Staged: (Oliana Mercer series Book 2)

Eye for an Eye

Later that afternoon, one could've heard a pin drop in the Mercer household. Today was the court hearing about Daniel. And that meant my need to express my feelings were put on hold.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I fished it out and answered it.

"Oliana? It's Linda. Can we meet? I want to smooth things over."

"I'm on my way out. I'll try to call you back."

"It's important."

I hung up and tossed my phone on my bed. Everything was happening too fast. I hadn't had a chance to tell my parents about Linda coming to see me. Why today? It'd have to wait until I got back from the courthouse with Mom. We had to be there in less than an hour and Dad was stuck in surgery. I'd promised to go and show Mom support.

"Oli. Hurry up."

Even though I know it wasn't directed at me, the sharpness in Mom's voice told me I had made the right decision to wait and see Linda.

About twenty minutes later, Mom and I walked through metal detectors and entered the courtroom. Mom hurried to the table in front of me while I settled in a seat behind her. Marc and his lawyer, Lee Williams were already seated at their table to our left. The air in the room was cool. But not as cold as Mom's eyes, which reminded me of dark holes waiting to claim the soul of an unsuspecting person.

Mom's attorney, Nina, had advertised for being pro-mom. Her hourly rate had been a heated topic between my parents until Dad talked Mom down to going after what was necessary. And for Mom that was having primary placement of Daniel.

As the buzzing of the light above dulled the silence, I examined the empty jury box off to the side. If Mom and Marc can't agree on suitable placement for Daniel, would it be turned over to the jury? On the television shows, juries handled murder cases. Maybe this was something for a judge.

My research online had mentioned lawyers for children. A guardian ad litem. This person's interest was for the child only. Whatever happened, I hoped that I'd get a chance to talk to the GAL and share what my little brother had always told me. He wanted to stay with Mom.

Moments later, Judge Irma entered. After everyone went through the formalities, both lawyers explained to the judge that their attempt at mediation between Mom and Marc had failed.

The judge shifted through her paperwork and looked over the rim of her glasses. "Neither parent is willing to compromise for the child's sake?"

Nina stood. "My client agrees to supervised visitation."

Lee said, "My client has the right to see his son without intrusion."

"Is there reason to believe that there's abuse in the father's home that warrants supervision?" asked Judge Irma.

"No, your Honor," said Lee.

The judge looked over at Marc's table. "Has your client played an active role in the child's life?"

"Marc admits to putting his job as an attorney first, and would like to rectify that by building a relationship with his son."

Several seconds passed, and the judge said, "I'm going order that the parents attend co-parent counseling. Also, a home study will be conducted by the guardian ad litem assigned to the case. Until a decision can be made by the court, I'll grant the father's request to have his son for two weeks per month. The placement schedule will start the following weekend. It'll be week on, week off, but the mother will maintain all major decision-making within reason, that benefits the child."

Nina stood again. "Your Honor, the son suffers from seizures. The new placement schedule would interrupt the stable support system my client has put together to aid in the treatment of Daniel's seizures. That includes the doctors, appointments, making sure he has his meds and eating nutritious meals."