“You look radiant Gabrielle.” He was being sarcastic and arrogant. Prick.
I wanted to ignore him but I smiled politely and replied, “Thank you.”
My pregnancy showed on my face but not as much on my body camouflaged by the dress. Thank God I was tall I wasn’t showing much so Keegan hadn’t asked any questions yet.
When the referee entered we began what turned out to be a long afternoon with Daniel Brice speaking first.
“Your honor, my client is willing to continue to pay Mrs. Ellerton’s expenses until her daughter Keegan McCoy graduates from high school on June eighth including their health coverage. At that time, he would like for Mrs. Ellerton to leave their home, which he bought with his own money so that he can return to the home he loves.”
Or sell it I thought to myself.
“He will continue her health coverage until her baby is born and that of her daughter Keegan unless Keegan’s father can provide coverage.” He can, I thought and he will. “He will pay Mrs. Ellerton’s lawyer fees but that is all. He wants the pre-nup to be declared null and void because she cheated on him and became pregnant with another man’s child. Why should my client give a woman half a million dollars who betrayed him?” Daniel seemed uncomfortable with the words that came from his mouth.
Hearing this in the courtroom spoken out loud I wanted to crawl under the table in shame. James had abused me but he would paint himself a saint and me an adulteress.
“The horses Moose and Spider can go with Mrs. Ellerton if she chooses. Her car should be hers as well as any other belongings that she came into the marriage with. That is our offer.” His attorney sat down.
The tears welled up in my eyes. I won’t cry I told myself staring at the ceiling a trick I had learned from a magazine. I won’t cry.
My attorney stood. He cleared his throat, “Your honor, my client will pay for all her expenses including my fees, her health care coverage and living expenses with the monies she’s entitled to from the settlement agreed upon in the pre-nup. She will have needed money left over to support herself, her teenage daughter and her unborn baby. Without out any settlement she is penniless.”
I tried gauging the referee’s reaction but his face was an unreadable mask. Did he see me, as James wanted him too? Did he see an immoral woman or a woman who had needed to be loved?
“She hasn’t worked since moving to Eden at the request of her husband. If she turned to another man it is James Ellerton’s fault. He was abusive to both her and her daughter. If necessary your honor I can bring testimony to that fact.”
Glancing sharply at my attorney I was annoyed that he had not listened to my request to keep the abuse on the back burner unless it became necessary. I didn’t want to stoop to James’s level. I didn’t want to label him. I just wanted out of the marriage.
“Let McCoy support her,” James snapped angrily.
“Order,” the referee declared angrily at James’s outburst slapping the gavel against the desk. “Who is McCoy?” The referee asked me.
“He is the father to her daughter Keegan McCoy,” my attorney replied.
“Kerry McCoy is the father of this child as well,” I said softly.
“There is no excuse for cheating on my husband your honor but I must have some money to support myself until I’m capable of returning to work.”
James scoffed. The referee glared at him.
“There is no doubt that the child you’re carrying is not Mr. Ellerton’s?” He asked.
James snorted in disgust.
In a quivering voice I said, “No your honor. The baby doesn’t belong to James.”
“We’ll break for recess while I sort through this mess. I will review the prenuptial agreement as well. We will reconvene at two p.m.”
The referee left the courtroom. James and I stood with our respective attorneys and caught each other’s gaze. He glared at me. I just wanted this to be over, I thought as I averted my eyes to the floor. I could still feel the heat of his hate on me.
#
Don took me to lunch. He was kind to me even though his reputation as ruthless didn’t seem to fit the man who sat across from me at lunch. Throughout the lunch he took several phone calls on his cell phone. At nearly two in the afternoon we reconvened and the referee rendered his verdict. He sat behind a large podium that elevated him over us. He was a tall man with dark hair and eyes. He was an intimidating sort, I thought. I guess you had to be to do this job. The courtroom was quiet with just our attorneys and us.
“I understand Mr. Ellerton that you are bitter about your wife’s affair but there is nothing in the prenuptial agreement that states she should not get what you agreed upon at the time of your marriage.”
My breath expelled in one long sigh of relief. I hadn’t been aware that I was holding it in waiting for the referee to speak.
“If you had left her for any reason including affairs of your own would you have expected her to not honor your agreement and ask for more money? I simply can’t approve of you leaving her penniless. My verdict is the prenuptial agreement stands. Mrs. Ellerton upon the divorce being final you will receive half million dollars as the document states. You can remain at the farmhouse as agreed upon between you and Mr. Ellerton until June twelfth stead of the eighth, which is the Tuesday following your daughter’s graduation from high school. Give the child some time to celebrate Mr. Ellerton.”