Page 26 of Forgotten Desires

“I like your outfit. Your shirt is very pretty,” I tell her.

“Do you like dolls?”

I grin. “I do! My niece and I play with dolls all the time.”

“I love dolls,” she informs me.

“Can you bring me your favorite?” I ask, hoping she’ll grab one from the other room so I can tell Crew that he needs to document this, take photos and video of whatever Layla is saying.

She nods enthusiastically. As soon as she does what I hoped, I relay the info. “You need to record whatever she says. Video and photos,” I tell him.

“Of course. I was just so . . .”

“I know. It’s just important for your case against her, if you believe this is happening at her mother’s hands. I’ll record for you so that you can talk to Layla again, just make sure you aren’t coercing anything. Let her tell you.”

“Okay.”

Layla returns a moment later with two dolls. “May I hold them while you talk to your daddy? After, maybe you can show me all your dolls?”

The crystal blue eyes that are exactly like her father’s light up. “Daddy, will you play dolls?”

“Maybe, but I need to talk to you about why you were crying.”

Layla and Crew go back and forth, her recounting how Jacqueline screamed and kept yelling at her. She holds her doll as Crew asks questions and Layla answers, the whole time tears fall down her little cheeks. After she’s clearly done telling him, she moves over to the dolls and starts to play.

Crew sighs heavily as he sits beside me. “I need to take her now. She can’t be here.”

The lawyer in me immediately intervenes. “You can’t do that; I know you want to. Hell, I want to, but you can’t without risking your entire case. It could even be considered kidnapping if your ex-wife isn’t aware of it.” I drop my voice. “I would also be careful talking here.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “The walls have ears?”

I shrug. “They probably do.”

He nods.

“Layla.” He moves to the floor beside his daughter. “Daddy has to take Brynn home, but I’ll be back in a few days, and we will have dinner, and you can sleep at my house this weekend.”

“You promise?”

“I promise,” he vows.

Her lip wobbles as the tears fill her beautiful eyes. “I want to go with younow, Daddy!”

“I know, and I want you to come with me always, but we can’t do it now. But tomorrow, when you wake up, just know I’ll be here as soon as I can, okay?”

Layla throws herself into Crew’s arms and my chest is so tight, I worry it’ll crack. This man is her hero and he’s doing everything he can to protect her. I wish I could help, that I could do something so this sweet child never has to worry about being hurt again.

This is the pain I endured as a lawyer. Watching kids placed in situations they never should be in. The idea that one parent can do better, but for some reason, the other parent shows some bullshit and wins is heartbreaking.

Crew nods to the nanny who comes behind Layla and pulls her close. He stands, and I can see the rigidity in his stance as he moves to me. “Let’s get you home.”

I nod and as we exit the house, I slip my hand into his, lending him all the strength I have.

* * *

“Earth to Brynlee.” Phoebe waves her hand in my face as my newest niece, Sienna, sleeps in her arms.

“Sorry, my head is a mess,” I admit.

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