Chapter 36 #2
“When she brought him home,” I said evenly. “She claimed she was in too much pain and tossed the bag of diapers and formula at me. Back then, I had to do my best to feed him and change him. I reminded her when we were running low and sometimes she’d bring them.”
“And this care continued as he grew?” he asked.
“Yes. I taught him to read and how to be independent. I played with him, made sure he went to school,” I trailed off, unsure how far to take this one.
“Who enrolled him in school?”
“I did. She signed the papers, and I took them in and filled them out. I was the one to pick him up and the one they called most of the time,” I admitted. Even the staff knew she was useless back then.
Then the questions shifted.
“When did your mother first put her hands on you?”
“I don’t remember,” I said honestly. “I don’t remember a time when she didn’t,” I clarified quickly. “If I cleaned wrong, if I bought the wrong things at the store, if I took too long to come home after school or if we had a day off school that she didn’t remember, I was punished for skipping.”
“Can you clarify by telling the court about those punishments?”
“Objection. This is not an abuse case for the sibling, this is a custody hearing,” her lawyer called out.
“I’m getting to the relevance,” my lawyer reassured the judge. He had a small smile on his face like he was loving every minute of this. That made telling my darkest secrets to the court a little easier to handle. If he was confident, why shouldn’t I be?
“I’ll allow it,” Judge Lancaster said, “but let’s wrap it up.”
“Please, clarify what these punishments entailed, Miss Lancaster,” my lawyer encouraged.
My stomach churned. This was the part I was dreading the most. No one wanted to relive the worst days of their lives.
“It was physical almost every time,” I admitted.
“Sometimes she wouldn’t allow me to eat with him, but most of the time she would just take her anger and frustration out with her fists.
She was always careful. There was never bruising on my arms or face, always making sure they could be hidden. Her image was important to her.”
A murmur of whispers echoed in the court and I forced myself to peek at my mother. She was fuming. I could see that same look that promised me pain and suffering soon.
Only this time I wasn’t afraid. I knew very well that she would never be able to put her hand on me again and that let me face off with her for the first time where I had the advantage.
Her lawyer whispered something in her ear as we stared each other down. Whatever he said had her eyes drifting down and that wounded omega look back on her face.
“Were these attacks often done within view of your brother?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I tried to tell him to go but she wanted him to watch. It was a warning.”
“So, not only was she physical with you, she forced a minor to witness these attacks on his caretaker? Repeatedly?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. My voice remained steady through the entire interaction. I’d expected to look at my mates for strength where they sat in the back of the courtroom, but I could feel them, and that was enough for me.
I wanted to appear independent. To show them that I could stand on my own. I was stable.
“And if you were given permanent custody of your brother, could you provide a stable environment?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “I have a pack, a steady job. We own a car and a house together, and we have a village of support around us. We have also compiled a stack of character witness statements.”
“Nothing further,” my lawyer said.
My entire body wanted to slump in exhaustion, but I forced myself to stand and walk back to our table.
After a short break, it was Gavin’s turn to take the stand. He sat there, but the judge unexpectedly didn’t call either lawyer to the front.
“I will not subject this child to interrogation. I will, however, ask him to confirm or deny the allegations that have been put forward today.”
Gavin swallowed and looked right at the judge, holding his head high.
“What Dhara said was true. I had to watch for years as my sister protected me. She gave me everything I have. My mother wasn’t really around.
In fact, when she was, I was always scared.
Not for myself, but for my sister. I had to watch her beat my sister every day.
I have never felt like my mother is my mother. ”
He looked over at me.
“Dhara is my real mom. I’ll never go with my mother again. She should still be in jail.”
He said the words with his little fists clenched at his sides, his voice forceful.
“No! You’re my baby!” she screamed. “She’s never let you be mine! It was her, not me! You know I love you, Gavin.”
Gavin locked eyes with me as he ignored her pleas and fake tears. It was all an act. We didn’t buy it.
“Order,” the judge said, striking his gavel several times until her lawyer hissed something at her and she sat quietly.
My mother was falling apart. Good. Reality was finally sinking in.
I hoped she was taking every word we’d said to heart, but I knew better. She’d twist this around and play the victim to anyone that would listen.
As long as she left us alone, I didn’t give a fuck.
“So, you are stating that you wish to remain in the custody of your sister, Dhara Livingston?”
“Yes,” Gavin said. “She’s always taken care of me, and her pack has taken me in, too. They treat me like their own. I don’t have to worry about food or watching my sister get hurt or work herself to death. It’s the first time I’ve been able to relax.”
“Thank you,” the judge said and gestured to me. “You can retake your seat.”
The judge was quiet as Gavin took his seat next to me, his small hand clutching mine.
This was it. We had to keep our composure as he meticulously sorted through every witness statement, picture, and piece of evidence that was presented.
Finally, he took his glasses off, folded them up, and set them on the bench in front of him.
“Both parties rise, please.”
Gavin clung to me as we stood, our mother standing on the other side and muttering something we couldn’t quite hear.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, the police reports that have been entered, the testimony from his teachers, community leaders, and friends, I’ve determined that it is in the child’s best interest to remain in the custody of his sister.”
He looked directly at my mother.
“Due to the violence that has been exhibited, there will be no visitation awarded. In fact, a protection order will be put in place.”
My lungs seized. We did it. He was mine.
“You can’t do this! He’s mine!” our mother shouted as she slammed her fists on the table in front of her. The judge quirked an eyebrow and that was enough for her lawyer to hiss warnings at her.
“However, there will be child support to be paid to Dhara Lancaster for the care of Gavin Lancaster.”
“You want me to pay child support?” she spit out. “This is your fault!” She pointed a manicured finger angrily at me, spit flying from her mouth. Her eyes were wild as she finally showed us her true colors.
“That is the last outburst, Mrs. Livingston. Unless you’d like to go to jail.”
She snapped her mouth shut.
“Furthermore, I will encourage Dhara Livingston to seek financial legal counsel regarding recovering what has been taken from you.”
He banged his gavel and stood. “I wish you luck.”
“Thank you,” I said. My voice broke as I pulled Gavin into a fierce hug. He clung back to me just as tightly.
It was over. Gavin was mine.
The courtroom was quiet for a beat before my mother lost it completely.
We turned just in time as the commotion pulled us from the moment.
Her lawyer had a hand around her middle as she fought to get to us.
The sheriff moved between us, arms crossed, and my pack was already jumping the partition to close in around us.
My mother was dragged away screaming. The judge gave the sheriff orders, but I was too busy holding my brother to my chest to listen outside of the fact she’d be going back to jail.
“We’re free, Gavin.”
“I meant what I said, Dhara. You’ve always been more of a mom to me than her.”
“And you’ve always been mine,” I promised, hugging him tighter.
My pack and our families surrounded us as we filed out of the courtroom, offering congratulations and hugs all around until there wasn’t a dry eye in the group.
Everything was a blur after that.
The immense relief I felt nearly had me dizzy and wavering on my feet.
August and Lachlan were on either side of me, their electric scents holding me just steady enough to stay upright.
“We’ve got you, omega.”
This time, I believed them. They were the reason my brother was finally, truly mine.
I would never forget that.