Finally, Jonas looked up. "Thank you, Your Honor."
"Mr. Ambrose?" the judge said. "Go ahead."
The attorney's voice filled the silent courtroom. "I call Mr. Winston Howard."
Winston stood up and slowly made his way to the witness stand. As he sat down, his gaze met Sam's. Winston smirked, then turned his attention to his attorney.
"Mr. Howard," the attorney began. "You are seeking custody of your three grandchildren. Is that correct?"
Winston nodded. "That's correct."
"I only have one question." He paused, as if to emphasize it. "Why?"
As if he'd memorized his speech, Winston began to recite the reasons he'd chosen to fight Sam and Emma for the children - how he'd lost his only child, how much he wanted to spend time with his only grandchildren - how he could give them the best education money could buy - how he could provide them with every advantage in life. He went on for almost fifteen minutes, until finally the judge interrupted. "How long has it been since you've seen these children?"
Winston turned to face the judge. "We'd never seen the youngest until now, so it's probably been four or five yea
rs."
"Any particular reason you haven't visited sooner?"
Winston's face flushed. "Why ... I'm a busy man, Your Honor. The distance between Boston and Texas--"
The judge cut him off. "You managed to find the time to make the trip this time, though, didn't you?"
"I had to make arrangements--"
The judge nodded slightly, then turned his attention to the papers in front of him. Picking up his pen, he made a note. "Go ahead, Mr. Ambrose."
"I'm finished, Your Honor."
Then it was Jonas's turn to ask the questions. He got up and tucked his thumbs into his belt. "Mr. Howard, did you approve of your daughter marrying Sam Jenkins?"
Winston's gaze swept the courtroom, finally settling on Sam. "Absolutely not."
"Why not?"
"Sam Jenkins wasn't fit to be in the same room as my daughter."
"But your daughter loved him?"
"She didn't love him," Winston protested. "She married him to spite me."
"To spite you. Was your daughter in the habit of disobeying you?"
"No, not at all. But she was unhappy--"
"You're trying to tell this court you can provide a loving home for your grandchildren, yet you couldn't provide one for your own daughter."
The Howards' attorney jumped up. "I object."
"Sit down, Mr. Ambrose", the judge ordered. He sat down and began to scribble.
"And when they decided to come west," Jonas went on, "did you approve?"
"No."
"Isn't it true you tried to bribe your daughter to leave my client and stay in Boston?"