“Don’t make any hasty decisions now, dictated by the emotions of the moment.”
“I may be emotional and sometimes too impulsive. But I am honest. I won’t lie to get the children.”
“Don’t do this.”
“It’s my decision, and I want you to respect it.”
Paul’s hand, sitting behind me, as always, rests on my shoulder.
“OK, Seth. We’ll do it your way.”
* * *
“I UNDERSTAND, MR KENNEDY, that your client has decided to proceed with the application for sole custody.”
“That is correct, Your Honour.”
“Are you saying that you are no longer part of the family?”
“No, Your Honour.”
The judge looks at Rowan over the top of his glasses. “I’m sorry to hear this news, Mr Kennedy.”
“Me too, Your Honour.”
“Well, if that’s all, then all that remains is for me to make my decision.”
“Your Honour,” Rowan says in surprise, “I still have testimony to present to this court.”
The judge leans back in his chair. “I thought we had heard from everyone. There is no one left on my list.”
“This is special testimony, Your Honour.”
“What are you doing?” I ask Rowan, tugging at his jacket sleeve.
“Please trust me,” he replies, gazing at me with his sorrowful eyes. “Let me do this for you.”
“Mr Kennedy is grasping at straws, Your Honour,” the opposing party replies. I bend down, pick up my briefcase, and pull out my last hope.
“I have here the statement of Mark Graham, Your Honour, written in his own handwriting.”
“What… No!”
Rowan leaves the table to approach the judge, and I stand up, slamming my hands on the table in frustration.
He can’t do this. He promised.
“I’d like to read it, if that’s possible,” Rowan says, seeking the judge’s permission. Ignoring the complaints from the other side, the judge nods and tells him to proceed.
“Please, no,” I whisper to him, as my voice falters along with my strength.
These are Mark’s words—his words to me, now exposed to everyone.
Rowan clears his throat and looks at me. He mimes an “I’m sorry,” but it means nothing to me. Then he begins to read while I slump in my chair.
My dearest Seth,
I am so sorry that you have to read these words, but life, as you always say, never stops surprising you, and not always in the way you would like.
