Chapter 11
I sit completely motionless behind the desk, staring straight at the judge.
The scents of wood polish, paperwork, and male desperation flood the space around me, intensifying my focus.
Kevin’s lawyer, Anthony Rindback, hasn’t taken his sneering gaze off me since the moment we both arrived.
I continue to ignore him. He’s a pest. A bother in a place that I feel more at home in than the condo I spent a small fortune on.
His suit is expensive, tailored just right at his ankles and wrists, with those ridiculous large cufflinks men always choose to wear as an example of their wealth.
There’s not a hair out of place on his prematurely balding head, nor a patch of scruff on his shaved, rounded jaw.
In another courtroom, across the aisle from any other lawyer, I don’t doubt he’s been mistaken for intimidating.
To me, today, he’s a bug that I can’t wait to squash beneath my red-bottomed heel.
Beside me, Lydia’s leg bounces furiously, her muscles rigid and expression wobbly.
I settle a hand on her knee and wait for her to still before pulling it back to rest on my array of paperwork.
It’s organized neatly in front of me, there for Lydia to read if she chooses to.
I’ve never been one for keeping my clients in the dark unless there’s no other choice.
Currently, we’re not at that stage.
I know what I’ll see if I look back to my left.
Kevin’s attention attempts to wrap a noose around my neck as I continue to ignore him and his lawyer, refusing to give him any sort of reaction here today.
Of all the things that man should feel sitting at the opposite table, it’s fear that I wish for the most. If his legal representation didn’t fill him in on just how rabid I can be when I’ve been pushed too far, he’s in for the shock of his fucking life.
“You’re sure about this?” Lydia whispers, leaning into my shoulder.
The judge keeps her eyes down on the paperwork in front of her, giving nothing away.
It’s unsurprising and not concerning to me.
My motion was only sent through last night, scheduled completely intentionally to leave my opposing counsel floundering to have a rebuttal ready in time for this hearing.
Whether that makes me just as bad as Rindback doesn’t matter to me right now. It may never at all.
Finally, the judge’s eyes flick up and away from her desk. I feel the heavy weight of them on me first, then watch as they shift across the aisle before levelling off on her paperwork again. The court clerk speaks to everyone, his posture tall and confident.
“Calling the matter of Thompson v. Ford.”
“Appearances for the applicant?” the judge asks, guiding her eyes back across the courtroom to Anthony and Kevin.
Anthony stands quickly, his hands smoothing down the front of his suit jacket. “Anthony Rindback, counsel for Mr. Ford.”
“Aubrey Merrick, counsel for Ms. Thompson,” I state, already having risen.
The judge nods once. “My understanding is that we’re here today to review Mr. Ford’s request for custody, and such, the interim parenting agreements this court has put into place since then. These include supervised visitation and, as of late last night, the specifics of alcohol monitoring.”
I feel her attention clawing into me, her last statement pointed just enough to feel. Keeping my expression cool, I nod sharply. “Yes, Your Honour.”
“Yes, Your Honour,” Anthony echoes dully.
“Very well. Before I hear from the respondent, I would like it known that despite the late submission, I have taken the time to completely review the motion filed by Ms. Merrick, including the most recent supervision report. In addition, I’m well-read in the prior affidavits submitted over the last few weeks. Counsel, you may proceed.”
Sitting back in my chair, I keep my spine straight, posture perfect, and grab my pen. It’s the same one I’ve had since my first day at the firm. The familiar weight of it in my hand soothes me as I press the black tip to my notepad and listen as Anthony begins.
“Your Honour, my client has made every effort possible to reconnect with his son. He has happily complied with the court’s existing orders, and he has attended every single supervised visit.
As such, we believe he has shown just how much he would like to get to know his son again after losing those early years. ”
My chest tightens, a hot burst of anger spreading through me at his bullshit lies. I remain impassive on the outside, not so much as even allowing my tongue to wet my drying lips as I stare forward and count the seconds until I can speak.
“Ms. Thompson and her counsel have made this situation unnecessarily difficult. The additional request for random alcohol testing is excessive, invasive, and unfounded. My client has been sober at every supervised visitation. The other side, if I may, is overstepping their bounds. We request the court dismiss the motion for randomized alcohol testing.”
That nearly has my eyebrow lifting. I trap down my reaction and slowly turn my head, finding Kevin nodding quickly beside his lawyer, two shit-brown eyes bugging out of his head.
Yes, because this guy is such a fucking dollface, how could I ever request something so terrifying? So out of my bounds? It’s not like there’s a seven-year-old boy at stake here.
“Ms. Merrick,” the judge says, reeling me back in. “Your response?”
I rise slowly. The sleeves of my blazer fall exactly where I want them to as I clasp my hands at my middle and bring my focus back to the front of the courtroom.
Cool against my skin, my lucky gold bracelet hangs from my wrist, hidden beneath my sleeve, but doing just enough to keep me steady.
The room is silent and cool, allowing me to take a deep breath to fill my lungs.
“Thank you, Your Honour,” I begin, not wasting my time glancing back at my notes when there’s no need.
