“I missed you this morning,” she whispers against my lips.
I lace my fingers around hers and walk with her back to the house. “I missed you too. I’m not going to keep sneaking out of your room. After everything settles down, we are going to sit down and talk.”
She looks at me with confusion, but doesn’t ask me anything.
When we finally get on the road, Olivia and Faith are both a basket of nerves. I try to make them laugh, even singing to them off key with the radio.
Going straight to the court house, we walk into the room with Olivia’s hand in mine and Faith on my hip.
We sit and wait our turn and when Olivia’s name is called she walks to the front. I have Faith sitting beside me but I hate that I can’t go up there with her.
Caleb comes in a few minutes late looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He smirks at Olivia and my fist clenches, wanting to go and punch that smirk off his face.
Ryder is supposed to be here, but he must be running late. I get a vibration in my pocket and pull my phone out. It’s a text from Ryder.
I’m on my way. I have good news.
Sighing in relief, I text him back. Hurry
The judge comes in and everyone stands. He goes over the proceedings and what happened at the incident. Today’s hearing is a temporary custody hearing and he is stressing that he is going to do what is best for the child.
He listens to the case, the testimony of a few witnesses and then when we think he is about to make the judgment, he asks if Faith is in the room. Her mom says yes and both Faith and I stand. When the judge asks for Faith to join him in his chambers, she grabs my hand and we walk toward him.
The judge stops us. “Alone. I would like to talk to her alone.”
“Sir, no disrespect, but where she goes, I go. My name is Johnny Ellis. I have been hired as her bodyguard and as an advocate for the child. The papers were filed this morning.”
He looks over at the court reporter, who is going through her papers. When she nods her head at him, he tells me, “Okay, let’s go.”
We walk out of the room as her father hollers that he objects. Thankfully, the judge is not listening to it.
Faith never lets go of my hand. She tells the judge exactly how she feels about her dad and everything he has put her through. She even tells him about his friends following her everywhere and not being able to go out and play.
The judge thanks her and then dismisses us. I smile at Olivia when we come out to try and reassure her, but she looks beyond stressed out. When the judge walks back to the courtroom, he no sooner sits down than a woman walks in and hands him a piece of paper. Faith and I go back and sit down and Ryder is there waiting for us. He gives me a thumbs-up and I’m praying that he worked it out.
The judge then begins to speak. “After everything that I have heard today, in the best interests of the child, I am placing her in the temporary custody of her mother, Olivia Johnson, until the hearing, which is set for one month from today. It is not common that you see such a disregard of the law or abuse of power, especially from someone that is supposed to be a man of the law. I make this ruling also because I have been asked to detain Mr. Caleb Johnson.” He pauses and gestures for the bailiff to come forward. “Mr. Caleb Johnson is under arrest for drug distribution, trafficking and human trafficking. Mrs. Johnson, you and Faith are free to go. And can I add you should be very proud of that girl. Hearing adjourned.”
By this point, Caleb is hollering and struggling against the court officer. But I ignore all of that. I pick up Faith and we rush over to where Olivia is standing with her mouth wide open, and tears streaming down her face.
She kisses Faith and then me. “You did it. I can’t believe you did it.”
I wish I could take all the credit, but I can’t. I point over at Ryder. “Actually, he did it.” I hug him and slap him on the back. “I owe you, brother.”
He shrugs his shoulders, shaking off Olivia’s thank yous.
When we walk out of the court house, I can’t take my eyes off of my girls. Both of their faces are beaming and I’m so happy that it all worked out.
Pulling Olivia’s hand up to my lips, I kiss her palm. “Well, I know one of the first things we need to take care of.” She’s smiling ear to ear as I continue. “I hated hearing them call you Mrs. Johnson. I think we need to change that.”