Page 48 of Grave Danger
“Did the two of you start dating?” asked Beech.
“Yes,” said Farid, and then he looked in Zahra’s direction for the first time. “With her sister’s blessing.”
“Warning, not blessing,” Zahra whispered to Jack.
“How soon were you married after you started dating?” Beech asked.
“Things moved quickly. Six months.”
“You and Ava had a child?”
Farid smiled warmly. “Yes. Our daughter Yasmin is now six years old.”
“Let’s talk more about your daughter,” said Beech. “What role did you play in raising Yasmin?”
“A very active role.”
“Did you ever change her diapers as a baby?”
“Yes.”
“Feed her?”
“Yes.”
“Bathe her?”
“Yes, I did all those things. To some people in my country, it is shameful for a man to care for an infant. Ava was an excellent mother, but we agreed that both of us should be involved.”
“As Yasmin grew older, did you continue to be active in her upbringing?”
“Absolutely. I read to her every night. I was her first soccer coach. I taught her to ice-skate and ride a bicycle.”
For Jack, it was like listening to himself talk about Righley. It went on for another ten minutes. Farid taught her to pray and love Allah. Farid taught her to play piano. Farid knew the names of all Yasmin’s friends, her favorite color, her favorite TV shows. At his lawyer’s request, he sang to Judge Carlton the English translation of Yasmin’s favorite children’s song:
You are the sky’s great moon,
And I’ll become a star and go around you.
Jack had to do something before the judge nominated Farid for father of the year.
“Your Honor, I object. This is all very heartwarming, but this is not a custody trial. It is a Hague proceeding in which the issue is whether my client wrongfully removed Yasmin from her habitual place of residence in violation of Farid’s rights of custody.”
“Judge, that’s a very disingenuous objection,” said Beech. “The mudslinging will start the minute I rest my case, as Mr. Swyteck tries to prove that Yasmin will be in grave danger if she is returned to her father. Mr. Bazzi’s testimony will put those allegations in the proper light.”
“I will overrule the objection,” said the judge. “But, Ms. Beech, please do tie your questions more closely to the issue this court must ultimately decide: whether Mr. Bazzi presents a risk of physical or psychological harm to his daughter.”
“Happy to, Your Honor,” said Beech, and then she addressed her client. “Mr. Bazzi, did you ever strike, beat, hit, slap, push, shove, or spank Yasmin?”
“Never.”
“Did you subject Yasmin to physical abuse of any kind?”
“Never.”
“Did you ever threaten Yasmin with any kind of physical abuse?”
“Never.”