“Yes, Mr. Ford has complied with the alcohol testing before scheduled visits. However, that narrow window does not necessarily mean that he hasn’t still been drinking.
All it shows is that he can refrain from drinking prior to visitation. ”
Without blinking, I ignore the hitch in Kevin’s breathing and the scoff that follows and tap my finger to the paperwork in front of me.
“As you’ve read in my motion, over the last seven weeks, Mr. Ford has been late for three of his last scheduled visits.
This pattern has become a particular issue for Ms. Thompson, as it has only recently started.
Each of those delayed visits was in direct continuation, all leading up to maybe the most concerning moment that has happened thus far, when Mr. Ford emailed my client late at night with incredibly threatening words and a sworn affidavit before it had been officially submitted.
The contents of such email, in addition to these late visitations and the behavioural concerns pointed out in the most recent supervisor’s report, don’t settle me, nor do they give my client any sort of comfort, Your Honour. ”
Anthony sputters, “Behavioural conc—”
I lift my hand, cutting him off. “Page four of the supervisor’s report. Paragraph two. I assume you’ve read through my materials, Mr. Rindback, but if not, I have an extra copy.”
Keeping my movements smooth and confident, I collect the stack of paperwork from below mine and hand it to the clerk, who’s already heading my way. He takes it and sets it on Anthony’s desk, directly between him and Kevin.
“More importantly.” I clear my throat and situate myself again.
“The email that was sent to my client from Mr. Ford himself was not only a violation of the court protocols set into place for this trial, but also the most important action that I’m asking be taken into account here.
It was inappropriate, threatening, and a direct example of the instability we are addressing today. ”
I watch with hidden approval when the judge levels Kevin beneath a disapproving stare and take a step to the side of my desk.
“Random Soberlink testing is a minimally invasive tool used in high-intensity cases involving past or present alcohol abuse, Your Honour. It provides consistency, accountability, and, for my client, peace of mind. Most importantly—” I turn to face Kevin, letting him feel every single word I speak next.
“—it protects an innocent seven-year-old boy from the consequences of an adult’s decision. ”
“This is bullshit,” Kevin mutters under his breath before his lawyer can warn him to keep his mouth shut.
Luckily for him, the judge didn’t catch the childish rebuttal. Or if she did, she doesn’t mention it, knowing full well that pointing it out would only add fuel to the fire.
“Our request for randomized testing is directly tied to Mr. Ford’s exhibited behaviour, Your Honour.
Not mindless accusations. If sobriety is not a concern, he won’t fail the testing.
And if he does, then the child will be protected.
Either way, Nathan is our priority, and ensuring he’s safe at all times is what we’re here to do,” I finish, my voice as cool as ice.
Smoothly, I sit back in my chair. Lydia touches my back softly, and I give her a quick, reassuring smile. She’s not as fearful now, but until this is over, I know I’ll never see her at ease.
“Thank you, Ms. Merrick,” the judge says, nodding once at me.
Her expression is hard to read, but her next words are crystal clear.
“Mr. Rindback, I share these same concerns about your client. The rules set forward for Mr. Ford have always been quite clear, and I will not stand for another breach of communication between him and Ms. Thompson. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Your Honour,” Anthony says, his embarrassment making the words shake.
“As for Ms. Merrick’s motion, I will be granting it. The court will add staggered Soberlink testing to the existing order, starting immediately. Failure to comply will result in suspension of visitation.”
Kevin explodes. I whip my head in his direction when his chair skids back on the glossy floor, and his voice cuts through the courtroom, hot with fury.
“What? This isn’t fair. She’s making me out to be a drunk!”
Aren’t you?
The judge smashes her gavel down, shutting Kevin up and forcing his lawyer to intervene. “Mr. Ford. Sit down. Need I remind you that this is a courtroom?”
Anthony tugs at the overhanging fabric of Kevin’s shirt sleeve, guiding him back into his seat.
The interaction between the two men opposing me is so incredibly expected.
This is our third time in court, and each time we meet, I watch as Kevin unravels inch by inch.
Soon, I’ll have him sinking into a mess of angry words that get this case thrown out in its entirety with not a single win in their column.
“I’m sorry, Your Honour. We understand your decision and will comply with the required testing,” Anthony says tightly.
Once they’ve both sat back down, the judge continues.
Lydia fiddles with the hem of her flowy dress but doesn’t bounce her leg again.
She’s scared, but I have her trust, which I refuse to break with the disappointment of losing this case.
I’m going to take care of this, and her family, and leave Kevin as nothing more than a dead rodent on the road behind her.
This is what Rowena saw in me years ago.
One look and she knew that I was going to be someone who would stop at nothing to win in this court.
I poured blood, sweat, buckets of tears, and countless lost hours of sleep into this so that I can sit right here, beside people like Lydia, and know that I’m the right person to help them.
It’s because of my ruthlessness and ability to break a man down bit by bit that I am where I am. Yes, those same attributes are why I’m still single and in such desperate need of help from my best friend, but I wouldn’t change myself for anything.
Not for a date or even besting Spencer in his ridiculous obsession with my love life.
Nothing is more important to me than this right here, and that won’t ever change.