felt her head spinning and her heart exploding as she struggled not to succumb to a dark, heavy cloud of despair. “I must have my boys back. I must. I have to protect them.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. There’s nothing we can do for you until Monday. I suggest you get a lawyer.”
Jamie hung up and burst into tears. “What must Drew be thinking? How is Ben coping? This can’t be happening. We have to go to Andrew’s house right now. Ryan, tell the driver to go to Andrew’s house.”
Ryan wrapped Jamie in his arms and held her tight. “Is that the smart thing to do? What if he calls the police on you?”
“I don’t care. I have to see my boys. I have to let them know I didn’t abandon them. Who knows what lies Andrew is telling them? He could be coaching them to say we abused them.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Ryan said. He took Jamie’s phone from her and spoke in it. “Doreen, can you give me Andrew’s address? We’re going over there. Meet us there, please.”
After Ryan redirected the taxi driver, he called his mother. He had one arm around Jamie to steady her from her hysterics, and he clutched his phone tightly. His mother would know what to do.
“Mom? It’s me, Ryan,” he said when she answered the phone.
“Is everything okay?” His mother immediately picked up on the strain in his voice.
“No, not at all.” He told her what he knew. “We’re headed over to Andrew’s house right now to see the boys.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” his mother said. “You could be getting yourself a restraining order if you do that. If Andrew trumped up those lies about you, he’ll be sure to use any action on your part to prove that you’re dangerous.”
“We have to go, you don’t understand,” Ryan said. His heart was dried out and bile clung to his throat. “Drew is in full meltdown mode. He could hurt himself. Andrew could hurt him.”
“Stop being ridiculous,” his mother barked. “You don’t seem to realize what trouble you’re in. He’s accused you of molesting that child. You need a lawyer and I’m calling one as soon as we get off the phone. I want you to come to my place and meet him. You are not, I repeat, not to make contact with those two children until this gets straightened out.”
“They need me. Jamie needs me,” Ryan shouted. “If you can’t understand that, I don’t need your help.”
He hit the end call icon as the cab pulled onto the freeway.
“Let me guess,” Jamie said. “Your mother wants you to wash your hands and walk away.”
“I would never walk away from you or the boys. Never.”
Jamie clung to him and sobbed in his arms. “I know where your heart is, Ryan, but I have to agree with your mom. You have a reputation to save. A career. A life.”
“My life is yours. I don’t care about the rest.” Ryan gritted his teeth. “I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I run away?”
“You could get arrested, and then what? He might have a restraining order on you. In fact, I bet he does have one.” Jamie snorted. “And to think I was the one who didn’t want to get a restraining order on him. I was so stupid. I should have struck first. Instead, Andrew blindsided me completely.”
“It’ll be okay.” Ryan resorted to his mantra. “It’ll all work out. We’ll get through this. As long as we’re together. We’ll be strong together.”
She pushed away from him and wiped her face with both hands. “No, I need to straighten out this mess, and you need to deal with Andrew’s lies. I can’t have you going down with me.”
“People who love each other will go down with each other,” Ryan said, grasping at logic or whatever else he could think of. “You said you loved me, even with my problems. I know I love you. We can face this together.”
“Love isn’t enough when dealing with the likes of Andrew,” Jamie said. “You have to know my first priority will always be my boys, and right now, I need to get them back. Maybe if Andrew sees we’re not together anymore, he’ll let go of them. He doesn’t really want them. He just wants to punish me for dating.”
A fury of anger roiled from Ryan’s belly as he got the gist of what Jamie was saying. “So, you’re basically going to tell him you’re not seeing me anymore so you can get the boys back?”
“If that’s what it takes.” Jamie gave him a defiant look, challenging him. “I never lied to you.”
“No, you didn’t, but you’re a coward. You’re knuckling down to Andrew’s show of power. You’re still under his thumb.”
“If that’s what it takes for me to get the boys back. Look, he has no case if you’re not around. You were the one he accused. It was your idea to go fishing where Drew almost drowned, and last night, you called the meeting where he got lost.”
“I also found him.”
“I know, and I thank you for that.” Jamie’s voice had gone ice cold. “But when we get to Andrew’s house, you’re staying in the cab and letting me go in there alone. He’ll let me in as long as you’re not around. But if he sees you, he’ll dig in his heels and it
’ll be worse all the way around.”
Ryan nodded slowly as realization dawned on him. Jamie was a lot like his mother. Jamie wanted to be in control where Drew was concerned. She was pushing him away, voting him off the island, sacrificing him to the wolves so she could knuckle under to Andrew and get her boys back. She wasn’t going to fight Andrew at all. She was just going to appease him, and there was no way he would take being the mouse his father was and let her run over him.
“Okay, I’ll stay in the cab if you tell me you don’t love me. That you’ll always put your kids ahead of me. That I don’t matter where it really counts.” He gripped her chin so she couldn’t avoid his glare.
“You matter, Ryan, but if you’re going to compete with the kids, you’ll lose.”
“Say you don’t love me,” he demanded.
“I can’t say that.” Her lips trembled and she blinked. For a moment it looked like she was going to relent. Instead, she hardened her gaze and turned up her chin. “But I love my sons more. You’ll never understand.”
“I think I do.” He turned his face away from her as the cab arrived at Andrew’s Scottsdale mansion.
“I’m sorry,” Jamie got out of the cab. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, but I am their only mother. You can always get another woman.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Before she could change her mind and take back her cruel words, Jamie jumped out of the taxi and rushed up the large wide steps through the porticoes guarding Andrew’s doorway.
It was wrong of her to put the blame solely on Ryan, but the bullheaded man would have insisted on coming with her and ruin all hope of her seeing the boys. She’d make it up to him, somehow, but right now, she needed to get to Ben and Drew.
She rang the bell, her heart pounding and her hands shaking. All seemed quiet behind the double doors, and the lights were dimmed. A few were on upstairs. Was Drew being held up there? Had he calmed down, or did Andrew tie him up and put him in a cage?
The door opened, and Jamie came face to face with Ben’s kindergarten teacher.
Playing for the Save (Men of Spring Baseball Book 3) Page 26
