“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, because I wasn’t a total asshole. She was carrying my child. I needed to take care of her.
“Yes.” But her tone didn’t make me a believer.
“All rise,” the bailiff’s voice filled the room.
We sat again when the judge entered and sat, and the first order of things was to check about Maisie’s visit.
“I have the social worker’s reports from two visits; one to Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt and one to Mr. and Mrs. Baskin. Overall, both visits seem to have gone well.”
“In that case, we’d like to push for a month-long visit before school starts in the fall,” Veronica’s lawyer said.
“In light of new information, we have concerns about any further visits with the Baskins,” my lawyer said.
Was this where he accused Leo of banging the nanny?
“What new information?” the judge asked.
“We have two concerns. The first is that we are questioning the stability of the Baskin marriage.”
“What’s he talking about?” Veronica blurted, looking over at our table.
“We have evidence that Mr. Baskin is having an affair with the child’s French nanny,” my attorney said.
“That’s absurd,” Leo sneered.
Veronica looked at Leo with such shock, that I felt sorry for her.
“Quiet,” the judge ordered. “What evidence?”
“I have it here.” My lawyer handed an envelope to the bailiff. “However, our biggest concern has to do with a plan for the Baskin’s to move to France, taking Maisie with them.”
“What?” I said. I looked at my lawyer. I hadn’t heard about that.
My lawyer put his hand on my shoulder, cueing me to be quiet.
“That’s outrageous,” the other attorney said. “Just because my client travels to France frequently doesn’t mean they plan to move there or take the child. They understand how important Mr. Hyatt is to the child.”
“This passport for Maisie suggests something different. Your honor, I believe that Mrs. Baskin wants sole custody, as opposed to joint, because she plans to leave the country with the child and can’t unless she has full legal rights. While you may decide she’s a better parent, it would be cruel for the state of New York to allow a child to be ripped from the only parent who’s been with her all her five years to live in another country where she can’t see him.”
My gaze shot to Veronica, who sat looking down as if she had something to hide. Fuck. Was she really going to do that? Of all the things I considered, taking Maisie out of the country and away from me wasn’t one of them. I truly had no clue what women were capable of.
“As I said, the Baskins travel and they’d like to show Maisie other places in the world. They don’t plan to move there,” the other attorney said.
“So, this bill of sale for a flat in Paris in Mr. Baskin’s name isn’t to live in? Or is it for his mistress?”
“Mr. Connors, let’s remember our manners,” the judge chastised my lawyer.
“Yes, your honor.”
“Mrs. Baskin, what can you tell me about all this? Remember, you’re under oath,” the judge said. I was glad she was taking the issue seriously.
Veronica’s fiery eyes glared at me and then the judge. “I’m not the one lying here, judge. Dylan and Tessa have a fake marriage. They only married to fool you into thinking he was stable.”
“I’m not talking to them now,” the judge said, but she cast a glance at me before returning her attention to Veronica. “What is this about moving to France?”
She sighed. “We do want to spend more time in France, but not forever. Dylan would still be able to see Maisie.”
The judge pursed her lips and then turned to me. “What’s this about a fake marriage?”