So what type of relationship have you developed with Arrow, Mr Nicola? I come home from work, he smiles. Crawls over to me.
I leave, he cries until she comes home. [sniffles] He's just. .
. like my little buddy. And what does that relationship mean to you?
Can you tell the court? It means more than anything, 'cause he's the first one I'm actually gonna get to see grow up. [sniffles] [Judge Lake] And the thought that this could be your cousin's baby, does that eat away at you?
[Nicola] Yeah. But at the same time, I'm happy 'cause it'd be his first. And I'm happy for Calah regardless 'cause me and her had a miscarriage and it really tore her apart.
[sniffles] Your mother submitted a statement to the court. She's one of the identical twins, and Ms. McCartney sent this statement.
[reading] So your mother's developed a significant bond with Arrow as well. -Yes, Your Honor. -And she believes she's a grandmother.
-Yes, Your Honor. -And raises and treats the baby like he's her grandson? Yes, Your Honor.
So, Mr Eddy, your mother also submitted a statement to the court. She's the other identical twin. She says, "I believe my son is Arrow's father.
When she took the pregnancy test, I was the first one her and Nathan showed it to. I said, 'Okay, who's the dad? ' And she said it had to be Nathan because her and Cordell hadn't done anything.
I even offered to pay for a DNA test when Arrow was two to three months old and she refused. It's making me crazy. It's really messed up me and my sister's relationship and we're twins.
I've missed a year of being a grandma that I can't get back if he's the dad. " [Wilson] Your Honor, I did not deny, refuse to go get a DNA test. I wanted to from the beginning.
I told her anytime, she said that would give me a date and she never gave me a date, so that's why I personally came here to get the answer. [Endicott] Your Honor, she refused two of them. My sister told her she would do two of them and she never got back with my sister.
So, Ms. Endicott, you are Mr Eddy's aunt? -And Cordell's.
-And Cordell's aunt. -Yep. -Okay, so you're another sibling but just not the twins?
-Right. -Got you. -I'm the little sister.
-[Judge Lake] You're the little sister. What do you know about this, ma'am? I do know that she tells Nathan all the time, "You're the daddy.
" Then she'll go back to Cordell and say, "You're the daddy. " I just want it done and over with, and I mean, if it's Nathan's, that's cool. He needs to be daddy, be in the life.
And if it's Cordell's, she needs to leave Nathan alone so he can go on. [audience clapping] I'm hearing something between your words. Are you feeling like Ms.
Wilson is engaging Mr Eddy in an unhealthy way, not just about the baby, but keeping him kind of in her fold? I have the feeling that she's trying to control his life. [audience murmuring] And why do you feel that?
Can you give me a specific example? Just by the way whenever she texted him, he does whatever she says. If he did what I said, why wasn't he at my son's birth?
Because you told us we wasn't invited. And Mr Eddy, why didn't you go? Uh, I was told that she had a doctor's appointment that day and I told her to keep me updated and I.
. . I had no transportation, she went under an emergency C-section.
-[Judge Lake] Ah. -And I just got a message that said, "He's here" with pictures. [Judge Lake] Did you feel like all of a sudden you were left out?
[Eddy] The way that the baby was born and he moved away and stuff, that made me feel like that she just wanted him to be the dad regardless, um. . .
And that she just wants to be with him. And that just tore me up, I ain't gonna lie. Uh, that's why I kind of hope it just goes in his favor.
That way, you know, don't make me feel as bad. [Judge Lake] Oh, because if, oh. .
. 'Cause you're saying if Arrow's your biological son, that's gonna make you feel horrible that all of that time you've missed? Right.
So, Ms. Wilson, did you put Mr Eddy or Mr Nicola on Arrow's birth certificate? Yes, I put Cordell.
-Oh, you put Mr Nicola on the birth certificate? -He signed it. Yes.
[audience murmuring] Was that because he was with you or because you all made a decision? Was it a three-way consultation? No, Your Honor, um, he was there at the birth and I felt like Nathan wasn't even ready if it was his own son because he didn't have a job, he didn't have a vehicle, he still lived with his parents, his aunt, somebody, he'd never had his own place and.
. . So you're picking the best father?
[audience laughing] You're not picking the biological father, you picking the best father. -The. .
. -[audience clapping] You've been honest to this point. What if he would've had the opportunity to be there because he had transportation and he had notice?
[Wilson] We would've went through with a DNA. If somebody had told me that I had a son and he is being born, I don't care if I had to hitchhike, I would be at the hospital. -The day after-- -So, you felt like because he didn't get there, he wasn't as committed, which only reaffirmed the reason why you decided Mr Nicola's gonna be the best father for the baby.
"I'm putting his name on the birth certificate. " [Wilson] And I believed he was. I still believe he is.
If you want more episodes of Paternity Court Make sure to subscribe and click on the notification bell. So if it's determined that he's not today, Mr Nicola's on the birth certificate, where do we go from. .
