Chapter 75- The Surprise Witness

"Mrs. Buchanan, would you like to call your first witness?" Judge Carson asked.

Nora was staring at her phone, but quickly tucked it away. "Yes, your honour. I'd like to call Maxie Jones to the stand."

Maxie took the stand and looked out at her mom and Esme.

"Ms. Jones, please state for the courts your relationship to Miss Prince."

"I am her sister," Maxie said.

"And have you seen Miss Prince with her son at all?" Nora asked.

"Yes, I have."

"Please describe what you've observed."

"Well, despite her struggles, she's very devoted to Ace," Maxie said. "She seems to want the best for him and always wants to be with him. When she can't be with him, she always wants him with who she trusts most with him and that is our mother. And she wants Ace to have good relationships too. I've seen her encourage Ace to play with my young children James and Bailey Lou, whom she's also good with too. And despite what's going on with Ace's father's family, Esme still invited Laura to Ace's birthday party because she knows she's been good to him, so that took a lot of guts."

"And in your opinion, do you believe Miss Prince is capable of caring for and providing for her son on her own?" Nora asked.

"I've seen that she's capable of caring for him. I know with time and support from our family, Esme will be able to provide for him as well. Until then, she has help from all of us."

"Thank you, no further questions."

"Ms. Miller, would you like to question the witness?" Judge Carson asked.

"Not at this time, your honour," Diane said.

Maxie winked at Esme before returning to her seat. Felicia smiled and patted Maxie's leg.

GHGHGH

"Mom? Mom?" Sam pushed through the smoke and coughed. "Mom? Where are you?" She shoved the kitchen door open and more smoke swept against her face. "Mom?" She charged up the stairs and found no sign of her, so she headed for the rec room. "Mom? Say something…." She halted when she saw flames surrounding her unconscious mother on the floor. "Mom!"

GHGHGH

"Mr. Webber," Nora said when Cameron took the stand. "Please state your relationship with both sides."

"I am Spencer's cousin, Josslyn's ex-boyfriend, and Esme's… friend."

"It is to my understanding, that you were there the day at the Metro Court pool when Miss Prince dropped her son. Please describe in your own words what happened."

"Yeah, well I arrived at the pool with my brother Jake and right away I heard Esme crying out for someone to let go of her. We got closer and it looked like Spencer was grabbing her. So, we pulled him off her. Esme was shaking and dropped Ace."

"Was Ace all right?" Nora asked.

"Yes, just upset. He landed on a backpack. I picked him up because Esme was hyperventilating. Emma came over and helped her calm down."

"Mr. Webber, do you believe that Miss Prince is a danger to her son?" Nora asked.

"No. None of that was intentional."

"Thank you. No further questions."

GHGHGH

"Mom!" Sam coughed again and heard sirens in the distance as the flames drew closer to Alexis. Sam grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and threw it over some of the flames. A candle lay on the carpet next to the fire. Sam swayed back and forth, growing dizzy, but she pushed her way through. "Mom…." She dropped beside her and tapped her cheeks. "Mom, wake up. I can't carry you…. Wake up…." Sam raised Alexis' arm and threw it over her shoulder. She lifted Alexis a little off the floor, but she smacked down on the carpet again. "Mom, you have to wake up!" She shook her, then heard the men upstairs. "Help us! I'm going to get help." Sam scrambled up the stairs. She dropped down once she reached the landing and everything went black.

GHGHGH

Esme shakily took the stand and looked out at everyone. Felicia gave her a reassuring smile. Nelle blew her a kiss which faded Felicia's smile.

"Miss Prince, please describe your son to the courts," Nora said.

Esme swallowed hard. "Ace is the sweetest baby ever. He loves to swim and he loves his blocks. He's recently started talking and can walk while holding onto something. He can also use a spoon now. Sometimes he'll just hold it in one hand and grab his food with his other hand, but sometimes he'll actually scoop his food with the spoon. And he has the cutest little laugh. Mac and James seem to be able to get him laughing the most."

Nora smiled. "Miss Prince, please describe your living arrangements."

"We live with my mom. Mac and Georgie are there too."

"So, there's always childcare available if you need it?"

Esme nodded.

"From my understanding, you've been taking steps to build a better life for yourself and Ace. What exactly are these steps?"

"Well, moving in with my mom was one of them," Esme said. "I'm also in therapy and doing my community service hours. I'm hoping to work at the Quartermaine stables soon. And I'm planning to go back to school."

"And please explain how Mr. Cassadine has been treating you since Ace was born," Nora said.

"He's been trying to control us. Right away he was planning to take Ace from me. Then he insisted on taking us to every appointment, even when Laura and K-Kevin offered to. But then he'd leave us stranded at the hospital for hours while he went to visit Trina. Even when Ace was a newborn, he would do this. When I complained, he told me I'm too impatient. When I didn't tell him about an appointment or keep him updated on anything related to Ace, he'd lash out at me. And he made fun of me when I said I wanted to get a job so I didn't have to rely on him and Laura. And when we moved out, Spence still wouldn't leave us alone. We agreed that Ace would visit him and Laura and Kevin on Friday evenings, but Spencer would always show up and want to spend time with Ace when I already had his day planned. And he didn't honour the restraining order."

"No more questions, your honour."

"Ms. Miller, would you like to question the witness?" Judge Carson asked.

"Yes, your honour." Diane walked up. "Miss Prince, why were you evicted from your apartment?"

"Because I forgot to pay rent, because—"

"And why don't you work at the Invader anymore?"

"You didn't let me finish," Esme said. "I didn't pay my rent because Ace was sick and I—"

"So, you misused the money that Mrs. Collins so graciously gave you and entrusted to you to take care of her grandson."

"What? No. I just forgot because—"

"Why don't you work at the Invader anymore?" Diane asked.

"I quit, because—"

"You just quit? When you had an apartment to pay for and a child to feed?"

"I had to!" Esme cried. "They were printing articles about Daddy and it would've hurt Mommy."

Felicia put a hand over her mouth.

"So, you didn't give any thought to your child when you quit your job?" Diane asked.

"I—uh—No. I guess I didn't."

"And from my understanding, Ace was very happy living with Mr. Cassadine and Mr. and Mrs. Collins," Diane said. "Didn't you give any thought to how Ace would feel when you ripped him from the only home he ever knew?"

"We had to get out of there!" Esme said. "Spence was controlling us. And I didn't want Ace to think we were a family when I knew Spence would move on with Trina one day."

"Ah, so you were jealous of Miss Robinson," Diane said. "So, it had nothing to do with Ace's well-being and everything to do with your feelings for Mr. Cassadine. If you couldn't have Mr. Cassadine, then your son couldn't have him either."

"Objection, your honour," Nora said. "All of this is speculation and hearsay."

"Sustained," Judge Carson said.

"No further questions, your honour." Diane sat down.

Esme slowly returned to her seat as the doors started to open.

"Since that is Mrs. Buchanan's last witness," Judge Carson said. "We will continue after—"

"Actually, your honour," Nora cut in. "I have one more witness who has requested to speak. I'd like to call upon Miss Trina Robinson."

Everyone turned when Trina walked in.