He rolls his eyes and moves forward.
“Mr. Hartly, why did your daughter—Tammy—choose to keep Ellie from her biological father?”
“She only said that the father wouldn’t be interested. It wasn’t until her last few days that she told us who he was.”
“And when was that?”
He looks down at his lap and I swallow hard. “Three years ago.”
“I’m very sorry. But it was only this summer—four months ago—that you came to the ranch looking for Mr. Thorne.”
“I didn’t know him. If he even wanted her. If he had a family of his own. My wife and I were scared to lose Ellie—she was all that was left of .?.?.”
Noah glances at me, letting me know he could rip him apart right now. But I shake my head.
“One more question. For whatever your reasons, you decided your granddaughter was better off anorphanthan to let her meet her father, who you must have learned is a reasonably wealthy, well-respected ranch owner from a good family. Only after your wife got sick and you needed to travel for treatment, did you decide,now’sthe time. But here you are, questioning Mr. Thornefor doing something purely for convenience?” Noah holds up his hand. “This is a yes or no question.”
Cole waits a beat, glancing at Glenda, then at me. “Yes.”
“And now that you see Ellie’s father has built a home, married a woman who the little girl adores, you still think he’s unfit to be her full-time legal guardian.”
Cole meets my eyes. “It’s not real. It’s a lie to cheat me out of all I have left,” he shouts, his hands trembling.
“Noah,” I mutter low, but loud enough for him to hear.
He glances back at me then sighs like his hands are tied. “No further questions.”
I inhale deeply, conflicted with victory and compassion. The courthasto grant me custody. This man is clearly still grieving.
My eyes linger on the other side of the room as Cole returns to his seat. Glenda doesn’t seem frazzled one bit. She stands, tightening the fit of her blazer.
“I’d like to call Willow Brooks to the stand.”
“Character witness?” I murmur.
Noah’s jaw works. “Doesn’t matter now, does it?” It’s a blow-off and I get it. He’s mad. He flips his papers upside down and sits back like it’s out of his hands.
“Please state your name.”
“WillowThorne.” My wife smiles brightly.
Glenda’s clenches her jaw. “Officially changed, then?”
“Not officially yet.” She winks at Glenda. “We’ve been busy.”
The tightness in my chest eases with the grin she tosses me.
Not finding the humor, Glenda’s heels click as she draws closer. “When did you first meet Dallas Thorne?”
Willow grins. “It was in New York. At the Lock Bar, where I play piano and sing.”
“Oh, how fancy. Let me guess—love at first sight?”
Willow’s eyes are fierce but her smile sharp. “Good guess.”
Glenda gives a tight grin. “So the job sounds fancy, the Lock Bar—what’d you make there?”
“Objection, irrelevant,” Noah calls out, tiredly.
