Do You Believe In Magic

Chapter 19

Bonnie uncloaked herself and left the restroom, going back to her seat with a stunned look on her face. What was she going to do? Should she try to get the attention of Kai's attorney and tell him what she heard in the ladies room? That Vicki's been on anti-depressants for 6 months and just wants his money from child support? Would it be believed this late in the game?

She then wondered what Mr. Salvatore's paralegal would do, whether she'd keep the information to herself or reveal the facts to her boss. Bonnie sat back down as Kristen looked at her.

"You okay?"

Bonnie decided to keep it to herself and wait to see the outcome. She turned to Kristen and nodded before looking back at Kai. She wanted so badly to mouth I love you to him, but she couldn't. Regardless of how today turned out, or what happened between them last night, their charade as husband and wife would soon be over. As far as what happened last night, and whether it would interfere with her position to continue on as Josie's nanny, should Kai get custody, she'd just have to wait and see.

Just then, Judge Pierce spoke.

"Okay. Now, I expect that the remainder of this hearing be free from any inappropriate behavior or remarks. I've heard all that I needed to hear and..."

"Your Honor, if you please," Mr. Salvatore said, standing up.

Judge Pierce looked perturbed. "Mr. Salvatore, I just finished reprimanding you and Mr. Lockwood for your unprofessional behavior earlier. I do not wish to hear any more comments on the matter, is that understood?"

Mr. Salvatore looked down at his paralegal who, moments before, was whispering something in his ear.

"Your Honor, I'm not gonna present any more arguments on the case. It's just...I need to speak to my client in private regarding this matter before you make a decision. It's of the utmost importance."

On the other side, Kai and Tyler looked at each other, wondering what was going on. Bonnie looked across the room at the paralegal, who met her eyes and gave her a reassuring grin, letting Bonnie know she was aware of Bonnie's presence and had told what they'd both heard. Bonnie couldn't believe it! It was almost as if she and Kai had some kind of an ally on the other side.

"Mr. Salvatore, you have five minutes with your client. You may use that room over there for privacy. Five minutes!"

"Yes, thank you, Your Honor."

Mr. Salvatore turned to a confused and none-too-happy Vicki and asked her to step inside the room.

After about three minutes, they both emerged. Vicki looked fit to be tied. She stormed over to the table to sit down but, before she did, she looked at her mother and pointed.

"This is all your fault! You and your big mouth!"

The sound of the gavel coming down rang through the court room. "That will be enough! Mr. Salvatore, are you finished so that we may proceed?"

Mr. Salvatore took a deep breath. "No, Your Honor. I just received some information that was relative to this case and I needed to confer with my client over. Because of that, I'm sorry to say that, as of this moment, I can no longer represent Victoria Donovan."

A collective gasp was heard throughout the courtroom. Kai put a hand on Tyler's shoulder and Tyler gave him a hopeful look. Tyler stood up.

"Your Honor, if I may. If there are circumstances that Mr. Salvatore knows that may affect this decision, not to mention the welfare of Josette Lyn Parker, then I believe that those circumstances should be made known."

The sound of Vicki hitting the table in frustration and muttering "Fuck" caught everyone's attention. Especially the judge's.

"That will be enough, Miss Donovan! I will have no more outbursts in this courtroom. Now, Mr. Salvatore, by your sudden decision to back out from representing Miss Donovan raises a lot of issues, some that may seriously affect my decision. I can only surmise that what you have discovered has put you in a situation that you can no longer represent Miss Donovan morally or ehtically. Is this correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Mr. Salvatore solemnly replied.

"Miss Donovan, I want you to know that, whatever it is that has caused your counsel to disengage himself from representing you, may have an affect on my decision, not to mention any further decision on this matter when it reconvenes again in six months. Now is your chance to change your mind, if you think it won't have any bearing on this case."

Vicki sat there with folded arms and a look of pure hatred and defeat upon her face. It was clear that the love for her daughter did not extend that far that she was willing to confess her physical and psychological state these past six months.

"No, Your Honor," Vicki said with a twinge of venom. "I wish for the information that I shared with my attorney to be confidential."

Judge Pierce raised a surprise eyebrow before folding her hands upon her bench.

"Well, based upon all that has been said and done here today, I find that it is this courts decision that full custody of Josette Lyn Parker be awarded to her father, Malachai, with her mother, Victoria Donovan, having scheduled, supervised visits."

Kai leaned his head back and brought his hands to his face, breathing out a sigh of relief.

Vicki, on the other hand, shot up out of her chair and stormed out of the courtroom, leaving her attorney and her mother behind. The judge noticed this and shook her head. She then noticed the relieved look on Kai's face over not having to lose his daughter and knew then and there that she made the right decision for the child.

Kai got up and hugged Tyler, clapping him on the back.

"Thanks, Tyler. Or, should I say, thanks to whatever it was that Salvatore found out."

"I'd love to know what it was that caused him to tuck tail and run like that," Tyler replied.

Kai then turned to Joey and Kristen who offered hugs of congratulations. He then sidled over to Bonnie who held her hands out to him.

"You did it," she exclaimed.

"No Bon, we did it," he replied, lovingly kissing her hands. "However, what it was that caused Vicki's attorney to retract probably did the trick. I wonder what it was."

Bonnie leaned forward and whispered in Kai's ear. "I know what it was."

Kai leaned back and looked at her with astonishment, before Bonnie silenced him.

"No, not here. Later."

Kai nodded before Tyler got his attention. "I'll call you tomorrow as soon as I have the final paperwork prepared. I'm sure now that Salvatore removed himself, that the court may appoint Vicki's visitation schedule. If you want, I can swing by tomorrow and bring you the papers to be signed."

"That'll be great, Tyler. I appreciate it. Thanks for all your help."

"My pleasure, Kai. Now, go home with your wife and be with your daughter!"

Tyler punctuated the word wife with a smirk before he turned to leave.

Kai turned back to Bonnie who overheard Tyler's comment. She tried to brush it off by joking about it. "Well, c'mon, hubby. Let's do what he says!"

Kai smiled as he took her hand to go home, planning on doing a lot more than what Tyler suggested!