“Jalen fought back, and the outcome wasn’t in Valerie’s favor.”
Meila nodded. “She fought back to protect you.”
“Yes, and if she hadn’t, I don’t know what any of us would be like today.”
“Thank you, Kodi,” Meila said with a smile.
“Kodi, you’ve made accusations of abuse against my client, but there have been no charges filed against her. There’s no proof of what you’re saying. Just he said, she said,” Valerie’s lawyer stated. “Couldn’t it be that you were misbehaving as a child, and you were being disciplined?”
Kodi raised a brow at the question. “Do you know that the first thing a guilty person does is blame the victim with misconstrued hypothetical questions?” Kodi questioned in lieu of an answer. “And unfortunately for you, counselor, my sister taught me to stand my ground and never back down from my truth. Even in the face of those who would do anything to discredit me. So, I’m not about to let you sit here and try to gaslight me on this stand because you think I’m a child that doesn’t know you’re doing it.”
“Your Honor?” Valerie’s lawyer questioned as if he were shocked at being called out.
“Thank you, Ms. Hollis. That will be all,” Judge Davis said.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Kodi responded, standing, but she paused. “If I could just point out that Valerie has been absent from the twins’ lives almost since the day they were born. I don’t even think they know what she looks like, and I feel that speaks to her character as a parent.”
“Thank you, Kodi,” Judge Davis responded with a nod. “Counselor?” he then questioned, attention on Meila.
“We have no more witnesses, Your Honor,” she replied.
Judge Davis turned his attention to Valerie and her lawyer.
“We have no character witnesses to call,” the opposing counsel supplied.
“I’m curious about the validity of Kodi’s claim,” Judge Davis said. “Do you feel your children know you, Mrs. Hollis-Edwards?”
“Of course, Your Honor,” Valerie responded, and Jalen bit her tongue to keep from scoffing.
“I’d like to see for myself,” Judge Davis replied.
He pointed to three women in the audience and asked them to come forward with their chairs. He instructed them to sit on the plaintiff’s side, across from the bailiff, and directed Valerie to move her chair there as well. All four women were sitting beside each other, and all were women of color.
“I want to speak to the children first, and then we’ll see if you’re correct,” Judge Davis informed Valerie.
Nathan and Omari were brought into the courtroom a minute later, and Judge Davis came off the bench to meet them. He knelt down on one knee in front of them.
“Hi there,” he greeted.
“Hi!” Nathan responded enthusiastically. While Omari waved with a smile.
“I have a few questions to ask you. You think you can answer them for me?” Judge Davis asked, and the girls nodded.
“Can you tell me who you live with?”
“Jalen and Kodi and Landon and Mikal,” Nathan responded.
“Those are our sisters,” Omari added.
“Do you enjoy living with your sisters?” Judge Davis inquired.
“Yes!” both girls answered excitedly.
“What do you like about it?”
“We have picnics at the park and movie nights,” Omari supplied.
“And pajama parties. We make ice cream and cupcakes too,” Nathan answered.
