Touching the Heart of Ace

Isaac, one of Robbie's lawyer 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 my common 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 glared at me and Lia, so I turned my Little Baby other way on my lap and gave her my phone to play. 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 the lawyers had told me that it would be private and she would be with me or Robbie.

But Janice's lawyer 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 with lawyers and court. I walked with her ignoring the judging eyes of people surrounding us.

"Just the girl, please." Janice's lawyer 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 that lady on the podium, okay?"

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

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

"Please go back to your seat, Sir." Janice's lawyer boomed and Lia jumped, her eyes getting more 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 his lawyers. 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's lawyer. It seemed like everyone could understand how uncomfortable 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, young lady, 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 our lawyer, 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 core lady.

"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 relation 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 clamed 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 slapped 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 my lap 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 gently laid her back to my lap; 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 the lawyers 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.000000