I slid my phone across the table.
Then I put in my earbuds, handed her one, and played recording number nine.
Ms. Okonkwo listened to four of them.
Her face never changed.
But she wrote for a very long time.
Three weeks later, we were in front of Judge Rasmussen.
Jordan’s lawyer argued for full custody.
Then Ms. Okonkwo’s report was entered into evidence.
The judge read it in silence.
Then she looked over her glasses at Jordan.
“Mr. Marsh, did you and your partner rehearse false abuse allegations with your seven-year-old daughter?”
Jordan looked at his lawyer.
His lawyer looked at the table.
The judge denied his petition. She modified the order so Jordan’s visits would be supervised for six months. She referred the coaching to the county for review and ordered him to pay my legal fees.
Skye deleted her “gentle parenting” account the next day.
Jordan called me that night.
“You could have told me you had those recordings.”
“You could have told me you were teaching our daughter to lie about me.”
He didn’t call again.
Clem still wears the purple watch.
Last night, she pressed the button and sent me a message from her room.
“Hi Mommy. I’m not crying any way. I’m just happy. Goodnight.”
I’ve saved that one forever.
THE END.