Chapter Thirteen: Redeemed

"Oh my gosh, Chrissy, what happened?" Michelle asked worriedly as she saw Chrissy's red cheek when Chrissy had come back into the courtroom. Chrissy's eyes filled up with tears, but before she had a chance to tell Michelle anything, Celia Hampton entered the room once again, as everybody rose.

"Recess is now over. I'd like to ask Christina Anderson to approach the stand." She said as she tapped her gavel down. Chrissy felt her stomach churning and she could feel sweat brewing on her forehead as she stood up slowly. Michelle gave her a gentle nudge with a wink. Chrissy took a deep breath as she walked toward the stand. She peered over at Jessica who stared at her with dagger eyes, as though meeting an angel hadn't affected her at all. Chrissy swallowed hard as she sat down nervously. After she was sworn in, Ms. Rashid stood up.

"Hello Chrissy." She said with a smile. Chrissy managed to smile back, but her head was spinning. She felt so torn between the truth and Jessica's threatening words.

"Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?" Ms. Rashid asked. Chrissy nodded, saying a silent prayer to God for the strength to tell the truth.

"Is it true that your mother was abusive toward you before you were taken away from her?" Ms. Rashid asked.

"Yes." Chrissy replied, as she noticed her voice was shaking.

"How often would you say she beat you?"

"Uh, I'd say everyday."

"Is it true that your mother left you alone nearly every night so she could go out drinking with her friends?"

"Yeah."

"How did that make you feel Chrissy?"

"Scared." Chrissy stared at Jessica, who raised her eyebrows in disapproval. Chrissy continued. "I wasn't afraid of being alone. I was afraid of her coming home."

"Chrissy, you were taken away from your mother last year. How have things changed since then?"

"I met Michelle."

"And how would you describe your relationship with Michelle?"

"I love her."

"You met your mother again for the first time in a year just a few days ago, isn't that true?"

"Yeah."

"What was your impression of her?"

"I, uh, I don't know. I guess she seemed different."

"She seemed different. You don't sound so sure." Ms. Rashid raised her eyebrows and Chrissy began breathing heavily as her nerves grew stronger and Jessica's hard stare grew more intimidating.

"Chrissy, in your opinion, do you think your mother, Jessica Anderson, has truly changed in the way she reports she has?" Ms. Rashid asked. Chrissy stared down at Jessica who was shaking her head threateningly. For a brief moment, Chrissy was nearly driven to lie, just like her mother had told her to, but then she saw Monica standing at the back of the courtroom with a reassuring smile. The truth shall set you free. Chrissy took a deep breath and stared bravely at Jessica as she answered Ms. Rashid's question.

"No. She hasn't changed. At first I thought she did, but I knew something wasn't right. Just now, during the recess, I was in the washroom and my mom was there too. She threatened me. She told me I had to tell everybody that I thought she had changed and that I wanted a second chance with her. I told her I wasn't going to lie, and she slapped me!" She answered as she gripped her chair tightly. Celia Hampton turned in her seat to face Chrissy as silent gasps filled the courtroom.

"Are you sure Christina?" Celia asked as she observed the bright red mark on Chrissy's cheek. "Is that what that mark is?"

"Yes. I'm sure." Chrissy felt tears welling up in her eyes as she looked down. She looked up in just enough time to see Jessica stand up quickly with that familiar expression of pure anger on her face.

"You little bitch!" She yelled. Andrew pulled down on her arm to pull her back down to her seat as Celia tapped her gavel down loudly.

"Order, Ms. Anderson, contain yourself!" Celia sighed and looked down at the file in front of her.

"Now from what I have just heard and come to understand through this hearing, I have come to a final decision regarding the custody of Christina Leanne Anderson." Silence followed as Chrissy felt her heart hammering in her chest. Celia seemed to be taking a long time reviewing her file before stating her decision. Chrissy stared at Michelle who was leaning forward anxiously. Chrissy jumped in her seat when Celia began talking again.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the child for me to deny custody to Jessica Anderson. Furthermore, I am placing a restraining order on Ms. Anderson so she cannot be anywhere near her child, because at this time, she is not fit enough to do so. Christina will continue to reside with Michelle Long." Celia tapped her gavel down. Chrissy could feel an overwhelming sense of peace over her as she smiled widely. She looked up at Celia with a smile.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." She cried as she jumped down from the stand, wanting nothing more than to be in Michelle's arms. As she began to run down the aisle toward Michelle, she stopped and saw Jessica staring at her with cold eyes.

