“It is, Your Honour. We will be married shortly.”
“And when were you going to say that?”
“I’m a discreet person, Your Honour. Besides, we didn’t want to put too much pressure on the children.”
“You’re making this up now, aren’t you?” the other lawyer complains. “It’s just a stunt to buy time.”
The judge looks at me sternly. He, too, thinks it’s all bullshit, and he is right.
I’m risking my career for people I don’t even know.
I must have gone completely insane.
“It’s not. We are… a couple, and we are…” I can say it without choking: “In love, judge,” I clear my throat. “We really are, and we have decided to get married.”
“Are you telling me that you intend to adopt these children legally?”
My God. I hadn’t gone that far!
“It’s my intention, judge. I want to… We want to give these children a family and do it as soon as possible.”
“You don’t believe that crap, do you?” The lawyer becomes agitated.
The judge remains silent for a few seconds, during which I don’t even dare to raise my eyes and look around the room. I’m afraid to meet his eyes, and I’m afraid to find in them what I fear.
“I want a wedding date,” the judge says in surprise. “And I want it by the end of the week.”
“Yes, judge. You’ll have it.”
“Let the children go,” the judge tells the social workers.
The kids tearfully run into Seth’s arms. Seth holds them as if their salvation depends on his embrace. I can’t help but be touched by their love and their bond. It reminds me of something I lost long ago and never found again.
“The children can stay with Mr Graham for the time being, subject to a review of the situation.”
“Thank you, Your Honour.”
“Your career is on the line, Kennedy,” he warns me, his gaze hard on me.
“I know, sir.”
“I’d think about it if I were you.”
I nod, my head bowed and my earlier fear returns. Then, the judge confirms his decision despite objections from the other side before declaring the session over.
I turn to Seth, the kids clinging to him, his eyes wet and confused.
“What… I don’t understand.”
“Can you give us two minutes, Mason?” I ask the oldest, handing him some coins. “I think there’s a vendor machine in the hall.”
Mason takes the coins, then takes his siblings by the hand. “Let’s see if they have some chocolate.”
“Don’t go too far, please!” Seth says behind his back but gets no reassurance from his nephew.
He sighs heavily, then turns to me. “May I ask what the hell is going on? The judge had just delivered his verdict, and then… I’m confused, very confused.”
“There’s no right way to say this, so I’ll just come straight to it.”
