They forgave me. They still love you, Marcus said. I could tell they're not angry. They're just lonely. I know.
The judge's eyes glistened. And I'm going to fix that starting now. He extended his hand. Good luck, Mr. Reed. Take care of that little girl.
Marcus shook it firmly. I will. Thank you, your honor, for everything. He walked out of the courtroom for the last time, leaving behind the fear and doubt and desperation that had brought him there. The hallway was empty now, but Mr. Warren was waiting by the elevators.
"Everything okay?" the lawyer asked. "Everything's perfect." They rode down in silence. Marcus watched the floor numbers decrease, each one bringing him closer to Lily, closer to the life he'd fought so hard to keep. When the doors opened on the ground floor, Mr. Warren turned to him.
You know, in 23 years of practicing law, I've never seen anything like what happened in there today. What do you mean? I mean that judge. Mr. Warren shook his head. He didn't just rule in your favor.
He believed in you personally. That's rare, Marcus. Rarer than you know. Marcus thought about the storm, about Sophie and Maya shivering by the side of the road. About the choice he'd made without knowing where it would lead.
I got lucky, he said. You made your own luck. Mr. Warren clapped him on the shoulder. Now go see your daughter. She's been waiting long enough.
Marcus walked out of the courthouse into brilliant sunshine. The storm was over. Marcus drove faster than he should have. His hands were still shaking on the wheel. His heart still pounding from everything that had happened in that courtroom.
Full custody. The words kept repeating in his head like a song he couldn't stop singing. Full custody. Lily was staying with him forever. He ran two yellow lights and barely stopped at a third.
The apartment was only 20 minutes from the courthouse, but it felt like hours. Every red light was an eternity. Every slow driver in front of him was a personal insult. Finally, finally, he pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex. He didn't bother finding a proper spot, just stopped the car crooked across two spaces and jumped out, leaving the door hanging open behind him.
He took the stairs two at a time, his lungs burning his legs screaming. Second floor, third door on the left. He fumbled with his keys, dropped them, picked them up, finally got the right one in the lock. The door flew open. Mrs. Patterson looked up from the couch, startled.
Marcus, what on earth? Where's Lily? She's in her room. Marcus, what happened? Is everything?