Gone was the felon who’d been her boyfriend. She’d been sober for one hundred twenty-nine days and was working the program religiously, attending daily meetings. She held a job as an office manager, and rented a two-bedroom apartment with a bedroom for her son and had arranged for licensed child care should she get custody. To Gonzo, each bit of information about how Lori had turned her life around to make room in it for Alex felt like a nail being hammered into his coffin.

And then it was Andy’s turn to talk about the lengths Gonzo and his fiancée had gone to in order to provide a stable, loving home for the child. Gonzo had reluctantly agreed to allow Andy to mention that Christina would be leaving her job to care full-time for Alex as of January. While he’d initially objected to her decision, he was extremely grateful now to have the advantage she’d given him.

Judge Morton asked the social worker a series of questions about Alex and his routine with his father and Ms. Billings. While she gave them glowing reviews, she had good things to say about Lori’s efforts, as well.

Listening carefully to each answer, the judge nodded and then shuffled papers around on his desk. The courtroom went completely quiet as everyone waited for him to say something. Finally, he propped his chin on his hands and turned his attention to Lori.

“Ms. Phillips, I want to commend you for the obvious hard work you’ve done to turn your life around. However, I see no good reason at this juncture to remove Alex from the only home he knows when that home has been both stable and loving.”

Lori let out a high-pitched wail of distress that penetrated the fog in Gonzo’s brain.

“Counselor, please ask your client to contain her outbursts in my courtroom.”

Lori’s lawyer leaned over to speak softly to her.

Quiet weeping provided a backdrop as the judge continued. “Detective Gonzales, I’m awarding you full and permanent custody with the provision that Ms. Phillips have regular visitation privileges to be established by the court. We’re adjourned.”

For a long moment after the judge left the room, Gonzo sat perfectly still, processing the words full and permanent custody. He’d won. Alex would remain with him and Christina forever. And then tears were rolling down his cheeks, and he was leaning into Christina’s embrace as she cried too.

“This isn’t fair!” Lori cried. “I did everything they said I had to do! And it was all for nothing!”

“It’s not for nothing, Lori,” the social worker said. “Because of all your hard work, you’ll get to see Alex and be part of his life.”