She looked at her mother, more sad than angry. “I want to stay with my daddy. He’s my real parent.” She was crying as she finished, “Please, don’t make me go with someone who didn’t want me until now.”
The crowd murmured. The judge called for quiet and scribbled some notes, his face blank. Molly’s face went white, and her lawyer whispered to her.
After what felt like forever, the judge cleared his throat. “This court knows a biological relationship matters, but it also has to think about the child’s well-being.” He looked at Amelia, then me, and finally Molly. “Based on the testimony, I’m giving full custody to the father.”
Molly gasped, shocked and unbelieving. Amelia ran to me, and I picked her up. Her little arms hugged my neck, and our tears of relief mixed with her happy cries.
“Thank you,” I whispered to her, my heart full. Amelia just nodded, her face in my shoulder, safe with her real parent. As we left the courtroom, the years of worry lifted. I knew our lives would be different, but whatever came, we’d face it together.