Chapter 43 Javier
Forty-Three
Javier
“Are you ready?” Christine swung her attention to me as we stood outside the courtroom.
“I guess so,” I said.
“Good. Remember what I told you. Keep your answers simple and concise. No need to elaborate.”
“He hardly ever elaborates,” my mother said, standing a few steps away.
“Mamá, please.” Catalina sighed.
“What?” She threw a hand into the air. “It is the truth, no?”
Christine smiled. “Rafael’s lawyer will try to point out your flaws. Don’t get angry. Count to ten if you feel yourself growing angry, then answer as best you can.”
“Okay.”
“Great.” Christine gripped the door handle and pulled it open. “Let’s win this thing.”
I followed her inside, not surprised that Rafael and his lawyer were already seated. Rafael examined me over his shoulder, and I swear he smirked before putting his focus ahead again.
Mamá and Cat sat a row behind me. Out of nowhere, my heart began hammering as I swept my gaze around the mostly empty courtroom. I had never imagined I would be in one, yet here I was. Stuck in this place, about to be questioned about my fucking parenting.
The bailiff announced the judge, and a woman with tan skin and graying hair made her way to the bench.
Judge Dalton was thin lipped, with serious eyes, and according to my lawyer, this judge did not mess around and did not like her time wasted.
If I could, I would have told her this whole case was a waste of time and to let it go. Rafael wasn’t worth her energy one bit.
Judge Dalton gave us a breakdown of the rules of her court, and unfortunately, I was called to the stand first.
I sat with unease, remembering Christine telling me not to look in Rafael’s direction. It was hard not to, considering how badly I wanted to knock his fucking lights out, but I managed.
“Hi, Javier,” Christine started. “Can you tell the court how long you’ve been Aleesa’s father?”
“Since the day she was born,” I answered.
“So that makes her how old?” asked Christine.
“Four years old.”
“Can you explain what it has been like raising Aleesa?”
“Well, when she was a baby, I would wake up in the middle of the night to feed her, and if I could not or if I was away for a game, I had my mother or sister around. I play games with her. We color and do lots of puzzles. I taught her how to swim. I read her favorite books to her. And when I am unable to be home, I have a live-in nanny that takes very good care of her. It is not an easy job being a parent, but I would not trade it for anything in this world.”
“It’s incredible you manage to handle so much while being a professional athlete. You’re right. That’s definitely not easy.”
“It is not.”
“Mr. Valdez, how would you describe your relationship with Aleesa?” Christine asked.
“We are very close. I know all of the things she likes, and she looks to me when she is scared or in need. She is . . . well, she is my daughter, and she calls me her dad. She does not know any different. Though Rafael is her biological father, she and I have a bond worth more than blood.”
“What do you believe would happen if she were taken from you and placed in the care of a man she doesn’t even know?”
“It would destroy her. She does not know a single thing about him, but she has known me since the day she came into this world. Ripping her away from everything she knows would break her heart and confuse her, and I do not believe that is in her best interest. She already struggles with sleeping in other places outside of our home when we happen to travel.”
“So would you say that placing Aleesa in an unfamiliar environment with an unfamiliar person would be more harmful than beneficial to her?”
“Yes, it would be harmful. One hundred percent.”
“I believe so too. Thank you, Javier. No further questions.”
Christine trotted away to our desk, and in my periphery, I saw Rafael’s lawyer stand and mosey his way around their desk.
When he stood in front of me, I avoided a grimace. He looked like the type to represent a man like Rafael. Expensive suit, hair oily and gelled back, no beard or mustache, and a sketchy look in his eyes.
“Mr. Valdez, you are aware that you aren’t Aleesa’s biological father, correct?”
“Obviously,” I said.
“Answer with a yes or no, Mr. Valdez,” Judge Dalton said.
I sighed. “Yes, I am aware.”
“Do you believe blood relation is important in determining the best interests of the child as well?”
