Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 185 -

Весса.

The next day, I was well rested. My mind was clear from the argument I had with James followed by the intense sex we'd had to make up.

I had a few hours to kill before we'd head back to court, and in that time, I wanted to give Alessandro some attention.

I entered the nursery, walking up to the crib and smiling down at him. At the moment, he was asleep, peaceful, and with the hint of a smile.

Some of his toys were snuggled in there next to him, and I found my heart fluttering at the sight of a happy baby.

Only a minute later, however, his eyes opened and fixed on me. When he smiled, my world lit up.

The small child giggled and reached toward me, making grabby hands. "F*ck! F*ck!" he said, causing me to furrow my brow, smirk, and shake my head.

I leaned down and took the baby into my arms, pressing my index finger gently against the tip of his nose. He only giggled harder, in quite the cheerful mood. My smile widened. I changed his diaper and clothes then I took him into the kitchen and set him up in his baby chair. Dahlia was still fast asleep in her own crib.

I turned to the cupboard and brought out some breakfast for him, hoping he wouldn't make a mess. Then, I took a seat nearby, grabbing some cereal for my own breakfast. It wouldn't do to go into a stressful situation while hungry. As I ate, I watched Alessandro play with his food and giggle every so often. Given the recent events, I couldn't help it when my mind began to lapse into darker scenarios. Chad was a cruel man, completely unfit for a child. The whole twisted family of Cartwrights only saw him as a tool, after all, and I was standing between this child and a miserable life. My stomach clenched with anxiety at that thought, and I told myself I needed to keep a calm mind. James lost his composure, and even if he didn't completely go off, that didn't mean things looked great for our case. This child's world hung on my shoulders, and I needed to keep my grip on the reality of things. Otherwise, Alessandro's life would be hell.

I couldn't let that happen.

After making sure Layla was settled with the children, James and I were off to the courtroom once more. Despite my self-assurances, dread weighed heavily on me. I took a few deep breaths to compose myself. No doubt, James took notice. "Becca. Are you doing alright? Remember what I said last night. You are a very intelligent woman. It will work out," he said. He cast me a side-eye, to which I shrugged. I wanted to believe him. I did believe him. Right? "You say that for everything," I accused.

"Have I been wrong yet?" James asked, raising a brow. Now, I looked at him in full, scowling somewhat.

"Well, we're in this situation, and it has yet to work out," I began. "But, you're right. Drowning myself in negative emotions won't get us anywhere. I really do love him, James. He needs a good life, and you know those awful people aren't right for him."

"That's quite the understatement," James said, shaking his head. He wore a smile, though, when he added to his words. "But you're right. That's why I'm so confident, Becca. The way you said that, right there. You know what you're talking about, and your voice drips with emotion. If you can't sway that entire courtroom, then hell has frozen over."

"Well, then, I hope it hasn't," I replied. "Alessandro is relying on me."

Soon, we arrived at the courtroom, and my confidence was igniting a little bit more strongly than before. I kept Alessandro in mind, how happy he was, and how he was going to lose that all if I wavered for even a second. The pressure was intense, but I couldn't cave to it.

The walk up to actually testify felt as though it took several years. Faces swirled around me, staring, judging, expressions none too kind. I swallowed, running my tongue over my lips as I stood there, facing the judge.

Judge Hopper stared at me with a bored, almost annoyed gaze. Yesterday's testimony from James was probably fresh on his mind, which would make things much harder to crack. Janet stared me down, knowing I was probably thinking the same thing.

Mutterings began to intensify in volume until the judge finally slammed his gavel. "Order. Order!"

Janet began with an easy question. "Becca Woods, can you please tell us why you should be Alessandro's guardian over Chad Cartwright?"

All was silent as eyes fell upon me. I cleared my throat and dipped my head in respect. "I care deeply for Alessandro," I started. "He's a wonderful, brilliant child that deserves a wonderful life, something I intend on giving him." "Objection," Kennsington interjected, his tone laced with annoyance. I glanced over to him, then toward the judge, making a mental note of how I was being interrupted right away. Still, I steeled my resolve and waited to see what would happen here.

"You may speak," the judge said to Bruce. My heart dropped as I noticed somewhat of an evil grin stretch across Bruce's face. Definitely not a sign of anything good, which was confirmed by what came out of his lips next. "If this woman intended on giving him a loving home and loving live, the child wouldn't have the word f*ck in his vocabulary," Bruce said, causing a resounding gasp to rush through the courtroom. I widened my eyes, no longer laughing inwardly at the explicative known by the child.

