Page 74 of Baby Blue
“I see. So you left her with Mr.Wallace.”
Cindy nodded. “Yes. I knew he’d take care of her.”
“And you always intended to come back for her?”
“Oh, yes sir.”
“And then what happened?”
Cindy fiddled with the hem of her top. “Um, I got to California and the job wasn’t as good as they’d said, so I came back.”
“And approximately how long were you gone?”
“Six months.”
The attorney looked at his notes. “And how old was the infant when you left her?”
“About six months.”
“So she’s approximately one year old now.”
Cindy nodded again. “Yes, sir.”
“And why do you think the court should award you custody of the minor child?”
“Because I’m her mother!” Cindy exclaimed and started to cry. “She should be with me!”
Blue was sure the attorney would ask her more questions, but he didn’t. He told the judge, “That’s all right now, YourHonor.”
“Mr.Baker?” JudgeHargrove said, pointing to Glen.
Glen stood, took his notepad in hand, and walked straight up to the witness box. “So you were going to California for a job?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t people take their children with them all the time when they move for a job?”
Cindy squirmed a little in her seat. “But I didn’t know what kind of living conditions I’d have or anything.”
“So you went to California for a job you didn’t know much about, to live somewhere you hadn’t determined, and can Iassume this was with someone you didn’t know very well?” Cindy started to open her mouth, but Glen said, “Strike that question. Ms.Holland, how many other children do you have?”
Cindy looked confused. “None.”
“This is your only child?”
“Yes, sir,” she said and squirmed again.
“How many other children does Mr.Wallace have?”
She chuckled under her breath. “Blue? No telling.”
Glen’s glare was wilting. “How many that you personally know of?”
“None.”
“So you left this baby with a man who had no other children?”
“Yes, sir. He’s her father.”
