“Be seated,” the bailiff instructed after Judge Matthews took his seat.
“Let’s see,” the judge said, “Custody hearing. Mister Emerson Carlisle versus Miss Avalynn (Carlisle) Carter.”
The judge looked up from his paperwork. On one side of the room sat Emerson Carlisle, respectable and successful businessman on the other a petite young woman and three ten-year-olds. The woman looked haunted and nervous but the trio behind her was ready for battle. They didn’t spare the opposing party a single glance sitting up straight waiting for it to begin.
Usually custody battles were between Human Services and the parents if they proved incompetent. Sometimes it was a battle between family members, most often the parents. Generally one would expect a father to be on his daughter’s side to support he
