She becomes red in the face. “I provided her with an education, food, shelter, and anything else that she wanted. She never did without. I’m sorry that I actually had to work for the things I bought her, but that’s how the real world works,” she spits defensively.

“And how many days would you work per week, on average.”

“Zero,” she states firmly.

Kristal looks impatient. “Okay, then how many nights. Honestly, we don’t have all day to play your foolish games.

Paula inaudibly mumbles.

“Speak up so that the entire courtroom can hear you,” Kristal commands.

“I said six days.”

Kristal gasps, genuinely surprised. “Is that even possible? Doctors usually work twenty-four hours shifts, then take two days off of work—at least some variation of that. Why did you work so much, Mrs. Carlin?”

“My husband.”

“What about your husband?”

“I already told you he was abusive. I had to get away.”

“I’ll get back to that, but first I’d like to mention that yesterday you said you noticed a change in Spencer. How could that be if you were never home?”

“I—I…” Paula fumbles. “Mother’s intuition.”

Murmurs begin to surface in the audience, but the judge counters, “Order! Order in the court!”

 Kristal chuckles, knowing she has her in a trap. “Were your children resentful of you being away for such long periods of time?”

Paula snorts. “Of course not! My babies know that I love them very much,” she manages through her teeth.

“So if I were to present this note from your daughter’s diary saying,” she picks up the stationary, reading from it. “I wish my mom were home more to come to my track meets, but she’s always too busy working. I hope she gets fired so things could go back to the way they were…” You wouldn’t consider that resentment?”

“No.”

“I submit this piece of evidence into the court data,” she says, handing the pink paper to the bailiff.

The rest of the day goes something like this: Paula says something believable, Kristal goes ‘oh yeah? What do you make of this?’ PADOW! Evidence. Paula backtracking. Kristal hot on her heels. Repeat steps one through five… repeatedly.