Lots of Naughty & A Little Nice - Leigh Lennon Page 0,51
provided pictures of your sister, Ms. Chapel, with two men.” She hands them to the bailiff, who brings them to Whit, Ruth, and me. Her words are for me now. “He claims you’re in a relationship with both men, but these pictures simply show you being friendly with them.”
I’m waiting for her to ask me the question I fear, and since I won’t lie, I know it will be the end of my custody. “I’m also looking at the inquiry of Mr. Masterson contesting Whitney Masterson’s estate for child support for the next two years, and since the social worker has also come across the termination paperwork from his last job, it tells me something of motive on his part.”
“Your honor, if I may, just one more thing,” my sister interjects. The judge gives her a wave of her hand. “My father found out something about me, and from there, it went downhill. His reaction has made me almost ashamed of who I am. He never shared the main reason he wanted me out of his house. But I wanted him to tell me it would be okay—with him, he accepts me for me. I’d hoped he’d be the father I needed. I told him…” She moves her attention to me, and tears flow freely from her eyes. “I’m a lesbian. And after Dad’s reaction, I couldn’t dare to disappoint you.”
Without regard to the order of the court, I pull her into my embrace. I’ve never seen her like this as she trembles in my arms.
“Shh, honey. I got you. Whit, you could love an alien, and I’d still support you.”
The judge looks to us as I shift my gaze from her to Whitney’s worthless father. How could a dad do this to his only child?
After a couple of minutes, the judge calls for me. “Ms. Chapel, are you both all right to move on?”
Whit gives a nod of her head, wiping at her face.
Dennis’s lawyer stands to contest, but this judge has now become my new hero. “And, counselor, that won’t work. Mr. Masterson, is this true?”
He stands, and I’m not ready for his response. “It’s a choice, her choice. She has chosen to live a life of abomination.”
He continues to speak, but the judge cuts him off. “Okay, I think I’ve heard enough to make a decision. In regard to custody for the minor, Whitney Masterson, I’m ruling against her father. This part of the hearing is concluded, and I’d like you to vacate the court.”
Dennis’s face turns red, the deep shade of a beet, and passing by me, he mutters under his breath. I decipher some unpleasant names he’s calling me, but it doesn’t bother me. He’s done his worst to me as a little kid and can’t hurt me now.
We all turn back to the judge with their exit, and she’s staring at all her paperwork in front of her.
She lets out a long deep breath. “Okay, Ms. Masterson. The question now remains what we should do with you. I don’t have a doubt in my mind, as did your mom, that you can take care of yourself. But at the same time, I have teenage children, too, and the idea of them not having someone to be there for them makes me so anxious. Sure, my own kids understand the difference between right and wrong, but they still need love.” She picks up the pictures the bailiff returned to the judge. “And as for these—I’m of a very liberal mind. Probably one of few liberal judges on the bench in family court. And I could ask you what the relationship with these men are. And I have a feeling, Ms. Chapel, from what I know of you, you’d be honest with me. But at the end of the day, these came to my attention only because of the motivation of a man who wanted to get his hands on your sister’s money.” She takes a look at a ledger and lets out a whistle. “Okay, so now, looking at this, I can see why he wanted your sister’s money. And you certainly have the means to make it on your own.”
Again, she’s shuffling through the paperwork, and for a couple of minutes, she remains silent, massaging her temples because I can imagine this is a lot to take in. She turns her head to my sister.
“Ms. Masterson, what is it you want? Do you want to follow this plan, rent an apartment, and live by