Chapter 45 Heather #3
Steven’s lawyer tries to make Grant sound like a liability, but it backfires.
Richard shows photos of Grant and April goofing around on the ice together after a winning game, of him taking her to the trampoline park, and a selfie I took of all three of us bundled up on the couch with bowls of popcorn on a movie night.
He shows texts between Grant and me discussing April’s needs and happiness, and the kind of future we both want for her.
It paints a picture of a family. A real family.
Finally, the judge takes off her glasses and looks directly at Steven.
“Mr. Walsh, I’ve reviewed all the evidence presented today. I’ve listened to both sides, and I have to say, I’m not impressed with your petition.”
Steven sits up straighter, but I can see the fear creeping into his eyes.
“You abandoned your parental responsibilities for nine years,” Judge Morrison continues.
“You made no financial contributions to this child’s welfare.
You made no attempts at contact until you learned Ms. Lucas was in a stable relationship.
Your recent behavior, showing up at the child’s school and physically accosting Ms. Lucas, demonstrates poor judgment and a concerning lack of respect for boundaries. ”
She puts her glasses back on and picks up her gavel.
“The petition for custody is denied. Furthermore, I’m granting a restraining order.
Mr. Walsh, you are to have no contact with Ms. Lucas or the minor child, April Lucas.
You are not to go within five hundred feet of their residence, April’s school, or Ms. Lucas’s place of employment. Do you understand?”
Steven’s face goes red. “This is complete bullshit.”
The gavel comes down hard. “Mr. Walsh, I suggest you watch your language in my courtroom. Do you understand the terms of this order?”
His lawyer puts a hand on his arm, and Steven nods stiffly. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Good. This hearing is adjourned.”
The gavel strikes again, and suddenly it’s over.
It all happens so fast that it takes my brain a moment to catch up.
We won.
April is safe.
I turn to look at Grant, and the pride in his eyes makes my throat tight.
“You did it,” he says as he leans in for a quick, chaste kiss.
“We did it.”
Across the aisle, Steven is standing and gathering his things with jerky, angry movements. His lawyer is talking to him in low tones, probably trying to calm him down, but Steven isn’t listening.
Been there. Done that.
He turns and shoots daggers in my direction, as if he can suddenly hear my thoughts. For a moment, his intimidation tactics almost work. That old fear almost creeps back in, along with the instinct to look away, to make myself smaller and avoid confrontation.
But then I feel Grant’s steady presence next to me, and I remember April’s sweet face this morning when she was so confident that I would win. I think about the elephant figurine in my purse, and about everything I’ve been through to get here.
And something changes inside me. Something clicks into place. I stand up and meet Steven’s death stare head-on.
He starts to move toward me, but I hold up a hand.
“Stop.” There isn’t even a hint of hesitation in my voice. “Don’t come any closer.”
He pauses, and a genuine look of surprise flashes across his face. He’s not used to me standing up to him.
“I have nothing to say to you, Steven. And you have nothing to say that I need to hear.”
“Heather, you can’t just do this.”
“I’m not done.” I take a breath. “You spent years making me feel small. Making me believe I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t capable of taking care of myself or my daughter. You tried to control me and break me down, all so I’d be fooled into thinking I needed you.”
His jaw clenches, but I don’t stop.
“But you failed. I left. I built a life for myself and for April. A good life. And you aren’t a part of it because you don’t deserve to be.”
“You can’t just erase me from her life like this.”
“Yes, I can.” Our legal team is looking at me with wide eyes, but none of them are making moves to stop me.
“You abandoned us. You chose not to be a father. You don’t get to show up nine years later and pretend you care.
You don’t get to use the legal system to terrorize me.
And you don’t get to put your hands on me ever again. ”
Steven’s face is turning red. “You think you’re so much better now? You think that hockey player gives a shit about you?”
“What Grant does or doesn’t feel isn’t your business. Nothing about my life is your business anymore.” I step closer, and he actually takes a step back. “Stay away from me. Stay away from April. Stay away from everyone I care about. You’re nothing to me now. You’re nobody.”
For a long moment, we just stare at each other. And then something in his expression crumbles. All that false confidence, all that smug superiority—it drains away, leaving behind just a sad, angry man who lost.
He turns without another word and stalks toward the courtroom doors.
His lawyer follows, and then they’re gone.