This is a revised version of chapter three. I'll keep the original version of chapter three up here but remember that none of the events in it will change the plot in this chapter.
"I'm coming with you. I need to meet my mother."
It had been exactly two weeks since Terrence told William that he was planning on coming to Germany and in that time more serious problems had arisen. For one, a week after the conversation, William's father had shown up at Isabella's house to deliver horrible news. That news came in the form of a paper that Wendy was to sign. Divorce papers, signed already to William's shock, in his father's name. At the time, Wendy and he had been upstairs in Terrence's room when Isabella came.
Her face was ashen as she told Wendy as calmly as she could, but with a shaking voice.
"Your husband is here Wendy. With di…"
She broke off and began to tremble.
William got up from the bed and walked toward Isabella. The woman looked like she was going to have a mental breakdown.
"What happened?" he asked, even though he knew that his face was as pale as Isabella's. How could his father just walk in here after he had been gone for a month? Was he going to beg forgiveness to Wendy like he did before?
Isabella then took a shaky breath in, which caused William to break out of his thoughts to look at her. Wendy was still on the bed, looking curious but otherwise oblivious to what was going on.
"He has divorce papers."
William didn't think his face could get any paler at that moment but it must have at that point. He could feel blood going out of his cheeks.
"Did…Did he mention why?"
"He cited abuse as the cause along with insanity." Isabella responded. She looked to be on the verge of tears.
William turned to his mother who was staring at the window.
How was he going to explain to his fragile mother that her husband wanted a divorce. Divorce which, William though bitterly, was on partly false terms? Yes, insanity was involved but she never was insane before his father kicked her out of the house nearly ten years ago. Then there was the abuse. Was his father intending on pining false abuse on his wife? He abused her after all and not the other way around. Wendy should be the one filing for divorce and not his father. It should have been her with the signed divorce papers standing outside Wilbur's house. Instead it had come to this.
Finally he managed to say what he felt was enough.
"Father is trying to get rid of us."
Wendy then flew completely off the handle. The phrase "get rid of" always made her tempers flare. The doctors had said this may have been because she was thrown out of the house. Wendy Wonka would not stand to be rid of. Not this time. Not again.
"Where is he?" said Wendy, now pacing the room, her expression wild. Isabella drew back into the hallway.
"Still waiting." A voice that seemed to be coming from downstairs called out.
"How dare he even come here after…and how did he know I was here?" Wendy suddenly demanded to Isabella.
"I have no idea. The fact remains is that he is here."
Wendy paced the room in a huff and William looked nervously at Isabella. The doctors had warned that she still had a bit of a temper but perhaps they didn't know how angry she could get. On a slightly good side, with this anger, Wendy seemed to have got her right state of mind together.
"What are you planning on?" Isabella mouthed to William to which he shook his head.
"Custard. That's what he wants. That's what he came for." Wendy suddenly said. Her voice had rapidly changed back to normal.
"We don't actually have custard Wendy but I think he wants those papers signed." Isabella said, looking quite confused as to why on earth Wilbur would want custard.
"No. Not custard. Custody." William said, his eyes widening as a realization came to him.
"Of course. He's trying to take you away." Isabella said, as the information came clear to her as well.
"But why? Why now?" William asked desperately.
However, no answer was given as the chiming of the front door sounded.
"You found the place." Came a female voice that William recognized instantly. It was Ruthy.
"Ruthy told my father where we were." William said quietly. Isabella shushed him and the room fell quiet. He heard murmured talking and then,
"Wendy there's someone here for you!" Ruthy shouted. Isabella winced and rushed down the hallway. She must have motioned for Ruthy to come upstairs because William heard no voices before she came upstairs.
"Wendy. Someone was looking for you. Funny thing is, I feel like I remember him from somewhere." Ruthy said when she got to the room.
"It's my father." William said.
"What does he want?"
"Divorce." William, Wendy and Isabella said in unison.
