Every adult in the courtroom fell silent. They turned and looked at the table where Skylar was. She was standing there trembling, her eyes big as saucers as she watched her father being led away.
"No!" she yelled again. She dashed around the table and hurried to Dave, throwing her arms around him. "Daddy, don't go," she cried. "Don't leave me."
Dave scooped her up and held her close. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. "Shhh, baby," he whispered. "It's okay."
"Don't go, Daddy," the little girl sobbed. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you, too, sweetheart," he said.
"I thought you said she couldn't speak," the judge said.
"Didn't speak, Your Honor," Mrs. Roberts said. "Her therapist did say it might take a strong need to get her talking again." She paused for a moment. "Your Honor in light of these events, might I suggest an alternative to the overnight stay?"
The judge wiped his face. "Alright," he said. "We'll forgo the night in jail and go for a fifteen hundred dollar fine payable before you leave the court for lunch. Now," he said, standing up, "if it's possible, I would like to see Miss Rossi in my chambers with Mrs. Roberts."
"Don't wanna go," Skylar said, her face buried in the crook of her daddy's neck.
"It won't be for long, child," the judge said. "Your father will be waiting right here when we finish."
She looked at the judge. "Promise?"
"I promise."
Skylar looked at her father. "I'm not going anywhere," Dave said. "Cross my heart."
She nodded and he sat her on her feet. Mrs. Roberts took her hand and they followed the judge into his chambers. He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk and all three sat down.
"Skylar, do you know why I want to talk to you?" the judge asked.
"No, sir," she said quietly.
"I want to hear how you feel about all of this," he said. "Now, you're old enough to know what a lie is. You also probably know you shouldn't lie, especially in court."
"Daddy says telling lies will get you in trouble," Skylar said.
"And he's right," he said. "You love your father, don't you?"
"Yes, sir," she said.
"Do you love your mother?" he asked.
"I'm supposed to," Skylar whispered.
"But..."
"I don't know," she shrugged. "I don't think she loves me very much."
"Why do you say that?"
"She left me in that place," she answered. "If she loved me, why did she leave me there?"
The judge had no answer for that, at least not one he was going to share with an eight-year-old girl. "Tell me about your house," he smiled. Skylar smiled back and began to tell him all about it.
Dave was pacing the courtroom. He had paid his fine and was waiting for Skylar to finish with the judge. He kept glancing at his watch as he walked.
"Dave, she's fine," Ms. Cantrell said as she watched him.
"What's taking so long?" he asked.
"They've only been in there fifteen minutes," she said.
"My daughter finally starts talking after almost six years," he said, glaring at her. "Excuse me for being a little rattled."
It was another fifteen minutes before the door opened and the trio walked out of the judge's chambers. Skylar hurried to her father and climbed in his lap. Mrs. Roberts walked to her seat while the judge walked up to his bench.
"It's almost time for lunch," he said. "We will recess until one o'clock. At that time, I will hand down my decisions." He banged his gavel then headed back to his office.
Dave and Skylar, along with Mrs. Roberts and Ms. Cantrell, went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. They spent their lunch time talking about anything but the case. Dave didn't care what the subject was. He just wanted to hear his daughter talk, something that he had been almost sure would never happen. It had, however, and he was going to enjoy it.
When they got back to the courtroom, Skylar insisted on sitting with her father. They had been apart long enough in her mind and she was having no more of it. They stopped talking when Elizabeth and her lawyer walked in but neither group said anything to the other.
Finally it was time to begin. The bailiff called the room to order as the judge came out and sat down, For a couple of minutes, there was silence in the room as the judge looked at both parties before he spoke.
"Until this case, I thought I had seen everything," he said, "but I was wrong. This is is the first time I have ever seen a mother put her own daughter in an institution simply because she wasn't talking. Neither of this little girl's parents are saints, most parents aren't, but, Agent Rossi, I have no doubt that you love your daughter very much, You've done everything this court could and did ask of you and beyond. Skylar has grown and thrived in your care."
He turned to Elizabeth. "Ms. Peterson, I am eternally grateful that you have no other children, and if it was in my power, I would make sure you never did. You may have never physically abused Skylar, and I say may because I can't prove one way or the other, but the emotional abuse was far greater. Having a child and keeping her from her father simply for revenge, while not illegal, is immoral.
"It is the judgment of this court that permanent custody be awarded to the father. May the two of you be very happy together. Court adjourned." He banged the gavel and walked out of the room.
Skylar squealed and jumped into her father's lap and he hugged her tightly. "Thank you," Dave said, looking at the two women, "both of you."
"You did all the hard work," Mrs. Roberts smiled. "Congratulations to both of you."
"From me as well," Ms. Cantrell added. "I'll have the custody papers messengered to you as soon as I get them."
"Would you two care to join us for a celebration this evening?" Dave asked.
"I think you two need to do some celebrating on your own," Mrs. Roberts said, "Have a good evening." She gave them another smile and walked out of the room.
"I'll pass as well," Ms. Cantrell said." "We still have some things to discuss but they can wait for a few days. I'll give you a call at the first of the week." The adults shook hands and she left.
Dave looked at Skylar. "So where do you want to have dinner?" he asked.
The little girl thought for a moment. "Ben and Dave's," she smiled.
"You just like their games," he said as they walked out of the courtroom holding hands.
"You like skeeball," she said.
"Ben and Dave's it is."
After three hours of eating the buffet at Ben and Dave's and playing skeeball, father and daughter made their way home. Dave had called Mrs. Nichols and told her the outcome of the hearing and she was delighted. When Skylar walked in the door, the housekeeper wrapped in a big hug. Dave and Skylar decided to watch a movie but it had been a long day and but the time it was over, the little girl was beginning to nod off.
Dave carried her to her room and helped her get ready for bed. She climbed under the covers, grabbing the bear her father had first given her. He pulled the covers up then kissed her goodnight.
"Love you, princess," he whispered.
"Love you, too, Daddy," she whispered sleepily back.
He smiled as he watched her for a few minutes. Life was good. he thought, very good.
A/N - Almost over, folks. One more chapter and I should have this tale wrapped up. Of course, that's not the end of the story.