I remember how Trace appeared to me when I first met him-- cold and hard and angry, and I am praying, desperately, that this Vivien Anise will see the truth.
Trace stumbles through his explanation that Rory is almost 13, that he himself cared for his siblings since his parents that the fights never last more than an hour or two and are simply, like the sport of boxing or football, a sport, one which he only engages in to put food on the table.
But his testimony is weak, shaken, and I am beginning to think it would take a miracle to stop Vivien Analise from taking Rory, Drew, and Adie away from us.
He takes his seat, his hands shaking, and I try to smile encouragingly. Rory scoots away from him, still angry, and Trace looks almost ready to break, his hands clenching and unclenching.
"I realize this is irregular, but I would like to speak to each of Mr. Cain's siblings before a decision is reached," Vivien Anise is saying, and her words cause something to shift inside me, from nerves to terror.
"Would Adrian Cain please step forward?"
"It'll be okay, sweetheart," I tell her, but Adie is already climbing down from my lap, her shoulders squared bravely, her tiny chin set in determination.
Vivien Anise looks down at her, her expression softening only slightly. "Adrian, I'd like to ask you a few questions, okay? Can we do that?"
"My name's Adie," she says brightly. "And I have some things to tell you, okay? Can we do that?"
Vivien Anise looks taken aback, and then her lips twitch. "That would be wonderful."
Trace and I exchange worried looks.
And then Adie breaks out hearts.
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