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Mumbling a “yeah” under his breath, Lenny visibly relaxed. Jude had always treated him like his little brother, teasing him but also making sure Lenny knew he’d always be there for him.
A commotion at the entrance made me turn my head and nearly choke on my spit. Every single member of the Olysses family filed into the room, taking a seat at the front, right behind us.
Althea shot me a warm smile, and Constantine nodded. Liam and Gabriel winked, and Quinn, Vanna, and Freya waved, while Gunner nodded at me. I stared at them slack-jawed, not comprehending what I was seeing. They were all here.
Jude leaned in, his mouth brushing against my cheek. “They all wanted to support you today.”
I took his hand and turned back to the judge, my confidence returning. I could do this. There were people who believed in me. And Lenny depended on me to get this right. We’d gone over what would happen with Mick until I could recite every question and the right answer in my sleep.
Mick’s firm was one of the biggest in Chicago. If anyone could get us full custody, then it would be him.
The judge came in, his gaze wandering around the courtroom, stopping at the Olysseses. He nodded at Constantine and then took a seat.
The judge completed all the formalities with bored precision, then moved on to calling for opening statements. Mick was first, making his way to the front of the judge’s bench.
His opening statement packed a punch, and he set the scene for his upcoming questions. He especially concentrated on the way I’d held down a steady job for years and how I made sure Lenny went to school and had clothes and food.
Both things Mom had never done.
Unfortunately, her lawyers were equally as good, making her look like a saint whose son had been taken from her.
We’d decided for Lenny to go up as the first witness. He bravely approached the seat next to the judge, who winked at him. “Hi, Lenny. How are you today?”
Lenny looked at his clenched hands on his lap. “Okay.”
“Do you know why we’re here today?”
He nodded.
“Can you tell us why?”
He glared at Mom. “Because she wants to take me away from Ariel. But I don’t want to go.”
“Why don’t you want to go back to your mom?”
Lenny glanced at his lap, nervously licking his lips. “She always yells at me. And I don’t like her friends. And if I go back, I’ll have to hide in the closet again.”
The atmosphere in the courtroom became charged at his words.
Mom jumped up, despite her lawyers pulling her back into her seat. “You little liar. I’m your mom. You’re supposed to be with me, not your whore of a sister.” She sneered at me, then pointed at Jude. “He’ll leave you once he’s had enough.”
I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from yelling back at her. Lenny was shocked into silence, his wide eyes on Mom. It took everything I had to not go up to him and carry him out of the courtroom.
The judge leaned forward. “Ma’am, you need to sit down. Your lawyers can ask their questions once it’s their turn.”
They managed to get her back in her seat, and then a whispered conversation ensued between the lawyers and Mom’s parents.
There was a lot of head shaking on the lawyers’ parts and stoic glares from Mom’s parents.
Eventually, the lawyers got up. “Permission to approach.”
The judge waved them over, then looked to us. “Both lawyers, please approach the bench.”
Lenny was shifting in his seat, his attention on the floor. I ached to go to him and hug him, tell him everything would be okay. Because even if Mom got him back, I’d never stop fighting for him.
A brief conversation took place before Mick came back. “Your grandparents decided to drop the case.”
I blinked at him, not sure I heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”
