Page 355 of Wicked Brutal

“Would you expect repayment? Rent?”

“No. Neither.”

“Does that make Alison financially independent?”

“No.” Roman’s attorney looks up. Walter doesn’t so much as blink. “She’s eighteen.”

“Does her dependence concern you?”

“No.” He glances back at Ryan. “I’ve raised an eighteen-year-old. My son still lives in my house, eats my food, and I still pay for things. I don’t expect either of them to prove they’re grown by pretending they don’t need help.”

Arthur nods. “Is your willingness to support Alison influenced by the fact that she’s carrying your grandchild?”

“Yes.” He looks at me. “I love Ally. And she’s carrying my grandchild, and that makes her family in another way, too.” Then back to the judge. “But that isn’t why I believe Tobias belongs with her.”

“Why do you believe that?”

“Because I’ve watched them for six years.” His voice cracks. “I don’t need a school form to tell me who that little boy looks for when he’s scared. I’ve watched him do it. I’ve watched him reach for Ally since he was small enough to need someone to hold him up. I’ve watched her grow up while she was raising him right alongside Jane.”

Arthur lets him breathe. “Are you asking this court to award you custody?”

“No.”

“Would you take Tobias if you had to?”

“In a heartbeat. Both of them.”

“Then why aren’t you asking?”

Walter looks straight at me.

“Because Tobias already has Ally. Cassandra and I don’t need to replace her. We need to make sure she has everything she needs to keep doing what she’s already been doing.”

A tear slides down my cheek.

“No further questions.”

Roman’s attorney stands. “Mr. Harrington, you’ve known Alison since birth. You love her. You’ve watched her grow up. Your son is in a relationship with her, and she’s pregnant with your son’s child.”

“Yes,” Walter says, to all of it.

“So you aren’t an objective witness.”

Walter considers him. “No.” The attorney pauses, like he wasn’t expecting the honesty. “No. I’m not objective.”

He recovers, almost pleased. “So you admit you’re biased in Ms. O’Toole’s favor.”

“I admit I love her.”

“And that your opinion of her fitness is influenced by that.”

“My opinion is.” Walter nods toward the exhibits. “The last six years aren’t.”

The attorney’s mouth tightens. “You’ve offered to support Ms. O’Toole indefinitely. Which means, practically, that you’d be subsidizing Tobias’s upbringing.”

“If that’s the word you want.”

“Would she be capable of the same standard of care without your money?”