My Steps Are Ordered (25 page)

“Why is this day so warm and sunny when I'm in turmoil?” Gina said as she sulked, sinking deeper in the seat. She crossed her arms and covered her eyes to keep the sun from hitting them.

Keith, however, was uplifted. He took the unseasonably warm weather in December as a sign that God was still in control and that there were brighter days ahead.

They had dropped Trey and Epiphany off at his mother's house. They would stay with her for the day. In lieu of driving, Keith arranged for a car service to transport Gina, Nigel, and himself to the courthouse.

After hugs, kisses, and tears at Gerry's house, Keith and Gina were on their way to meet with a mediator to resolve the issue. If the mediation proceedings were unsuccessful, they would be facing a lengthy trial. Keith hoped and prayed that it would not go that far. He hoped that Michael's foolish lawsuit was dropped and that his name replaced his brother's on the children's official birth papers since he was their biological father.

Against his wishes, Gina wanted to speak during the mediation proceedings. She felt that as their mother, she needed to at least defend herself and her children. Keith tried to talk her out of it, but Gina would not budge. She was going to plead with the judge on her children's behalf. The only saving grace was that the mediation proceedings were closed, so the media fanfare would be absent, at least inside the courtroom. Naturally, a huge number of news stations and reporters were hanging around outside the courtroom.

When Gina, Keith, and Nigel stepped out of the car at the courthouse, Gina slouched farther into her oversize cashmere coat, and Keith gave her a thumbs-up for encouragement. Nigel, Keith, and Gina had to tackle their way through the reporters to get inside the courthouse. Keith shielded her against his large frame. Her petite body was undetectable, as both Keith and Nigel hid her from the onslaught of curious onlookers and the media frenzy.

Michael was already seated in the courtroom with his attorney when they arrived. Seeing the woman with him gave Keith momentary pause. Verona “Tiger” Stachs was, to put it mildly, a piranha. She too had come to Atlanta from a competitive law firm in New York. Verona was tall, willowy, and was dressed in a no-nonsense black suit and a sensible white shirt. Her hair was dyed cinnamon brown, which accentuated her honey-colored eyes. Those eyes had earned her the moniker “Tiger.”

As far as attorneys went, Michael had chosen well. Verona was all about winning, and she didn't care who she devoured or hurt in the process. She had graduated at the top of her class from Stanford. When he was still at Bohlander & Associates, Keith had even deliberated inviting her to join the practice, but at the last moment, he had a change of heart. Instead, he pursued Nigel, who was second in the same class at Stanford.

Keith whispered a silent prayer for strength.

Nigel grunted at Verona. It was common knowledge that there was a long-standing rivalry between the two. Rumor had it that they had once been in love. But something had happened, which neither of them would divulge, and the two were now mortal enemies.

The temperature in the room fell several degrees. This wasn't going to be a pleasant encounter.

Keith saw Michael's calculated smirk and resisted the urge to confront him. He knew then that Michael had selected Verona by design. His brother somehow had known about the lawyers' rivalry and was counting on that to propel Verona into getting him custody of his children.

Gina tapped him on the shoulder. “I've got to run to the restroom.”

He nodded. Her trip to the bathroom was a true indicator of her nervousness. She looked so adorable in her blue striped suit. She was wearing a baby blue shirt and a multicolored scarf that was both professional and sexy. He eyed her black shoes, which added about three inches to her stature. Keith thought of another pair of shoes. The glass shoes Gina had donned for the wedding. The ones that he didn't get a chance to appreciate, because of Michael's evil doings. That was definitely on his to-do list.

Judge Marisa Wattinger entered the room about a minute after Gina returned. Gina had hopes that a female judge would work in her favor. Keith knew better. He grimaced and could not resist looking over at his brother. Michael looked like the cat that had spotted a delicious bowl of milk.

