Page 65 of Cloudless

YOUR HONOR

LILA

Judge Harris clasps her hands on the desk in front of her as she focuses her full attention on my grandparents.

“I would like to start by hearing why you want full custody, Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy.” Mr. Thorne opens his mouth, but Judge Harris’ stern look halts his words.

“I would like to hear the Abernathy’s own words, Mr. Thorne. Not yours.”

He tries and fails to hide the scrunch of his nose as Maxwell clears his throat. “We do not believe Miss Sullivan has the capabilities to raise two young children, Your Honor.”

Judge Harris quirks a brow as her eyes flick to me before returning to Maxwell. “And what is your evidence of this?”

“She told us herself she has no plans for paying for Posey’s dance lessons after the first of the year, Your Honor. How can she fully support their education if she can’t even send the poor girl to dance class?”

I nearly jump out of my seat as Mr. Porter shuffles the papers in front of him. “Your Honor, if I may, I would like to present you with the receipts showing Posey’s ballet lessons have been paid in full through the end of next year.”

What the hell?

I try to hide the shock from my face as the Judge inclines her head at the bailiff next to her. His heavy footsteps mimic the beating of my heart as it tries to escape my chest as he takes the paper and hands it to the judge.

I didn’t pay for her classes. Who would have done that? Who would think to ? —

My hair sways around my shoulders as I look behind me to find a smiling Kam. His wink nearly sends me flying from my chair again.

Judge Harris’ voice has me turning back around to find a smile on her face. “It seems that will no longer be an issue, Mr. Abernathy. What are your other concerns?”

Maxwell straightens his suit jacket as he says, “Miss Sullivan also admitted to the lack of a plan for the twins’ college education.”

The Judge’s raised brow nearly sends a laugh flying from my mouth. “You mean their college education that won’t happen for another ten years?”

His approving nod contrasts with the look on the Judge's face. “Yes, Your Honor.”

“Are you purposefully trying to waste my time, Mr. Abernathy, or do you have any probable cause as to why Miss Sullivan shouldn’t take full custody today?”

Maxwell’s smile slips firmly from his face as he stares at her in open mouthed shock.

“I assure you, Your Honor, that we are what is best for the children. Miss Sullivan is but a child herself. Someone so young cannot possibly take on that level of responsibility.” He finally composes his face.

“She is not even staying in her own home, Your Honor. Her home is currently unfit for living, let alone for children.” A smug smile slips through the iron bars he so carefully constructed.

“In fact, she has all but moved in with her boyfriend of only a few months. A child himself who has, on multiple occasions, been left alone with the children who are supposed to be in her care. That’s not to mention his family history of DUIs and addiction, Your Honor. ”

Even from his profile, I can see the underlying gleam of victory in his eyes that sends a ball of lead to the bottom of my stomach.

Mr. Porter once again clears his throat next to me. “Your Honor, if I may, I would like to present Mr. Stryker’s latest drug test and his college transcripts to the Court.”

The loud squeak of a chair fills the room as Mr. Thorne stands from his seat. “Objection! Relevance, Your Honor.”

Judge Harris’ eyes never stray from Mr. Jones. “Overruled.”

Mr. Porter clears his throat before beginning again.

“I think you will find ample evidence of the difference between Mr. Stryker and his late father. You will also find multiple character witness letters discussing the fact that not a single person has ever witnessed Mr. Stryker taking even a single sip of alcohol.” His eyes stray to Maxwell before returning to the Judge.

“You will also find a quote from a local plumber that lays out the plan to make Miss Sullivan’s home livable after the unexpected weather that burst the pipes in her bathroom this past weekend. ”

Judge Harris doesn’t bother fighting her smile as she inclines her head to the bailiff once again.

Silence consumes the room, only to be broken by the rustling of paper as she flicks through the stack the bailiff hands her.

She settles the paper in a neat stack in front of her before returning her attention to Maxwell.

“I don’t think anyone should be held liable for the actions of their parents. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Abernathy?”

A sneer pulls at his lip as he straightens in his seat. “Do you really want to trust the safety of those children to someone who makes such poor decisions, Your Honor? She’s just like her mother! Jumping into bed with Mr. Stryker after knowing him for hardly a few months!”

