The Parent Trap

Chapter 47

Carly Lewis

POV

My palms were damp. I rubbed them on the navy skirt Koah lent me. I didn’t normally wear anything but jeans and sneakers. Wearing a pair of heels felt comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.

I was surprised I could walk in them.

Koah took my hand...

I look at her and she gave me an encouraging smile.

The courtroom had my nerves on edge; I wasn’t sure if it was because I could lose my daughter or because courtrooms freaked me out.

The courtroom was so quiet it set me on edge. Everything felt so... reserved and unemotional.

Every cough echoed, the sound of someone clearing their throat echoed through the room, the sound of papers shuffling sounded unbearably loud.

If felt like I could hear everyone’s hearts beating.

I glanced toward Chase sitting next to his lawyer Marco Redford, him and I met last week when he requested my medical reports.

Chase looked composed on the outside, but I knew he was having a harder time than I was. He was struggling with the thought of losing Stella or having to share her with Amelia.

Cole and Chase’s mother had stayed home with Stella today. Koah decided to come with us as moral support.

I was grateful to her, for her support. Having her next to me helped me a lot and I was just as grateful Cole was willing to take the day off so because no one wanted Stella anywhere near this place.

The bailiff called everyone to stand.

We all stood. I held Koah’s hand tightly.

The judge entered taking his seat.

After everyone sat down, he looked over the case file in front of him.

"This hearing concerns the emergency petition filed by Ms. Amelia West requesting temporary custody of the minor child, Stella Jacobs."

The judge looks at Amelia then at Chase.

"I’ve reviewed the preliminary report submitted and I’ve read the report submitted by the case worker." He says.

He nods toward Amelia’s attorney. "You may proceed."

Amelia’s lawyer stood confidently. Fixing his blazer he smiles. "Your Honor, my client has been Stella’s mother in every way that matters. She was there as a mother role for Stella since Stella was a baby. She is even called mommy by Stella. She might not have given birth to Stella but she was her mother..." her lawyer started.

He walked slowly before the judge. "For years, Stella has known Amelia Jacobs as the only maternal figure in her life. Now the only mother she has ever known is being ripped from her, because Mr. Jacobs wanted a divorce."

I watched as Amelia lowered her eyes as though she were heartbroken, she wiped no existent tears too.

"She’s has now been introduced to a woman with no verifiable background" He looks right at me when he says that. "A woman who could have faked her amnesia so she could get close to Stella as her nanny..." He pauses, I’m sure for a dramatic effect. "We believe that places Stella at significant emotional and physical risk."

I swallowed hard. I was beginning to believe that I was a risk to Stella too.

The man wasn’t done. "The woman could be a criminal for all we know. She came out of nowhere and was Stella’s nanny. If that wasn’t a reason to prove that the Jacobs household is unstable, I don’t know what is. Stella is now living with someone who is faking amnesia. Someone with no clear background. A past that is a mystery to everyone. My client and I believe Stella deserves consistency. That my client can provide." He smiles at Amelia.

Then he returns to their table.

Chase’s attorney stood.

"Your Honor... He speaks of consistency. But conveniently ignores why we’re here today." He holds up the report and hands it to the Judge.

"The emergency investigation conducted by Child Protective Services found absolutely no evidence of abuse. Or any child neglect. The assigned investigator recommended Stella remain in Chase Jacobs’ custody. When she found the house was stable and safe for Stella.

The judge nods slightly. "I’ve read the report." he says.

Chase’s attorney continued.

"The case worker conducted multiple interviews, the house was inspected, Stella the little girl in question was interviewed as well. She was found to be happy, healthy, and thriving."

Then he looked directly at Amelia. "So, the allegation that Chase Jacobs is an unfit parent has already been investigated and found to be without any merit whatsoever."

Amelia’s attorney immediately stood.

"We are not disputing that Mr. Jacobs loves the child. Our concern is the influence of Miss Lewis."

My stomach drops.

He points directly at me. "A woman with no clear history!"

"Sit down..." the judge says giving him a look.

He sits down.

