Chapter 18: The Girl on the Stand

Abigail's POV

On Friday morning, I sat down in the witness box with my hair pinned back and nothing over the scar.

Gilbert's lawyer rose with Delaney's affidavit in his hand.

"Mrs. Farwell, you had brain surgery in April."

"Yes."

"Do you ever forget things?"

"I forget where I put my keys," I said. "I have never forgotten a client, a deadline or a child."

Somebody in the gallery laughed, and the judge looked up over her glasses.

"Counsel, move on."

"Your Honor, I have a sworn statement that she is violent."

"Then ask her about it."

He turned a page. "Did you strike your daughter?"

"No."

"Did you threaten anyone in your home?"

"I told my husband he had thirty days to leave. That is the only threat I have made in twenty years."

Simon, at the table beside mine, did not smile.

He wrote one line on his pad and underlined it.

Then he stood and said, "Your Honor, we call the petitioner's affiant."

Delaney took the stand in a navy dress, with her hands folded and her eyes lowered.

Simon held up Exhibit C.

"Ms. Radbourne, this is a complete medical file for a girl who is not your child. How did you get it?"

"I signed the clinic's release form as her guardian. She was staying with me."

"Did her mother ever name you her guardian?"

"No."

"May I read the form to the court?"

He read it, slowly.

"Does it say anything about medical records?"

"It says I could take care of her."

"It says she may stay," Simon said. "And that her mother is available by phone at any hour. Did you call Mrs. Farwell before you went to the clinic?"

Delaney opened her mouth.

"Yes or no."

"No."

The judge wrote something down and did not look up.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Reborn, I Gave My Daughter to His Mistress from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.