Once Trapped

And he was very convincing. Riley couldn’t help but wonder …

Is he really a nice guy after all?

Was he really just going through a bad stretch?

Worst of all—might she be wrong in trying to take Jilly away from him? Was she doing nothing except adding unnecessary trauma to Jilly’s life?

Finally Scarlatti looked pleadingly at the judge.

“Your honor, I beg you, please let me have my daughter back. She is my flesh and blood. You won’t regret your decision. I promise.”

A tear trickled down his cheek as he sat back down.

His lawyer stood up, looking more smug and confident than ever.

She spoke to Jilly with a tone of oily, fake sincerity.

“Jilly, I hope you understand that your father wants only what’s best for you. I know you’ve had troubles with him in the past, but tell me the truth now—isn’t that a pattern with you?”

Jilly looked puzzled.

Paget continued, “I’m sure you won’t deny that you ran away from your father, and that’s how Riley Paige found you in the first place.”

Jilly said, “I know, but that was because—”

Paget interrupted, pointing to the Flaxmans.

“And didn’t you also run away from this nice couple when they took you in?”

Jilly’s eyes widened and she nodded silently.

Riley swallowed hard. She knew what Paget was going to say next.

“And didn’t you once even run away from Ms. Paige and her family?”

Jilly nodded and hung her head miserably.

And of course it was true. Riley remembered all too well how hard it had been for Jilly to adjust to life in her home—and especially how she’d struggled with feelings of unworthiness. In an especially weak moment, Jilly had run off to another truck stop, thinking that selling her body was all she was good for.

“I’m nobody,” Jilly had told Riley when the police brought her back.

The lawyer had done her research well, but Jilly had changed so much since then. Riley was sure that those days of insecurity were over.

Still maintaining a tone of deep concern, Paget said to Jilly …

“Sooner or later, dear, you’ve got to accept the help of people who care about you. And right now, your father wants more than anything else to give you a good life. I think you owe it to him to give him a chance to do that.”

Turning to the judge, Paget added, “Your honor, I leave the matter to you.”

For the first time, the judge seemed to be genuinely moved.

He said, “Mr. Scarlatti, your eloquent comments have forced me to reconsider my decision.

Riley gasped aloud.

Is this really happening?

The judge continued, “Arizona statute is very clear on the matter of severance. The first consideration is the fitness of the parents. The second consideration is the best interests of the child. Only if the parent is deemed unfit can the second consideration be brought into question.”

He paused to think for a moment.

“Mr. Scarlatti’s unfitness has not been established here today. I think rather to the contrary, he seems to be doing everything he can to become an excellent father.”

Looking alarmed, Kaul stood up and spoke sharply.

“Your honor, I object. Mr. Scarlatti gave up his rights voluntarily, and this is completely unexpected. The agency had no reason to bring evidence to establish his unfitness.”

The judge spoke with a note of finality and rapped his gavel.

“Then I have no reason to consider anything further. Custody is granted to the father, effective immediately.”

Riley couldn’t help letting out a cry of despair.

This is real, she thought.

I’m losing Jilly.

CHAPTER FIVE

Riley was almost hyperventilating as she tried to grasp what was happening.

Surely I can contest this decision, she thought.

The agency and the lawyer could easily put together some solid evidence of Scarlatti’s abusive behavior.

But what would happen in the meantime?

Jilly would never stay with her father. She would run away again—and this time she might really disappear.

Riley might never see her youngest daughter again.

Still sitting at the bench, the judge said to Jilly, “Young lady, I think you should go to your father now.”

To Riley’s surprise, Jilly looked utterly calm.

She squeezed Riley’s hand and whispered …

“Don’t worry, Mom. This is going to be all right.”