Chapter 73


    Isaac, one of Robbie''swyer had asked me if Lia and I could give them a date to be present at the


    court. When I asked Robbie about it, he said we had to do it someday anyways to have full custody


    over Lia. I was not needed per se but everyone knew she was not going anywhere without me.


    They asked to answer truthfully if anyone asked me anything and use mymon sense. I could


    always choose not to answer and there was no need to be too formal with the people of the court.


    Well, that was the day my life had its next major flip.


    If the seating arrangement was not like in the movies, I would have thought it was just a busy, boring,


    office cubicle.


    Nothing too dramatic happened.


    Janice red at me and Lia, so I turned my Little Baby other way on myp and gave her my phone to


    y. It was just a simple game where she had to tap at the images of the animals by their names. She


    loved it so much and it was learning through games.


    We had expected the court to ask Lia some questions but thewyers had told me that it would be


    private and she would be with me or Robbie.


    But Janice''swyer asked Lia for questioning, I looked at Robbie who was frowning but then he


    nodded.


    I did not like it. Should she be sitting there like a criminal? I meant the whole procedure was between


    Robbie and Janice, why should my kid be over there?


    And the judge was unnervingly staring at me.


    "Davey?" Lia was confused and she was looking at me nervously.


    The hell withwyers and court. I walked with her ignoring the judging eyes of people surrounding us.


    "Just the girl, please." Janice''swyer was trying to put attention on me.


    Fuck you too.


    If she wanted me to walk through volcano, I would, much less this court hall. I ignored his speech of


    how I was not needed. He was just an attorney, not Jesus Himself.


    I helped her sit on the chair which was designed for adults, her tiny legs pointing straight when she


    tried to lean on the chair back. A kind police officer handed me two cushions, I adjusted them behind


    her back, so her legs could dangle.


    "These good people are going to ask you some questions, Little Baby. You answer to thatdy on the


    podium, okay?"


    "Thatad?" She pointed to the judge with her tiny hand.


    "Don''t point at people, Lia. Yes, thatdy. She will hear..."


    "Please go back to your seat, Sir." Janice''swyer boomed and Lia jumped, her eyes getting more


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    nervous. "Stop coaching the kid. Your honour, the man..."


    "... is clearly trying to help the girl, not to be afraid of the court. Please, young man, take your time." I


    thankfully nodded at the judge and hugged Lia.


    "Daddy is over there." I showed him Robbie who was busy whispering to one of hiswyers. But he


    noticed us looking and gave us a wave. "...and Davey would be over there." I showed the nearest chair


    to her. "Now, just answer whatever you can, okay. If you don''t want to, that is okay too."


    "Do we have to do this with the people, Marshall? She is a toddler." Judge asked Janice''swyer. It


    seemed like everyone could understand how ufortable would it be for my baby.


    I watched the man walk to the judge and talk in hushed whispers.


    "Fine. You have ten minutes to ask her the questions. Keep it easy and precise."


    Lia was refusing to let my hand go, but I gently took that away after kissing her palm. I sat as close to


    her in the audience panel, waving whenever she looked my way.


    "Hello, youngdy, what is your name?"


    "Amleya Angee Bwantly."


    "Amelia Angeline Brantley. That is a big name for you. Don''t you think?"


    "No. Its a pwefet name. Dada gave baby." [It is a perfect name. Daddy give her that name.]


    "Are you sure? What if mommy gave you that name?"


    Lia suddenly turned her face to me, panicked. I gave her a wave and smile though my heart was


    beating rapidly inside my chest.


    "Don''t look at anyone, kid." Marshall told her sternly but Lia did not listen, so the fucker tried to touch


    my kid''s cheek to turn her to him.


    "Don tech me." Lia screamed before popping her thump inside her mouth.


    "Judge, please note, aggressive behaviour."


    What the fucking fuck!


    "OBJECTION." Simon ourwyer, stood up before Judge could open her mouth. He continued after her


    nod. "Kids should behave aggressively when an adult especially a stranger try to touch her. Points to


    proper guidance, in favour of Mr. Brantley."


    What the fuck was going on here?


    "You have no permission, I repeat, no permission, Marshall, to touch anyone in my court without their


    verbal consent. Am I clear?"


    "The kid was getting coached..."


    "Did I stutter Marshall?"


    Wow! The judge was a hard coredy.


    "No, Judge."


    "Now, ask for forgiveness."


    It was funny to watch that fuming red man stutter out a half assed apology to Lia but she nodded


    anyways.


    "Back to questions, do you know who that is?" He pointed to Robbie and Lia nodded. "Well, tell me who


    is he?"


    Lia gulped and looked at Judge. "Dada."


    "You are doing good, kid." Judge gave her a thumbs up.


    "Okay, now who is he?" Marshall pointed to me.


    "Davey."


    "Who is Davey?"


    "My Davey."


    "Well who is he?"


    "Davey."


    "No. I mean yes, he is Davidson but who is he to you?"


    Lia was confused beyond her imagination.


    "His my Davey. We bafrans."


    Marshall was getting annoyed and Simon tried to object again but it got overruled.


    Huff!


    "Let us try again. Who is that man?"


    "Dada."


    "Yes, what is his name."


    "Daddy."


    "His name is Robert Brantley."


    "No, his Dada." Lia stretched her arms to Robbie and my heart broke.


