34. James
34
JAMES
I thought I could quickly adjust to being in the same room as Kaitlyn after not being close to her for so long. I’d gone to Scott and Cassie’s wedding hadn’t I?
But after an hour in this small courtroom, I’d realized it was all but impossible. Yes, my focus was on the court case at hand to determine Harper’s custody, but I couldn’t help glancing toward where Kaitlyn was seated, waiting for her turn to testify. So much rested on her professional opinion.
But that wasn’t the only reason why I couldn’t stop staring at her.
Malcolm had successfully argued against every point the Dreshers’ legal team had tried to make. That my wealth and notoriety put Harper at risk, that my security protocols had been proven ineffective by the hacking incident, that Harper wasn’t developing normally since she wanted nothing to do with her grandparents. Now was the time for Kaitlyn to take the stand and help me prove that not only was I the only person qualified to care for my daughter, but that she’d been flourishing lately.
Kaitlyn took to the stand without even glancing at me, which gave me an opportunity to study her. She was dressed conservatively, in a pale yellow blouse and black skirt. As always, she looked breathtaking. But her expression…the sparkle, the joy , that always lit up her face was gone.
“Ready, Miss Thorn?” the opposing counsel asked.
She nodded.
“You were employed in the Morris household and worked directly with Harper Morris. Can you describe some of the work you did together?”
Kaitlyn cleared her throat. “Yes. My work with Harper centered on helping her feel more confident in a variety of settings in and around her home, along with teaching her coping skills for potentially stressful times, particularly when it came to leaving the house. In addition to the behavioral modification exercises we did each day, I also helped to get her caught up and ready academically to begin kindergarten in the fall. She missed some developmental milestones due to the kidnapping, so my goal was to backfill those missing pieces.”
“Were you successful?”
“Yes. I was very impressed with her progress.”
“And how did you measure said progress?”
“I use developmental screening tools that include language and communication abilities, a physical abilities checklist, cognitive milestones, and most importantly in Harper’s scenario, social and emotional milestones.”
The lawyer scrawled something on the pad in front of him, and I saw Maureen whisper to Mitch.
“Can you give us an example of a physical ability test?” the lawyer asked.
Kaitlyn smiled for a moment then regained her stoic face. “In Harper’s circumstance, it was not so much a formal test as a willingness to attempt something new. The most impressive example is the time she left the property, which she hadn’t been able to do prior to our work together, and scaled a climbing wall designed for children older than her. The determination with which she tackled the challenge, and the tangible sense of pride she felt in her accomplishment represented enormous strides from the timid girl I met on my first day.”
I looked around the room. No one else seemed all that impressed, but it was a special and important memory that Kaitlyn and I shared.
“That’s fine,” the lawyer said in a flat tone. “Now I’d like to move on to your employer, Mr. James Morris.”
Kaitlyn sat up straighter, and I hoped that she’d glance my way, but she kept her eyes fixed on the lawyer.
“How would you describe the interactions between Mr. Morris and his daughter?”
“Loving. Attentive. Intuitive. During my tenure, Mr. Morris was an involved and caring parent. He set appropriate boundaries, encouraged Harper to be respectful to those around her, and supported her growth in a manner that was comfortable for her.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to add?”
“Yes.” Kaitlyn took a deep breath. “I’ve worked with many families, and I’ve never seen a tighter bond between parent and child. It was…it was beautiful to watch the two of them together. It’s clear that Harper and Mr. Morris adore one another, and it’s my professional opinion that any attempts to move Harper to a different household would have an incredibly negative impact on her development.”
I beat back the emotions that welled up inside me as Kaitlyn spoke. Still, she didn’t look at me.
“So you’re saying that moving Harper into the care of Mitch and Maureen Dresher, her grandparents, would be detrimental?”
She nodded. “Based on what I saw the morning they stopped by—unannounced, I might add—I don’t think that rehoming Harper with them is a safe option. They disrespected Harper’s boundaries and attempted to use guilt and coercion to get physical affection from her. Harper reacted negatively, and instead of trying to work with her, they doubled down on the pressure until she wound up hiding from them. I haven’t seen anything to demonstrate that the Dreshers are equipped to give Harper what she needs in order to continue hitting her developmental milestones. And not only that, the impact of being separated from her father could cause major behavioral regressions.”
The judge looked over at Malcolm. “Do you have any questions for Miss Thorn, Mr. Washington?”
“No, your honor.”
Malcolm and I had agreed that there was no need to request anything more of Kaitlyn. Her initial testimony had been perfect.
