38 Relevance

The next day starts off like the day before, except my morning routine is improved by impromptu kisses. When I leave for court, I’m smiling because I have my husband with me and I feel like it’s going to be a good day. After talking to Chris last night, I feel like we may have a chance. It’s reassuring.

Court starts slowly with the expert witnesses. They analyze my birth certificate and social security card, only to say that it’s real. Someone ran my blood against Clark’s and that came back as I expected. Unfortunately (and fortunately) I am his son. Bridget tells me in between witnesses that fact pretty much won our case.

But then, it’s Mum’s turn. And I’ve never seen her more determined. It starts off easy; her name, her relation to me, her relation to my father. As most things, the questioning gets a bit more interesting. It’s all pretty basic though. She explains that she met my father when they both worked for the embassy, but that she resigned once they got married. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be and Mum looks pleased when Bridget comes back to the bench.

“Missus Moore-Hill,” Halloran starts calmly walking to the stand, “how are you today?”

She nods briefly, “Pleasant, thank you.”

“How long were you married to Clark?” He turns to look at the jury, “I don’t remember you saying.”

“I didn’t.” She assures him before adding, “We were married for eleven years when he left.”

A wicked smile takes over his face, “He left or you kicked him out?”

“I asked him to leave,” she clarifies.

Nodding the prosecution starts to pace in front of the bench, “Was your marriage a happy one before you asked him to leave?”

“Not for a long time.”

“Objection, relevance,” my attorney speaks up.

Halloran turns to Judge Everett and says, “I have a point.”

“Please get there,” she nods before looking to the jury. “Overruled.”

The opposition turns back to my mother, “Is it correct that when he left you asked him not to be a part of his children’s lives?”

Mum nods, “Yes.”

“So something horrible must have happened, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then, Missus Moore-Hill, can you tell me why you’re still married to Mister Hill?” Halloran has a vindictive grin as he cocks his head to the side. “You would think being a man that terrible that you wouldn’t want to still be married to him.”

My mother’s eyes become huge as the information is spilled into the courtroom. She instantly looks over at me with terror in her eyes. And rightfully so, I had no idea. It feels like a slap to the face. Why wouldn’t she tell me they were still married? Why would she even stay married to him? They’ve been separated for almost fourteen years now. Not to mention he hurt her in more ways than one.

She starts shaking her head, but she doesn’t get anything out of her mouth before Halloran is talking again, “And apparently no one knew; from the look on your son’s face. What else could you be lying about, Missus Moore-Hill?”

“Nothing!” she shouts looking between him and I. “It was a difficult situation. I was only doing what was best for my children.”

“Of course,” he nods before walking back to his seat. “Nothing further, your honor.”

“Redirect, you honor?” Bridget stands from her spot to walk forward. Judge Everett nods slightly, but otherwise stays quiet. Turning toward Mum, Bridget gets right to be business. “Even though your credibility isn’t an issue because we already has proof of Damian’s relation to Mister Hill, would you like to tell us why you asked Clark to leave?”

“I’d rather not.”

My attorney looks a little upset when she says, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist.”

Mum looks up to the judge, “Do I have to answer?”

“Yes,” she nods looking down at the woman who gave me life. “You can only plead the fifth if the information you’re holding will make you incriminate yourself. And since you’re still married to Mister Hill, you’re technically still an American citizen. Our laws apply to you.”

“And if I plead the fifth without it being incriminating?”

“You’ll be held in contempt.”

This fires me up. I don’t understand, after everything that’s gone on, she still want to protect him. Does she not understand what she’s doing? Why would she risk herself for him?

“Mum!” I stand from my seat and look right into her eyes. “Why are you protecting him? He’s a right cunt. He’s done nothing to help this family and here you are trying to save him from what he rightfully deserves!”

I hear the gavel banging as I’m yelling at her, but I can’t help it. Would she really choose him over herself? Would she choose him over me?

A silent tear makes its way down her cheek as I speak. Then she’s shaking her head and I’m being forced into my seat. I don’t fight against it. I’ve said everything I’ve needed to. It’s her turn.

“He’s right,” she speaks so low it’s almost a whisper. Her eyes shoot up to Bridget, “I asked him to leave because he hurt my son. He’d been hitting me for years, but I could take care of myself. As soon as he got violent with Damian I knew he couldn’t be around. Day was only ten. I had a three year old in the house for heaven’s sake.”

“Objection!” Halloran stands and slams his hand on the table. “Relevance!”

“You opened the door,” Bridget’s smile is coy and I can tell she’s enjoying his pain.

Judge Everett nods, “You did open it to the court. Overruled.”

As Halloran sits, I can see him exchange heated words with my father. Serves the prick right.

My lawyer turns back to my mother and asks, “Do you have proof of this?”

“After I left the embassy, I went to work at a hospital as a crisis counselor,” she answers with a sad smile. “Every time he would hurt me, I would go to one of my friends and have it documented with an absurd reason as to why it happened. Something I’d heard one of my patients say to me when I knew they were lying. But I did it so that if I needed to one day, I could go back. And when Damian got hurt, I took him to the emergency room and told them what happened exactly. I told them I was filing the suit and that I would take care of it, but I never did. Everything is in the hospital record is London.”

And that’s that. They let mum off the stand a few non-important questions later. It’s a nice feeling that we don’t have to live with the secret anymore.

Then it’s the last testimony of the trial. It’s my turn.

“Raise your right hand,” the bailiff tells me as I settle into the uncomfortable wooden chair. When I do, he continues, “Do you solemnly swear that the evidence that you give to the court will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”

“I do,” I promise, nodding a bit.

