Page 49 of Where You Should Be

He kissed my head repeatedly then released me. When I opened my eyes and saw Jungle standing there, waiting to console me, I fell into his arms as well. He kissed my ear. “I know this is hard, baby, but it’s necessary. Jericho and I wanted to go fuck him up a minute ago. You got this, baby. Give that other attorney hell.”

I pulled away from him and nodded. He brought his hands to either side of my face then kissed my lips. We were only granted a ten-minute recess, so we headed back inside the courtroom. As I made my way back to the stand, I saw the tears on Kaysyn’s face. I could only assume it was because she didn’t know the entire story.

Once I was seated and the judge made sure I was okay, the other attorney approached me. “Ms. Marcellus, did you think about how your revelation would affect Kaysyn Anderson?”

“Absolutely. That was why it took me a while to say anything.”

“But you did it anyway, huh?”

I frowned at him, and the judge did as well. “Move on, counselor,” the judge said as my attorney stood from his seat.

“Ms. Marcellus, how do we know that signature isn’t yours on the document, terminating your rights?”

“It doesn’t match my signature. If my rights were terminated, we wouldn’t be here.”

“People can change their signature. Your family’s past is quite shady. How would you even plan to raise a child in a toxic environment?”

“My environment isn’t toxic. My family isn’t me. That isn’t who I am. This entire hearing is toxic.”

“Ma’am, your involvement with a suspected drug dealer can’t be a great environment for children. Are you aware of his dealings?”

“Are my family and boyfriend on trial, or am I? This is ridiculous at best. I’m not the one being selfish here. They are. I’ve done nothing to warrant this. Everything you are accusing me of is nothing but that–accusations. You haven’t presented a single document to back up your allegations. My boyfriend owns several businesses, so yes, I am aware of his dealings.”

“Your boyfriend has a criminal background. He’s been to jail a few times. How do you explain that?”

“I can’t explain it. I didn’t know him then. That was over ten years ago. Ms. Anderson’s fiancé is no saint either, and let’s not mention her ex-husband who was using drugs in the home with my daughter and terrorizing them. As a matter of fact, Ms. Anderson was having an affair with her fiancé while she was still married.”

He looked stunned by my comment. Jericho had told me that info in case I needed to use it. I knew I would have to. They were trying to paint me out to be unfit, but if I was unfit, then so were they.Fuck them.I was done being nice and being the victim. They’d pushed me in a corner, and it was time I came out swinging.

The attorney glanced back at Kaysyn’s wide eyes then turned back to me. “No further questions.”

I left the stand with an attitude before the judge could say a word. I was sick of this fuck shit. When I got back to my seat, the judge slowly shook his head. After both attorneys let him know that no one else would be going to the stand, he said, “I don’t need to deliberate. This isn’t going to trial.”

A slight smile made its way to my lips as he looked over documents. “This DNA test says that Chelsea Marcellus is her biological mother. I’m awarding her custody of Jericka Anderson. She didn’t sign over her rights, and you brought her here to railroad her. That’s not going to happen on my watch. You have a week to pack the necessary items she’ll need and turn her over to her biological mother. We’re adjourned.”

I hopped from my seat and hugged my attorney. I knew that was what would happen. Kaysyn let out a wail that caught my attention. When Seneca tried to comfort her, she yelled, “Get away from me! This is your fault! You’re a liar! I guess once a trash ass nigga, always a trash ass nigga.”

My eyebrows hiked up as she stormed out of the courtroom. As I stared at Seneca, I wondered just what had happened. Apparently, he’d lied to her about me and everything. He slammed his hand on the chair in front of him and sat down then yelled, “Fuck!”

I turned my attention to my family, and they were all smiling. Manman hugged me tightly and said, “God has the final say. She’s coming home.”

I closed my eyes and cried.My baby.Although I felt like this would happen, I was nervous about how Jericka would take this. She was my main concern. While I wanted revenge for what all Seneca and Kaysyn put me through, I didn’t want it at the expense of my child’s happiness.

When my mama released me, I hugged Jericho then Jungle. “So, I guess we need to get you and Manman moved in a little quicker, right?”

I smiled at him, but his smile dimmed. It was like he could see that I was thinking too hard. “We’re still moving, baby. Don’t get alarmed. We’ll talk in the car. Let’s get out of here.”

Before I could walk away, the attorney informed me that he would be in contact with Kaysyn and so would a court appointed official, to make sure the transfer would be as seamless as possible. I nodded then followed my people out.

CHAPTER19

JUNGLE

“I’m scared that she will hate me. She’s going to think I took her away from her mother. She doesn’t know me. Kaysyn is the only mother she knows,” Chelsea explained after we all got in the SUV headed to Jericho’s house since we’d ridden together.

She’d quit her job, working her last day this past Saturday. She said Van was there and wasn’t happy about her quitting. He didn’t say a word to her once he found out. Ali had been on that nigga’s ass since before we left the courtroom. He and Chad had dipped out during the recess. He’d said if that judge didn’t give Jericka to Chelsea, then he was a heartless muthafucka. Nobody could witness her breakdown and remain the same.

I swore had we not been in court, Seneca would have gotten fucked up. Jericho had hit the nail right on the fucking head. Seneca’s cynical ass was behind all this shit. When Kaysyn called him a trash ass nigga, I was in shock. One thing I knew about that nigga, though, was that he was the most toxic and evil when he was scared.

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