Page 99 of Dare to Dance
The cold andsterile walls of the courtroom sent a chill down my spine. I found Kross’s hand and gripped it so hard, I would have sworn I was sucking all his muscled strength into me. His lawyer, or our lawyer, Mr. Davenport, was sitting on the other side of Kross, flipping through documents. I’d met the gray-haired man three weeks prior when he called Kross into his office to share the good news that the paternity test was a match. He was Raven’s father. Of course, I had already known that.
My nerves were quivering faster than a couple swing dancing, mainly because the judge could rule that Kross and I weren’t ready to be parents. Or Ms. Waters could give us a bad recommendation. I didn’t think she would. She seemed to be sympathetic to everything that I’d been through. Still, I’d put my little girl in a bad situation that could have cost her her life. I had to atone for my mistakes. If I didn’t, then I would be a bad example to my child. When Raven learned our story years down the road, I wanted her to see that I’d paid for my mistakes.
“My heart wants to fly out of my chest,” Kross said.
It was good to know I wasn’t the only one freaking out. I always had a hard time deciphering Kross’s moods except when we were about to make love. Then his blue eyes always seemed to darken with one long look that screamed, “I want to rip off your clothes.”
“We checked everything off our list.” I rubbed the back of his hand as I stifled a laugh at how the tables had turned. Normally, he would have been the one comforting me.
Lately though, I’d been the one to give advice to him and his brothers, especially Kelton. It had surprised the heck out of me that Kelton seemed worried. He’d said we were in good hands with Mr. Davenport. He’d also mentioned the same thing Ms. Waters had about how the family court system always returned a foster kid to her family as soon as they could, provided the family met the guidelines.
The door next to the judge’s bench squeaked opened. In walked a man wearing a black robe. He had thinning hair and a stony face. I heard rustling behind us. The entire Maxwell family was there to support us, minus Kade and Kelton’s girlfriends.
My heart sputtered as I began silently praying.
Kross squeezed my hand. “Here we go.”
Suddenly, I had that stomach churning feeling as if I was sitting at the top of a rollercoaster, looking straight down, and anticipating the car flying down the tracks. The difference was that I knew what would happen once the car coasted down. Glancing at the judge, I couldn’t gauge his decision or how he would rule.
“As I counseled,” Mr. Davenport whispered, “no outbursts. Let the judge talk.”
I wasn’t sure I could have even spoken.
The nameplate on the judge’s bench read Judge Garner. He opened a folder as he sat down then picked up reading glasses and set them on his nose.
We could have heard a pin drop. I held my breath and grasped the life out of Kross. Or maybe he was the one clutching me as though he was trying to crack open a walnut.
I tossed a look over my shoulder. Apprehension flashed in each member of the Maxwell family’s eyes as they focused on the judge.
Judge Garner cleared his throat, removed his glasses, and honed in on Kross and me. “I’ve gone through the case files for both Kross Maxwell and Ruby Lewis. I’ve had a chance to meet Raven Lewis. Before I make my ruling, I have some questions.”
I sat up straighter.
“Kross, your record indicates that you box for a living. Financially, will boxing support your family?” Judge Garner interlaced his fingers in front of him.
Kross held his chin high. “Yes, sir. I’ve recently signed a five-year contract with a boxing promoter. So I’ll have a steady stream of income.”
Judge Garner turned to me. “Ruby, you haven’t exactly shown that you’re a responsible mother. Your file has a list of infractions that lead me to believe you can’t take care of a child.”
I opened my mouth then closed it.Don’t rock the boat.
“What I want to hear from you is what makes you believe you won’t be homeless again next week or two months from now?”
I glanced at Kross then Mr. Davenport. They both gave me a cursory glance. I couldn’t exactly blame the judge for his question. After all, in a matter of hours, my life had gone from cushy to harsh when my mom had been carted off to jail.
“Ruby, I’m the one asking. Mr. Davenport and Kross can’t help you with this question,” Judge Garner said, his voice commanding.
I licked the dryness from my lips, struggling to find an answer because there wasn’t a definitive one. Could I be homeless again? It was possible. Kross could leave us for some reason or another, then it would be Raven and me again. “Sir, the possibility does exist for any one of us to be homeless. For me though, I’ve set goals for myself to make sure that Raven and me never live on the streets again. I have a job, working at Rumors Night Club two nights a week.” After Kross and I had thanked and apologized to Pete at Firefly, he’d said he would put in a good word for me with Tommy. But I’d declined. My days at Firefly were over. “I’ve signed up to get my GED, and my long-term plan is to teach ballet.” Even though I could have been good at boxing, my heart was in ballet. “I don’t ever want my daughter to see me as someone who relies on others or can’t take care of herself.” Tingles pricked my hand that Kross was holding.
Someone was sniffling behind us. I would have put money on Mrs. Maxwell. She’d shed tears when she met me two weeks ago. I still couldn’t get over how nice she and Mr. Maxwell were. More importantly, I had been speechless when I laid eyes on Mrs. Maxwell. The resemblance between her and Raven was uncanny. I couldn’t wait for Raven to meet them. When the paternity test had revealed that Kross was in fact the father, Mrs. Maxwell insisted on meeting her granddaughter. But the timing hadn’t worked out yet. Actually, Kross and I had only had two scheduled visits within the last three weeks due to Ms. Waters’s schedule.
Nevertheless, Kross had mentioned that his mom was quite emotional. I understood. She was a mother after all. I couldn’t fault her for her sadness or pity. Part of me welcomed her sorrow. I wasn’t sure why. But right now, everyone had to know that I would give my life before I ended up on the streets again.
“What about living arrangements?” Judge Garner asked.
“Kross and I are living in a nice two-bedroom apartment in Boston, where Raven will have her own room.” We’d found a place in the same building that Kross had been living in with Kade, Kelton, and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had offered their house, but Ashford was too far for Kross and me to commute.
As Judge Garner jotted down some notes, I prayed that today would be the day Raven would meet her paternal grandparents. That also would mean we could live together in our new home.