Marisa Wattinger had never had children of her own. This Keith knew because Nigel had filled him in on the common courtroom gossip. She had had about four miscarriages and yearned for children. Instead of making her sympathetic toward mothers, her experience had served to make her react harshly when she perceived any sign of unfit motherhood. But Keith was counting on a higher power to change the outcome. Michael didn't know who he knew.

Keith concluded that Gina was going to have to speak whether he wanted her to or not. Judge Wattinger would want to hear from her. She had been known to pose questions herself as well. Keith reached over and squeezed Gina's hands to provide reassurance.
Our God shall fight for us.
He silently recited the verse from Nehemiah to remind himself that God was in control.

When Keith and Gina left the courthouse that day for lunch, they felt as if they had been run over by a freight train. Gina ran into the waiting car in tears. Keith could not comfort her.

Judge Wattinger had put her through the wringer. Verona had painted her in a vicious light with her pointed questions. Gina felt frayed, believing that both women had it in for her. The worst part was that Michael had witnessed her demise. He had seen her reach the breaking point, and he had sat there, wearing a smug look of satisfaction. Nigel had tried to speak up on several occasions, but the judge silenced him. This left Gina swimming on her own in deep, shark-infested waters.

“I'm going to lose my children. The judge hates me,” she cried.

Keith gripped her shoulders and pulled her close. “Gina, listen to me. It's almost impossible to prove a mother unfit. You're not a drug addict, and you're not abusing your children. You would have to have an extensive record of serious abuse or neglect for them to take our children.”

“I'm going to lose my children,” she repeated with a wail. “You saw how she treated me.”

She was inconsolable and could not hear him, so Keith tried to calm her. “Don't let this process get to you. Try not to take it personally.”

Gina shoved out of his arms. “How can I not take it personal, Keith? Those women are maligning my character. Judge Wattinger is anything but impartial. It is evident that she is not remaining neutral.”

Keith knew that she spoke the truth. “I know it seems as if we are in a losing battle, but the battle is the Lord's. He will fight for us.”

Gina's lips trembled. She couldn't hold her tongue. She lashed out at Keith. “At this moment, I don't feel like hearing your paltry words of appeasement. Right now they mean nothing to me. This is my reality. I'm about to lose my children. Could God relate to that?”

“God lost His only child for us,” Keith said.

“Yes, God gave His Son up, but it was by choice,” Gina argued. “I'm not trying to give mine up at all.”

“What I am trying to tell you, honey, is that God understands what you are feeling right now. He could be allowing us to go through this for a reason.”

“Don't you dare come to me with that argument. Your reasoning is weak, Keith.”

“I know that God can work everything out according to His purpose. And that faulty reasoning is better known as faith, Gina. Faith.”

“I can see that your faith in God is not shaken by this whole debacle, but I'm shaken. I'm shaken.”

The driver dropped them off at a nearby restaurant. Gina remained silent during lunch. Sensing her inward rebellion, Keith left her alone. He knew his charms were wasted on his wife at the moment.

 

 

Nigel met with Gina in a small room to prep her for her closing statement. Michael gave his first. When he was finished, even Gina felt sorry for him.

“He sounds like he should be knighted or given sainthood,” she muttered to Keith. But all her husband did was squeeze her hands.

Gina was poised and ready to give her statement. She didn't even get two words out before the judge interrupted. “Mrs. Ward, I am going to stop your attempt at a defense. What I want to know is why you should be awarded sole custody. Michael Ward, your ex-husband, is well capable of taking care of the children. So why not shared custody?”

“Because he's not their biological father, Your Honor.”

“However, his name is on the birth certificates, and he's been providing for the children, has he not?” the judge asked.

Gina nodded and bit her lip.

“Your Honor, I am the biological father, and I'm more than willing to take over their care and provide for them,” Keith interjected. He saw that Gina's misery mirrored his own.

“Hmm,” was the judge's ambiguous response.

