Page 104 of Her Summer Hope

The room was alive with low, anticipatory murmurs as the judge re-entered after the recess. Pam and Don looked optimistic.

Madison sat there, a bundle of nerves, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Every second felt like an hour, every glance towards the judge a search for a hint, a clue to what her future would hold.

She felt a sense of hopelessness weighing down on her, the fear of losing her children, even for a few days, was almost too much to bear.

Then the judge called for the witnesses to take a seat, and from his antechamber emerged the men from McClellan’s Hope, all dressed in suits.

Even Murdock.

Despite their formal attire, each man carried his own distinct aura—Kyle with a sense of quiet strength, Cal looking uncomfortably out of place yet imposing, John’s friendly demeanor barely contained in the formality of the setting, and Wyatt with his characteristic playfulness barely concealed.

They took their seats behind Madison, next to the kids.

Ellie murmured something and Kyle replied, their voices too low to make out. Kyle gave her a small, reassuring smile and a nod.

She almost laughed despite herself, as Murdock scowled in the direction of Pam and Don, causing them to sit up straighter and turn their eyes back to the front.

Wyatt winked at Madison and James and Jackson were fidgeting, the enforced silence and stillness almost too much for them to bear. John pulled out a bag of coloring books and crayons for the children.

Madison’s heart was racing.

The presence of these men, her friends from McClellan’s Hope, filled her with a flicker of hope. Their unexpected appearance in the courtroom was a statement in itself—they were here to stand with her. She had people on her side.

The judge cleared his throat, bringing the room to attention.

He began by reading a notarized statement from Helen, taken from her hospital bed. Helen’s words painted a vivid picture of Madison’s sacrifices and dedication as a mother, her love and commitment to her children shining through every line.

After finishing the statement, the judge addressed the courtroom.

“My discussion with these honorable gentlemen,” he gestured towards Kyle and the others, “has significantly influenced my perspective on this case. Collectively, they have earned a Medal of Honor, three Silver Stars, six Bronze Stars, and twelve Purple Hearts, among other commendations. They have personally vouched for Ms. Lane’s character and her fitness as a mother, as well as relieved my mind of any lingering doubts about Ms. Lane’s financial and childcare situation. In my opinion, their words carry far more weight than the,” he peered down at Pam and Don over the rim of his glasses, “head of a small-town country club.”

His tone carried a hint of disdain as he glanced at them and then turned one of their character statements face down on his desk. Rob’s parents looked taken aback, their confidence visibly shaken.

The judge continued, his voice firm and decisive. “Having considered all the evidence and testimonies, I rule in favor of Ms. Madison Lane. She shall retain full custody of her children, with no court-mandated obligation for visitation rights to the grandparents.”

Relief washed over Madison in an overwhelming wave. Tears sprang to her eyes as the weight of the world seemed to lift from her shoulders. Her lawyer grinned and shook her hand and she rose as the rest of them did.

At the railing Kyle reached forward, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner. I’ve been kind of busy,” he said. “Do you know how long it takes to get Murdock to wash his hair?”

Murdock growled.

“Yeah, and you should have seen me and John trying to shove him in that suit. I’d rather wear cotton socks during a ruck march in the jungle than ever go through that again,” Wyatt said with a shudder.

“You kids ready to go? I think Wyatt said something about buying ice cream—” Kyle said, looking at her. “If that’s okay with your mom.”

“Yeah!” Jack said. “Can we, Mom? Please?”

“I want vanilla,” Ellie said, stowing her book in her backpack. “Can we?”

She huffed a laugh as Emmie shoved her face into her chest again and clutched her shirt, looking for milk. “I think that would be okay.”

Kyle grinned. “Good, because Wyatt bought out the store. He got every flavor and all the toppings too. He threatened to force-feed it all to Jace if you all didn’t agree to come back with us.”

“I did not threaten,” Wyatt said. “I promised. There’s a difference.”

“You’re going to give us all diabetes,” Kyle grumbled.

John leaned down and helped James pick up the crayons. “What flavor do you want?”

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