Chapter 1: The Question
“Who do you want to live with?””
Judge Harris asked the question gently, but the courtroom seemed to hold its breath anyway.
Avery sat in the witness chair with her small pink backpack tucked between her knees. Her braided hair was neatly tied with lavender beads, and the sleeves of her pastel cardigan covered most of her trembling hands.
Across the courtroom, Monique smiled.
It was the smile of a woman who believed she had already won.
Damon noticed it.
He also noticed that Avery wouldn't look at him.
“Take your time,” Judge Harris said.
“You don't have to be afraid.””
Avery swallowed.
Her eyes moved from Damon to Monique.
Then to Keisha.
Keisha sat beside Damon in an elegant navy dress, her hands folded tightly in her lap. She looked nothing like the woman Monique had described in court documents. There was no smugness. No triumph.
Only worry.
“Avery,” Judge Harris continued, “you can tell me the truth.””
Avery's lower lip trembled.
“I want to stay with her.””
She pointed at Keisha.
The smile disappeared from Monique's face.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then Monique shot to her feet.
“No.””
Judge Harris raised a hand.
“Ms. Carter, sit down.””
“She manipulated my daughter!”” Monique snapped.
“That woman has been poisoning Avery against me since the day she married Damon.””
Keisha stood slowly.
“I have never told Avery what to say.””
“Sit down, Mrs. Carter,” Judge Harris said.
Keisha obeyed.
Damon stared at his daughter.
“Avery,” he whispered, “look at me.””
She did.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
Damon's stomach tightened.
“What happened?”” he asked.
Avery shook her head.
Monique pointed toward Keisha again.
“She has been waiting for this moment. She wants custody, Damon. That's what this is.””
Keisha's voice cracked.
“Monique, stop.””
“You stop pretending to care about her.””
“I do care about her.””
“Then why does my daughter look terrified whenever I walk into the room?””
Avery flinched.
Damon turned sharply toward Monique.
“Enough.””
Monique stared at him.
“You're defending her?””
“I'm defending Avery.””
Judge Harris leaned forward.
“Everyone needs to lower their voices.””
Silence returned.
Avery looked down at her backpack.
Her fingers disappeared inside the front pocket.
Damon watched.
“Avery?”” he said.
She pulled out a small digital recorder.
Monique's face changed.
Not much.
Just enough.
Her shoulders stiffened.
Her eyes locked onto the recorder.
Avery stood and walked toward the judge's bench.
“May I give you this?””
Judge Harris nodded.
“Yes.””
Avery placed the recorder on the wooden desk.
“I can't go back.””
Damon felt cold spread through his chest.
“Go back where?””
Avery didn't answer.
Judge Harris picked up the recorder.
“Where did you get this?””
Avery looked toward Monique.
“She doesn't know I kept it.””
Monique's voice became strangely quiet.
“Avery…”
Judge Harris pressed PLAY.
Static crackled through the courtroom.
Then came muffled crying.
A child's crying.
Avery's crying.
Damon gripped the edge of the table.
A woman's voice emerged from the speaker.
“If you tell your father, nobody will believe you.””
Monique went pale.
Damon slowly turned toward her.
The recording continued.
Avery suddenly lunged forward.
“Stop!””
She slapped the button.
Silence.
Judge Harris looked at her.
“Avery…”
The little girl was breathing rapidly now.
“Who else was in that room?””
Avery froze.
Damon's face tightened.
“What room?””
Avery raised one trembling hand.
She pointed directly at him.
“Dad was there.””
Damon stopped breathing.
“What?””
Avery's tears spilled over.
“You were awake.””
The courtroom gasped.
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And Damon realized, with a horror he couldn't explain, that Avery wasn't accusing him of something he had forgotten.
She was accusing him of something she believed he remembered.
