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Baxter nods to the judge’s laptop on the desk.
“It’s in your email, sent over by our lawyers.”
The judge turns to his laptop and searches for the email. When he finds it, he presses play and Nix’s small voice fills the room. My heart clenches. I can’t listen to her pain and suffering again. Baxter reaches out to take my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze that’s meant to reassure and comfort, but doesn’t. How can I feel comfort, being made to listen to Nix’s tale all over again?
When it’s over and the room is quiet once more the judge looks at the two of us, his face sombre.
“How old is the child?”
“Almost four, sir.”
“While I’m well aware that children – and adults too for that matter – of all ages lie, I am inclined to believe this child’s testimony.”
Relief floods me and the constricting bands around my chest loosen a little.
“Thank you,” I say in a rush.
“Normally I would want to question the child myself but I think she has been through enough and it would be unkind to make her relive that again.” Baxter nods. “For that reason, I am willing to grant you, the biological father, temporary custody of the child while the court case is ongoing.”
“Thank you. Do you need us to move out of the family home because of the case?”
“Normally, yes. However, as I said before, I think the child has been through enough. Keep her at home, cuddle her, soothe the nightmares she’s bound to have from this trauma. Be a family.”
“What about her great-grandmother?”
Your next step will be to officially register a complaint with the police if you haven’t already done so…”
“I did that yesterday,” Baxter surprises me by saying. “They have the footage too and the lawyers have raised objections.”
“Then I’m happy to grant a temporary restraining order against Ms Deighton to prevent her having access to the child until all of this nasty business is over.”
“Thank you,” I say, my eyes watering with unshed tears of gratitude. “How will this impact the case?”
“I can’t speak of specifics because it’s not my assigned case. If it were, it would have the case thrown out. It’s reprehensible to consider placing a child in the care of a known abuser… however, this isn’t my case.”
“What—”
“I will speak to the judge assigned to it and bring this new information and evidence to light. The judge may choose the same course of action as I would take, or they may wish to complete the hearing as serious allegations have also been raised against yourself, Miss Deighton.”
I nod even though I’m disappointed. Of course everything wouldn’t magically disappear with a better bank balance and a name on a birth certificate. Cordelia has been gathering ‘evidence’ against me for years. Thank goodness the judge believes Phoenix and didn’t think it was some elaborate ‘he said/she said’ retaliation plan.
“Thank you very much for seeing us,” Baxter says, getting to his feet and shaking the judge’s hand. “We won’t take up any more of your time.”
“Yes, thank you,” I manage to say stiffly.
We exit the office and the court building and make our way back to Baxter’s car. The whole thing didn’t even take an hour and Nix can stay at home with us. I should be dancing right now, but I can’t.
“What’s wrong?” Baxter asks.
“I hoped—”
“I know. But we’ve got this. Small steps. Nix is home and that’s all that matters for now.”
“I know you’re right,”
“I understand how you’re feeling and you’re entitled to feel that way.” He doesn’t say anything else, simply holds his arms wide for me to step in to, and wraps me in a warm hug. The tension finally leaves me as I relax in his arms.
“Let’s go home. It’s still early and I have a surprise for you.”
