From Nanny To Wife (30 page)

"Honey," Hope said. "We have to go in now."

Ryan removed the keys from the ignition. "Let's get this over with. Maggie, you and Zoe will need to wait in the corridor."

"Yes, sir," Maggie said.

The small group got out of the car and made their way toward the entrance. They found Harvey waiting for them in the corridor outside the courtroom. He was deep in conversation with Pam.

"What are you doing here?" Ryan asked his secretary.

Pam rose from the bench. "I am here to lend my support. Why didn't you tell me Laura was suing for custody?"

Ryan arched a brow. "I did not think it was any of your business. Harvey, a word please." He pulled the lawyer aside.

"Don't worry," Harvey said in a low voice. "Pam doesn't know that the reason you and Hope married was for Zoe. I only told her Laura was suing for custody." He checked his watch. "We need to move into the courtroom."

His stomach lurching Ryan walked to Zoe and hunkered down in front of her. "Daddy and Hope are going to leave you with Maggie for a little while. You be a good girl and color in your coloring book."

"Okay, Daddy," Zoe said.

Ryan straightened up, took Hope's hand, and followed Harvey into the courtroom. Laura was sitting at a long polished table with her lawyer and husband. She glanced at Ryan, as he strode up the aisle, and smirked. He kept a blank expression despite the anger eating away at him. Everybody sat down and waited for the Judge.

Judge Marla Stewart emerged from her chamber several minutes later. The bailiff ordered everyone to rise and then resume his or hers seats once the Judge sat down. Judge Stewart opened a folder and scanned the contents.

"All right. This is the case of Laura Andrews vs. Ryan Kendall. Mrs. Andrews is suing for full custody of the child she had with Mr. Kendall." She turned her gaze on Laura's lawyer. "Do you wish to make an opening statement, Mr. Dickerson?"

"No, Your Honor."

"Very well," she said. "What about you, Mr. Finch?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Harvey said.

She nodded. "You have the floor. Make it brief."

Harvey stood and cleared his throat. "Your Honor, today I am going to prove to the court that it is in Zoe Kendall's best interests to remain in the custody of her father. I have a witness here today that will testify that Mrs. Andrews is unfit to raise a child. I also have Mr. Kendall's housekeeper here to talk about the relationship between father and daughter. By the end of the hearing, I believe you should decide that Mr. Kendall should have sole custody of Zoe. Thank you, Your Honor." He returned to his chair.

"Mr. Dickerson," Judge Stewart said. "You may call your first witness."

"Thank you." Mr. Dickerson got to his feet. "I would like to call Mrs. Andrews niece, Charlotte Singer to the stand."

A young woman approached the witness stand and was sworn in. She took a seat and the questions began. Once Mr. Dickerson was through Harvey started his cross-examination of her. Throughout the questioning, Ryan kept his cool. He knew any outburst from him would look bad on his character. Beside him Hope was as still as a statue, her eyes glued on the woman in front of her. Ryan reached for her hand on the table and gave it a firm squeeze.

"No more questions, Your Honor," Harvey stated.

"Mr. Dickerson, I believe it's your turn again," the Judge said.

Laura's lawyer slowly stood. "Your Honor, with your permission I would like to call Hope Kendall to the stand."

Ryan felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. "No," he growled under his breath to Harvey.

"Your Honor," Harvey said. "Mrs. Kendall has nothing to do with whether or not my client is capable of raising his daughter."

Judge Stewart looked at Hope. "Would you be willing to answer some questions, Mrs. Kendall?"

"I will do whatever is necessary to keep Zoe with my husband and me."

"Then please take the stand."

"I'm sorry," Ryan breathed.

"Don't be," Hope said quietly. "I'm doing this for us." She marched toward the witness stand, her high heels clicking on the linoleum.

"Place your right hand on the bible," the bailiff ordered Hope. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God."

"Yes."

"State your full name for the record."

"Hope Elisabeth Kendall."

"Please be seated."

Hope settled on the chair and crossed her legs. She folded her hands in her lap and waited for Mr. Dickerson to begin.

"Mrs. Kendall," he said, approaching the stand. "How did you and your husband meet?"

"He was looking for a nanny for his daughter. I applied for the position."

"And you were hired?"

"I was."

"How long were you Zoe Kendall's nanny before your husband proposed marriage?"

Hope was silent for a moment as she thought about it. "A little over two months."

"So you're saying you only knew Ryan Kendall for two months when he proposed?"

"That's right," Hope answered.

Mr. Dickerson stuck his hands in his pockets and started pacing the floor in front of the stand. "Tell me, Mrs. Kendall. How much did Mr. Kendall pay you to marry him?"

