Page 104 of Silver Player

When it’s my turn, I note how cold, sterile, and impersonal I think the room is. The preliminaries are explained, and a series of questions are asked about my relationship with Sadie. I’m also asked a few questions about Theresa, and I try to be fair in my answers. She isn’t present and can’t defend herself, and I remind the interviewer that Theresa isn’t on some sort of trial for her decision.

“Just establishing background and the relationship between Ms. McAllister and Mr. Harrington.”

“There wasn’t a relationship,” I say. Just sex, I want to add, feeling a strange similarity to my circumstances with him. Pure, unadulterated passion and I miss him although I hate him.

As we near the end of our session, the liaison asks, “Is there any reason Billy Harrington shouldn’t have Sadie living with him?”

My tongue thickens, and my mouth refuses to move. I don’t have any objection other than my own emotional attachment to Sadie. Was she not listening? Did I not spell out for her all the things I’ve done? How involved I am with Sadie and always have been? How much I love her? These questions race through my mind as a hollow feeling knocks the wind from me.

It’s over, isn’t it?

“If someone were to come forward to discredit Mr. Harrington, would you find any justification in claims against his ability to parent?”

“I don’t understand.” I squint at her.

“If someone made a statement against Mr. Harrington’s character, questioning his parenting ability, would you object?”

“Did that happen?”

“I’m not at liberty to say,” she continues.

“So it did, didn’t it?”

She holds her face still, guarded and firm. Did something happen? Did someone come forward to discredit Billy?

“Honestly,” I begin, taking a deep breath as I straighten in my seat. “I can’t find any reason Sadie shouldn’t live with Billy. My feelings are selfish. I want her with me because she’s my only family.” I blink, eyes filling with traitorous tears as the truth slips forward. “But from the moment it sank in that Sadie was his daughter, Billy has made an effort to get to know her and be active in her life. He’s been amazing with her. He has an odd work schedule, but he’d accommodate as needed.”

“Do you see the pub as a deterrent? A possibility he might leave Sadie alone too often?”

“She’s sixteen. She can be unsupervised for a while,” I emphasize. “But no, I don’t think he’d do that to her.” And I didn’t. If Sadie was at his home, he’d make sure he was present.

“And the possibility of dating?”

My brows pinch at the abrupt question. “Mr. Harrington doesn’t date.” He has said it himself. However, he hasn’t subjected Sadie to anyone in the two months she’s known he was her father. He admitted he doesn’t bring women to his home. Strangely, it’s the one thing I do believe about him, and I pause with the thought.

I went on a date with him.

I was at his home.

I was in his bed.

The interviewer wraps up by thanking me for my time. “The judge should rule quickly. Judge Bernard wants the case wrapped up before the holidays, and it’s pretty straightforward.”

I reach out for the interviewer’s arm before she stands. “Do you think Sadie will stay with me?”

Her lips twist. “Honestly, ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s the biological parent who wins these things. Despite the estrangement, he’s stepped up, right? He’s her father, but the final say comes down to Sadie. The judge will weigh her feelings and perspective. She’s so close to eighteen, any decision would only be a rule for a few years.”

Her dismissal of Sadie’s age, as if two years is no time at all, doesn’t settle well with me, but I nod, accepting her explanation as I stand. Billy has a right to Sadie despite the years I’ve spent with her and the love we share. The fact he shares direct DNA with her overrules everything else.

As we leave the room, I’m surprised to see Mr. Harrington, Billy’s father, waiting outside the door.

“Mr. Harrington?” I step up to shake his hand, but he reaches for my shoulders and kisses my cheeks.

“Roxanne, lovely to see you again.” He pulls back and smiles warmly.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m next.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, and I panic a little, knowing his opinion of his son and their history. Images of getting caught on Billy’s lap on his bed flip to the forefront of my mind. Our position played into Billy’s playboy reputation. I also slapped his son in front of him.