Judge Hanley listened without interrupting. Then he announced a recess before issuing temporary custody orders. Outside the courtroom, Daniel came toward me and said, “You made me look terrible.” I told him, “I asked questions. The answers did the rest.”
The bailiff opened the doors and called us back inside. Daniel walked to his table, Patricia sat behind him, and I returned to the same place where I had once needed a railing just to stay upright. Judge Hanley entered carrying several pages of handwritten notes. Then he looked directly at both of us and began to speak.
PART 5
Judge Hanley set his notes on the bench and looked out over the courtroom the way a man looks at a house he has finally finished repairing. He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. Every person in that room had already learned, over the last two hearings, that his quiet was more dangerous than anyone’s shouting.