“Blood is not everything. Love, care, and being there every step of the way is what matters most in my opinion.”
“But how could the biological father have been able to love and care for Aleesa if he wasn’t aware of her birth?”
“He was not made aware because my wife clearly did not want him to be the one taking care of Aleesa.” This time, I glared at Rafael, who wore a smug smile and had his arms folded.
“Unfortunately, your wife is not here with us to attest to that,” the lawyer said. I clenched a fist in my lap. “The biological father never had the chance to be involved with Aleesa. Does he not deserve a chance?”
“Not in my opinion. She is perfectly fine where she is.”
“And that, too, is your opinion, Mr. Valdez. Would you say Aleesa is safe in your home?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? Because according to Mr. Acosta, he was tackled by you and shoved by your sister. That sounds quite violent.”
“Objection, your honor,” Christine called.
“Firstly, there is no proof of this happening. Secondly, Mr. Acosta came onto Javier’s personal property to inform him that he was filing for custody of his daughter—a little girl he has been attached to for four consecutive years.
I have no doubt he was intentionally provoking Mr. Valdez, his family, and threatening their safety. ”
“Sustained. Rephrase the question or don’t ask it, Mr. Cameron,” said Judge Dalton.
“Very well.” Cameron smirked. “Is it possible, Mr. Valdez, that the reason you do not want to share custody of Aleesa is because of your dislike for Mr. Acosta?”
“No. I do not want to share custody of my daughter with him because I do not trust him.”
“Why not? What has Mr. Acosta done, outside of his affair with your wife, that makes you believe he cannot be trusted?”
I hesitated with my response, shifting my gaze to Christine, who simply shook her head and mouthed the word breathe, and then to my mother and sister, who sat side by side with worried eyes.
“To me, it shows that he makes poor decisions. He chose to sleep with a married woman and got her pregnant. A man like that does not deserve to raise a daughter.”
“That was over four years ago. Are you saying Mr. Acosta is not capable of learning from his mistakes?”
“No. But my wife made her choice. She wanted me at the hospital during Aleesa’s birth. She wanted me to sign the birth certificate as Aleesa’s father. She clearly thought the same thing about Rafael’s character if she did not feel the urge to at least alert him that he could be the father.”
“Or perhaps your wife felt ashamed, Mr. Valdez. Did you think about that?”
“Objection, your honor. We are not here to discuss Mr. Valdez’s deceased wife or her affairs. We are here to seek the best solution for Aleesa.”
“Sustained. Remove the last question from the records,” Judge Dalton commanded. “Mr. Cameron, I expect you to conduct yourself professionally. There will be no further questions about the mother of the child.”
“Of course, your honor. No further questions.”
“Mr. Valdez, if the court were to grant the biological father visitation or partial custody, how would you handle that?” Judge Dalton asked me as Cameron walked away.
“If you want me to be honest, I would not like it, Your Honor. I believe that keeping her in my care is what is best for her. I do not care if she grows up and learns the truth about who her biological father really is. If she decides that she would like to get to know Rafael, that will be her choice, and I will not stop her. But right now, I do not think it is fair to throw that wrench in her life.” I noticed my eyes had drifted as I provided the explanation.
I looked at the judge again, raised my chin, and said, “If it comes down to it, though, I will do what the court decides is best for my child.”
Judge Dalton nodded sympathetically as she regarded me.
“Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Valdez. You may now leave the stand. We will take a fifteen-minute recess, then proceed with Mr. Acosta on the stand.”
I walked up to the desk, where Christine was collecting papers in her folder. “Great job, Javier. You spoke calmly and kept your answers simple. Judge Dalton will take your behavior into consideration, considering how sensitive this situation is for you.”
“I hope so. I just feel like I did not say enough.”
“You said more than enough. Trust me.”
I slid my gaze to Rafael and his lawyer as they left their desk and sauntered toward the double doors.
Rafael nodded at me.
I grimaced.
I wanted to bury him in the fucking ground.