    "Well his name is Robert Brantley, and he is your father, hence he is your Dada."


    "No... Dada."


    "Fine, then who is he?" He pointed to me again.


    "Davey."


    Lia was struggling not to cry. What was with the questions?


    When Marshall tried to make Lia tell him the type of rtion Robbie and I had, even Judge looked like


    she was going to smack her hammer on his head.


    What kind of a question was that?


    "Last and final question." He announced when the Judge reminded him that his ten minutes was up.


    "Who is she?" He pointed to Janice who was smirking.


    What was going on? I gulped.


    "Do you know her?"


    Lia looked at me then at Robbie before nodding her head.


    Marshall smiled. "Who is she?"


    Lia was shaking and I did not like that. Well, I could not sit well.


    "Do you know that she is your mother? She gave birth to you. She went through so much pain and


    struggles to put you in this world. Do you know who that is? What do you call her?"


    Lia refused to open her mouth or look at her.


    "At least look at her." Marshall tired again.


    "Baby, look at mommy. I am here baby. You don''t have to be afraid. Mommy is here. I am going to take


    you with me."


    "OBJECTION." Simon stood up and started to quote something which was in favour of us and that she


    should not just assume the court verdict.


    "Don''t you want to go with her?"


    "Nu."


    Marshall did not expect that. "Why not? You want to go with her. No one will keep you away from her.


    You want to go with her, right?"


    "No."


    "Why are you saying no? She is your mother, of course you want to go with her. Kids your age are


    supposed to be with your mother. Who is scaring you to tell no? Mommy will take you home."


    "D... Davey... DAVEY..."


    I jumped up and prepared myself to take my kid away.


    "This Davey person scares you?"


    "Marshall that is enough. The kid clearly stated that she did not want to go with the mother... the court


    sees..."


    "YOU!!! ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION. YOU ARE FUCKING COMING WITH ME!!!"


    Janice shouted like a banshee.


    "I will take you away, you pathetic... Look at me. I will drag you away if I have to. LOOK AT ME! You


    think they want you. You stupid, they don''t care about you. You have me and only me. So TELL THEM


    YOU WANT TO COME WITH ME!"


    Lia froze and med up. She squeezed her eyes shut and fell on the floor, curled up.


    "BABY!" I screamed and ran to her. I saw some people trying to catch me but I pushed all of them to


    get to my kid. "BABY... LIA!"


    I pulled her to my chest and she did not respond. I pped her cheek twice to get her eyes open but


    she had them squeezed shut and her mouth scrunched up. But I noticed she was not breathing.


    "Lia! Love... Open your eyes. BABY! DAVEY IS HERE!!! She is not breathing. Someone please help.


    ROBBIEEEE!!! Baby, please. HELP! She is not breathing."


    A jacket fell on me and I covered my cold baby in it, shaking her a bit too hard. But she was not


    responding. "Baby please. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!! ROBBIEEEEE..."


    I felt someone kneeling next to me. "I am a paramedic. Let me." She started untying the ties of Lia''s


    frock, and undid her buttons. "Everyone please clear out."


    I wanted to shout at all the people around us. I saw some women police officers restraining Janice and


    Robbie was nowhere to be seen.


    Where did he go?


    "I am here, Baby. She is fine." I heard his voice and his hand rested on my back.


    I HATED HIM. I HATED JANICE.


    My baby was not breathing.


    "I am going to remove her underwear. Please start rubbing her hands. It is okay. She is just in shock


    with all the voices around us. So talk calmly."


    The paramedic handed me Lia''s underwear before starting to rub her tiny feet. "Please, stop crying.


    She is fine. Okay? Hon, can you please find this family, a room." She asked an officer next to me.


    "Follow me to my office." The Judge told us.


    I brushed off Robbie''s hand on my shoulder before picking my kid up and followed her.


    "Lia, sweetheart." I called while shaking her and her tiny eyes opened. "Hey, baby."


    "Davey?"


    "I am here, Baby Love. Are you feeling okay now?" I rubbed her chest and almost cried out when her


    panicked eyes rolled to the sides.


    "Wa... wata."


    Robbie opened my backpack and pulled out her zippy cup. She squirmed in myp to sit up and I


    helped her, even though I wanted her to lie down. I held the bottle firmly as she gulped down the water


    before sighing.


    "Hey, baby, what happened out there?"


    "Sked." [Scared.]


    I blinked but tears did fall and words pushing my throat hurt me. "Is okay now, Baby. Nobody will take


    you away from me. Remember we are best friends. We stick together."


    She nodded before yawning.


    "What do you want Lia? Daddy will get you. Some sweets? Davey has cookies."


    "Seep."


    "You want to sleep?"


    "Yes." She yawned again and I gentlyid her back to myp; my hand already rubbing on her chest.


    My heart broke and tears spilled when she clutched on my hand as she fell asleep.


    She did not breath for a few minutes. And she had gone cold.


    Dear fucking God.


    I pushed down the anxiousness in my own chest trying to focus and cherish her breathing. Holy fuck!


    I did not reply when the Judge asked for a private audience with all thewyers and the parents.


    I was not included, so was Lia.


    Good!


    We had nothing to do with any of those people. This was it. I could not care less. Robbie and Janice


    could rot together.


    If Lia''s breaths were the payment to have Robbie permanently in my life, then screw it! I did not need a


    perfect life.


    I only needed my perfect Little Baby.