Chapter 13 - THE HEARING
The temporary custody hearing happened twelve days after the twins were born.
Caleb was still hospitalized.
I attended remotely from my parents’ house.
Travis appeared in court with his lawyer.
Deborah sat behind him.
So did Harold.
Megan did not.
Rebecca began with the hallway video.
The judge watched silently as I begged for the hospital.
He watched Travis leave.
He watched Deborah laugh.
Then Rebecca introduced the medical records.
Then the group chat.
Travis’s attorney objected repeatedly.
The judge allowed most of it.
Finally, Travis testified.
“I believed Claire was safe.”
Rebecca stood.
“Did Claire tell you her contractions were less than four minutes apart?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know her pregnancy was high risk?”
“Yes.”
“Did her doctor tell you regular contractions required immediate assessment?”
“I don’t remember.”
Rebecca displayed his text.
Understood.
No delays.
Travis stared at the screen.
“Does that refresh your memory?”
“Yes.”
“Did you leave anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Did you take her updated insurance card?”
Travis hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was handling the insurance.”
“Were you handling it at the mall?”
His face reddened.
“No.”
“Were you handling it at lunch?”
His attorney objected.
The judge overruled.
Travis looked down.
“No.”
Then Rebecca asked the question that broke him.
“Mr. Morgan, when your wife told you your children were coming, who did you believe needed you more?”
Travis looked toward Deborah.
That glance lasted only a second.
But everyone saw it.
Rebecca repeated the question.
“Your wife in high-risk labor?”
“Or your mother shopping for a handbag?”
Travis whispered.
“My wife.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“That is not what you chose.”
The judge issued temporary orders.
I retained primary physical custody.
Travis would have supervised visitation only after both children were medically stable.
He was ordered not to remove them from my care.
He was prohibited from entering my parents’ property.
Deborah and Harold received no independent access to the twins.
I thought that would be the end of the hearing.
Then the judge leaned forward.
“One additional matter.”
The room became silent.
“I have reviewed the law enforcement referral.”
Travis’s lawyer stood.
“Your Honor…”
The judge raised one hand.
“I am not making findings in a criminal matter.”
“But given the evidence presented here, I am ordering that the complete record be preserved for investigators.”
Deborah’s face went white.
May you like
For the first time, she stopped looking angry.
She looked afraid.