"This isn't over. I'm going to keep fighting this. I'm not going to allow that woman to adopt you! You're my kid." She said through clenched teeth as Andrew had to keep his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from lunging at her daughter. Chrissy shook her head.

"No I'm not. I never was. You'll never change." She said firmly, confidant that this was all over. Jessica shook her head.

"If you think Michelle is going to be that perfect mom you've always dreamed of, you're wrong. I'm the best there is!" She yelled out.

"Michelle's not perfect, nobody is, but she gives me what you could never give me mom." Chrissy replied.

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"Love." Chrissy turned her back on her mother for the last time, knowing she would never cross her path again. She ran toward her future, toward Michelle, who was standing at the back of the courtroom, waiting for her with open arms. Chrissy felt tears running down her face as she ran to Michelle and jumped into her arms. Michelle lifted her up and squeezed her tightly as she cried. Neither of them said a word; they didn't have to. They knew it was over, they knew they would be together, and they knew that from now on, everything would be okay, because they had each other.

Chrissy and Michelle stood just outside the courthouse, sitting on a bench as they talked to Sandra and Wendy.

"I'm so happy for you two." Wendy said with a smile. Chrissy smiled back.

"Thanks." She replied.

"So Michelle, should I keep going with the adoption process or do you want to wait?" Sandra asked. Michelle shook her head.

"Absolutely not. Keep going with it and promise me you'll do your best to get it complete as soon as possible. I want to adopt Chrissy right away." She smiled at Chrissy and kissed her on the head. Sandra smiled and nodded. As Sandra and Wendy walked away, Chrissy saw Monica approaching them. Chrissy stood up with a smile.

"Hello little one." Monica greeted. "How are you doing?"

"Great. Thanks for everything Monica." Chrissy replied.

"I just came to say goodbye Chrissy. It is time for me to go." Monica said. Michelle stood up.

"Oh, are you leaving town?" She asked. Monica shrugged.

"In a manner of speaking." She replied honestly. Michelle cocked her head, feeling confused. She shook her head with an embarrassed smile.

"I don't know what it is about you Monica. But there's something, something about you. I can't explain it." She said. Chrissy smiled knowingly and turned to look at Monica, who nodded her approval. Chrissy turned to Michelle.

"Monica's an angel, Michelle. That's why she's here. God sent her to be with me during this whole thing. That's why she was there at my mom's house last year too." She explained. Michelle wore an expression of confusion as she stared at Monica with a puckered brow.

"An angel?" She asked. Monica nodded with a calming smile as she began to glow. Michelle's eyes widened as a smile crossed her face.

"Yes Michelle, I am an angel sent by God. I was sent to help Chrissy last year and I was sent again to help her now. Michelle, I have a message for you from God. He wants you to know He is very proud of you for the wonderful job you are doing taking care of this little girl as though she were your own. God knew from the beginning that you had so much love to offer and He knew that Chrissy needed that love and so He made sure the two of you would meet. Michelle, He's so proud of you, and He loves you so much. He wants you to know that nothing will separate you two now and He also wants you to know that the adoption will be successful and that you will be signing those papers sooner than you think." Monica said with a reassuring smile. Michelle smiled as she stared at Monica. She didn't know what to say, she was too shocked for words. She knew angels existed, but she never thought she would meet one. Monica turned to Chrissy with a wink.

"I have to go now." She said quietly. Chrissy nodded slowly and looked down.

"Will you ever come back? I mean, will I ever see you again?" She asked sadly. Monica stroked Chrissy's hair.

"I don't know little one, but I have been blessed to know you. I know you'll be alright now." She gestured toward Michelle. "You have someone who will love you no matter what." Chrissy smiled and gave Monica a hug.

"Thank you Monica." She whispered. She wiped her tears as she watched Monica walk away and she felt Michelle's arms wrap around her and Chrissy smiled, knowing she would be safe and loved from now on.

The truth had set her free, and she couldn't have been happier.