Destiny immediately brought up the next photo. It was Cole holding Zachary wrapped in a fluffy towel. The baby was clearly fresh from the bath, and gazed happily into Cole’s eyes.
Amber’s heart warmed at the memory.
“As these pictures will attest—and we can certainly add witness testimony as well—with the exception of providing advice to Coast Eagle airlines in order to save passenger lives, Mr. Henderson has spent virtually every day with his half brother since arriving in Atlanta.”
“Objection,” Roth’s lawyer repeated. “This isn’t a contest to see who can rack up more baby hours.”
Destiny countered, “This hearing is to establish who is the most appropriate guardian for Zachary. Time spent with the baby is absolutely relevant to that question.”
“Ms. Welsley has obviously inappropriately used her temporary guardianship over Zachary to undermine my client’s—”
“Ms. Welsley’s conduct is not at issue.”
Cole came to his feet. “May I speak, Your Honor?”
The gallery’s attention swung to Cole, and both lawyers turned, as well.
The judge considered the question for a long moment.
“Yes,” he said. “I think it would be valuable to hear from Mr. Henderson.”
Destiny withdrew toward the plaintiff’s table, clearly yielding the floor to Cole.
Zachary was quiet on Cole’s shoulder, gently fingering his gray-and-red tie.
Cole took a deep breath before beginning. “To be perfectly candid, I have to say that when I read Samuel Henderson had died, I wasn’t sorry. I didn’t feel much of anything. All I knew about the man was that he’d broken my mother’s heart. At that point, I wanted nothing to do with any of the Hendersons.”
Cole shifted a couple of steps sideways to come out from behind the table. “As I’ve already stated, I didn’t know about the will. And even if I had, I wouldn’t have cared about it. I have a growing, thriving business of my own.”
He absently rubbed Zachary’s back. “When I finally did come to Atlanta, it was incognito and with the sole purpose of ensuring Zachary would be properly cared for. But from the first moment I met him, my brother insisted I pay attention to him.”
Cole smiled fondly down at Zachary. “I don’t know whether it was the sound of my voice, the smell of my skin or that I looked something like our father. But from that point on, this little guy has done everything in his power to tell me that he needs me, that it’s my responsibility to take care of him, to protect him and to love him. He may not be able to talk, but he’s made his desire clear.”
Amber’s chest went tight, and her throat closed over.
There was a catch in Cole’s voice. “And he is right. He’s so very right. No matter what you decide here today, Your Honor, Zachary is my brother. He will always be my brother. He will always need me, and I will always be responsible for his welfare. Not because I have to be, or should be, but because I love him, and I will fight with every breath in my body to keep him safe.”
Cole went silent. If a pin had dropped in the courtroom, it would have echoed.
He stood a moment longer, then he sat down and placed a kiss on the top of Zachary’s head.