Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 61

Chapter 42 2

Chapter 42-2

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“Actually, he is.” Ethan pulls out his phone, holding it out to Richard. “If I may, Your Honor? I have Jake on video call. He’d like to speak with you.”

My heart stops.

What is he doing?

And Jake? When did he talk to Jake?

Richard looks stunned for a second, but he knows an opportunity when he sees one.

He takes the phone, looking at me with a question in his eyes. I nod, not sure what else to do./

He connects the phone to the courtroom’s display screen. And suddenly, Jake’s face fills the wall my baby boy, sitting in the academy’s office with a serious expression on his face.

“Hi, Judge Lady. My name is Jake Reed, no, Jake Moore. I want to change it to Jake Moore from now on.” Jake says, his voice soft but clear.

The courtroom erupts in whispers. Judge Whitmore raises her hand for silence, her eyes going to

the screen.

“Hello, Jake. My name is Judge Whitmore. Did you want to talk to me?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I want to confess my crime.”

“Crime?”

More whispers spread through the hall, and this time, even I can’t help feeling nervous.

“Yes, Judge Lady. I want to confess I hurt my mom. I didn’t ask for her permission before deciding to find a new dad for myself.” He sighs, as if troubled by it all. I hear a few snickers from the back of the row, some people clearly finding his attempt to appear mature and serious amusing.

“But I didn’t mean to hurt her. It was because my bad dad and mean lady Jessica were bullying my

mom.”

“Jake,” Judge Whitmore’s voice is gentle. “Can you tell me why you call your father bad dad?”

“Because he’s mean. He makes mom cry all the time. And mean Lady Jessica-she’s the new lady dad likes-she’s mean too. She fired mom from her job because Bad Dad wants to take me away

from mom.”

“Did your mom tell you this?”

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Chapter 42-2

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Jake crosses his arms, puckering his lips with what I can only infer as disdain. “Mom tries to everything from me. She thinks of me as a kid. But I’m a big man and always find out what she doesn’t want me to know.”

“Is that so?”

He nods. “Like when bad dad bullies her. Mom doesn’t tell me but I always know from looking at her face. So I need to protect her.”

“Protect her from what, sweetheart?”

“From Bad Dad and Mean Lady.” Despite his effort, a tear rolls down Jake’s cheek, and he turns from the camera to wipe it off, before continuing. “They are bad bullies. That’s why I made the videos. I wanted to find a new dad who can protect mom until I get big enough to protect her myself.”

Judge Whitmore leans forward, her expression softening. “Did your mother tell you to make those

videos?”

“No, it was supposed to be a surprise for mom. I kept it a secret with Aunt Sophia.” Jake wipes his

eyes. “And now mom’s mad at Aunt Sophia because she found out.”

“Jake,” the judge says gently. “Do you understand what’s happening today? Your father wants you

to live with him.”

“I know. But I don’t want to. I love mom the most in the whole wide world. She makes my lunch and

helps with homework and plays dinosaurs even when she’s tired. Bad Dad just yells when I’m too

loud.”

“But your father loves you too-”

“Tommy at school said love means staying together, never being apart.” Jake’s logic is devastating in its simplicity. “But bad dad doesn’t want mom. He doesn’t want to stay together. So I want a new dad who will keep mom and me together.”

Judge Whitmore is quiet for a moment. “And you think Mr. Hale-Jason-can be that person?”

“Yes, Ma’am. One of the rules to become my new dad is to be okay with me coming first. And

Jason said my mom wouldn’t be who she is without me.” Jake looks directly at the camera. “So

Judge Lady, please don’t separate me from mom. I need mom. And mom needs me. Bad Dad

doesn’t need either of us. He has Mean Lady now.”

The accusation hangs in the air, aimed directly at Dustin, who is frozen in his seat, his face white with shock and fury.

“Thank you for talking to me, Jake,” Judge Whitmore says finally. “You’re a very brave young man.”

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“Can I say one more thing?”

“Of course.”

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“Judge Lady, can you please sign mom and dad’s divorce? I love her so much. Bad Dad doesn’t love Mom anymore, so I’m going to get Jason to become my new dad and keep Mom and me happy. Thank you. Have a good day.”

The courtroom goes silent, heavy with the weight of Jake’s words long after the screen goes

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