Chapter 13 - THE HEARING
Judge Rowan? New story could use Judge Ellen Price maybe. Let's use Judge Amelia Hart.
Judge Amelia Hart heard the guardianship case.
Rachel testified first.
She admitted:
she worked too much,
trusted Margaret,
missed warning signs.
Then:
“Why should I believe you will not miss them again?”
Rachel answered:
“Because I’m not asking you to believe I’m perfect.”
Pause.
“I’m asking you to look at what I changed.”
Good.
Then Margaret testified.
She said:
Sophie was difficult.
Rachel exaggerated.
Weight tracking was medical concern.
Food limits were about waste.
Then Rachel’s attorney showed Thursday-table receipts.
Margaret said:
“Those were household groceries.”
Then Sophie’s texts.
CRACKERS AGAIN.
Then pantry tape.
Then the notebook:
TOO MUCH AFTER WEEKEND.
Margaret’s face hardened.
She stopped sounding gentle.
“Rachel overfeeds her with garbage.”
The courtroom went quiet.
Attorney asked:
“Do you believe Sophie needed to lose weight?”
Margaret hesitated.
Then:
“She was getting soft.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
There.
Not misunderstanding.
Belief.
Then trust-bank emails.
Household reimbursements.
Private school.
Projected $85,200 annual expenses.
Margaret snapped:
“I was planning for her future.”
Judge Hart asked:
“Or yours?”
May you like
Margaret looked stunned.
No answer.
