The Years that the Locusts Have Eaten

Chapter 7

"So, it is my understanding that Ms. Caridad Sandoval is suing Mr. Andrés Sandoval for full custody of their daughter, a Miss Victoria Sandoval. Is that correct?" the judge asked.

"That is correct, your Honor," answered Caridad's lawyer, Mr. Hostetter.

"And this suit is based on the grounds of alleged child abuse. Is that correct?" the judge clarified.

"Yes, your Honor," Mr. Hostetter replied.

"I assume you have evidence that you would like to present to this court," Judge Hall said as he put his fingers on his temples. Another day of diametrically opposing stories and drama. On days like today, he hated his job. He had just spent the last 20 minutes with little Victoria Sandoval in his chambers without the interference of her parents. As children are wont to do, Victoria had hedged a bit in her testimony, seeming to want to protect the parties involved. Although much of her testimony had supported her mother's assertions, she seemed to back away from any definitive statements about the behavior of her father and grandmother.

"Your Honor, we are presenting here photographic evidence of Miss Victoria Sandoval's injuries, sustained during an attack by her grandmother who struck her repeatedly with her shoe," Mr. Hostetter said, handing a folder to the bailiff to be handed over to Judge Hall.

The judge examined the pictures silently for several moments. Then turning to the defendant and his lawyer, the judge asked, "And how do you answer these charges?"

"Your Honor, neither my client nor his mother have ever physically disciplined Miss Victoria Sandoval. My client contends that the injuries were sustained due to rough play with her cousins. He maintains that, at no time, did he or his mother hit Victoria," said his lawyer. "In fact, my client is counter-suing Ms. Sandoval for full custody on the grounds that she is an unfit mother due to her ongoing struggle with mental illness," the man in an ill-fitting suit continued.

Caridad looked back into the courtroom to get a glimpse of Jin's face. She had not told him about the fact that she suffered from depression. It wasn't that she meant to hide it. It was just that one could never anticipate another's reaction to news like this. But to his credit, Jin flashed her a finger heart and smiled.

Judge Hall nodded. "I see here a record of a brief hospitalization due to psychiatric issues. Ms. Sandoval, what was the nature of the illness that landed you in the psych ward of Allegheny General Hospital?" he asked.

Caridad looked uncertainly at her lawyer. "Go ahead and answer for yourself," Mr. Hostetter encouraged.

"Um, your Honor, after the birth of Victoria, I suffered from postpartum depression. In addition to the biological factors at play, I was also under extreme duress due to the actions of my mother-in-law," Caridad explained.

"And what actions were those?" Judge Hall asked, his head still buried in the documents before him.

"Well, she was constantly criticizing my decisions as a mother. She undermined my confidence at every turn until I finally ended up having a nervous breakdown and checking myself into the psych ward for a brief stay," Caridad clarified.

At this point, Mr. Hostetter interjected, "Let the record show that my client voluntarily entered the psyche ward for the express purpose of treating her postpartum depression so that she could be a better mom to Victoria."

The judge grunted slightly and turned to Andrés. "Mr. Sandoval, can you describe your ex-wife's behavior toward the child during the months following her birth?"