A few days later...
It was the hearing day that would decide Ben's custody. He was in the bathtub playing with his rubber duckling.
Catherine was kneeling next the tub and bathing him.
Ben looked at her and babbled her baby language.
"Really, my love?" Catherine said. Ben continued and Catherine was responding to him as if she understood what he meant.
Ben took the duckling and showed it to Catherine.
"That is your duckling, honey. You like it, don't you?" Catherine told him.
Ben made a mess, hit the water and smiled at Catherine.
Catherine ran a hand through Ben's wet hair and didn't hold back the tears.
"Mommy can't be without you, Ben. I don't want they to take you away from me."
Steve went into the bathroom and saw her crying.
"Cath?" Steve called her.
Catherine pulled Ben out of the tub and hugged him tightly. "Steve, I don't want to lose him, I don't want to be without Ben."
Steve crouched beside her and stroked her hair. "I promise you we won't be without Ben."
"You don't need to go to the custody hearing, you can stay home with Ben," Steve told her.
"No, I will go with you. I will not leave you alone in such a difficult time," Catherine replied.
"Okay Cath. So give me Ben, calm down and go take a shower and get dressed."
Catherine wrapped Ben in the towel and handed him to Steve. "Be careful not to get your suit wet. Ben's clothes and diaper are on our bed," Catherine told Steve.
Some time later, Catherine was sitting in a chair in the hallway with Ben
while Steve was in the courtroom.
She was surprised when she saw Judith coming. "Judith, what are you doing here?"
"I came to support you, my friend," Judith replied.
"Thanks, Judith. It means a lot to me."
Ben held out his arms to Judith, he wanted her to pick him up.
"Come with Aunt Judith," she said and picked him up.
Ben's aunt passed us and didn't even look at him. She doesn't want Ben because she loves him, she just wants to take revenge on Steve," Catherine told Judith.
"She won't make it, Catherine," Judith said.
Danny also arrived to support Catherine and Steve.
"Hey, Catherine. Has the hearing started yet?" Danny asked.
"Yes, Danny. Steve is already in there."
Catherine introduced her friend Judith to Danny and vice versa.
"Nice to meet you," Danny told Judith.
"Nice to meet you too," Judith replied.
In the courtroom, Steve and his lawyer were sitting face to face with Julie and Patrick and their lawyer.
"If Julie is here with her husband, why can't my wife be here with me?" Steve asked his lawyer.
"That's a good question," Steve's lawyer answered.
"Your honor, since Mrs. Julie is here with her husband, I would like to request permission for my client's wife to be present in the room as well."
"Permission granted," the judge replied.
Catherine was called and sat next to Steve. Danny and Judith stayed with Ben.
Julie's lawyer spoke first. He argued that Steve's work put Ben's life in risk and said Steve didn't have time to take care of Ben. He also opposed Catherine as Ben's caregiver for being the separation pivot of Steve and Brenda. "My client's sister died of sadness at seeing her husband with another woman," the lawyer said.
Steve wanted to object, but his lawyer stopped him.
"Let them say whatever they want," Steve's lawyer told him.
Steve looked at Catherine in distress. "It's lies, Cath."
"I know, Steve. But keep calm," Catherine said and intertwined her fingers with his.
"That's why we asked for custody of the underage Ben to his aunt Julie and her husband Patrick. They are willing to allow their father's visits on agreed days and times," the Julie's lawyer told Judge.
Steve let some tears fall. "How dare they say I'm only going to see my son on a agreed days and times?" Steve thought.
It was Steve's lawyer's turn to speak. He looked at Steve as if to say "trust me".
"Your Honor, my client, Steven John McGarrett, is well known on this island for doing very well the job he set out to do. My client works hard to keep this island safe for the residents and tourists. And he deserves to be punished? Is it fair that he loses custody of his son for doing his job well? For taking care of our people?"
"My client was abandoned by his wife a few days before the child was born. She went to her mother's house and refused to talk to him. On the day of the birth of boy Ben, in the delivery room, his wife said she would leave from the island and leave the boy with him, and she said that before the baby was born."
"That's a lie! Brenda wouldn't do that," Julie shouted at Steve's lawyer and was warned by the Judge.
"It's not a lie, I have a witness. The nurse caring for her at that moment heard her say that to my client and she's here today."
The judge asked to hear the nurse and she told the judge what she heard Brenda tell Steve the day Ben was born.
"My client didn't cheat on his wife. He and his current wife really already knew each other, but didn't keep an affair while he was married to Mrs. Brenda. After she died, my client had every right to redo his life and to remarry."
The lawyer paused for a moment and then continued talking.
"I ask that Ben's father has guaranteed his right and continue with the custody of the child. He is willing to allow visits to the boy on days when he is at home, so he can closely monitor that visit."
Steve's lawyer finished and the judge asked to hear the Social Worker who visited Steve's house to find out what the boy's life was like with his father.
"Oh my God! This Social Worker didn't like me," Catherine thought.
Catherine unintentionally shook Steve's hand and he realized she was nervous.
The judge asked the social worker to make a summary of the report she gave him.
"Well, based on my work during my visits to the home of underage Ben John McGarrett, I can say that the child lives well with his father and stepmother, he behaves naturally in their presence and is a very happy and smiling child. There were no signs of mistreatment, on the contrary, even the decorations of the child's room, which was made by the stepmother, denotes love and affection."
Catherine was thrilled, she looked at Steve and he smiled at her.
"Your love for Ben shines so brightly that it can't be overshadowed, it's visible to everyone," Steve told her.