Chapter 10 - THE EMERGENCY HEARING
The emergency custody hearing took place by secure video conference.
I remained beside Noah’s incubator.
Grant appeared from a private room at the airport police station.
His attorney sat beside him.
Vanessa was nowhere in sight.
The judge reviewed the petition in silence.
Grant’s attorney spoke first.
“My client has been denied access to his children by his wife’s wealthy family.”
The judge looked toward me.
“Mrs. Halston, are you medically able to participate?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Grant leaned toward the camera.
“She’s under heavy medication.”
My attorney placed my current medical chart into evidence.
“My client is alert, competent, and fully capable of making decisions.”
Grant shook his head.
“She signed a divorce settlement yesterday.”
The judge looked at the document.
“You are using her signature as proof of competence?”
“Yes.”
“Yet your petition claims she was mentally unstable at the same time.”
Grant’s attorney whispered something to him.
He stopped talking.
The judge continued.
“You cannot argue that Mrs. Halston was competent when she surrendered assets to you but incompetent when making decisions for her children.”
Grant’s face tightened.
The security recording played next.
His words filled the conference.
They’re too fragile.
I’m not wasting my future on them.
The judge watched without interruption.
Grant stared away from the camera.
When the recording ended, his attorney attempted to explain.
“My client was under extreme emotional stress.”
“So was his wife,” the judge replied.
“She had survived catastrophic blood loss and emergency surgery.”
Dr. Pierce testified about the disruption inside the NICU.
Nurse Morales described Grant’s threat.
The hospital administrator confirmed that Grant’s access had been suspended for patient safety reasons.
Then the judge addressed Grant directly.
“Mr. Halston, did you empty the joint accounts while your wife was unconscious?”
“My financial advisers recommended separating our assets.”
“Did you remove her belongings from the apartment?”
“We were already separated.”
“Was she aware of that separation?”
Grant hesitated.
“We had discussed problems.”
The judge looked toward me.
“Mrs. Halston?”
“He told me he loved me before I entered surgery.”
Grant’s attorney closed his eyes.
The judge denied his petition.
I retained full temporary medical authority over Noah and Elise.
Grant was prohibited from contacting the NICU staff except through attorneys.
He was also ordered to remain within the state while the financial investigation continued.
Before ending the hearing, the judge addressed me.
“Mrs. Halston, authorize whatever treatment your son requires.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
The transfer team entered moments later.
Noah’s incubator was secured inside a specialized transport unit.
I placed my hand through the access port.
His fingers moved faintly against mine.
My grandfather stood beside Elise.
“Go with your son,” he told me.
“I will protect your daughter.”
May you like
As Noah was taken toward the elevator, Grant’s image remained frozen on the dark conference screen.
For once, his voice had no power.
