by Juliet Woods
I do belong with Ethan, and no one’s going to intimidate me into doubting what I know for a fact.
I tell the truth – that I love Ethan and his little girl. I look at Ethan when I say it, and his eyes tell me he loves me right back.
After the despicable lawyer working for Vivian has no further questions, Harry begins to ask me questions as well. This time, he focuses on how much adversity I’ve overcome, how I’ve had to be independent and self-sufficient when I had no one to look after me, how I’ve started a charitable organization that will improve the lives of under-privileged children. He asks questions that allow me to talk about the bond Masie and I have, and how much the child has grown to care for me.
As I answer his questions, I realize how right he is – I have overcome so much. I had to survive pretty much on my own, and all things considered, I think I’ve done pretty damned well for myself.
For the first time, I realize how strong I am – how strong I’ve always been.
After I step down from the witness stand, Ethan flashes me a smile. Even Harry looks pleased.
At this point, the court finally ends for the day. I breathe a sigh of relief and go outside to wait for Ethan as he talks with Harry for a moment.
Outside the courthouse, Ethan takes me into his strong arms. It’s amazing how those muscular arms always seem to make everything better.
“You were amazing in there,” he says. “You were so confident and poised. Really, Lily, you blew me away.”
I smile. “I have to say I kind of surprised myself. I didn’t expect to be so confident.”
“You were great. And with the questions Paul threw at you, that’s saying a lot.”
I nestle my face against his chest.
“I had a panic attack just before they called me to the stand. That’s why I had to leave the room.”
He holds me a little tighter. “I was worried about that. After all the horrible things he said about you, I wanted to beat him into a pulp. Lily, I’m so sorry you had to go through all that,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’m so sorry for what Paul said about you and how he interrogated you.”
I wipe away a tear that suddenly appears. “I was so humiliated.”
“I don’t care what they say about you. None of it matters. I don’t care if you weren’t born into wealth like Vivian was. All I care about is that you’re here now.”
I nod. “And I know that nanny was lying. I know you’d never treat Masie like that.”
He sighs. “Yeah, she didn’t last long as a nanny. I had to fire her after a week because she was on her phone all the time and ignoring Masie. I guess she’s still pissed about it a year later. And I’m betting Vivian or her lawyer bribed her to give that bullshit testimony.”
“I just don’t understand how Vivian could be so cruel. And that lawyer – wow. Is he aware he could ruin Masie’s life?”
“I doubt he cares much. These people are just messed up, Lily.”
He pulls back to look at my face. “Lily, you said you loved me in there.”
I smile. “It’s true.”
He grins. “I love you too, Lily. So much.”
He pulls me in for a kiss, and my heart swells. All my fears and doubts about Ethan are gone now. I trust him completely. I know he’s changed and that he can commit to me, and only me.
But the doubts about the trial remain. I’ve got a bad feeling about the way things went in that courtroom, and though Ethan’s not mentioning it, I know he does too.
Chapter 31
Ethan
I’m so glad to get back home and see Masie’s face after that spectacle in the court.
She was picked up from school by her nanny, and she runs into my arms when Lily and I step in the door. She knew today was the court day.
“Did everything go OK at court, Daddy?”
“Beautifully. Lily had to testify – to speak in front of everyone – and she did a great job.”
Masie smiles. “So now it’s over? You don’t have to go back to court anymore?”
I feel my face fall a little. “No, baby, we have to go back tomorrow. Then it will all be over, OK?”
Masie seems satisfied with this answer, though I’m far from convinced.
Vivian’s lawyer’s case was pathetic. Bribing a few lowlife people like Lily’s landlord and my ex-nanny as character witnesses? Anyone could see through that. And Lily was amazing giving her testimony. She’s obviously a mature, strong young woman who cares enough about kids to start a charity to help them. And it was clear how much she loves Masie from the way she answered Harry’s questions on the stand.
But I have a bad feeling about all this. That asshole judge was overruling every one of Harry’s objections. As if Lily’s impoverished past has anything to do with her ability to be a stepmother to Masie.
I could tell Harry was nervous, too, though he didn’t say much of anything to me.
I leave Masie and Lily together while I slip away to my home office. I have to talk to Harry.
Pacing back and forth, I dial his number. He picks up after one ring, his voice on edge.
“Ethan, I was just about to call you.”
I can hear it in his voice. Something’s wrong. I cringe as he begins to speak again.
“Paul and Vivian have no case against you. It’s obvious that this whole custody battle is a mockery of the justice system. Unfortunately...”
He sighs and I nearly explode from tension.
“Things are not going well. You saw how the judge didn’t respond to any of my arguments, and he entertained every ridiculous statement from Paul. I can’t prove it, but Ethan, I’m sure of it--”
“Sure of what?” I’m frantic.
“That judge is bribed.”
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. Of course he is. That’s the only way to explain the judge’s behavior.
“Did you see how disinterested he was when I was going over Vivian’s sordid past? He may as well have been playing games on his phone when I mentioned how Vivian hasn’t even seen Masie in years.”