How had the Cartwrights found out about that?! The only way they could know any of this was through Teres and her cronies.

The Stepford wives were ruthless and clearly had it out for me. They were now showing they had a bite to their bark, that was for damn sure.

Judge Hopper's eyes fell upon me as he raised a brow, slowly shaking his head. "As I asked you yesterday, Mr. Kensington, please hold those sorts of questions for cross-examination." It seemed to be killing the judge not to let him ask me questions in the middle of my testimony.

Janet seemed to want to address it now, get it over with. "Ms. Woods, do you care to respond to these accusations?"

I couldn't get anywhere if I was cracking under pressure already. I refused to look at James right now. This was all me. After closing my eyes, then opening them again, I was ready to speak. I inhaled slowly and presented my defense to that question.

"We all make mistakes," I began. "Alessandro picked up the word, yes, and does say it sometimes. He should have been kept safe from such language, but there's more to caring for a child than protecting them from adult words." No one seemed impressed yet, but I wasn't done. A burst of confidence ripped through me as I stared Judge Hopper down, clenching my jaw just a moment before speaking once more.

"I've sat there with him for long nights while he's cried from tossing and turning, humming songs to calm him down. I want to be there for him when he gets sick, for when he grows a little and has nightmares he needs cuddles to heal from. I want to see that smile of his every day. His laugh lights up my world, and he's such a wonderful child."

I took a brief pause and continued.

"He has so much joy to offer everyone, so much joy he's offered me, and deserves to have that brought to the surface every time I can help him offer it. He's eventually going to run into things that make him cry, be it friendships ending, school stress, or much heavier things. I want to be that shoulder for him to cry on, to be the voice encouraging him to be the best he can be."

Maybe I was supposed to wait for a question, but when I looked at Janet, she was nodding encouragingly, so I continued.

"I want to continue to be Alessandro's mom, the one he brags to when he feels like he did something great, the one he can tell secrets to, and the one who he can trust to understand if he's made mistakes.

"Because you're right-a mistake was made, and now a child knows a cuss word. He'll make mistakes too, and I want to be the ear to listen rather than the voice to yell that brings him down. I love him with all of my heart and soul. Alessandro will have his ups and downs in life, and I want to be there every step of the way for him, because he has my heart in his growing hands."

At this point, hot tears were streaming down my cheeks. My heart was being ripped to pieces at the thought of losing him. The love I had for Alessandro was on full display here and now, and it poured out of me with that speech.

I, however, wasn't done yet. Not even close. "I promised Alessandro's mother that he would have a happy life. I promised her that he'd be safe with me, that I would protect him as much as I could. More than that, though. I promised her that I would love him with my everything, and that is damn well what I intend on continuing to do. That child needs a mother who will care for him. I'm that mother."

The court was dead silent, and soft whispers began to bounce around as people discussed my words. I couldn't catch anything right now, because all of my focus was on Judge Hopper. Then, my eyes slid over to the jury. Their expressions were unreadable.

"Thank you for that heartfelt testimony, Becca," Janet finally said, giving a nod. I dipped my head respectfully, feeling somewhat numb after all of that. If I lost Alessandro, he wouldn't get any of what I promised. Tally would be rolling in her grave, and the child would have no chance of a successful life.

I was sure of it.

After I was dismissed, the session carried onward, but I didn't pay much attention to what was said. My focus was on Bruce, who kept a deep scowl plastered on his face as he frequently side-eyed me. My way of undermining that 'cuss' card he tried to play was clever, but also dripped with meaning.

I thanked myself inwardly that I didn't become tongue-tied regarding one of Alessandro's words. What was somewhat of a joke nearly became a nightmare. I hoped I presented my case well enough to counter that, because Alessandro's life being ruined over an adult cussing around him would be horrible.

It would be partially my fault for encouraging him, too. Some people took that sort of thing far more seriously, and if anyone on the jury took great offense, this case was even further in a bad spot. Especially after James's blunder yesterday. I needed to have faith.

It was very hard holding onto hope right now, but after pouring my heart out and getting all of that off of my chest, I had to keep confident that not only did I do a good job, but James would be right about everything working out.

It should help us that there was an actual jury, which was unusual for a custody hearing, but the Cartwrights must've pulled some strings. Now, I hoped it blew up in their faces.

It had to work out. If Alessandro went with the Cartwrights, he would get no love, never mind the life he deserved.

With that in mind, I refocused on what was being said in court and told myself to calm down.

We would get through this. We had to.