“Your Honor, if I may continue,” Gina began again. She had to fight for her children. “I know that my actions were immoral, but Michael doesn't love my children, as he should. He treats my daughter, Epiphany, with total disregard. I—I think he hates her. He can't be allowed to have them. It would damage them.” Her lips quivered, and the tears fell. “I'm a good mother to both my children. I love them with all my heart and will be a good example to them.”

“You call your moral turpitude a good example?” Judge Wattinger bellowed.

Nigel opened his mouth to object but remained silent. He could not object to a judge.

“Judge Wattinger, if I may,” Keith interjected, infusing his voice with every ounce of deference and respect he could muster. “I know that our previous actions were questionable, but we were remorseful and have changed. We have changed our lives and have found spiritual guidance to keep us on the right path.”

His words and mannerisms seemed to appease the temperamental judge for the moment. The “torture,” as Gina called it, continued. She was so glad when five o'clock loomed. The judge promised to give both parties' arguments great consideration.

Keith and Gina left the courtroom in a somber mood. Gina could no longer stop the tears she'd been holding in. She cried during the car ride to Gerry's house. She cried when she saw the children running to greet her. She cried during the drive home. Once they got back to the house, Keith allowed her to flee while he tended to the children. Gina cried for a good hour until she fell asleep.

After he put the children to bed, Keith also cried. His pain and guilt over the past overwhelmed him. It was because of her love for him that Gina was now facing this agony. But, somehow, through his tears God provided solace. Keith remembered that his weeping would last only so long. He would feel joy soon. His joy was going to come.

 

 

Later that night, Gina woke up.

She looked around the dark room in alarm. She could have sworn she'd felt someone tap her shoulder. She should have been alarmed, but instead, Gina felt an odd sense of comfort. Then she remembered the havoc in her life, which she had created.

Feeling suffocated, Gina eased out of bed, not wanting Keith to awaken. She knew how worried he was about her and the possibility of losing their children. However, unlike her, he seemed calm and at peace almost. That was because he wasn't trying to carry the burden himself. Or so he'd said.

Keith's words about God giving up His only Son came back to her like a whisper. The words washed over her. God did know what she was feeling.

Gina walked out to her living room, but this time she fell to her knees. Again, she cried, but this time she poured her heart out to God. “Lord, I really never needed You before,” she sobbed. “I know I don't deserve it, but I beg You not to let that judge take my children from me. They're my most precious commodities. I'm not me without them.”

In her heart, she vowed that if God performed this miracle in her life, she would serve Him with all her being. She continued to pour out her deepest feelings. “I realize that everything I've gone through in my entire life has led me on this path to You. I'm here, ready to open my heart to you. I do need you, Lord. Thank You for loving me enough to provide for me even when I didn't see it. You've been there all along. Please don't leave me now.” Though Gina still cried, this time a sense of comfort followed her tears. She felt a warmth envelop her being and wash over her soul.

Spent, Gina went back into the bedroom, dove back into her bed, and curled up next to Keith. For the first time in weeks, she slept like a baby.

The next morning, Michael entered the courthouse, positive that he would be retrieving his children that very evening. He was hoping to hear that he'd been awarded shared custody. Verona was already there when he arrived.

Figures,
Michael thought. He did not want to enter the courtroom and be forced to engage in meaningless conversation with his attorney. So Michael left the courtroom and took the elevator to the lobby. He decided to grab a cup of coffee from the coffee shop across the street. He was about to pay for his order when a pair of beefy hands tapped his shoulder and someone said, “Hey!”

It took a moment for Michael to place the face, but then he recalled Lauren's cameraman, “Tiny.” The man's nickname was an oxymoron. At over six feet and almost three hundred pounds, he was anything but miniscule. Michael greeted Tiny with a warm smile.

He felt a funny surge in his heart. Tiny's presence meant that Lauren was somewhere in sight. He was a bit surprised at the emotion. He didn't expect to feel anticipation at the thought of seeing Lauren again.

