The Baby Battle Read Online Free PDF Page B

like this, I want a complete picture—beyond what the lawyers say. So, one at a time, I want to hear from the folks doing the feuding. Ms. Marshall, Mr. O’Malley, in your own words, please tell me not only why you’d like to be Baby Flynn’s primary caregiver, but what makes you uniquely qualified.” Nodding toward Tag’s opponent, the judge added, “Ladies first.”
    All business, her red hair drawn into a severe twist, Olivia would have looked more like an overdressed prison guard than a mom if it hadn’t been for the pearls glowing at her throat. She cleared her throat and stood.
    “Your Honor,” she said, looking cool, calm and utterlyunflappable, “thank you for this opportunity to express my wishes concerning my son.”
    The judge nodded.
    “As the child of interest’s mother, obviously this matter is of utmost concern to me. To say I love my son doesn’t begin to describe the emotion that goes into each and every moment with him. He is the core of my world.” After pausing to consult notes she’d written on a yellow legal pad, she continued. “What makes me uniquely qualified to care for Flynn is the plain and simple fact that I am the infant’s biological mother. I carried him inside me for nine long months. I’ve been with him every day since. The two of us have a bond that is special to us both. During my pregnancy I immersed myself in child-development classes and studies in proper child discipline techniques and nutrition and ways to decorate children’s rooms to best stimulate their creativity and mathematical skills.” Once again consulting her notes, the textbook in heels finished with, “In closing, Your Honor, I’m bowing to your expertise in these custodial matters to see that as the child’s birth mother, I’m not only the better suited choice for Flynn to reside with, but really, the only choice. Thank you.” With a formal nod, she was finished.
    The judge made a few notes, then looked to Tag’s table. “Sir, whenever you’re ready.”
    Standing, Tag said, “Thank you, Your Honor.” Clearing his throat, fighting an uncharacteristic ball of nerves, he managed, “Um, I’m in the oil business, and usually Ihave no problem speaking to a couple of guys out in the field or a couple hundred suits in some swanky boardroom. But this is one occasion when I’m having a miserable time finding the right words.” He sighed and ran his hand through his already-messed-up hair. “Bottom line, I come from a big Irish family. My mom and dad were the best—still are. They filled me with the fire to one day have my own family, which I did. A couple years out of college, I married the prettiest gal you ever did see. Her name was Maria and when she smiled…” Eyes shining with unshed tears, he touched his chest. “When she smiled, I was the luckiest man in the world. Long story short, we tried having our own brood, but things didn’t work out. I told her, angel, let’s just pick a bunch of kids who need adopting. We’ll love ’em all just the same. And I would’ve. But she had some cockamamy notion that I had to have a son of my own blood to be happy. Docs told her that artificial insemination was the way to go. I fought against it, but since it was what she wanted, I dutifully marched down to the lab and did my business—if you know what I mean.”
    Chuckling, the judge said, “Yessir, I believe I do. Please continue.”
    “Well, anyway, right after that, my Maria got sick—real sick. Of all things, she died of pneumonia. I didn’t even know that was possible in this day and age—aside from babies and old folks who are already weak.” Recalling the horror of those first few hours, days and weeks after holding her hand into death made it hard for himto carry on, but out of his love for his wife he toughened up, continuing what he’d come here to do.
    “Sir,” Tag managed, “when those suits at the lab told me I was a father after all…” With the heels of his hands he