Page 9 of Redeeming Melodies

Of course, she only used my last name when she was in front of the camera.

I wanted to scream. Wanted to tell them how Vanessa used those extracurriculars like weapons, scheduling them during my visitation times. How she'd "forgotten" to tell me about Tommy's science fair until it was too late to change my race schedule. How she'd turned my career - the thing that had given us everything - into evidence of my unfitness as a father.

Tommy sat beside her, shoulders slumped, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve. A habit he'd picked up from me. So manylittle pieces of myself I saw in him, and here was this stuffed shirt trying to explain why that was a bad thing.

"Mr. Blue's recent behavior suggests increasing instability," Sterling pressed on. "His impulsive decision to step away from racing, while admirable in theory, demonstrates a pattern of erratic choices that could negatively impact Tommy's development."

Cassidy's hand tightened on my arm. My "impulsive decision" had been about choosing my son over everything else, but of course they'd twist it into another mark against me. That's what this whole thing was - taking every choice I'd made out of love and turning it into proof I wasn't good enough.

"Your Honor," Sterling concluded, "Ms. Price seeks primary custody not out of malice, but out of genuine concern for Tommy's welfare. She merely wants to provide the stability and consistency that Mr. Blue's lifestyle choices have made impossible."

Stability. Consistency. Words that sounded good in a courtroom but meant jack shit when your kid was crying because he missed his dad. I looked at Tommy again, caught him watching me with those serious green eyes - my eyes. He tried for another smile, braver than any eight-year-old should have to be.

Vanessa sat there like a statue, perfect posture, perfect clothes, perfect mask of concerned motherhood. Sometimes I caught glimpses of the woman I'd fallen in love with - in the way she smoothed Tommy's hair, or checked his tie was straight. But then she'd look at me with those arctic eyes, and I'd remember that love could turn to hate as fast as a car could spin out on a wet track.

Cassidy stood, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor with purpose. Unlike Sterling's manufactured warmth, her confidence was real. Made me glad she was in my corner.

"Your Honor," she began, her voice clear and strong, "Mr. Sterling has painted a convenient picture of my client, but he's left out the most important brushstrokes. Let's talk about what Elliot Blue actually did when faced with the choice between his career and his son."

My heart hammered against my ribs. Tommy sat up straighter, his attention locked on Cassidy. Even Vanessa's perfect mask slipped for a second.

"Three weeks ago, Mr. Blue was at the peak of his career. Leading the championship. Multi-million dollar contracts on the table. Everything he'd worked for within reach." Cassidy moved from behind our table, commanding the room like I used to command a track. "And he walked away from all of it. Not on a whim, not in a moment of instability, but with a single purpose - to be present for his son."

Sterling shifted in his seat, probably preparing some bullshit objection. But Cassidy was too quick.

"We have documentation of every attempt Mr. Blue made to attend his son's events. Emails requesting schedule changes. Texts from Ms. Price changing plans last minute. A pattern not of negligence, but of systematic obstruction."

I hadn't wanted Tommy to hear this part. But he was watching everything with those too-wise eyes, taking it all in. Vanessa's hand tightened on his shoulder.

"As for financial stability," Cassidy continued, laying out papers on the judge's bench, "Mr. Blue has substantial savings, investment properties, and multiple business interests outside of racing. His decision to step back from driving was made possible by years of careful planning. This is not a man acting on impulse, Your Honor. This is a father making a calculated choice to prioritize his child."

The judge studied the documents, her expression unreadable. I caught Tommy's eye again, tried to pour all mylove into one look. He gave me that small smile that was pure him - no trace of Vanessa or me in it, just pure Tommy.

"Furthermore," Cassidy's voice took on an edge, "let's address the matter of danger. Yes, racing involves risk. But so does being a police officer, a firefighter, or any number of respected professions. Are we suggesting that every parent with a dangerous job is unfit? Or is this standard being selectively applied to my client?"

Sterling started to object, but the judge waved him down. Score one for Cassidy.

"The reality, Your Honor, is simple. Elliot Blue has restructured his entire life around being there for his son. He's asking for primary custody. He's asking for the chance to be present in his child's life. To attend those school events. To build that relationship. He's already proven he'll sacrifice everything else to make that happen."

My vision blurred a bit. Hadn't cried since Tommy was born, but damn if Cassidy wasn't pushing me close.

"We have character witnesses - teachers, neighbors, even Mr. Blue's crew chief - all ready to testify to his dedication as a father. We have documentation of every visitation he attempted to make, every event he tried to attend. Most importantly, we have a father who looked at everything he'd achieved and decided none of it mattered as much as his son."

Cassidy turned slightly, making eye contact with the judge. "The question isn't whether racing is dangerous, Your Honor. The question is what message we send when we punish a father for choosing his child over his career."

Tommy was beaming now, pride written all over his face. Vanessa's mask had cracked completely, showing something that might have been fear underneath.

"We're not asking for special treatment," Cassidy concluded. "We're asking for fair consideration of a father who has proven,through actions rather than words, that he will do anything for his child. Including walking away from everything else he's built."

She returned to her seat beside me, squeezing my arm briefly. The courtroom felt different now, like the air had shifted. The judge was still reviewing the documents, but her expression had softened slightly.

"Thank you, Ms. Thorne," she said finally. "We'll take a brief recess before hearing witness testimony."

The gavel cracked again, but this time it didn't make me flinch. For the first time since walking into this room, I felt something like hope.

Tommy jumped up, clearly wanting to come to me, but Vanessa's hand held firm. Their lawyer whispered something urgent in her ear. She didn't look like ice anymore - more like someone watching their perfect plan start to crack.

"You did good," Cassidy murmured. "Stay strong. This is just the beginning."

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