Michael had kind of given up after calling her for over two weeks and getting no response. He chalked up their time together as a brief encounter and was determined to keep moving. However, Michael could not admit that he had not started moving yet.

“So where's our lady?” Michael asked with a slight grin.

“You didn't hear? She quit the station and disappeared,” Tiny bellowed with a loud guffaw.

Seeing the scrutiny of the other customers, Michael decided to steer Tiny outside to continue their conversation. His interest was piqued. Glancing at his watch, Michael realized that he had about a half hour before Judge Wattinger was due in court.

His heart did a telltale drop as Lauren's last “revelation” sank into his system. He needed to find out what was going on, because if Lauren was not lying, then . . .

 

 

Keith and Gina made it to court with five minutes to spare. Both Nigel and Verona were already present. The tension between the attorneys was even more palpable.

Keith lost his patience and grunted, “Listen, whatever is going on with both of you needs to stop this minute. Gina and I are here fighting for our family—our lives. Whatever squabble you two have can wait.”

“It's not us,” Nigel replied, mortified. Keith knew that his attorney was not aware that his and Verona's rift was so evident or well known.

“Then what is it?”

“Michael has decided to . . .” Verona trailed off as Judge Wattinger entered the courtroom.

Keith's brother was nowhere to be found.

“Where is your client, Ms. Stachs?” Judge Wattinger asked without preamble.

“Ahh . . . ah . . . ” Verona sputtered and fiddled with her blouse. She was clearly out of her element. Her demeanor made Gina nervous.

“Spit it out,” Nigel commanded, not withholding his delight at her uncharacteristic discomfort.

“Judge, Michael Ward has dropped the case. He is no longer seeking custody of Trey and Epiphany Ward,” Verona begrudgingly admitted. She shifted the papers around on the table, trying in vain to keep the blush from spreading across her cheeks.

Judge Wattinger couldn't disguise her surprise but pasted on a plastic smile. She addressed Gina. “Well, Mrs. Ward, I guess this hearing is over. I hereby grant you full custody of both Trey and Epiphany Ward, and I further move to remove Michael Ward's name from the birth certificates. Keith Ward's name will now be placed on their birth certificates as their biological father.” At the end of that comment, the judge banged her gavel and departed the courtroom in a huff.

Keith pulled Gina into a tight embrace. “God is the ultimate, victorious judge. No one can fight a battle like Him.”

While her husband praised God with fervency, Gina looked up and whispered, “Thank you, God. You answered my prayer, and you came through. I will keep my promise. I give you my heart and all of me. My life is in your hands.”

Keith and Gina jumped with triumph. It was over.

Keith heard Nigel needle Verona so that she would spill the beans about Michael's sudden retraction, but she wouldn't budge.

Keith and Gina questioned what happened for a brief moment, but they were too exhilarated to debate the topic for long. They both knew to whom the credit really went. They knew that God had fought the battle for them and won. They headed home.

As soon as they entered their home, Keith swept Gina into his arms. He was free. Free to love Gina. Free to father his children. Free.

Keith would not delay another moment. He called his mother, whooping for joy, and made sure she was up to keeping the children for a couple of nights. Of course, she was thrilled and more than happy to give him time with Gina. Gina was too overcome with emotion to speak. She was still busy crying from relief.

Next, he called Colleen and Terence and told them the good news. He also warned them not to call for at least two nights. He had pressing business with his wife that he needed to settle—yesterday.

Then he made Gina don her wedding gown and those remarkable glass shoes. He grinned in delight when he saw what she was wearing underneath. They stepped outside the front door Keith lifted her over the threshold, signifying that they were about to embark on a fresh start to the rest of their lives. Then they made a beeline for the bedroom.

Keith was going to make love to his wife. No holds barred.

And he did.

All night long.

All through the morning.

Through lunch.

Through dinner.

And . . . God give him strength . . .

Till daybreak.