Reuniting His Family by Jean C. Gordon

Author:Jean C. Gordon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2017-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Rhys tugged at his necktie to no avail. It still felt like a noose around his neck. Might as well get it over with. He stepped out of his truck onto the sidewalk in front of the courthouse, the already-sweltering morning sun baking him in his dark wool suit, the only one he had.

“Rhys.”

He looked over his shoulder to see Connor Donnelly striding up the sidewalk toward him. “Pastor Connor.” Rhys extended his hand. “I really appreciate this.”

“No problem. It’s part of the job.”

Despite Connor’s smile, Rhys felt a letdown. What had he expected? That the pastor was here strictly for him, that he had no agenda? Pastor Connor was a great guy. But Rhys was well aware that Connor considered him one of, if not the, star “save” from the Christian Action Coalition’s prison ministry that Connor led.

“I talked with your lawyer yesterday. She knows I’m available as a character witness.”

Rhys swallowed his doubt. “I don’t know what to say.” All he’d asked Connor for was moral support. On his lawyer’s advice, he’d backed down from his earlier idea of asking Pastor Connor, the Hills and Renee to testify on his behalf. Ms. Johnson had said it might be overkill and prolong the hearing. Rhys was all for getting it over with, but not to the point of short-changing him and his boys. A vision of another court-appointed attorney making short work of his defense obscured his hope. Then, his sons had had their mother. This time, more was at stake. He blew out a breath. But the attorney knew the judge, and these kinds of proceedings, better than he did.

“You don’t need to say anything.” Pastor Connor slapped his back. “Let’s go in and wrap this up.”

Ms. Johnson was seated at the front of the courtroom, along with Mr. Richards, the law guardian appointed to represent Owen and Dylan’s interests, the Hills and—Rhys almost missed a step. Renee. The professional Renee in her sharply creased dress slacks, blouse and short-sleeved jacket.

Since he’d met with his caseworker, he’d avoided personal contact with her so he could keep his mind clear. He’d helped with the Bridges meeting on Thursday, but had left right after. When Claire had checked in with him about the doghouse, he’d put her off, saying he was getting in as much overtime at work as he could before Owen and Dylan came to live with him. It was true. He had been.

A chill ran through Rhys. Could Renee be here representing the Action Coalition and Building Bridges? Something related to Tyler and his mother? Ms. Johnson had contacted the director of the Building Bridges’ program for a report on his and Dylan’s progress and Rhys’s volunteering. But Renee had said the other day that the director had accepted their report with no questions. He clenched his jaw, trying to drive out the feeling that he and Renee were back to Ms. Delacroix and Mr. Maddox.

Rhys held his index finger up when Ms. Johnson motioned him to her, and walked past her behind the front row seats until he was behind Renee.

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