Chapter 8
The first court hearing was brutal.
Vanessa wore pale blue.
No makeup.
Soft hair.
A bruise on her cheek from where I slapped her.
Her lawyer called me violent.
He said I assaulted Vanessa.
He said Lily had emotional problems after her mother’s death.
He said Vanessa had been overwhelmed.
Then Nora played the pantry video.
The courtroom changed.
No one moved.
Lily’s little voice cried from the speakers.
“I’m hungry.”
Vanessa stared at the table.
Mason’s statement was read by the social worker.
He did not have to appear.
Thank God.
The judge granted a protective order.
No contact with Lily.
No contact with Mason.
No contact with me.
Vanessa was barred from the house.
The forged documents triggered a fraud investigation.
Outside court, Vanessa tried to look at me.
I did not let her borrow my eyes.
Eric stood nearby.
He had temporary custody of Mason now.
Mason ran to Lily when he saw her in the hallway with Grace.
They hugged fiercely.
Vanessa watched from across the room.
For once, she had no child within reach.
That felt like justice.
Small.
May you like
Temporary.
But real.
