The judge nodded as he listened, asked a few questions here and there. At the end they all sat in silence waiting for the judge’s verdict.

“Son...” the judge finally said, “you got screwed.”

Lance laughed and shook his head. “I did and it was the worst sex I ever had.”

“All this over some porn?” Judge B. sounded disgusted. “Who doesn’t watch porn?”

“Blind people?” Nora offered her best and only guess. “And Lance wasn’t even watching the really good porn.”

“Subspace.com?” the judge asked, sound disappointed. Personal experience, no doubt.

“That. Can’t stand that tame shit,” Nora said. “The good stuff’s on Kinkster.com.”

“It’s pay-per-view, though,” Judge B. said.

“But it’s worth every penny. They’ve got the best group sex vid on there. Lots of feet action.”

“Can you send me the link?”

“Excuse me,” Lance interjected. “Are we talking about my legal situation or where to find the best kinky porn?”

“Why can’t we talk about both?” Nora asked Lance who replied with only a glare. “Fine, back on subject. So Lance got screwed. What can he do about it?”

The judge adjusted his glasses as he spoke.

“I can help. Definitely. If everything you’ve told me is true—”

“It is,” Lance said.

“Then there is some hope. I know the judge you had—Hawkins? Hate that self-righteous bastard. He sides with the mothers in 95 percent of his cases no matter what the circumstances. I can suggest a good attorney, and we’ll get your case moved to another judge. We’ll have to petition the court for a new hearing based on new circumstances—”

“What new circumstances?” Lance asked. “Nothing’s really changed.”

“Considering your fitness as a parent was called into question, you’ll probably need a psychiatric evaluation, a thorough one. Once the psych eval clears you of being an unfit parent, then you’ll have plenty of ammunition in your fight.”

“I can do that, definitely. You think it’ll work?”

The judge nodded. “Yes. Once we get you in a new courtroom, which I can handle, and your attorney presents your psych eval and any other new evidence...should at least get you joint custody.”

“That’s all I want. I don’t want to take Maya from her mom.”

“That attitude is the right one to have. This battle is for your daughter, not against your ex-wife. A bad attitude can doom a case. But speaking of dooming a case...”

Judge B. turned his gaze from Lance and onto Nora.

“What?” Nora asked. “What did I do this time?”

“You exist,” Judge B. said.

“That’s not my fault,” Nora said. “I didn’t ask to be born. Which is good because my mother probably would have said no.”

The judge gave a tired, nervous laugh.

“My dear...I could not be more grateful that you exist,” he said. “But am I correct in assuming this young man is slightly more than just a bodyguard?”

“We did have sex today. A lot of it,” she admitted without shame.

“That’s going to be an issue.” The judge looked from Nora to Lance. Nora felt her stomach starting to tighten with fear.