Chapter 10

Heartstrings

"Yesterday"- The Beatles

Kyle (POV)

I played with the light grey collar of my button up shirt that peeked out from under my black v-neck sweater.

I glanced over and noticed that Amanda was quietly standing in the doorway of my room. "Hey." I muttered acknowledging her with a fait smile.

"Hey," she replied with a similar tone. "You look great." She complimented me giving me a light kiss on the lips.

"You do too!" I said noticing her dark blue blouse and black dress pants.

I picked up Brice and slung his bag over my shoulder. I took Amanda's hand and was going to lead her out of my room when she stopped me.

"Kyle, wait!" She said and I turned to face her making eye contact this time. "I know you're nervous about today, I am too…" She admitted "But just know that whatever happens today I still love you."

I took her cheek in my free hand and kissed her gently on her forehead. "Thank you." I whispered "I love you too!"

I took her hand again and led her to the hallway were the Tragers were gathered all dressed up waiting for us.

Nicole and Lori looked to be on the verge of tears once they saw Brice. Stephen had a saddened pained look on his face, and Josh seemed to be concealing all his anger that I could feel radiating off of him.

"Are we ready?" Stephen finally asked breaking the depressing silence.

I nodded and we left the house heading to the court house. The thing that worried me was if we would be coming home with Brice.

My family sat behind me on the wooden benches as I took my seat next to Mr. Grant.

"Hello Kyle," Levi greeted me

"Hello Levi," I sighed

After a few moments the one person I never wanted to see, entered the courtroom, with his lawyer following closely in tow. Alexander Bennet, he wore a black suit and had his blond hair parted. Just from looking at him I didn't get a good feeling from this guy. The minute he sat down he began whispering with his lawyer.

I glanced back at my family and the people who were going to testify on my behalf. Stephen sat with Brice on his lap, holding Nicole's hand. Declan sat next to Lori consoling her by keeping his arm around her. Amanda was between Lori and Josh; she gave me a reassuring smile which I tried to return. I noticed Brice's pediatrician, Dr. Carmichael, sitting a few rows behind my family, I also noticed Mrs. Austin an elderly woman who watched Brice at the daycare was also there.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Osler!" the bailiff announced as an older man in a black rob entered the courtroom.

"Be seated!" Judge Osler commanded taking his seat at the judge's bench.

"I call to order the trail of Alexander Bennet vs. Kyle Trager!" Judge Osler broadcasted to the courtroom.

"Mr. Marks, will you bring your first witness to the stand please?"

"Yes your honor," Mr. Marks, Alex's lawyer replied, bring Alex to the stand

"Mr. Bennet, would you please explain your relation to the child Brice Kyle Trager?" Mr. Marks questioned.

Alex cleared his throat before he spoke "Yes, he's my son."

"And how did you become aware of the fact that he was your son?" Mr. Marks inquired.

"Ah his mother left me a message on my cell phone." Alex answered leaning forward.

Mr. Marks continued asking questions until it was Levi's turn to question Alex. I watched as Alex fidgeted in his seat and not make eye contact with anyone but his lawyer.

"Mr. Bennet would you please explain your relationship to Gretchen Denver?" Levi probed.

"Well ah," Alex stuttered. "Gretchen Denver was my former fiancé and my son's mother."

"Why would Ms. Denver feel the need to keep you away from your son?" Levi asked as he paced back and forth.

Alex's eyes darted back and forth from his lawyer to Levi nervously "Gretchen, was…" Alex played with his hands "Gretchen was a very troubled person."

"How so?" Levi questioned

"Objection!" Mr. Marks called

Judge Osler nodded agreeing with Mr. Marks so Levi withdrew his question and ended questioning Alex.

After Mr. Marks questioned Alex's landlord who had seen Gretchen and him together and told the courtroom about how a wonderful couple they were it was Levi's turn to bring up witnesses.

"Mr. Trager would you explain to the court how you knew Gretchen Denver." Levi asked

"I delivered her baby." I paused "And now I'm the adoptive father of her child Brice Kyle Trager."

"How long has Brice been under your care?"

"10 months." I stated

Levi continued with his questions then he turned me over to Mr. Marks.

"Mr. Trager why would you want the responsibility of raising a child, when you are so young yourself?" Mr. Marks asked.

I thought about my answer for a moment "I may be young but I know what's right."

"What do you mean?"

"Brice was left in my care so he is my responsibility and I take care of my responsibilities." I gave a quick and unnoticeable glare at Alex.

"How can you deny a child the right to their father?" Mr. Marks questioned.

"I'm not, I am Brice's father." I said peeking over at Brice.

"Not according to the DNA test." Mr. Marks stated.

"I may not be blood related to him but I'm the one who taught him how to walk, I'm the one who holds him when he cries, I'm the one who has always been there." I hear anger rising in my voice "And I'm the one he calls 'Dada'."

Mr. Marks was shocked "No more further questions." He stammered.

Then Levi brought up Stephen and quickly questioned him.

Stephen (POV)

I handed Brice over to Nicole and walked up to the witness stand and took my seat.

"Mr. Trager how is Kyle's relationship with Brice?" Mr. Grant asked.

I chuckled "Brice adores Kyle, whenever Kyle walks into a room Brice's face lights up instantly, if you're holding him from arms length away from Kyle, Brice will reach out to him." I smiled at the thought.

