Page 53 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“Your confidence is inspiring, but you underestimate his family’s reach in this town.”
He pulls to a stop in the parking lot across from the expansive courthouse. The building is intimidating, and it does nothing to ease my frayed nerves.
“Whatever happens, we’ll handle it together,” he says, threading his fingers through mine.
Clinging to Luca like a lifeline, we ascend the steps to the massive white stone building. I immediately recognize Austin’s sister standing with an older man near one of the pillars.Judging by the pristine suit and the general air of cockiness, this must be Austin’s new lawyer.
“Just squeeze my hand if you start to feel nervous,” Luca says.
“Thank you.” I don’t know if I’m thanking him for being here, or for everything he’s done up until this point, but it doesn’t really matter. This man has become my peace, and I’m grateful for all of it.
“I’m not just arm candy,” he teases. A small smile pushes through my anxiety, and I nudge him with my shoulder as we enter the building, letting go of the breath I had been holding now that we’re away from the threat. But the reprieve is short-lived. My stomach plummets to the floor as I stare straight into the menacing eyes of the only person to ever make me cower. Memories of a past wracked with pain flood my vision as his gaze narrows on me.
Ragged breaths escape my lungs and my knees buckle, threatening to send me careening towards the floor if not for the strong arms banded around my waist, holding me steady.
“Fuck. You’re shaking like a leaf. Breathe for me, Ivy. I’m right here.” With my back to his chest, his heartbeat provides a steady rhythm, slowing mine in turn.
“I’m okay. I think.”
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Can you stand?”
“I… I think so.”
“I’m going to let you go now, but hang onto my arm and we’ll walk in there together, okay? He can’t hurt you here.” I nod in agreement and thread my hands around his arm. His solid presence eases the tension and I’m able to compose myself as we walk towards the open door. Thankfully, Austin seems to have entered ahead of us.
A tight knot twists in my stomach as I scanned the cold, sterile courtroom. Luca and I sit side by side, with my lawyernear the aisle, a buffer between me and my ex husband. I have a death grip on Luca’s hand beneath the table, hoping to borrow some of his strength.
The judge enters the chambers and the proceedings get underway with little fanfare, but I don’t let go of Luca’s hand.
The lawyers take turns asking questions. Austin deflects every one, denying any wrongdoing and painting me as the villain in his story. It’s nothing new, but it still hurts all the same. When I’m asked about the incident at Lori’s house, Austin’s lawyer is accusatory — insinuating that Luca’s presence at our exchange is a violation of our custody agreement, but my lawyer is able to effectively spin the narrative. She points to Austin’s sister as the true cause of the conflict, and the judge reiterates that both parents must be present for the handoff.
Time drags on, my anxiety rising with every tick of the clock. Austin’s glare feels like a weight pressing down on me, his scowl boring into the side of my head. I can sense his anger every time his menacing gaze turns towards Luca, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction he’s craving as I keep my eyes trained forward. My lawyer’s voice underscores the suffocating atmosphere, but my focus is trained on the large screen displaying recent surveillance footage from my house, a scene that chills me to the bone as I watch Austin’s car creep along the street at an eerily slow pace. The time displayed on the screen reads 2:31am. We would’ve been in bed, completely oblivious to his menacing approach.
Next, they show the footage from Rosie’s Diner. It amounts to clear and undeniable evidence of his relentless stalking and harassment. I glance over at Luca, his jaw set and eyes narrowed as he stares at the screen. His breath catches in his throat, and I feel the tension ripple through him, his muscles coiling tight as more images flash on the screen, a slideshow of photographs from the fingerprints on my wrists, to a palm print on my hip.The courtroom is deadly silent when the final image of a bruise on my cheekbone appears. Luca’s body is vibrating with rage as he clings tightly to my hand. The bruises have healed, and there are no scars to be seen on the surface, but the painful reminders of every misdeed are etched deep into my bones like a brand.Damaged. Broken. Beyond repair.
When the judge finally speaks again, his tone is firm. “Given the overwhelming evidence presented with regards to the accusations of stalking and harassment, I am granting a protective order for Mrs. Roberts. Mr. Taylor will be required to maintain five hundred feet of distance from both Ivy and her residence. In light of the malicious nature of the accusations leveled here today, I will be requiring that Mr. Taylor enroll in a mandatory anger management class. However, as there is no evidence of harm toward the minor child, supervised visitation will be granted. You may have a family member appointed as a supervisor, or family services may provide one for you. We may revisit the request for fifty-fifty shared custody if Mr. Taylor can demonstrate real change in the future. I suggest you tread lightly, Mr. Taylor. I don’t want to see you back here under the same circumstances.”
Austin’s lawyer stands, speaking in a commanding voice, “Austin’s sister is more than happy to supervise, your honor.” For the first time since we entered the room, I look over at Lori, and she appears to be anything but thrilled by the prospect.
“Your honor,” my lawyer interjects. “While we agree with the majority of this ruling, with respect, we would like to know how you intend to address the clear evidence of physical abuse perpetrated against my client.”
“I understand your concern, but my hands are tied, counselor. Because there are no date and time stamps on any of the alleged incidents of physical abuse, I cannot take them into consideration with this ruling.”
Luca leans over, placing a soft, lingering kiss against my temple, and it damn near breaks my heart. The judge continues, “If you are able to provide evidence of when the photos were taken, I may reconsider at a later date. You are dismissed.”
A wave of relief washes over me, but it comes with a bitter aftertaste. The protective order is a huge victory for our case, but the thought of Rylin having to be anywhere near Austin — supervised or not — ties my stomach in knots. As if sensing my unease, Luca leans in close to my ear, his voice low and steady. “We’ll make sure she’s safe. I promise.”
All I can do is nod, grateful for his presence, even as my mind races with the implications of the court’s ruling. It’s far from perfect, and I’ll never stop fighting to have his rights stripped, but it's a step forward. We walk out of the courtroom hand in hand, projecting an air of confidence I’m not sure I feel. I refuse to let Austin see me cower ever again.
Chapter 13
Ivy
? Dancing with Your Ghost - Sasha Alex Sloan
Paige: How did it go?
Ivy: Not the victory we were hoping for, but it could’ve been worse.
