He glimpsed the statuary group over Ella Webster’s little grave. It depicted Simon as part of the Webster family. “But I won’t lose him. That’s a promise. I’m going to court tomorrow and I’ll get him for us.” He caressed the cool stone, tracing Marie’s engraved name with a calloused finger. “I’ll protect him like I should have protected you. No matter what the cost.”
Michael pushed himself to his feet. Savannah came up here frequently, and he didn’t want to run into her. He started toward the exit but paused as he passed Jess’s grave. “Why did you give him to Savannah? The boy is a Willard—you knew that as well as me. Why put him in the hands of a Legare? Were you still mad about how I raised you? I had to make you strong. You knew that too. Why did you do it, girl?”
The only answer was the cooing of a dove in one of the trees dotting the hilltop graveyard.
Whatever Jess’s reasoning, she was wrong. She made a mistake, and it was up to him to fix it. He strode down the hill, determined to claim his grandson.
Chapter 16
Hez tried not to fidget. He firmly believed the adage that a lawyer who represented himself had a fool for a client—but he still hated sitting in a courtroom without being able to argue his own case. He wanted to be sitting next to Scott Foster at the counsel table, scribbling notes and whispering last-minute advice, but that would be counterproductive.
He turned to Savannah, who sat beside him just behind Scott. She gave a nervous smile, took his hand, and squeezed it. He squeezed back and put on what he hoped was a reassuring expression.
Michael Willard sat on the other side of the courtroom, whispering with his attorney, a middle-aged woman with sharp features whom Hez didn’t recognize. The only other people present were the clerk, the court reporter, and the bailiff. The two sides had agreed to hold the hearing while Simon was in school so he wouldn’t have to hear his family arguing over him.
The bailiff was unusually muscular and well armed. A veteran police officer once told Hez that family law hearings were more likely to turn violent than any other court proceedings, which would explain why the bailiff had a Taser, gun, and billyclub. Most bailiffs were retired cops with extra time on their hands, but this guy could have been a SWAT door kicker. And he had given both Hez and Michael appraising looks as they walked in, as if he were deciding the best way to take down each of them if things got ugly.
The door behind the judge’s bench opened, and everyone in the courtroom rose. The clerk cleared her throat. “The probate court for Baldwin County is now in session. Please take your seats and come to order.” A broad-shouldered short man of about fifty emerged from the chambers. Aloysius O’Keefe had been a star high school running back thirty-five years ago. Reporters named him “the Bowling Ball,” and he looked the part in his black robe.
Judge O’Keefe settled in as everyone sat down. He flipped through the papers in front of him, then peered over the side of the bench and nodded to the clerk.
The clerk looked at her monitor. “Calling M. J. W. versus S. L. W. and H. M. W.” Adoption dockets were confidential, so the case name used only the parties’ initials.
The attorneys rose and Scott spoke first. “Scott Foster for petitioners Savannah and Hezekiah Webster.”
Michael’s lawyer spoke in a harsh contralto voice. “Agatha Morgan for counterpetitioner and movant, Michael Willard.”
Judge O’Keefe nodded. “Thanks. Have a seat. This is our first hearing, but both sides have already been busy. We have not one but two adoption petitions, both of which are contested. And now we also have an emergency motion for custody.” He glanced at his papers again. “Normally, the first order of business in a contested adoption is to appoint a guardian ad litem.”
Morgan stood. “In light of the urgency of the situation, Mr. Willard respectfully requests that his motion be heard first, Your Honor.”
The judge nodded. “I thought he might. I’ve read the motion papers and the allegations are quite serious. If the child’s life truly is threatened by the current custody arrangement, that needs to be addressed immediately. Since this is your motion, you go first.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Morgan picked up her notes and moved to the lectern. “May it please the court, Simon Legare is in danger every hour he stays with the Websters. The facts in our affidavits are undisputed. In the few months Simon has been in their custody, he was kidnapped, nearly drowned, and was held at gunpoint. Further, their own child drowned while under the supervision of Mr. Webster.”
The judge held up a hand to stop Morgan and turned to Scott. “Do you agree that all of this is undisputed?”
Scott stood. “It’s undisputed that those things happened, Your Honor.”
The judge’s gaze moved to Hez and Savannah, and judgment showed in his brown eyes. “And they happened while the children were in the Websters’ custody and under their supervision?”
Scott nodded. “Yes, Your Honor. However, Mr. Willard’s nephew, Deke Willard, kidnapped Simon, so it’s hardly fair to blame the Websters for that.”
Judge O’Keefe turned back to Morgan. “Is that true?”
Morgan whispered with Michael, whose face had turned red. “Yes, Your Honor. Deke got manipulated into participating in the kidnapping. He is now serving a life sentence withoutpossibility of parole and is no threat to Simon.” She picked up a document and handed it to the clerk, who handed it up to the judge. She handed another copy to Scott. “Moving on. Simon’s father, Erik Andersen, consented to Michael Willard’s adoption petition. Mr. Andersen also submitted an affidavit supporting an immediate custody change. Mr. Andersen met with Simon and Mr. Willard just yesterday and witnessed their loving interactions. Simon said he wanted to live with Mr. Willard and—”
Hez grimaced and a little gasp escaped Savannah. So that’s why Erik and Michael somehow lured Simon to Erik’s home. Scott jumped to his feet. “Objection, hearsay and lack of notice. This wasn’t part of the materials served on my clients.”
The judge nodded. “Sustained. If you want Mr. Andersen’s testimony in the record, bring him in to testify and give the other side proper notice. The same for the child. I’ll allow his testimony, assuming the guardian ad litem doesn’t think it would be harmful to him.”
Morgan gathered her papers. “Understood, Your Honor. One final point and my argument is finished—the DNA tests prove Mr. Willard is Simon’s grandfather.”
“All right.” Judge O’Keefe turned to Scott. “Argument, Counsel?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Scott stepped to the lectern as Morgan resumed her seat. “May it please the court, the dying wish of Simon’s mother—Ms. Webster’s sister—was that Ms. Webster take care of Simon. Her will says the same thing. Ms. Webster is in court and will so testify if necessary. His father—confirmed by DNA—is Erik Andersen, who fled during the investigationinto the murder of the university president. Ms. Webster is his closest and most logical guardian.”
The judge glanced at Savannah, then turned to Morgan. “Do you want to put her on the stand?”
