Page 59 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

I got up from the chair and stood by the bed looking down at her. My mind was made up. She was going to live with me. Not sure how I was going to pull it off, taking care of her, helping run a country, and making time for Raya and Joey, but I was going to do it. Somehow, I would make it work.

What choice do I have?

CHAPTER 18

Raya

“Your honor, you can’t be serious. You’re letting her have custody?” Joseph blurted out in the courtroom even though his attorney tried to stop him.

The judge slammed down his gavel three times and shouted, “Mr. Davison. If you interrupt me again, you will find yourself in a heap of trouble. Understood?”

Joseph didn’t sit. Instead, he turned and shot me an evil glare. “I don’t want him anyway. Never did.”

“Then why are we here?” I asked and attorney placed his hand on mine trying to quiet me.

“Because my family wanted me to have an heir. You're the only woman who refused to have an abortion when you got pregnant. None of the others kept theirs so I had no choice but to take him from you. Give my family what they want,” he snarled. “And now they are going to cut me off because of you,” he snarled. “I don’t care if you and Joey fall off the face of the earth. I don’t want to see either of you ever again.”

To my and my attorney’s surprise , the judge asked Joseph, “Mr. Davison, are you saying that you would like to sign off your parental rights?”

Joseph looked at him and asked, “Why would I do that?”

“Because this court is still in order, and I haven’t made my final judgment yet. There is still the question of support.”

“Support? What support?” Joseph asked.

“For Ms. Davison and your son. I believe you owe them ten years of child support,” the judge said.

Joseph’s jaw dropped. “Hell no. I haven’t even seen him since I left.”

“That does not mean you are not responsible for their support, Mr. Davison. Now sit and I will determine with Ms. Davison what the amount will be.” He paused for a moment and then asked again, “Unless you have decided to sign off your parental rights. Then there will be no judgment for a support order.”

Joseph looked at me, and then behind me where Joey sat with Kathy. He shook his head and said, “There is no way I am giving you a single penny.”

It took everything in me not to scream out that I didn’t want anything from him, but my attorney had instructed me to keep my composure no matter what. And now I was glad he did.

“Mr. Davison, do you have an answer?” the judge asked.

“Give me the papers. I’ll sign them,” he said as though he couldn’t be rid of us fast enough.

Funny, because that’s how I felt about him. The judge called both attorneys up and whispered something to them. I had no idea what was going on. But I was more worried about Joey behind me. Turning around I saw Kathy with her arm around him.

“It’s okay, Mom. I already knew he didn’t want me. Doesn't matter. Because I know you do,” Joey said.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought them back. “I love you, Joey.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

The gavel dropped again, and I turned to face the judge. “It is final. Mr. Davison has signed off on his parental rights. Ms. Davison, you now have full custody of your son.” He added, with another drop of the gavel, “These proceedings are over.”

He rose from his chair and so did the rest of the courtroom. I was still stunned as the judge walked out. My attorney turned to me and said, “Mr. Davison will not be contacting you or your son again. And his family will not either. This is over. You and your son are free to go and live wherever you would like.”

I smiled and hugged him. “Thank you.”

Turning I got the biggest hug from Joey that I could ever remember. “Does this mean I can go with you to Tabiq now?” he asked.

“It does,” I said. “Are you sure you want to go?” I asked.

“I do,” he said.

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