Judge Harris also straightens in her seat. “I’ve yet to see ample evidence for any poor decision making on Miss Sullivan’s part.” She raises a brow as she tilts her head. “Unless you’ve yet to introduce all your findings to this Court?”

Mr. Thorne shuffles the papers in front of him as he says, “If I may, Your Honor, we would like to present character witnesses of our own.”

I struggle to swallow as Maxwell’s eyes connect with mine for the first time. What I see in them causes my hands to shake, and sweat to bead on my brow. Because what I’m looking at, as I stare into his eyes, is a man filled with pure desperation.

And sometimes, desperation is even more terrifying than determination.

The Judge inclines her head at the bailiff once again as I try to think of who they could have talked to.

Her brows furrow as she flips through the papers he hands her.

“When you said ‘character witness’, I assumed you meant someone who would validate your client's character, Mr. Thorne. All I see here are first-hand accounts of interactions with Miss Sullivan and Mr. Stryker.”

My heart practically stops beating in my chest as the four men shift in their seats behind me.

Mr. Thorne dips his head in an apology I’m sure he doesn’t mean as he says, “So sorry for my lack of explanation, Your Honor. Those detailed accounts clearly lay out a lack of maturity and decorum. Mr. Stryker clearly has a history of plotting against his peers. His schemes have resulted in physical injury, Your Honor. And Miss Sullivan clearly has a history of physical abandonment and altercations of her own.”

Heat creeps up my neck as I struggle to catch my breath.

The breath Judge Harris lets out is full of exacerbation. “Do you know Colt Ramsey, Kim Adams, or Emma Johnson, Miss Sullivan?”

I wipe the accumulating moisture from my palms on the fabric of my dress as I struggle to find words. “Y-Yes, Your Honor.” I swallow thickly. “Colt plays on the SSU hockey team with Kam. Kim is one of my co-workers, and Emma is Posey’s ballet teacher.”

Her eyes continue to scan the papers as she says, “What reason would Mr. Ramsey have for accusing Mr. Stryker of assault, Miss Sullivan? It says here there was a show of unnecessary force that resulted in long-lasting injury.” I open my mouth to say something, anything, but she continues before I get the chance.

“ And what reason would Miss Adams might have for accusing you of assault, Miss Sullivan? It says here there was an altercation that happened at your place of work. And why would Miss Johnson accuse you of neglect? She says the twins were often left in her care and in the care of her staffers outside of Posey’s scheduled classes. ”

Am I going to lose this case?

I shake my head as her expectant eyes lift to me.

“I, uh, I’m not sure, Your Honor.” My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

“I’ve never assaulted anyone. It is not in my nature to be physically violent with someone.

And I paid the receptionist at the ballet studio to watch Jasper while Posey was in class. ”

Her eyes fill with sympathy as she lays the papers on the desk. “Be that as it may, I have to take these accusations seriously, Miss Sullivan.” Her accusatory eyes flick to Mr. Thorne. “Even though they are not signed affidavits. They are still very serious accusations.”

I nod as my shoulders deflate. “I understand.”

Soft murmurs accompany the sound of shifting bodies behind me as I try to keep my shit together. I’ve never been a violent person, but I know if I were to look over and see Maxwell’s smug look, there’s a very good chance I would punch the smugness right off his face.

Judge Harris adjusts her glasses as she says, “If there is no further evidence to be presented to this Court, I would like to invite Jasper and Posey to join us.”

Mr. Thorne’s chair creaks under him as he straightens. “Is that truly necessary, Your Honor? There’s no need to bring those children in here for this. They're far too young to fully understand.”

Her eyes turn cold as she levels Mr. Thorne with a glare I do not envy.

“You will do well to realize the entire reason we are here is for those children, Mr. Thorne.

Their opinions and wants mean more than anyone else's. After all, the decisions made in this room today will affect them for the rest of their lives. These decisions will shape their futures. That is not a responsibility I take lightly, Mr. Thorne. And neither should you.” She inclines her head to the bailiff once again. “Bring them in.”