Page 106 of Defect
“I’ve heard enough. Thank you, Malachi.” She smiled at him and waited for him to be escorted out of the room before she spoke again. She turned her glare to Vince and said, “Mr. Wallace you are a despicable human being. You have purposefully neglected and abused your son as well as your ex-girlfriend. You’ve proven yourself to be unfit and a monster in general. The court has been unsuccessful in locating Malachi’s mother and there are no other family members that wish to step forward.
I am therefore moving in agreement with Miss Monroe and terminating your parental rights as Malachi’s father. You will have no visitation, no responsibility, and no contact. Malachi is gratefully no longer in your care.” Vince didn’t look fazed in the least. Judge Harris turned to me and said, “Miss Monroe, you are hereby granted full custody of Malachi Wallace effective, immediately making you his legal mother. Congratulations, and I hope you give him a better life than he had before.” She sounded the gavel and stood to her feet leaving the courtroom.
I fell to the chair behind me in a fit of happy sobs. Ezra rushed over to me and held me while I cried. I didn’t even see Vince being escorted out of the courtroom but I was glad he was gone when I looked up. “You did it, Solo,” he said, speaking into my hair. “He’s ours.”
“Oh my god, I’m so happy,” I sniffled. Amaris walked over and took a shit ton of pictures of the moment until Ezra pulled her in for a hug too. “Thank you so much, sissy. You have no idea how much your love and dedication helped us get to this point.”
“Yes, I do. That’s why once a month me and my nephew are having sleepovers at auntie’s house.”
“Fine by me. You gotta take these two too though.” I pointed at my stomach and Amaris rubbed it gently.
“Aww, my heart is so full, Solana. I’m so happy for you and Ezra.”
“Even though you kinda hated me at first,” Ezra said with a shrug.
“Idid notkinda hate you. I pre-judged you based on your age, which was wrong to do and I sincerely apologize. You’re not like every other eighteen-year-old.”
“Does that mean you’re admitting to being wrong?” I quizzed in shock.
“I’m not going to say all that. Listen…where is my nephew?” I shook my head at her then sent for the caseworker to bring out Malachi. My new son.
“Did it work, Solo? Are you and Hulk my parents now?” His eyes were so hopeful.
“Yes, baby. We’re your new parents.” God, it felt good to say those words to him. They were words he deserved to hear. I didn’t expect his eyes to fill up with tears. I thought he would smile and be happy instead, he broke down. His little body was flooded with relief.
Ezra scooped him up and he cried like a baby on his shoulder. “Hey, Malachi, you wanna go get some ice cream and pizza and go party at home?” Amaris asked him while she rubbed his back. He didn’t speak he only nodded. He was too overcome and I didn’t blame him one bit.
So that’s what we did. We all piled into Ezra’s car, because mine was entirely too small for everyone, and went to get pizza and ice cream. It’s how we celebrated finally being the family we knew we were supposed to be.
I made my first bad parenting decision when I let Malachi stay up until one in the morning. He was a whiny mess when I tried to get him into bed. I didn’t care though. I’d take the whining and everything else as long as it meant he was safe and nobody could ever take him away from me.
When I finally got him to go down. Ezra and I snuck away to our room. I stood in the mirror and took my hair down from its sleek bun letting it tumble to my waist. Ezra came up behind me and ran his fingers through it. It felt good but I was too busy staring at my swollen cheek and black eye. At least I couldn’t see the two broken ribs.
I cast my stare down and looked at my tattoo.
“What’s wrong?” Ezra asked, kissing my shoulder. I lifted my eyes to look at his handsome face. His beard was even fuller and I loved the way it looked on him.
“I feel hideous,” I sighed, touching my fingertips to my stitches.
“Nah. Don’t. Sunflowers aren’t allowed to feel hideous because no matter what, they’re still beautiful.”
“With swollen eyes and cheeks?” I laughed bitterly. “He fucked me up, Ezra.”
“I know. He could never take away how gorgeous you are though. That comes from right here.” He pointed to my chest then slid my spaghetti straps down my shoulders. “Can I show you how beautiful you are to me? Hmm? Come on, baby mama.” He rubbed my stomach and I hit him.
“I told you to stop calling me that shit,” I warned.
“Oh, you mean like I asked you to stop calling me little boy?” He quizzed, lifting an eyebrow. I couldn’t fight him on it so I laughed.
“Uh huh. That’s a guilty laugh.” He turned me around to face him then he undressed me slowly, taking time to kiss every part of me gently. “Every inch of you is fucking flawless, Solana.” He knelt before me and eased my skirt over my hips and down my legs. As I stepped out of it, he kissed each one of my feet. “You know I worship the ground you walk on, right?” He kissed his way back up my legs, taking special care to use his tongue on my thighs, making me squirm.
“I don’t know why,” I chuckled. He stood up, towering over me then he lifted me onto the dresser, spreading my legs. My eyes fell to the huge bulge in his pants. My stomach clenched when I heard his zipper come undone.
“Because you’re a fucking goddess. You know it.” He moved closer and kissed my lips while he teased my stiff clit with the head of his cock.
“Ezra,” I moaned into his mouth.
“You taste so sweet. Every part of you.” He guided his rigid cock inside of me and I gasped. We hadn’t made love since I’d been in the hospital and I missed him more than I knew.
