Silence.
Anticipation hums through my veins. I glance at Jordan, needing her to ground me, keep me from losing my cool.
Cece’s attorney rises. “Your Honor, before the Court proceeds, my client has a request.”
My stomach drops.What is he doing?
My pulse crawls up my throat, settling between my ears, drowning out the rest of his sentence.
The judge looks at him. “Go ahead.”
“My client has decided to withdraw her petition for guardianship.”
Muffled gasps and murmurs bounce around in my brain.
No.
No way in hell he just said what I think he said.
I’ve lost my fucking mind.
I squeeze my eyes shut, then open them wide, making sure I’m coherent and awake. That I’m not imagining this.
He continues. “After careful consideration, and in light of the testimony presented, as well as the minor’s expressed wishes, my client believes this course of action is in Cole’s best interest.”
What?
I blink again, jaw slack, not fully comprehending.
My eyes sting anyway.
Jerry shoots me a look, one brow arched.
The judge looks directly at Cece. “Mrs. Henderson, is it your intention to voluntarily withdraw your petition?”
“It is,” Cece replies with a firm nod.
“And you understand this means the Court will proceed solely on Mr. Grayson’s petition?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Her eyes drift to me, locking onto mine as her tight-lipped expression melts into a soft smile.
What in the actual fuck is going on?
Part of me can’t believe it. Like it’s some cruel joke. But the look on Cece’s face tells me everything I need to know.
This is real. And for whatever reason… she had a sudden change of heart.
“Very well,” the judge says. “The Court will proceed on Mr. Grayson’s petition.” She looks down, flipping through her papers, her expression unreadable. And holy fucking hell, the seconds that felt like minutes in the first hearing suddenly feel like blips compared to this.
My knee bounces under the table, erratic. Jerry places a hand on my shoulder and leans in. “Relax. This is a good thing.”
I cling to his words like they’re a buoy in open water.
The judge finally looks up. Her eyes find mine first, then shift to Jerry.
“Based on the evidence presented, the guardian ad litem’s report, and the minor’s stated preference, the Court finds that granting guardianship to Mr. Grayson is in the best interest of the child. Mrs. Henderson’s petition is formally withdrawn. Mr. Grayson’s petition is granted, effective immediately.”
