“James, you can be excused.” The clerk stood at the judge’s words, opening the door and leading James into the hall. He looked to me. “Mr…”
“Samuels, Your Honor,” I offered, realizing he didn’t have my name in front of him.
“Thank you. Mr. Samuels, I’m going to ask that you step out of the room as well, given the situation.”
I tried not to feel slighted by the request. Everything had to be done by the book right now. Plus, I’d have been lying if I said I was okay with James sitting on his own to stew. I took the seat next to James and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You did good in there. I’m proud of you.”
“I told the truth, just like you and Billy told me to.” James shrugged. His eyes were glassy when he looked up at me. “And I meant it. You guys are the first people to treat me like a real kid.”
That broke my heart. “That’s because you are a real kid. And I’m sorry you’ve been through what you have.”
The hallway outside the courtroom felt colder than it should have. I glanced down at James, his eyes rimmed with red, his lips pressed into a determined line.
“Thank you, Michael,” he said quietly. He let out a soft sigh, his gaze drifting to the courtroom door. “It's not over, is it?”
I squeezed his shoulder, looking at the closed door. “No, it's not. But we've done our part. Now it's up to the judge.”
James nodded, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. His gaze never left the door, his body still, almost eerily so. His brow was furrowed, his teeth chewing at his bottom lip. It was clear he was replaying the events of the hearing, dissecting his own words and the reactions they garnered.
“He’s always so angry,” James murmured. “My dad, I mean. He was… he looked like he wanted to—to—”
“Hey,” I interrupted him gently, not wanting him to delve into that pit of negativity. “It's not about him, James. It's about you, your well-being, and your happiness.”
“But what if the judge listens to him? What if I'm taken away from you guys?”
A lump formed in my throat at the fear in his voice. A fear that was all too real. “We won't let that happen,” I told him, hoping the determination in my voice was enough to reassure him.
I felt him nod, his shoulder moving beneath my hand. “I just… I don't want to go back there. I don't want to be alone again.”
“You're not alone, James,” I said firmly. “You're not alone, and you're not going back there. You're part of our family now. Billy and I, we're not letting you go.”
I meant every word. We'd fight this until the end. James was part of our family now, and no narrow-minded bigot was going to take him away from us. Not if I had anything to say about it.
We sat in silence for what felt like hours, the sounds of the bustling courthouse fading into a distant background. The air around us seemed to thicken, charged with unspoken fears and determination, a heavy weight that settled in our chests, each heartbeat echoing the gravity of the moment.
The door opened, and Jack stormed out, red-faced and with his wife in tow. She barely looked up as she passed her oldest son, and I wasn’t sure if I should be worried about her or angry that she wasn’t standing up for the boy she gave birth to.
“James, you can come back in now.” The clerk looked at me. “You too.”
“Thank you,” we said in unison. James perked up now that he didn’t have to face his father.
That had to be a good sign, right?
“I want to make something clear,” Judge Gaither explained once we were seated. “The primary concern of this court is always the welfare of the child. Stability and security are crucial for any child, and even more so for those who are placed in foster care, no matter the reason.”
He paused, looking over at us. “Mr. Langston and Mr. Samuels, it is evident from James's statement that he feels safe and well cared for with you. The court acknowledges this, and your efforts to provide a supportive environment for him. Every child deserves to be nurtured and to feel safe in their home.
“That said, it seems there may have been some validity in the complaint regarding primary residency,” he continued. He sucked in a deep breath, holding it before exhaling slowly. “Regulations are in place for a reason. In this case, it is the court’s job to ensure the safety of the children in our care. Failure to comply can result in removal and relocation of the child.”
James opened his mouth to interrupt, but Billy held up a hand to silence him. This wasn’t the time for an outburst of any sort.
The judge looked directly at James when he continued. “That being said, few things in this life are clear-cut. After speaking with the caseworkers, Officer Mickelson, your parents, and William, it’s obvious to me your current placementiswhat is in your best interests.”
“Thank you, sir,” James rushed out. His smile shone like I hadn’t seen it since he’d come to stay with us. His shoulders relaxed and the entire atmosphere in the room shifted. “Thank you, so much!”
“I’m not finished, young man,” the judge scolded him, although it was apparent he was pleased by James’s reaction. “There will be more home visits in the near future. Future violations of the conditions of Mr. Davis’s placement could still result in his relocation.”
“We understand, your honor,” I agreed quickly.
