Josh and I went into the house through the garage. Robert was in the living room waiting for us, along with a man with dark hair, wearing a black suit. As we approached he said, "Hello Josh. And you must be TJ. Both Robert and my daughter have told me quite a bit about you."
Robert must have seen the puzzlement on my face. "Teej, this is Patrick Landrum, my, well our, lawyer."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," I responded while extending my hand.
He gripped my hand firmly. "I hear you and my daughter are quite alike. At least, according to Alex."
I smiled. "Jenny is becoming one of my best friends. We do tend to finish each other's sentences."
He turned to Robert and chuckled. "You have your work cut out for you then."
Robert smiled and nodded. "Don't I know it. Let's all have a seat and get this conversation out of the way."
Mr. Landrum took over. "I've done some research today. It appears Mel contacted CPS this morning claiming her son was in danger. She told them her ex-husband was not allowing her to see nor speak to her son. She said this was an unsafe household because Robert allowed teenage homosexuals to spend the night together, and that Robert had a history of child abandonment. Luckily, the case went before Judge Hebert. When he saw that the requested court order was to remove Josh from Robert's home, he denied it. He then told the case-worker if anyone needed to be investigated for child abandonment, it was Mel."
Josh whispered to me, "Judge Hebert is Mike's dad." Okay, that made a little more sense now. Oh, by the way, I had to look up how to spell Hebert because down here, they pronounce it A-Bear.
Mr. Landrum continued. "She has now filed for sole custody, claiming that she had wanted custody three years ago, but felt threatened and was 'bullied' into giving in to Robert's demands. If this case went before Judge Hebert, he would recuse himself more than likely. That would put the case up for Judge Gough. Her track record is par for the course for Texas family courts; nine times out of ten, the ruling automatically favors the mother regardless of past circumstances. Hopefully I can get it knocked to mediation."
My anger had been stewing since he said the word homosexual. "How the hell does she know that there were teenage homosexuals spending the night together? Is she spying on us now?"
Robert placed his hand on my shoulder. "Calm down Teej. That's what I wondered too. I haven't noticed anyone around the neighborhood, but I wasn't looking for anyone. Yesterday was the first time I've talked to her in three years. I'm not sure where she went after the divorce. I honestly didn't care. Her dad died when she was young and her mother didn't handle it well. She was in and out of family and foster homes till she turned eighteen. I think that's part of the reason she never liked you Teej. She was jealous you had someone there to take care of you. Anyways, she mentioned some aunts and uncles that would take care of her short term, but her mother never gave up parental rights and no one ever fought to keep her."
I will never admit this out loud to a single living soul. For about three-tenths of a second, I almost felt sorry for Mel. I shook my head and quickly squashed that line of thought. I reminded myself of every hateful thing she had ever said or did to me. When I thought about her spying on Sean and me, I was pissed again. "Is there a way to keep her from spying on us?"
"Until we have proof that she is spying on y'all, not really. We don't know if she's working alone on this, or if someone is helping her. We lucked out this morning. Now, it's my job to get this case kicked to mediation or thrown out completely. Don't get your hopes up about the latter happening. This is Texas and the state favors the mother. However, there is a good chance of this going to mediation, since most custody cases do."
We talked for about another forty-five minutes. Mr. Landrum was just getting ready to leave when the doorbell rang. I looked at the time and smiled. I jumped up and ran to the door hoping to see my boyfriend. There were four faces waiting for me on the other side of the door.
"Hey y'all, come in. Jenny, I guess you know your dad is here huh?"
Sean, Jenny, Alex, and surprisingly, Kevin entered the house. Jenny went and hugged her dad while Sean pulled me into a hug.
"How did practice go? Is everything okay?"
"It went as well as can be expected. A few of the guys started saying some things, but once Coach said that I was still the starting quarterback and still team captain, and if they didn't like it, they needed to rethink playing football this year, they quieted down. Well, at least vocally. I think I've made Kevin's job a little harder this season."
Sean nodded towards Kevin, who just smiled. "If anyone on the defense's side wants to get to your boyfriend, they'll have to come through me. Well, at least my side of the offensive line. The other guard might be a problem."
I swear Sean glared at Kevin for like half a second. "Don't worry about Smith, he'll do his job if he wants to keep playing."
The concern must have shown on my face, because Sean kissed my cheek and said, "Don't worry about me Teej, I'll be fine."
Mr. Landrum walked into the foyer. "Hello Sean, Kevin, how are y'all doing?"
Sean broke our hug and stepped over to shake hands with Jenny's dad. "Hello Mr. Landrum, sir."
Robert came into the foyer and was surprised to see it full of people by the look on his face. "I didn't know we were having a party. Y'all come on in." He noticed Kevin and got a little apprehensive. "Kevin, I didn't expect to see you."
I answered Robert's unasked question. "It's okay, Robert. He doesn't like his cousin much right now either."
Kevin chuckled a little. "Yeah, I met TJ in Government today and then we had Physics together. Plus, I guess I kinda came out at practice today, so she probably isn't going to like me sitting at the 'gay table' tomorrow at lunch."
Jenny scoffed. "Nobody cares what that bitch-faced whore thinks anyway."
Mr. Landrum looked at her sternly. "Jennifer Martha Landrum."
She honestly looked sorry for what she said. "Sorry, Daddy."
As we all entered the living room I walked up next to Kevin. "I didn't think you were ready for everyone to know. What happened?"
"When some of the other players started talking shit, before Coach said anything, I just couldn't sit there and listen to those fuckheads. Oh sorry Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Landrum."
Mr. Landrum laughed. "It's alright Kevin. You know who my daughter is, correct?"