I bury my head in my hands, trying to summon the strength and clarity of mind to figure this out.
“Yeah, it’s the only explanation. It’s so obvious that Vivian has no right getting custody of Masie. But what can we do, Harry? I can’t see my little girl go live with that woman.”
“I wish I knew, Ethan. I have a whole team digging through records, trying to find any connection between the judge and Paul. There’s just no evidence of any wrongdoing.”
I sigh. Then I remember something.
“What about the social worker who talked to Masie? Masie told her that I was a good father. I’m sure that social worker’s records would show that I’m a fit guardian for her.”
“I’m sure they would, but those records are not being allowed into the case as evidence.”
“Fuck. This is looking really bad, Harry.”
“We’ve got someone monitoring Paul and Vivian’s phone calls. If they say anything damning on a phone conversation, there might be a way I could work some magic and get it admitted as evidence in a case against them...”
“OK, well that’s something,” I say, grasping onto a shred of hope.
“But it would take a while to make that happen. It wouldn’t stop the judge from ruling on your case now, and he’ll probably issue a verdict tomorrow.”
My hope comes crashing down.
“But at least it would be a way for his decision to be overturned,” Harry says.
“If you can find any record of wrongdoing,” I clarify.
“And if I can find a way to make it look like it was obtained legally,” he adds.
It feels like a dark storm cloud has entered the room. I can’t lose my little girl.
“Harry, I gotta go...”
“OK, Ethan. I’m sorry. I’m doing everything I can.”
“I know. Call if you find anything.”
I hang up. Pace back and forth a few times. Pick up the pho
ne, then put it down.
My mind is racing, searching for any way out of this nightmare. But my hands are tied. I don’t see anything I can do.
How am I going to tell Masie? I’ve told her all along how confident I was that it would work out for the best. How can I tell her that she won’t live with me anymore?
My heart is breaking.
I think of Lily, how much love I feel for her, and how happy I am that she’s come into my life. But I need her and Masie. I need them both.
I call Lily into the room, and I force myself to tell her the truth. She’s just as horrified as I am. After the shock wears off, we hold each other for a while.
“Ethan, if there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me.”
“You’ve done so much, Lily. Thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I just want you to stay with me here, no matter what happens. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
She presses her body closer up against my chest. “I never want to lose you, either.”
I smile and kiss her again. With a sigh, I say, “I guess I need to go tell Masie.”
She frowns, thinking. “Maybe you should wait – just a little bit longer. Maybe Harry will find something out to help the case.”
I smile weakly, caressing her hair down her back. “I wish I could be as optimistic as you.”
“The verdict won’t come until tomorrow, anyway, right? Let’s not tell her until then. Just in case a miracle happens.”
“Miracles aren’t something I tend to believe in,” I say. “But then again, I found you.”
“And I found you.”
“So maybe you’re right. I’ll wait,” I stand up and help her to her feet. “Come on, let’s go see what she wants for dinner.”
I put on a brave face for Masie, doing my best to conceal my worry and grief over losing her. She doesn’t seem to notice, and tells us about the new developments she’s made in the script she’s writing. We sit down at the dinner table to eat together as a family for what may be one of the last times.
The hours after I put Masie to bed are long and dark. I can’t sleep and don’t even try to. Lily makes an effort to keep me company, but the stress of the trial has exhausted her. She finally goes to bed around 11, and I’m left to pace back and forth, haunting the rooms in my home like a phantom. Hoping against hope my phone will ring and it’ll be Harry with good news.
But it never does ring.
I tiptoe into Masie’s room to look at her sleeping face. I’ve checked on her every night like this of her life. Every time I see her angelic face, I think how lucky I am to have her in my life.
Tonight, I cringe to think that I might not be able to tuck her in at night in the near future. Who will take care of her at Vivian’s place? How can I go on without my little girl?
I shake my head, trying to erase the thought. That can’t happen. I can’t lose her.
I go to lie down beside Lily in our bed. Her chest rises and falls with her soft, rhythmic breath. Her features glow in the dim light coming in from the window. She truly is beautiful. I’m so lucky to have found her.
But not lucky enough to keep my daughter, I think grimly.
I doze off at some point, giving in to fitful sleep for a few hours before the alarm goes off.
I fight down a big lump in my throat as Lily and I drop Masie off at school, then head over to the courthouse. We get there early and grab our seats in the courtroom. Harry arrives to sit beside me. He looks defeated, and he doesn’t have much to say today.
Fifteen minutes before the judge is due to arrive, my cell phone rings. I don’t recognize the number, but for some reason I have an urge to answer it. My body is tense with anticipation as I swipe it on and walk outside to answer it.
There’s silence on the other end for several seconds. No response to my “Hello.”
Then, finally, a shaky female voice asks “Ethan?”
The voice is familiar but for the life of me, I can’t place it. It sounds like a voice I heard in a past life.
“This is Ethan Davidson,” I say gruffly.
Another long silence. “Ethan, this is Francesca Stone.”