And it just takes off from there. Bridget starts by asking me my opinion on all of it. I tell her I think it’s just a ruse to upset me and that it’s working. I didn’t do anything illegal and I shouldn’t be punished for it. I feel a little odd testifying on my own behalf. It’s not something I would have expected I would ever half to do.

She goes on to ask me how I feel about my feeling for my husband and our relationship. It’s such a simple question, but for some reason, I can’t give a simple answer. Even though we’ve only been married for six months, there are more feelings in that time then I’ve felt in my life.

And how do you explain love? I’m not sure it’s really possible.

We stay away from the topic of my father. I don’t want to talk about him and I’m sure the jury doesn’t want to hear more. I don’t have any feelings toward the man that I’ve hated for so long. I’m relieved that Mum finally got everything off her chest, but I can’t find it in myself to keep up the anger. It’s useless. Anger isn’t going to make the events disappear and it’s definitely not going to make him a better person. The only person it’s hindering is me and I refuse to let it anymore.

When Halloran comes to the stand, I inwardly wince, but I keep my composure. Just like my father, this man means nothing.

He tries to be nice in the beginning. He asks me how I am, how I’m fairing in court, and if I’ve been affected. To which, I give him a smile and play along; telling him I’m fine and that this would be over soon enough. It’s not ideal, but I’ll get through this like I have everything else.

“You say that you love Mister Ashton, is that correct?” he asks after the pleasantries.

Nodding, I look him in the eyes, “More than anything.”

“You’ve only been a couple for six months, is that also correct?”

I smile this time, “That is true.”

“And this is your first relationship with a male?”

“I don’t see how that’s relevant,” my brow scrunches.

He looks up at the judge, “I’m not asking about his sexuality. I’m just enquiring facts.” When he makes eye contact with me again he enquires, “Getting into a relationship with anyone is tricky, but when you have such a large change, isn’t there some sort of hesitance?”

“No,” I answer honestly, because I know that I love my husband. “I know I love Christopher. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”

Shaking his head he starts to pace, “No, I believe that too. What I’m saying is- Was there any physical resistances that you felt?”

And now I know exactly what he’s getting at, “You mean was I afraid to be with him physically?”

“Exactly,” Halloran stops in front on the bench and points at me as if I figured out a word he was stuck on.

Shrugging, I respond as best I can, “I think in a new relationship it’s always a bit awkward at first. You don’t know what the other likes or how they’ll respond to something you do. I still don’t see the difference.”

He presses his lips together and squints at me, “Did you know that there’s a law that says that if you don’t consummate a marriage, it can be voided?” His next question hits me right in the gut, “Have you consummated your marriage?”

Staring him straight in the eye, I lean forward to the microphone, “No.”

“And since you’ve been married for half a year now, I would say that’s plenty of time to get to know each other. Are you sure you love him?”

“I’m sure.”

He shakes his head and starts to pace again, “I don’t know. It’s difficult because as I see it. You weren’t in any kind of relationship, but one night you get drunk and married on a bet. Then it’s been six months and you still haven’t given yourselves to each other. It seems more like frat boys that don’t want to back down.”

“That’s not it,” I tell him with a little agitation in my voice.

He lifts a brown and stops to look at me again, “Then what is it?”

“I love him,” and as the words leave my mouth I feel like a toddler who’s having a fit.

He nods and smiles at me, “I know. No further questions,” he turns to the judge and smiles.

Then I’m just stuck there. But soon, they tell me to take my seat so they can do their closing arguments.

Protocol says prosecution goes first, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you’ve seen the evidence and heard the arguments. How was Mister Hill supposed to know who his son was if he hadn’t seen him in 14 years? And how was his son supposed to be a part of this country if he’s not even a part of his father? The evidence against this fraudulent marriage is extraordinary. We have the tape with the two men that are clearly intoxicated and a confession that the marriage isn’t important enough to either of them to consummate it. We the people of the United States ask you to do the right thing and vote Damian Ashton guilty of both charges.”

He’s ushered off and Bridget comes out with square shoulders and confident eyes, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have seen all the evidence and you have heard all the arguments. You’ve also seen the prosecution fabricate the tiniest of excuses because the evidence has stacked against them. The documents are real. The blood tests are confirmed. These men are in love. When our forefathers came to found this country did they banish people when they were upset? No, otherwise we wouldn’t have this wonderful country we have today. A country where we welcome diversity and stand up for rights. But, this isn’t about right or wrong; this is about truth and lies. And as I hope you can see, the truth is on the side of Damian Ashton. Don’t vote for lies.”

It doesn’t take long for them to deliberate. We’re put on recess until it’s decided. Bridget and Halloran have to stay in the room to come get us when they’re ready. But even if it is just twenty minutes, it’s the longest twenty minutes of my life. My head falls into my hands and I feel as though I might throw up. Christopher keeps his arms wrapped around my shoulders as we sit on a bench outside the room.

Then we’re sitting in the same seat we’d been in the last few days. Christopher’s hand is in mine through the wooden slots dividing us. When they read the verdict, my throat closes, my heart swells and my stomach drops to the floor.

~A/N~

That was such an overwhelming response. But, you guys asked for it, you'll get it. I'm entering the Watty's.

I didn't realize how close I was to finishing this story. It's not rushed I promise. There are only 2 chapters left max and an epilogue.

I'm actually really excited!! But now since I decided to enter it, you have to go back and vote and comment where you can! Let's do this guys!!!

Oh yea... and... HAPPY SUNDAY!!!