He’d had his chance to speak. Had said some version of all that. He couldn’t remember exactly what he’d said as he sat back down, but he could tell by the worried frown on Michael’s face that he had to prepare himself for a best-case scenario of joint custody.
Which meant a life of upheaval for Diamond. She’d never have one place to call home. Or the same place. She’d never be able to come home day after day, week after week, to the same family. Or spend Christmas with the same people every year of her growing up, making memories they all shared.
He hadn’t had it, either, not all the time. But he’d sometimes had it. Even when home had been a dingy trailer with a hole in the bathroom floor that looked down onto the dirt below, he’d preferred being with Alana Gold over the nicest of foster homes.
The Reddings had a couple of witnesses. A preacher. And someone else. Flint spaced it.
“If there are no further witnesses, I’m ready to issue my decision.”
“Excuse me, Judge.” Flint looked over as his attorney stood beside him. “I do have another witness to call—or rather a group of them. They weren’t sure they were going to make it, but I just received a text that they’re here in the courthouse. If I may ask the court to be patient for just another minute or two...”
The judge, a man of about fifty, not far from the Reddings’ age, glanced over his glasses at the couple, at Flint and then at the baby carrier beside him. He seemed like a good guy. Flint didn’t blame him for deciding, as he probably had, that the Reddings could give his baby sister so much more than a single man, son of a convict, could. In the obvious ways, at any rate.
“A child’s future is at stake,” the judge said after a long minute. “Of course I’ll wait.”
Agitated as hell, Flint scowled at Michael. “What’s going on?” he whispered.
Michael leaned over. “You want to learn to trust that someone will actually help you, or just hand her over?”
He didn’t like the man’s tone. But sat straight, turning when he heard the door behind him open.
If Stella was pulling some prank, trying to play nice only to annihilate him...
Howard Owens walked in with a woman Flint had never met. The way her arm looped through his made him figure he was looking at Dr. Owens. Tamara’s mother.
A fact that seemed more obvious when Tamara walked in right behind them.
In a pair of navy dress pants, and a navy-and-white fitted top, with her auburn hair falling around her shoulders, she looked stunning.
Just stunning.
He was stunned.
Because behind her, more people were filing in. Men, women, all in dress clothes. Rich men. Rich women. In rich clothes. A politician. The police commissioner. A college president. He knew, because he knew them all.
He’d talked to most of them that week, assuring them that their portfolios were solidly back in his hands.
“Your Honor, these people all know Flint Collins personally, have known him, and trusted him, for years. Most of them for more than a decade.” Michael proceeded to introduce them, one by one, begging the judge’s pardon for a few more minutes to allow each of them to relate just one piece of information about Flint’s ability to provide Diamond Rose Collins with a secure and healthy home. The home her mother had chosen for her. Because she’d known her son.
Flint could hardly hear for the roaring in his ears. The tightness consuming him. He couldn’t take it in. Couldn’t comprehend it.
But before anything else could happen, before those around him could speak, his baby girl, maybe distressed by all the people gathering around them, started to cry. He shushed her quietly. Rocked her carrier. But the wails grew louder. He had a bottle, just in case. Was reaching for it, feeling heat rush up his body, when he noticed that someone was beside him. He caught a whiff of flowers. And then feminine fingers were expertly unlatching the carrier straps, Diamond was up, held in Tamara’s arms, and the crying had stopped.
Tears in her eyes, Tamara faced the judge.
“I am in love with Flint Collins, Your Honor. These are my parents.” She nodded to Dr. and Mr. Owens. “Flint felt he had to fight this on his own, but that’s not what family’s about. Yes, he had a challenging upbringing, which means he doesn’t yet know how extended family works, and that’s why we’re here to show him. I’ve had the honor to be in this little girl’s life since the day she came home to Flint, and I am fully prepared to be in her life until the day I die, just as any biological mother would.”
Her words, a little hard to understand at times through her tears, were no less effective. Not where Flint was concerned.
Diamond lifted her head, throwing it back a bit, but Tamara’s hand was right there, steadying her. She looked at Tamara and then laid her head down on Tamara’s chest again, closing her eyes.
“If it pleases the court, I’ve got something to say,” Howard said.
The judge shook his head. “I don’t need to hear any more.”
Just as quickly as Flint’s hope had risen, his heart dropped. Until Tamara took his hand. When he looked at her she was grinning, for him only. Holding his gaze. Telling him something important.