“Yes, Mr. Lawton.”
“I would like to conduct a little experiment for the court.”
“An experiment? This is a Court of Law, sir.”
“Yes, I know, but please bear with me.”
“Go ahead. If I feel you’re wasting my time, you’ll hear about it.”
“Thank you.” Damian walked to where the Hale children sat.
“Mrs. Belford,” he turned to her, “I would like you to come here, and take Luke Hale by the hand.”
“Your Honor.” Strickland rose from his seat. ”This is nonsense, and a waste of the court’s time.”
“I’ve already said I will decide what wastes the court’s time. And so far, I see no reason to stop this.” He nodded in Damian’s direction. “Proceed, Mr. Lawton.”
Mrs. Belford rose, and slowly walked across the room. She studied the four boys for a few minutes and then hesitantly took Mark by the hand.
“Your Honor,” Damian said with a slight grin, “this devoted grandmother just took the hand of Mark Hale. She doesn’t even know her own grandchildren!”
“I was confused.” Emily Belford blushed furiously. “They’re so close in age, it’s hard to tell.”
Damian turned to the judge. “Yes, Your Honor. Except Luke Hale is an identical twin, and should be easily recognized, as one of two boys who look exactly alike. Had she picked his twin, it would have been acceptable, but she picked the wrong child completely.”
The judge tilted his head slightly as he studied the Belfords. He returned his gaze to the four boys, smiled, and winked. He pushed his spectacles to his forehead. “This court rules against the petitioners. I see no reason why this family should be torn apart. However,” the judge looked at Nate and Angel, “it’s important for children to know all their family. I find it a sad thing this grandmother doesn’t know her own grandchildren. I don’t know who is at fault here, but I suggest the two families work out an arrangement that allows these children to know their deceased mother’s parents.”
He banged his gravel once. “Case dismissed.”
Angel took a deep breath for the first time since the hearing began. She hugged the boys, tears standing in her eyes. Nate pulled them all close, until John shouted, “I’m being squished!”
Nate
walked over to Damian, and held out his hand. “Thanks so much, Damian. I can’t tell you how relieved Angel and I are.”
“They never really had a chance. I can’t imagine why they even went through this.”
“I think they were motivated more by dislike for me than anything else.”
The Belfords approached Damian, Nate and Angel.
“I know who’s at fault here.” Mr. Belford twisted his hat in his hands, his face red. “My wife and I have been stubborn in our refusal to see the children. We felt Amy would come around and apologize to us, and then after she died we were too heartbroken at losing our last child to close the riff. If you and your wife will allow it, Nate, we’d like to see the children from time to time. They’re our only link to Amy.”
Nate held out his hand. “Louis, I apologize also. When I told you years ago to leave after your disagreement with Amy, I never meant for it to be permanent. I guess there’s wrongdoing on both sides. Angel and I would be more than happy to have you and Emily visit. Children can never have too many people to love.”
Louis Belford blew out a deep breath, and shook Nate’s hand. Nodding in Angel’s direction, he escorted his wife out the door.
Damian watched the older couple leave the courtroom and turned to Nate. “I wonder if they conjured up this whole thing as a way to breach the gap.”
Nate shrugged. “Who knows? I’ll stop by your office tomorrow to settle our bill.”
“No. All done.” Taking in Nate’s surprised expression, he laughed. “Eli already paid your bill. He said he didn’t want to see his fiancée upset over your problems.”
“Well, I’ll have to thank him. But thanks again to you.”
As they turned to leave, the lawyer called them back. “I wonder if you could pass along information to Mrs. Hardwick?”
“Be more than happy to,” Nate said.