“Primary physical and legal custody will remain with Mrs. Bellamy,” the judge said. “Mr. Bellamy’s visitation is suspended pending a full review. Any future visitation will be supervised.”
She looked at Grant.
“The court is also very interested,” she said, “in a man who wears a watch worth more than ten thousand dollars while reporting that he can afford only two hundred dollars a month in support for his child.”
Grant pulled his sleeve down over his wrist.
“I’m ordering a full financial disclosure within thirty days,” the judge said. “Tax returns, bank statements, business records, and an independent accounting. Temporary child support will be recalculated based on what I see, and back support will be ordered to the date of separation.”
“Finally,” Judge Halloway said, “I’m referring this matter to the Knox County District Attorney’s office for review. Fabricating evidence and procuring false statements in a family court proceeding are serious matters.”
She set down her pen.
“Mr. Bellamy,” she said. “You came into this courtroom and held up a picture of your son in a stained shirt as proof that his mother doesn’t love him.”
She looked at Nolan.
“I’ve been a family court judge for nineteen years,” she said. “I’ve never seen better proof of a mother’s love than the eight-year-old boy who stood up in that shirt to tell the truth.”
Part Nine: The Hallway
In the hallway outside the courtroom, Nolan finally cried.