Mr. Grant continued with his questions and when he finished Mr. Marks had no questions for me so I left the stand.

Nicole (POV)

Mr. Grant brought me to the stand next.

"Mrs. Trager how do you think Kyle handles the emotional strain of being a father?"

"I've always been one to worry about Kyle, and how taking care of Brice, affects him." I smirked at Kyle "But taking care of Brice, doesn't seem to be affecting Kyle, in any negative way. He still manages to go to school, work, and make time for his friends and family."

After a few more questions it was Mr. Marks turn to question me.

"Mrs. Trager, you're a psychologist right?" I didn't know where he was going with this.

"Yes"

"And Kyle was one of your patients right?"

"Objection!" Mr. Grant called standing up in a sort of rage.

"Mr. Marks relevance." Judge Osler reminded him, ruling in the favor of Mr. Grant.

"No more further questions."

Lori (POV)

Mr. Grant quickly asked me a few questions then Mr. Marks said he had no questions for me. So I took my seat next to Declan and he put his arm back around me.

"You did good." He whispered in my ear.

Josh (POV)

I slowly made my way up to the witness stand and answered the few questions Mr. Grant asked me. Basically they were questions about Kyle's parenting skills. He finished with his questions and like Mr. Marks had done with Lori, and Dad he didn't ask me anything.

Kyle (POV)

I sat and watched as each of my family members were questioned, then Levi brought up some people that weren't related to me so they didn't have a biased opinion. First he brought up Dr. Carmichael.

"Dr. Carmichael, Brice, is one of you patients right?" Levi asked

"Yes." Dr. Carmichael stated.

"And as a physician how do you think Kyle, is as a parent?"

"I have seen many young parents come into my office, but none of them treat their children with the caring, compassion, and concern that Kyle does." Dr. Carmichael folded his hands in his lap.

Mr. Marks asked him a few questions, and then Levi brought Mrs. Austin up to the stand.

"Mrs. Austin, do you think it is in the best interest of the child to have been left with Mr. Trager?" Levi questioned.

"I believe that Kyle is the best person that Brice, could have been left with." She paused "He cares so much for little Brice it's quiet endearing." Mrs. Austin gushed.

Mr. Marks didn't have any questions for Mrs. Austin so she went back to sit by my family and Dr. Carmichael.

Then the moment of truth occurred and we awaited Judge Osler's verdict.

He came back from his chambers and announced his verdict.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the child that he spends one week with Alexander Bennet, with supervision and we will resume on the 11th of August to determine the custody of the child." I could hear the words flowing out of Judge Osler's mouth but I didn't believe them.

"Mr. Trager you and your family may have a moment to say goodbye to Brice but then you have to turn him over to Mr. Bennet." Judge Osler ordered me.

"Yes, your honor." I choked out.

"Don't worry Kyle, we won't let him keep Brice, you're his father." I could hear Levi assure me but I kept my eyes on Brice and made my way to my family.

I was fighting with myself to hold it together I had to be strong. I felt Amanda wrap her tiny arms around me and I buried my face in her golden hair.

"It's going to be okay." She whispered releasing me.

I clenched my jaw and nodded not looking her in the eye. My family consoled me and said their goodbyes to Brice. Then I had to do one of the worst things I have ever had to do.

Brice was sitting on the bench; his feet didn't even hang over the edge. I knelt down in front of him.

"Dada!" he giggled. He had no idea what was about to happen to him.

"Hey there buddy." I said forcing a smile "You're going to be going away for awhile okay." I choked out trying to explain to him.

He just looked at me and his smile disappeared as if he knew something was wrong.

"Brice, I'm going to fight to get you back so I'm not going to say goodbye, in one week you'll be back in my arms where you belong." I fought with myself to not break down.

"Dada." He whispered. I scooped and he relaxed a little in my embrace. I held him trying to memorize his sent and the way he felt in my arms.

"Everything's going to be okay, alright buddy?" I whispered into his hair and I could feel a few of his tears dampening my sweater.

Levi followed next to me as I walked over to Alex and his lawyer. I adjusted Brice so he could have one last look at his family. Declan had Lori in his arms, Josh was balling up his fists, Stephen was holding Nicole, and Amanda had a few tears in her eyes. But each of them tried to give Brice one last smile.

I looked down at Brice in my arms and he looked up at me. "Daddy will always love you." I told him. "Always,"

I squeezed him tight then handed him off to Alex. The minute Brice was in Alex's arms I could tell Brice didn't like it he started squirming and reaching out to me.

"Dada! Dada!" He cried and I wanted nothing more then to hold him.

"You'll be okay Brice! Daddy loves you." I called to him as Alex and his lawyer walked out of the courtroom.

We had picked up Chinese food for dinner but I didn't feel like eating so I walked Amanda home and went strait to my room.

I began to feel like I was suffocating, so I ripped off my sweater and tore open the top buttons of my shirt and the cuffs of my sleeves.

My eyes locked on a picture of Brice and I that I had on my desk. It was the one of Brice and me sleeping on the couch. I picked up the picture frame and my knees buckled beneath me. I wrapped one arm around my rib cage as if to hold myself together. My vision became blurred with tears and my body shook with silent sobs.

He was gone. My son was gone.

AN: Okay so I hope you like this chapter it is my longest chapter so far! (2,188 words) Like I said a LOT of drama! Anyway please comment!