Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,67

I didn’t look at her. I didn’t say a word.

It was the longest ten minutes of my life before a clerk called out, “All rise.”

Chapter Fourteen

If I Deny Your Request…

Judge Andrew Novak seemed a huge man when he walked in wearing a black robe, but I didn’t think he was as tall as he appeared. His pate shone under the lights, and a faint half-coronet of graying brown hair wrapped the back of his head. The hard expression on his face eased as he smiled at the court reporter, then the bailiff, but the warmth drained away when he glanced out at all of us.

The courtroom was pretty full. My pulse rabbited at the look he wore. “Call the first case,” he said, moving a stack of folders to the side and pulling one down to open as two people were called and they went up with their lawyers.

It was an evidentiary hearing, and even though we were all in the same room, I could barely hear the people presenting to the judge. When he asked them questions though, I heard those just fine. It didn’t take him long to decide on that case. He gave an order, signed something in the folder, handed it off to someone, and those people were out.

“Next…”

And so it went for the next hour. At some point, my right knee began to bob as hot and cold flushed through my system. I wanted to take off the jacket, but I had a feeling sweat stains on my underarms would be far less attractive than the warmth. Even the air in here had started to turn stale. Had I even put on deodorant that morning?

A hand settled over my knee and the gentle pressure eased the dancing, and I glanced over to find Archie studying me. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to, it was written all over his face. Fixing this whole situation was high on his priority list, but I wasn’t alone. They were all here with me. The quivering inside me didn’t go away, but it did slow down, and I blew out a breath.

Archie squeezed my knee gently, and then I linked my fingers with his again. My palms were sweaty, but then so were his. Neither of us let go. If I turned around, I’d see Jake and Ian. If I looked left, I’d find Wittaker and Coop.

I wasn’t alone.

It was another hour before they called my name, and I’d been digging half-moons into Archie’s hand by then, but he didn’t pull away.

“…Francesca Curtis.”

Fuck, I hated that name.

Wittaker moved with me, and Coop brushed my leg with his as I passed him. We stepped out into the center area and up to the table.

“Is the minor’s legal guardian or parent present?” the judge asked, looking at the latest file folder in front of him rather than at me. To be honest, I hadn’t looked back to see if bad meatloaf had stuck around.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Maddy stated as she arrived.

Fucking great, she stood at the same table where we were, along with a man in a suit who was presumably her attorney. Honestly, I didn’t look over at him because my stomach was roiling, and I didn’t need to embarrass myself by throwing up.

“Is it Mrs. or Ms. Curtis?” the judge asked, still studying the paperwork in front of him.

“Ms.”

“And the other gentleman you attended with today?”

Holy shit, the judge noticed that?

“My fiancé,” she stated, not missing a beat. What? Not going to call him my father, Maddy? The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I stayed quiet.

“Is he involved in any of the custodial arrangements?” The judge seemed to focus on her now. Man, he had resting asshole face. I was really glad he wasn’t looking at me.

“No.” One answer, short and clipped. There was just an edge to that single syllable too.

“I’m not seeing anything in the paperwork about a legal father,” the judge said as he continued to flip through the papers. “Mr. Wittaker, when you filed this with the court, I am assuming you did your due diligence.”

“I did, Your Honor.” Wittaker spoke with confidence and ease. “If you will look in the exhibits section, I have included certified copies of Miss Curtis’ birth certificate, as well as every school enrollment from pre-school through her current year. There is no father identified on any of the documentation.”

The judge frowned, then glanced at Maddy before he focused on me. “Miss Curtis? Or