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Chapter Nineteen
Raven
Leaving Phoenix with Jax and the others to come to the courtrooms this morning is the hardest thing I’ve had to do in a while. I didn’t sleep last night, I kept getting up to check on Phoenix. She was fretful and restless in her sleep, and I worry she’s having nightmares.
I’m mostly here to support Baxter and to tell the judge I have no objections to him taking temporary custody of Phoenix. Even if it means they both have to move out of our home for now because of the case, it’s a price I’ll pay to know Phoenix is nowhere near Cordelia.
“Are you okay?” Baxter asks me, giving me a sideways look.
“Yeah.” No! “Why?”
“You’re muttering under your breath and shaking your head like a loon.”
“Am I? Sorry.”
“Don't be. It’s sexy when you look insane.” He grins to show he’s joking – I hope – and I laugh at him but am spared from having to answer by the door to the judge’s chambers opening.
A balding guy that looks to be in his sixties wearing smart trousers and a shirt invites us in. Baxter motions for me to go ahead and we both take seats at the large wooden desk. The judge – Bob Blackborow according to the gold nameplate on his desk – closes the door before rounding his desk and joining us.
“Good morning, thank you for coming in so early to see me. I have a full schedule of hearings today but our mutual friend made it very clear you needed to meet with me urgently.”
“Yes, thank you for agreeing to see us,” I say. “I’m sorry if you’ve had to come in early especially.”
He chuckles.
“My dear, on court days I’m in at five. Though I try not to make that common knowledge, otherwise I’ll be interrupted all morning.”
He has a relaxed, easy going nature about him. Almost grandfatherly. There’s something about him that invites confidence and total honesty. He’s definitely trustworthy and most importantly, he seems fair.
“I’m here to apply for a temporary custody arrangement for my daughter,” Baxter says.
“I see. As I understand it the child in question is already under a temporary order, in the care of her great-grandmother, while there’s ongoing proceedings.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you are on the child’s list of visitors?”
“I am, sir.”
I know this is serious, but it’s hard to bite back a smile at Baxter sounding so polite and respectful. I want to giggle because I can only imagine how hard he’s finding it to play nice.
“Then I’m not sure why we need to change the order.”
“On Saturday I went to visit my daughter—”
“The daughter who, up until a couple of months ago, had no paternal lineage listed on her birth certificate?”
“We had a paternity test done and the birth certificate updated immediately.”
“I see. Do continue.”
“When I got to the home of her great-grandmother I found my daughter had a cast on her arm. She was reluctant to tell me how she got hurt and it rang alarm bells.”
“I see. Children do get hurt very easily though. I don’t—”
“I took her from her great-grandmother’s care and returned to the family home with her.” The judge’s brows rise. “I know I shouldn’t have, but once home Phoenix opened up to her mum and told her what really happened. We have it on camera. Please will you watch it before making a judgement?”
“Very well.” The judge sighs, and I feel the apprehension snake it’s way round my chest and squeeze. It’s hard to breathe. This doesn’t feel like it’s going well at all.
