Chapter 106: He's mine

Bang.

“This matter is concluded.”

For one perfect heartbeat, the courtroom was silent. I couldn’t breathe.

Xavier. He was staying. He was actually—

“NO!”

The scream tore through the room, making me flinch. Beth slammed her hands on the counsel table, scattering papers everywhere.

“No!” she cried. Her chair toppled behind her with a crash. “You can’t do this!”

Mr. Billings immediately stood. “Ms. Reed—”

She yanked her arm away before he could touch her. “Don’t you touch me!” Spittle flew from her mouth as she turned toward the judge.

“That’s my son!” She jabbed a finger at Judge Warren. “Mine!”

Judge Warren didn’t move. “Ms. Reed.”

“You don’t get to take my baby!” Beth’s chest heaved. Her hands shook so badly they seemed nearly out of control. Mascara streaked her cheeks, blending with tears she tried to wipe away with her sleeve.

“I carried him for nine damn months!” she shouted. “I fed him! I clothed him! I... ” She faltered, blinking rapidly. “No…” Her gaze darted wildly around the courtroom.

“They’re lying!” she accused, pointing at Miss Jackie. “She hated me from the second I moved in!” Then at Mr. Ramirez. “He wanted me out because I couldn’t pay rent!” Then at Nathaniel. “That lawyer twisted everything!”

Her breathing grew ragged, her thoughts jumping. “You don’t know what it’s like! I was trying! I was working! I got sick! I needed help! I—I…” She dragged both hands through her tangled hair. “He stole my money!”

The courtroom fell silent.

Beth looked around, as if she’d forgotten where she was. Then she shook her head, almost frantically. “No… no… He made me spend it.” Now she was pointing at me. “He always blamed me! He turned everybody against me! I wasn’t a bad mother! I just…” She swallowed. “…needed a little help.”

Her eyes landed on Ellie. Everything changed. Her face twisted with rage. “You,” she spat.

Ellie stiffened. Mr. Billings closed his eyes. “Ms. Reed…”

Beth ignored him. “You think you’re better than me? You think you won? You stole him!” She pointed between Ellie and me. “You turned him against his own mother!”

Before I realized it, I’d already stepped in front of Ellie. My entire body moved on instinct. Protect. Always protect.

Beth noticed. She laughed, a sound more bitter than joyful. “You see? He’s always been dramatic. Always acting like the hero. I gave him everything!”

Miss Jackie gasped.

Judge Warren reached for her gavel. “Ms. Reed.”

Beth pressed on. “He thinks he’s some kind of father! He’s a child! He don’t know nothin’! He ain’t got no house! No money! No job! He can’t even—”

“He starts Monday.” John’s calm voice cut through the chaos.

Beth whipped around. “Oh, shut up! You rich people think you can just buy kids! You bought her!” She pointed at Ellie. “And now you’re buying my son!”

Ellie’s face fell. John’s jaw tightened. Lily reached for Ellie’s hand.

Bang! Judge Warren struck the gavel. “Ms. Reed.”

Beth talked right over her. “I ain’t leaving without my baby!” She shoved past Mr. Billings. The bailiffs moved to block her.

“Ma’am.”

“Move.”

“No!” Beth tried to dart around them. “I just wanna talk to him!” Her eyes scanned the room until she found Xavier.

He was standing beside Lily, small, confused, scared. The moment Beth’s eyes found his, her anger melted.

“Baby,” she choked out, holding her arms wide. “Come here. C’mon. You know Mama loves you.”

The entire courtroom held its breath.

Xavier looked at her for barely a second. His small hand found mine and squeezed so tightly it hurt. Without a word, he stepped behind me, hiding himself completely. I felt him press against my back, trying to disappear.

Beth stared at us. “No…” Her face crumpled. “No… Xavier.” Her voice turned desperate. “Baby… You tell them. You tell them you wanna come home.”

He said nothing.

“Xavier,” she pleaded. Silence. “You tell ’em!” her voice broke into a scream. “I’M YOUR MOTHER!”

Xavier buried his face between my shoulder blades. His little hands clung to my shirt. He never looked up. He never answered.

Judge Warren’s face hardened. She struck the gavel again.

Bang!

“Bailiff.”

Just one word. That was all it took.

The deputies moved at once. “Ms. Reed.”

“No!” She jerked away. “Get off me! I didn’t do anything! This ain’t fair! You can’t take him!”

One deputy gently but firmly took her arm. She struggled, twisting, pulling, fighting to break free. “I ain’t done talking!”

The other deputy stepped in. Together, they led her to the courtroom doors.

She screamed the whole way. “They’re lying! They’re all lying! I loved my babies! I LOVE MY BABIES!” Her voice echoed as the doors opened. She screamed one last time. “You’ll come back to me!”

Then the doors shut. Silence. Heavy. Complete.

No one moved.

I turned around slowly. Xavier still had his face pressed against my chest, his small shoulders trembling. I knelt down in front of him.

“Hey,” I said softly.

He didn’t answer. I gently brushed his hair back. “Look at me, buddy.”

Slowly, so slowly, he lifted his head. His eyes were red and filled with tears. His bottom lip quivered.

“She’s…” He sniffled. “…she’s gone?”

I swallowed the tightness in my throat. “For today.”

He looked at me for another moment. Then he asked the simplest question. “…Can we go home now?”

I smiled through tears that wouldn’t stop. “Yeah, buddy.” I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. “Let’s go home.”