The judge turned to face Kaitlyn. “Thank you, Miss Thorn, you’re free to go.”
She gave him a little nod then grabbed her purse and left the courtroom without a backward glance at me.
I wanted to tear out of the room after her, to get her to look at me, so I could thank her for everything she’d said, not to mention all she had done for Harper. And for me. I had so much I wanted to say to her, but the more I thought about it the more inappropriate it felt to try to get it all out in the halls of a courthouse.
The judge glanced around the room. “While there are no real winners when families are at war with one another, the evidence has made my decision clear. Mr. Morris, you will retain full custody and parental rights of your daughter, Harper Morris.
Mr. and Mrs. Dresher, any further CPS investigations brought by you will be investigated for fraud—and trust me, that’s not a position you want to be in. All future visitation is at the discretion of Mr. Morris.”
I glanced over as Mitch dropped his head. Maureen looked like she was holding back tears.
“Thank you, court adjourned.”
Malcolm turned to me and raised his hand to give me a high five, but I shook my head at him. “Not now,” I said in a quiet voice.
I should’ve felt celebratory, but it was a hollow victory. Kaitlyn was still gone, and the Dreshers had effectively cut themselves out of their granddaughter’s life. Yes, they were troubled people, but I knew firsthand that desperation drove people to do crazy things. There was no denying it, every stupid thing they did stemmed from their love for their granddaughter. From a certain angle, it was actually pretty impressive that the Dreshers were so committed to having a relationship with Harper, considering their own daughter had been so certain she didn’t want to be a mom. Then again, maybe having the Dreshers for parents was part of why she hadn’t wanted to be a parent herself.
Either way, I knew the Dreshers truly did love Harper, even if they didn’t pick the best ways to show it.
“So, celebratory lunch?” Malcom asked me.
“Wish I could,” I replied. “Got a few things I need to take care of, then it’s back to the office. Thanks for everything you did today.”
“Hey, don’t thank me. Kaitlyn was the one who sealed the deal.”
I stupidly turned around to scan the room again at the mention of her name even though I knew she’d left.
Malcom and I walked out into the midday heat then said our goodbyes. I spotted Mitch and Maureen getting into their black Cadillac a few rows away and headed for them before they could take off.
“Coming to gloat, are you?” Mitch asked in a harsh voice when he spotted me.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” Maureen managed through tears as she fiddled with the door handle.
“Listen, there are a few things we need to discuss,” I said, glancing between them.
“What’s left to say?” Mitch spat out. “We’re cut off from our only grandchild now thanks to you.”
“And that’s exactly what we need to talk about,” I said with far more patience than he deserved even surprising myself.
Neither one responded so I pressed on.
“The judge said visitation is up to me, and I’ve been giving it a lot of thought since the last time you saw Harper.”
Mitch’s jaw went tight, probably remembering how it felt to be thrown off my property by security. “And?” he asked angrily. “Did you come over here to make sure we know we won’t be seeing her again until she’s eighteen?”
“Not at all,” I said in a calm voice. “I actually don’t want you to be cut off from her. I want her to have good relationships with all her grandparents. The more supportive people Harper has in her life, the better off she’ll be.”
“James…” Maureen dabbed her eyes with a wadded-up tissue as she stared at me. “R-really?”
“Of course. It won’t be a smooth process, and you’ll have to follow protocols until she’s comfortable with you again, but I’m convinced that you can build a bridge with her—and I’ll do what I can to help that happen.”
Mitch had his arms crossed tightly across his chest and was staring at the ground. “Why?”
“I told you. Because I think it’s in Harper’s best interests.”
I studied the man, and it became clear that he was fighting back tears as well.
“Look, I know we haven’t had a good relationship,” I said, filling the awkward silence. “It’s been rocky as hell, to be honest. But I think we all agree we want what’s best for Harper, and that includes working it out between us. I’m willing to try. As long as you listen to what Harper needs, and not just what you think she needs.”
Mitch finally met my eyes. “I didn’t like you, do you know that? For the longest time I thought you were just a pompous, rich asshole who used my daughter. But as much as it pains me to admit it, I can tell you’re a decent father. And the fact that you’re willing to let bygones be bygones with us says a lot. I appreciate your offer.”
He held out his hand, and I grasped it and gave it a firm shake.
Maureen let out a little sob. “Thank you.”
None of us were willing to hug it out. The feelings were still too raw, and there was much to sort through. But it was a start.
As I walked away, I realized I felt lighter. And I couldn’t help wondering if Kaitlyn would be proud of me.