. If we decide that Cordell's not the father, it'll have to be changed. So, Mr Eddy, were you aware that your cousin signed the birth certificate for a baby he even says is fifty-fifty between you and him?
Yes, Your Honor. Actually, me not getting a ride up there, cause me and my mom had a big dispute, and I couldn't get anybody to take me. Can you tell Ms.
Wilson how missing that moment, missing the baby being born, the baby you believe is yours, what that feels like? It just really ripped my heart out, because I thought she loved me more than to do that, but. .
. -Then again, I mean-- -You thought she loved you more? Enough to know that she wouldn't have done that to me.
When you say, "Done that to me," can you explain? That she just basically pushed me aside for him to be the dad is what I feel. Uh, but I mean, if it comes back Cordell's, I mean, I'll just let 'em be.
I just got it. That's your brother, but you're the big brother. -Yes, Your Honor.
-He idolizes his big brother, his big brother had a girl, the girl was beautiful. "Idolized my big brother, but the girl then pays me attention when my big brother does things she doesn't like. Now I fall in love with my big brother's girl and now she's keeping my baby away from me because now she really wants to be with my big brother so they've taken my baby and made a family.
But I still love my big brother, but I still love the girl. " Yes, Your Honor. [audience clapping] Ms.
Wilson, I need to ask you this because I feel like that there were parts of these times and these moments where you latched on to him and made him feel like you loved him and there was potential for you all. You're nodding yes. There was times that I did.
Yes, look, I've been doing this a long time. I know this, and so, what's fascinating is that even in his testimony, he's not gonna fully give you away and he's not gonna hurt his brother 'cause he already feels horrible enough for doing what he did. He's a very good guy, I mean, when it comes to that, and were best friends and that's kind of how we still are.
And that's what I kind of wanted it to always be and that's what led up to the sex. We were like best friends and then it led to more than that. Oh, I get exactly what happened.
I really do. If Mr Eddy is Arrow's biological father? Have you thought about that?
I know you say you believe Mr Nicola is. Would you want to be a family with him? For the baby?
I don't wanna push something just for the baby because sometimes that's the worst-case scenario, and I want him to be happy and I've told him that multiple times. I want him to be happy, I want him to find somebody and not have drama like comes with me. Mmm.
So now, what is your relationship like, Mr Eddy and Mr Nicola? I mean, I will give you this. I have seen families come up in this courtroom and act a plumb fool over less drama than this.
But you two have not spoken an ill word about the other, you all have both cried when you talk about the baby and one another. What is your relationship like? We was real close all through school.
I mean, I just wanna keep it that way. I don't want no conflict with anybody. [sniffles] [Judge Lake] This is just eating you up, isn't it, Mr Eddy?
-Yep. -I can just see, honey. [Eddy sniffles] Mr Nicola, you can't really even look at your cousin right now?
-No, Your Honor. -You can't? No, Your Honor.
What do you feel? Why can't you look? Betrayed.
[Judge Lake] Betrayed. But we have been trying to get back to where we were. Just for our family 'cause.
. . even me and his mom had a close connection and me and his mom don't even talk no more.
This is a family divided. First cousins who could both be the father, and identical twins who could both be the grandmothers. Is there anything you two cousins would like to say to one another before I go to the results?
Is there anything you would like to say? I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'll always love you.
I'll always love you. [both sniffle] Ms. Wilson, is there anything you would like to say?
I'm sorry to everyone and their family and I'm very sorry that I made my mistake. And I hope today clears it up some. And to anybody that's hurt today, I'm deeply sorry.
If you all are ready for the results, I have them for you. Jerome. May I have the envelope?
Thank you. These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of Wilson/Nicola v.
Eddy, pertaining to whether Mr Nicola or Mr Eddy is the father of ten-month-old Arrow Nicola. . .
it has been determined by this Court. . .
[Judge Lake] The biological father is. . .
Mr. . Nicola.
[audience clapping] You made it through. How does it feel, Mr Nicola? [Nicola] Great.
I'm glad it's over with. Now hopefully me and Nathan can get our relationship back the way it was. This was a family saga unlike anything I think we've ever seen in this courtroom.
And I hope this truth is the beginning of. . .
I think, just at least an opportunity for you all to begin to repair that beautiful relationship you had. You're both such lovely young men, and not perfect young men, but you really showed respect in this courtroom. For yourselves, for your family, for one another, for Arrow.
I couldn't have asked for more. Because nobody is gonna be perfect in life, but you all are gonna be able to give him some very real advice about. .
. -[audience laughing] -Right? People always ask me, "How do you give such good advice?
" 'Cause I done lived. I've messed up. I have fallen down and gotten back up.
That's how I know how to tell you all how to do it. So let's use all of this as a stepping-stone to a better future for Arrow. So these mistakes aren't repeated.
I wish you all the very best. We have counseling and resources for you both. Talk to Dr Jeff and figure out how to get this village back on track.
Congratulations, Mr Nicola. -[Nicola] Thank you. -I'm very happy.
Court is adjourned.
