It had been three months since I had that phone call from those lawyers. Today was the day that I was going to court to fight for my kids. Since Stu had already left the WWE he was now in the courtroom with me. I also had David Otunga and a few of his lawyer friends. I looked across the room and sitting on the other side was my ex and his lawyers. I was super nervous.
"Love," Stu whispered in my ear to get my attention. "Everything will be alright." He put my hand in his and lifted my hand up and placed a kiss on the back of it.
"Everyone rise."
We did and sat back down when the judge came in.
"We are here for the proceeding for custody of the following children: Brianna Ranea Portman and a Jacob Lee Monroe. Are all party here for the proceeding?" he asked and we stood up. He nodded his head and we went forward to the tables. I sat down with the three lawyers and David beside me while my ex had his two lawyers. "Now I see that Mr. Portman wants full custody and Ms. Monroe has filed for full custody. So lets hear the different sides of the stories. Mr. Portman, you can go first."
His snooty lawyer stood up and made his case. "My client want to see his children. Ms. Monroe has had numerous guys in and out of her life. She works night shift doing who knows what and she is never home. Her children are never with her and she has multiple guys watch her children while she is doing what she does at night. This is an unstable relationship with the children. They need stability. They need to have a parent in their lives that cares for them and loves them and not use them which is exactly what Ms. Monroe has been doing." He said and sat back down. He smirked at me as tears started to fall from my face. How could Nathan think that of me?
"Next, Ms. Monroe's side."
For this David stood up and walked to the side. He had gotten to know me during the time that he took my to meet his friends. "Ms. Monroe here has gotten a promotion at work, she spends what time she isn't at work with her children. She has a house of her own and a car of her own. Her mother watches the children when she works. The oldest goes to school for most of the time that she is at work. Ms. Monroe has been on her own since she was pregnant with the youngest child. She went through everything with the children. She has been through the first for the youngest with no support from Mr. Portman. In actually Ms. Monroe had to take the young Jacob to see Mr. Portman when he was three months old. Mr. Portman hasn't done anything to help Ms. Monroe for over two years. I do not see why he should have any rights to see the children. Thank you." He said before sitting back down next to me and patted me on my leg.
"Let me get the right," the judge stated. He pulled his glasses off his face and looked at both tables. "Ms. Monroe, you work?
"Yes, Sir."
"You just a promotion?"
"Three months ago, yes, Sir."
"Ok, three months ago you got a promotion. You work in retail?"
"Yes, Sir. I am now a Department manager."
"And what are your hours?"
"I work form seven in the morning to four in the after noon."
"Alright. So what days do you work?"
"Monday through Friday."
"So school days. Alright Mr. Portman, do you work?"
"No, sir."
"No? How are you making money?"
"I get a check from my parents every month. Its an inherent check. Sir."
"So you do nothing?"
"I do odd and end jobs. For the most part I am at home."
"You haven't been around the children?"
"Ms. Monroe will not allow me."
"Is that correct Ms. Monroe."
"No Sir. I have told Mr. Portman that he could come see the children whenever he wanted. I am not going to let him come see them at one in the morning though sir."
"I do not blame you. Now Mr. Portman you are lying to me. I have heard enough of this. Mr. Portman because you have lied to me and this court I am awarding sole custody over to Ms. Monroe. You are to not have any rights, you are to not see the children in question. Ms. Monroe do you request any form of child support from Mr. Portman?"
"No, Sir. I do not."
"That's fine. Note that Ms. Monroe request no child support, however it is I who is requesting the payment. Mr. Portman you are to pay the court a total of $1500 for the court cost today as well as a total payment of $800 a month to Ms. Monroe for Child support. You are to not make any contact with Ms. Monroe or her children at this point in time. I am going to be placing this TPO on you for the next ten years. That is my final decision."
With that he closed. I jumped up and hugged David. I was crying my eyes out.
"We got them." He said in my ear.
"Thank you so much for your help."
"Oh, it was no problem."
I turned around and wrapped my arms around Stu's neck. I was so happy my life was still my life.
"I'm so happy for yeh, love." he said and placed a kiss on the side of my head. Everything was just so perfect.
"Lets go get the kids." I said as I grabbed his hand.
"Just one moment." A voice said from behind me. I turned around and it was the judge. He was standing behind me. "I forgot one thing. Would you like to change Ms. Brianna's last name to your own?"
I looked up at Stu and he stared at me. "No, Sir." I think she would be confused if I did that."
"Understandable, If Mr. Portman tries to contact you please call the authorities on him."
"I will. Thank you." I watched him move back into the door that he came out of.
"You will not have to worry about that. Do you want to move to Florida?"
"What?"
"Move to Florida with me?"
"What about my job?"
"Transfer. You know the school down there would be so much better than here."
"Let me think about it."
"That's understandable. Now lets go get the kids." He said and lead me out the courthouse.