Chase’s attorney smiled slightly. "I’m glad the opposing counsel mentioned that."

He reached for another folder from the table.

"Because we’d like to introduce new evidence." He handed documents to the judge.

"These are Miss Lewis’s medical records. The doctors established that three years ago Miss Lewis suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was diagnosed with severe retrograde amnesia. She remembers nothing about her life before the accident."

The judge studied the records carefully.

Chase’s attorney continued. "Also, if you look at the last page. We have also submitted the results of a court-certified DNA test."

My heart began pounding, I placed my free hand over my heart, scared others could hear it too.

"The results establish that Carly Lewis is Stella Jacobs’ biological mother."

The room erupted. The judge had to quiet the room.

I looked at Amelia, and I watched as her face drained of color.

Even her lawyer looked stunned. He stood.

"We weren’t made aware of this! Just because she’s the biological mother doesn’t mean Stella will accept the woman who abandoned her!"

The judge lifted a hand. "That’s enough..."

The judge looks toward me, then he looks at Chase. Before he looks at the paper in front of him again.

"Continue." He tells Mr. Redford.

Chase’s attorney nods. "The evidence establishes that Miss Lewis did not knowingly disappear from her daughter’s life. She was living with documented amnesia. She had no knowledge Stella even existed until after she became Stella’s nanny. We have video evidence of her going to visit the bank where she got the DNA test. She only discovered the truth only after she got the call from the bank that there was safety deposit box in her name and then she independently verified the DNA through a hospital. My client did a DNA test himself as well to make sure hers wasn’t fake." He looks toward me with a reassuring smile. "This is not a case of abandonment. This is a mother who lost her memories and is now trying to build a relationship with her daughter..."

Amelia’s lawyer stood almost immediately. "Or..." He clasped his hands together. "This is a woman who willingly abandoned her child years ago."

My breath caught. I couldn’t breathe; tears fell from my eyes. It always stung thinking about how I’d left Stella with Chase and then proceeded to forget about her existence.

"It’s funny how she returned as soon as Mr. Jacobs filed for divorce."

The words felt like a slap in the face. I did have feelings for Chase. But I wasn’t going to make it known.

Since that strange phone call before our trip. I got the medication and I was taking it. I wasn’t getting anymore memories, which meant I might never know why I had to leave Stella.

Like that woman said. I was worried it would hurt Stella and Chase if I didn’t take them. I didn’t tell Chase because I didn’t want to worry him.

"There is absolutely no evidence she actually came back for Stella. However, there is ample evidence she has deliberately tried to get close to Mr. Jacobs."

He turned toward the judge.

"We like to show that Stella is now caught in the middle of an emotionally confusing situation. My client has remained the only stable maternal figure Stella has ever known. That is precisely why temporary custody should be granted to Amelia Jacobs." he says this confident smile is back.

The entire courtroom was dead quiet. No one even breathed.

The judge looks at Amelia’s lawyer thoughtfully before he closes the file in front of him and leans forward looking at Amelia. "Ms. West."

She straightened immediately, thinking she’s won. "Yes, Your Honor."

"I have several questions." he says.

"Of course." she smiles.

"The emergency petition alleged abuse and neglect. Child Protective Services found no evidence supporting those allegations. Now your lawyer is saying it was because of Miss Lewis. But it makes you seem more like a bitter ex-wife than a concerned mother. Can you explain why you made those allegations?" he asks.

Amelia hesitates. "I... I was worried for my daughter. Chase used to verbally and physically abuse me while we were married. That’s why I divorced him and I want to protect my daughter..." she says hurriedly.

However, even a blind man could see the judge didn’t look convinced by her excuse.

"I asked your lawyer to provide evidence of this alleged abuse, but we haven’t gotten any evidence of the abuse in the last two weeks, and then your lawyer changed his argument to Miss Lewis being the problem. You were worried about your daughter?" he asks again.

She swallowed. "I believed she was in danger."

The judge glanced at another document. "There’s another matter, that was brought to my attention by the case worker..."

My heartbeat quickened once more. What more could there be?