William watched as Ruthy divided her silent attention between every face in the room. Her face was frozen in an expression of forgiveness and sorrow.
"I didn't know Wendy. I wouldn't have told him where you were had I known."
"It's not your fault. I knew he would find me eventually." William said quietly.
William didn't know the complete reason behind his father wanting a divorce. He had formulated a bitter reason that may very well be the cause. Perhaps Wilbur wasn't planning on divorcing Wendy, but instead was trying to get her to leave him so that he could gain custody. Given that Wendy was still in a fragile condition, his father would be seeking sole custody. If that was the cause of divorce, William figured that he would be locked up in his room, never being able to learn about candy. He might be even forced to a dentist.
"Court is now in session."
William winced and turned his ears to the gavel being banged on the podium. To his left was his mother. Isabella had loaned her a simple black outfit to wear to court. That outfit would not win the case. On the other side was his father in a grey suit, looking quite smug. How could he do this to them? His mind wandered to how happy the family used to be. The moment had become a blur as of late and now he could only remember vividly the time when Wilbur came to beg forgiveness at the hospital. William believed he truly loved her. Would he still be in court if he hadn't stopped Wendy from accepting his father's apology?
"Suffering under delusions?" The judge, a beefy man asked Wilbur, waking William up.
"Yes your honour. My wife was hospitalized and…"
"And I was released!" Wendy demanded, standing up. The judge banged his gavel.
"Mrs. Wonka please control your temper. Mr. Wonka you may continue."
"And she had been in that hospital for years. Nearly five. As my wife says she was released but only just recently." Wilbur said, and then sat back down in his chair.
Wendy curled her fists into balls on the table. She looked as though she was desperately trying to control her emotions. As a result she was half sobbing. Isabella, who had accompanied William to the court, stood up herself and walked over toward the judge.
"Have you got something to say Miss…?"
"Masters. Isabella Masters. I have been providing lodgings for Mrs. Wonka and her son." Isabella said.
"What are you doing?" William mouthed but Isabella gave him a look and turned back to the judge.
"That is exactly the case I would like to bring up your honour. Miss Masters has been keeping my wife and son from me for months." Wilbur said.
"Mr. Wonka please let the woman speak." The judge said and nodded to Isabella.
"Thank you your honour." Isabella said and then paced in a small circle before continuing.
"I have known Mrs. Wonka's son for quite some time now and in that time I have been told many portions of information. For one, the child in question is suffering under a syndrome called parental alienation. This occurs when a child garners rather harsh opinions on a parent based on events that the parent has done to them. When William was around the age of six, he witnessed his mother being thrown out by his father. For years he presumed her to be dead until I told him otherwise. Now another point your honour, is that for nearly a year and some months, William was held prisoner in his house being kept by his father based on the fact that he did not want his son engaging in certain activities. We can only assume from that your honour that Wilbur is not properly suited to have custody."
William could have cried and looking to his left, he saw that Wendy already was, looking at Isabella with gratitude. Isabella herself sat back down beside him.
"This brings up a whole other matter Mr. Wonka. Both of you seem to have traits that would not be suitable for raising a child." The judge said.
Wendy smirked despite the fact that she was deemed to be unsuitable.
Banter continued to erupt between the two parents. This banter, which carried on for at least twenty minutes, had the judge banging his gavel down several times. Eventually, it was Wendy who brought up the point that closed the case.
She lifted up her shirt just enough so you could see her stomach.
"My word! Where did you get those scars?" the judge asked in astonishment.
Wendy put her shirt down and then said,
"Courtesy of my husband who did damage far greater than this some years ago. It was only though Isabella that I was able to get the treatment I needed."
The judge glared at Wilbur who shrunk back a bit in shock.
"Arrest him."
Two men came from the sides and put Wilbur in handcuffs. Wendy smirked once again as her husband was dragged out of the court room. William was stunned. She turned back to the judge.
"About those divorce papers."
