Cole was quick to pick up on the message, walking straight over to Roth to offer Zachary.
Roth jumped to his feet.
“Here you go,” said Cole, holding the soggy Zachary out toward him.
As Roth recoiled, Zachary shrieked in obvious terror, reaching desperately for Cole.
“No?” Cole said to Roth.
He pulled poor Zachary back against his chest.
Zachary clung there, breaths shuddering in and out while murmurs came up all across the courtroom.
Destiny jumped back in. “In the interest of peace and order, I’d suggest we let Mr. Henderson hold his brother.”
The other lawyer glared at her.
The judge banged his gavel.
Destiny turned to Amber. “Give me your phone. Quick.”
Amber scrambled for her phone, handing it over to Destiny.
Cole sat down, and Zachary went mercifully quiet.
“Excuse me, miss?” A woman whispered behind Amber.
Amber turned to find the woman had scooted down to make room on the bench. She patted the spot.
Amber smiled her thanks and sat down.
Nobody seemed certain of what to do next, but Destiny spoke right up, talking while she glanced up and down from the tiny screen on Amber’s phone. “Since arriving in Atlanta,” she spoke loud and clearly to the judge, “Mr. Henderson has forged a special and intimate bond with his brother.”
“Objection,” said the other lawyer. “Their purported relationship is no more than hearsay. And it’s his half brother.”
Destiny glanced meaningfully down at Zachary cuddled up to Cole, obviously letting everyone make up their own mind about the relationship between the two.
“I’ll rephrase,” she said. “Since arriving in Atlanta, Mr. Henderson has spent a great deal of time with his baby half brother. This includes babysitting, feeding, bathing, diapering, playing with him and many hours of cuddling Zachary. In fact, Mr. Henderson spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his half brother.”
She took three paces to a small computer table. “I’d like to introduce into evidence some photographs.” She swiftly plugged a cord into Amber’s phone.
Amber couldn’t help but smile.
Immediately, the picture of Cole and Zachary under the Christmas tree came up. Zachary looked adoringly up at Cole as he grasped Cole’s nose, grinning. The expression on Cole’s face was tender and loving.
“Objection,” said Roth’s lawyer.
As Destiny turned to acknowledge the lawyer’s request, she obviously pressed a button on the phone. A candid shot came up, Zachary and Cole romping with Otis. It was even better than the first.
“On what grounds?” asked the judge.
“The plaintiff is clearly using these photos as a tool of manipulation. They’re staged.”
“They’re family Christmas photos,” said the judge. “Since Christmas Day took place last week, I have no reason to doubt the voracity of the photographs.”