Her name hits me with a thud. My mother-in-law, Vivian’s mother, who I haven’t heard from in six years. She always hated me with a passion. She never thought I was good enough for her daughter, and she practically had nothing to do with Sara after she married me. The only glimpse she ever got of Masie was at Sara’s funeral, and that was just for a moment.
“Hello, Francesca,” I say, making a supreme effort to keep my voice neutral. I’ve wanted to say so many things to this woman over the years. I was filled with rage at her for the way she treated Sara, the way she abandoned her for marrying me.
“I know it’s been a while, Ethan, and I can only imagine what you must think of me.”
No, you can’t imagine it, I think.
“But I didn’t call to bring up the past. I’m aware of the custody trial you’re going through with Vivian. She’s told me everything. I didn’t object to any of it, and you can think of me what you will.”
I think your heart is as cold as ice.
“I would have liked to have seen Masie all these years. But I just couldn’t forgive Sara for what she did to the family by marrying you. And I could certainly never forgive you for taking my daughter away.”
That does it. “Francesca, I didn’t take your daughter away from you. Vivian, however, is trying to take my daughter away from me. And I don’t have time to listen to your bullshit, you cold-hearted--”
“You don’t need to go into all that, Ethan,” she interrupts. “I’ll be brief. Two nights ago I had a dream. I saw Masie’s face, just as clear as it was the day I saw her when we buried Sara.”
Her voice falters, and she pauses.
“I haven’t been able to think of anything else but her little face. I know I gave up any hope of a relationship with that little girl when I shut Sara out of my life. But I can’t let her life be ruined like this. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I stood by and let Vivian get away with this.”
Gripping the phone tightly in my palm, my senses go into hyper drive.
“I don’t want Sara’s daughter going to live with Vivian. I’m afraid that Vivian’s not interested in Masie at all. You have to understand that Vivian has suffered terribly since – since we lost so much of our money, you know. So, she came up with this scheme to get custody of Masie. She thought the child support money would be enough to keep her living the kind of lifestyle she wants.”
She pauses again. I hold my breath.
“I have proof that her lawyer bribed Judge Roberts.”
I nearly drop the phone.
“What?! What kind of proof do you have?”
“I recorded a private conversation between myself and Vivian yesterday. She was telling me how she’d win the case because Paul bought the judge. Paid him off. I recorded the conversation because… well, because I guess I need to do at least one thing right. I’m getting old, Ethan. I can’t spend the rest of my days with Masie’s face haunting me like this. I’m already haunted by what – by what I did to Sara.”
Her voice breaks again.
“I want to help my granddaughter.”
I’m stunned by this sudden change in character from my mother-in-law, but most of all I’m so overjoyed I can hardly think straight. I’m not going to lose my daughter.
She continues: “Paul and Vivian are old friends. I guess she manipulated him enough to do this for her. She’s very persuasive, you know. In any case, the recording will tell you everything you need to know to have this case thrown out.”
It takes me a moment to be able to speak again.
“I’m speechless, Francesca... You’re doing the right thing for my little girl.”
“I want immunity for Vivian, though. I don’t want her to go to jail if I give you this recording.”
“Of course, Francesca. Whatever you want. I’ll make
sure my lawyer understands that.”
“Good. Then I’ll send the recording to you in an email when we hang up.”
I give her my email address, still amazed that she’s actually going to do the right thing.
“Thank you, Francesca. I know you would make Sara very happy that you’re doing this for Masie.”
She sniffs, and is silent for a moment. “Ethan? Could you send me a picture of Masie?”
“Absolutely.”
We hang up. In a few moments, I receive the recording. I pull Harry and Lily aside and we listen to it together. Vivian mentions the “paid for” judge, and how nothing will stop her from getting custody and the child support money.
I hold my breath as we listen. It’s almost too good to be true.
A grin spreads across Harry’s face.
“We’ve got them, Ethan. It’s over.”
I close my eyes and smile. A huge weight has suddenly been lifted off my shoulders. I wrap my arms around Lily and lift her up, spinning her around. She giggles and laughs.
Masie’s not going anywhere.
“This is perfect, Ethan! Just what we needed. This will get your case thrown out, and probably the judge removed from the bench. And we can press charges against Vivian, if you’d like.” Harry begins looking through the contacts on his phone.
“No, I don’t want any action taken against Vivian. That was part of the deal with Francesca. I don’t think Vivian will be bothering me anymore.”
“Whatever you say, Ethan. I’ll make some calls now. I’ll file the complaint right away with the judicial supervisory committee. We’ll have to appear in the court room as usual when the judge arrives in a few minutes, but I’m betting they’ll put a stop to the proceedings within an hour.”
We go back into the courtroom. The judge appears and begins the proceedings of the day as normal. A half hour into Paul’s statements about how fit Vivian would be as a guardian, a sharply-dressed woman enters the courtroom and walks directly to the judge’s stand. She whispers something to him, and a look of confusion, then anger, registers across his face.
