8

The next day Olivia woke and began to get ready. She took a soothing shower, brushed out her brown wavy hair, put on her makeup and dressed in a pant suit with a cream colored blouse and brown leather jacket. She took a breath as she looked herself over in the mirror. "I can do this. I'm doing the right thing." She told herself.

She went to the kitchen and had a cup of coffee to wake her up and calm her nerves knowing that there was a chance that by that night she could be a mom. Not just any mom, but a mom to a very publicized child. Half the press portrayed her as a caring parent with regrets and the other half portrayed her a gold digging parent who just wants custody for financial gain. Olivia was blocking all that out cause deep down she knew she was doing this to protect her child and become the mom she had always hoped to be.

She left her apartment soon after and made her way to the court house and met up with Trevor langin outside one of the the family court rooms. "Hey liv. You sure your ready for this?"

Olivia nodded "I am. I've been thinking about this ever since I knew and I know this is the right thing."

Trevor nodded and noticed Claire bringing Brenna in to a room down the hall to wait with a social worker.

Olivia turned to see the girl looking a little frightened and it made her feel a tinge of guilt that maybe she was the cause of that fear.

"Let's go take our seats." Trevir said ushering olivia in to the courtroom.

Olivia followed and sat beside him at one of the front tables across the room from Claire and the lawyer Kris was obviously paying for.

As the two lawyers brought up the pros and cons of each guardian olivia watched as Clair stood and said "I've had Brenna for 3 years and this benson woman only wants her back because she sees her as some kind of cash cow!"

Judge linden was not impressed by the woman's reaction and looked at her and said "if you have had the child for 3 years and yu care for her as much as you say then why have you never applied to adopt her?"

Clair became speechless. The truth was she never wanted the girl she was doing it because Kris paid her good money to keep guardianship of the girl. Trevor had found this out before court and after judge linden said this Trevor said "because judge I don't think she ever really wanted to be a mother to this child. I have found monthly payments sent directly to Claire from Kris and the studio paying her $5000 a month to keep guardianship. "

Olivia was surprised because Trevor had not shared this with her.

Judge linden looked over the bank statements and said "we will adjourn for lunch and I will give a verdict after I've gone over these."

As they all left the court olivia pulled Trevor aside "why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want to have to bring it up unless nessisary and I didn't want to spike your hope incase of a unfavorable verdict." Trevor replied. "But based on what I seen in there it looks like linden is on your side." He continued.

Olivia smiled slightly feeling hopeful now more than ever that she would have her daughter back soon.