"Objection, Your Honor," Harvey said.

Mr. Dickerson spoke above him. "Did he pay you to marry him so he would have a better chance of winning the case?"

"Objection, Your Honor," Harvey said again. "He is badgering the witness."

"Sustained." Judge Stewart glared at Mr. Dickerson. "You are out of line, sir."

"I apologize."

Ryan gritted his teeth, his hands balled into fists. He did his best to keep from saying something he would regret.
Think of Zoe,
he told himself.

"The witness does not have to answer the questions?" the Judge stated.

"If it is all right with you, I would like to," Hope said.

"I will allow it."

Hope fixed Mr. Dickerson with an icy stare. "My husband did not pay me to marry him so he would have a better chance of winning this case. I married him because I love him."

Mr. Dickerson quickly changed his line of questioning. "Going back to when you were Zoe Kendall's nanny. Did your husband ever order you to keep an eye on Mrs. Andrews when she came to visit with her daughter?"

"He did not order me," Hope stated. "He asked me."

"Why did he ask you to do it?"

"Because he was worried that Mrs. Andrews would try and turn Zoe against him. When she visited, she was rude to me and the rest of the staff. She would only stay for ten minutes. Every time she came, she would bring Zoe a gift. It was like she was trying to buy Zoe's love. A child needs more than material things. A child needs love, guidance and stability. Her father gives her that."

"Do you have any children, Mrs. Kendall?" Mr. Dickerson asked.

"No," Hope said sadly.

"Are you trying to take Mrs. Andrews place as Zoe's mother?"

"Of course not," Hope snapped. "No matter what Laura Andrews does or does not do, she will always be Zoe's mother."

"No further questions, Your Honor," Mr. Dickerson said, walking back to the table.

"Mr. Finch, your turn."

"No questions," Harvey said.

Judge Stewart leaned forward in her seat. "You may step down, Mrs. Kendall."

"If you don't mind, Your Honor," Hope said. "I would like to speak. I promise I won't take too long."

"Go ahead."

As Hope spoke to the court, she locked eyes with Ryan. "Ryan Kendall is a good man and a wonderful husband and father. He's not perfect, no one is. He loves his child more than anything in this world. There is nothing he won't do for her. Every day I see the two of them together and it never ceases to amaze me the love a father has for his child." She turned toward the Judge. "My husband is all Zoe knows. She has been with him since she was a year old. Please don't take her from him. Thank you." She rose from the chair and went back to the table. The minute she sat down Ryan kissed her on the jaw.

"Mr. Finch," Judge Stewart said. "You may call your witness."

Harvey stood. "I call Maggie Kennedy to the stand."

Pam slipped out of the courtroom. A minute later Maggie entered and hurried up the aisle. After being sworn in she took a seat. "Good morning, Mr. Finch."

"Good morning, Mrs. Kennedy," Harvey said his eyes twinkling. "Would you please tell the court how long you have been working for Mr. Kendall?"

"Two years, almost three."

"Tell me a little bit about Mr. Kendall as an employer and as a father."

Maggie nodded. "As an employer he's strict, but fair. If I do something he doesn't approve of he will let me know about it without getting angry. He's been good to me and my family. He's a wonderful father. Zoe adores him. She likes to call him while he's at work. No matter how busy he is he will drop everything and talk to her. They have a special time every night where he will tuck her into bed and read her a story. He's a busy man, but he makes time for his family."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kennedy." Harvey strolled back to his seat.

"Mrs. Kennedy," Mr. Dickerson said. "You say Mr. Kendall is a busy man. How much time does he spend with Zoe each day?"

"I would say thirty to thirty-five minutes."

"Mr. Kendall only spends thirty to thirty-five minutes a day with Zoe?"

"Yes, but-"

"Wouldn't a man who loves his child more than anything in this world spend more time with her than thirty to thirty-five minutes a day?"

"Not necessarily," Maggie said.

"What time does Mr. Kendall come home from work?"

"Usually between five and six."

"How often does he work late at the office?"

"A few times a week," Maggie said.

"You say Mr. Kendall and Zoe have a special time every night," Dr. Dickerson said. "Are they alone during this time?"

"Of course," Maggie said.

"Has Zoe ever come to you and complained of any inappropriate touching between her and Mr.-"

Ryan jumped to his feet. "You son of a-"

"Order in the court!" Judge Stewart said, banging her gavel. "Mr. Kendall, you will sit down. Mr. Dickerson, you are treading on very thin ice."

"I am sorry, Your Honor. No further questions."

"Honey," Hope said, clutching Ryan's arm. "Please, you need to sit down."