Barbara testified first. She said she loved Ellie. She said she had tried to be present. She said I was overwhelmed and angry.
Then Dana cross-examined her. “How many times have you visited Ellie outside Sunday dinners in the past three years?”
Barbara hesitated. “Several.”
“According to records, twice. Is that incorrect?”
Barbara looked toward her attorney. “Not incorrect, exactly.”
“Have you ever attended Ellie’s school events?”
“No.”
“Parent-teacher conferences?”
“No.”
“Doctor’s appointments?”
“No.”
“Did you know Ellie’s teacher’s name before this case?”
Barbara’s mouth opened. Closed. “No.”
Dana turned a page. “At the dinner on November 10, did you say, ‘She’s not as pretty as her cousins. Some kids are just disappointments’?”
“It was taken out of context.”
Dana’s voice sharpened. “What context makes it acceptable to call an eight-year-old child a disappointment?”
Barbara said nothing.
Then Dana called witnesses. Mrs. Patterson, Ellie’s teacher, testified that I attended every conference, answered emails promptly, helped Ellie study, and volunteered for field trips. Dr. Ramirez testified that Ellie was healthy, current on medical care, and showed no signs of neglect or abuse. Mrs. Chun, our neighbor, testified that Ellie was always clean, safe, supervised, and happy. Linda Morrison, the CPS worker, testified that the report against me had no merit and that my home was appropriate and stable.
Barbara’s attorney tried one surprise witness: Carol Jennings, Barbara’s neighbor. Carol claimed she once saw me shouting aggressively in my yard.
Dana asked when. Carol gave the date. Dana tapped her phone, connected it to the courtroom screen, and played my security camera footage. There I was in the yard, yelling: “Get out of there! Go on!” Then a raccoon scrambled out of my garbage can and waddled across the grass.
The courtroom tried not to laugh. Judge Moreno did not try very hard.
Dana looked at the witness. “Mrs. Jennings, he was yelling at a raccoon, correct?”
Carol’s face turned red. “I suppose so.”
“No further questions.”
Barbara lost the case in that moment, even before the judge spoke. Dana’s closing was simple. I had records. Barbara had accusations. I had witnesses. Barbara had resentment. I had cared for Ellie every day since Leah died. Barbara had shown interest only when her financial support disappeared.