The arrangement worked perfectly, and the thought that today’s hearing could upend their harmonious life made Gonzo feel sick and sweaty. With his elbows resting on his knees, he let his hands fall between his legs, his head dropping from the weight of his thoughts. If he lost custody of Alex, he’d never get over it. That much he knew for certain.

Christina put her arm around him and leaned her head against his shoulder, her steady presence giving him the strength to get through whatever might happen. “Are you okay?” she whispered.

“The waiting is killing me. I feel like I’m going to explode.”

“I do too.”

Knowing she felt the pressure as keenly as he did made it easier to bear somehow. Having her there with him made everything easier to bear. He linked his fingers with hers and took comfort in the heat of her skin against his.

“Let’s go, guys,” Andy said all of a sudden as he got up to head toward the courtroom.

Now that the moment was upon them, Gonzo couldn’t move. A wave of fear bigger and stronger than anything he’d ever experienced threatened to sweep him under.

“It’s okay, Tommy,” Christina said. “Whatever happens, I’ll be right there with you, and we’ll get through it together.” She squeezed his hand for emphasis. “Come on. Andy is waiting for us.”

Still in a fog of fear and apprehension, Gonzo got up and let her lead the way to the courtroom, where Andy held the door for them. Gonzo was startled to see Alex’s mother, Lori, for the first time in months. She looked much more like the woman he’d met initially and bore no resemblance to the drug-addicted person she’d been last winter, before a stint in rehab.

Surely the judge would see that too.

Lori stared at him with trepidation in her eyes. Their one-night stand had resulted in one of the best things to ever happen to Gonzo, and he refused to be ashamed of that. But the thought of Lori taking Alex away from him had Gonzo breaking the eye contact.

The court was called to order, presided over by Judge Morton, who’d granted temporary custody to Gonzo last winter. Like then, he gave no indication now of recognizing Gonzo as the detective who’d solved his sister’s murder years earlier. The judge was businesslike as he reviewed the findings of the social worker who’d been a regular visitor in Gonzo’s home and had obviously spent time with Lori too. Gonzo couldn’t bear to listen to the social worker describe the changes Lori had made to accommodate a young child.