Page 47 of Absolution

She starts to walk into the room with me in tow. The courtroom is completely covered in a dark colored wood. Each side of the room has a table for each party, and the judge sits at the center. An older woman sits to his left with a typewriter in front of her.

A man walks towards us, and Nicole hands him a stack of papers. He flips through them, before handing them up to the judge.

“Case Number one-six-seven-nine-two, regarding the custody of Asher Harrison Delmont,” the man calls out to the empty room.

The judge reads through our application a page at a time, and with each flip, Ricca grows more nervous at my side. His lips move as he’s reading, while his face remains un-animated.

“Everything looks to be in order here, Miss Wild. Are these two the candidates in question seeking to adopt this child?”

Nicole steps forward, and waves us to join her at her side.

“Yes, your honor. This is Mr. and Mrs. Jude Azzo. Mrs. Azzo is Mr. Delmont’s sister.”

The judge looks up, and eyes Ricca.

“There seems to be quite an age difference between the child in question and his sister. Could you please explain that, Mrs. Azzo?”

Ricca shakes as he calls on her to answer, but I squeeze her hand tighter.

“My mother had me at a very young age, your honor. I wasn’t what you would call a planned pregnancy.”

“I see,” he observes. “I also see here that you have never meet Mr. Delmont and are requesting visitation. Is that correct?”

“Yes, your honor,” she answers, gaining confidence with each word. “I did not know about him, until my mother’s passing. She and I have been estranged for several years.”

“Hmm,” he mumbles. “This is your husband?”

“Yes, your honor,” I answer.

“I don’t seem to have any employment information listed for you here, Mr. Azzo. Do you currently hold employment?”

I release Ricca’s hand, and straighten my posture. The judge watches me, analyzing my every move.

“I do, your honor. I work for a private security company back in California, and I also do mechanic work on the side.”

“Good,” he utters. “Do you intend to move back to California should this custody motion be granted?”

Ricca looks to me. While we had never talked about it, it has always been my intention to go back. We didn’t have a reason to stay here, if Asher was going with us. Our support system and lives are back there in Upland, but if she wants to stay, I’d do it for her.

I nod back to her, putting that decision in her court. Whether we stayed or we went back, we do it together.

“Yes, your honor. We do intend to go back to California.”

The judge nods his head in acknowledgement of her answer.

“I am ready to my make decision.”

Ricca reaches out again, taking my hand in hers, as we wait for the judge to read us our fate. This is the moment she’s worked so hard for. The moment that decides whether our future is a family of two or a family of three.

“In the case of Asher Harrison Delmont, I order that temporary supervised visitation be granted. With your intent to return to California, I also order that a home study be completed in California, and pending the results of that study and a DNA test, I will make my decision on permanent custody of the child in question. Court dismissed.”

Ricca turns towards me, and the biggest smile I have ever seen forms on her face.

“Did he?” she stutters. “Did I hear that right?”

“Yes, Siren,” I answer back. “You get to meet Asher.”

Ricca leaps into my arms, and I carry her out of the courtroom and straight into the truck. Her jubilation lasts the entire way home, and we celebrate our small victory the only way we know how.

Together.

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