Chapter 9:
MarleyPOV
The next day, I was sitting in a conference room in a law firm, with the case prosecutor. Ryder is at work but Jared is here to make sure that I am not forced into saying anything that could ruin our case.
"So, Mrs. Humphrey, -"as the lawyer across the table from me mistakenly begins, I interrupt her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt ma'am, but it Ms. Rose, please." I politely correct her. I can tell she's trying to manipulate me into something, but I'm not totally sure what.
"Oh, Well, I'm sorry, the records don't say anything about a divorce… but- um- well yes… now let's see…" I've thrown her off her game… Good. Let's see what she really wants… I know how conniving bitches work; I've dealt with them since high school.
"You don't have to be divorced to change your last name… or to completely erase someone from your life either."
"Well, with that settled, let's get started… So you and Mr. Humphrey met how?"
"In college… I was a freshman and he was a junior. We had a random business class I was forced to take together. After about a week of hitting on me, he asked me to coffee after class."
"How long we're you two together?"
"Well, we dated for four years and were married for three before he left."
"Okay, that seems normal. Now, when did he first hit you?" She asks bluntly and that's the moment Jared finally speaks up. He's not only the lawyer but he's playing the 'Big Brother' figure while Ryder isn't here to watch the women's boundary lines.
"Hey, we've already given you a written and a recorder statement about the domestic abuse in the case, why the need to review once again?"
"I need it for my record." The lawyer whose name I believe to be Anne, states plainly.
"Well, I don't care about your damned record. My client's psychological state is more important to me…" He continues to talk and defend me but I zone out as my phone vibrates on my lap. It's Ryder.
Ryder333
Hey, how's it going? Are we going to kick ass?
I laugh a little at his positive attitude and text him back quietly.
Me
Not totally great. It was going well in the beginning, normal questioning about the way we got together and the advancements in the relationship (had to correct this women on my last name… twice) and then she asked the million dollar question.(and if you don't know what that is, you'll be fired as boyfriend when I get home.) Jared flipped out and now is babbling (he does that when he gets nervous… which is probably not good) about how my mental state is more important to him than her damned record… his exact words (actually he used 'psychological' and not mental, but whatever.) Next time I get interrogated, you're coming with me… this is too stressful, and I demand chocolate and lavender bubble bath to be waiting for me when I get home(Please?) and my children at someone else's house, and my boyfriend(preferably shirtless) also waiting for me. Iloveyou3
"Marley, Marley… Are you listening?" Jared's voice pulls me back out of my own mind and into the present.
"Uh- Yeah, what's the question?"
"Why didn't you leave Andy?" Anne repeats.
"I was afraid. I was afraid of what would happen to my kids… and me."
"Well, why was that?"
"What if we left and ran away, and then he found us? He would have been crazy angry… what would have happened then?"
"So you stayed, and ten months later, he left. Is that correct?"
"Yes. We got in a fight, and he got angry, hit me and I woke up the next morning to find him gone. He never came back."
"What changed his feelings toward you having the children indefinitely?"
"Well, I was out for lunch with my friends and we ran into each other. Santana, my mentor from high school, has never been his biggest fan, told him off after he acted like nothing ever happened. She let slip that I had started dating someone new, who I had dated before Andy and it must have set him off." I explain to her calmly.
"Okay, well this seems like a normal case, except for you two never officially got divorced…"
"Which doesn't matter. It has no reason to be continually brought up in this interrogation." Jared states bluntly.
"Well Mr. Mason, it seems that you have not done your homework."
"What do you mean by that?" I ask her very confused. As I ask this I get another text.
Ryder333
I'm sorry baby, it'll be over soon… and I just might follow those demands…
"Well, it means that Mr. Humphrey has the right to visitation… until there is a legal document stating he cannot… You must allow him to visit the children if he wishes." Anne says with a 'I got you this time' look on her face. There is no way I'm letting this bitch win this one.
"Well, I'm not going to allow that man near my house or my children… and you can tell that son of bitch that if he even steps foot on my property, I will personally have him slaughtered… If he needs to speak to me he can call Jared and he will decide if the matter he wants to talk to me about is truly that important. You can also tell that jackass that if he breaks these rules, I will have no control over what my boyfriend does… or anybody else that has helped me the last two years while he was whoring it up and I was raising our children." As I rant I start packing up my things… files and records slipped into my bag, phone in hand, I put my purse on my shoulder, ready to call Ryder to tell him I'm on my way home.
"Mrs. Humphrey! You can't just leave this meeting! I'm not finished my-"
"My name is Marley Rose, not Humphrey and that is the third time you've made that mistake, and I really don't have a care in the world on whether you are finished or not, because I am." With that, I walk out the door. I can hear Jared running after me, but I really don't care, all I want is to be home.
"Marley! Marley! Come on, Marley! Just wait up for a second!" Her yells as he catches up to me.
"Wait for what Jared? To be told that no matter what I want or what I do, that asshole gets full access to MY children and MY life? No way, no chance, there is no chance in hell." I continue to rant.
"Screw that stupid bitch, screw Andy, and screw anybody who tries to help him and stop you. They don't matter. Plus don't you have an in at the police department?"
"Yeah, Jake is on the force… but what does that have anything to do with it?"
"When you get home call him and tell him what happened and see if you can get protection, I'm not sure he'll be able to do anything, but it's worth a shot right? Now get home, I'll call you guys in the morning." He tells me as he hugs me and turns around and gets in his car. I do the same after watching him drive away. I get out my phone before starting the car and text Ryder to tell him I'm leaving.
When I get home, it's dark out and the house is totally dark too. Which is strange because when I texted Ryder, he seemed like he was home. I pull out my phone again, double checking the conversation.
Me
Hey, just finished… I may have let my temper get the best of me… but whatever, that bitch deserved it… I'll be home soon and can't wait to see you. 33 XOXOXO
Ryder333
I hope you didn't say anything too detrimental… that would not be good, at all. When you get here there will be a bubble bath waiting… check the bed for a note first though…
Now that I reread them, I realize how cryptic he sounds… I feel a little worried, but I'm not going to worry about it… it's not worth it. I think I've worried another for one day… Time to relax
I walk inside and realize that it wasn't totally dark in the house and that Ryder has lit candles all over the house… such a romantic. I walk up the stairs at the front of the house, to my bedroom… I need to find this note that Ryder left. As I look to my bed, which I had left a mess has been made; I see a note and a box which looks like a clothing box. I walk over and pick up the note, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Hey Baby,
Sorry I wasn't there to meet you, but I'm needed in other places. I know today has been rough, but I left you something that will help you relax. Don't look in the box just yet, go soak in the bath I drew you, for as long as you like and try and clear your head, then go and look in the box and put on what's inside, and then try and take a little nap. I'll be there when you wake up… I promise.
Iloveyou
Ryder333 XOXOXO
P.S. sorry it doesn't rhyme… I'll try next time.
I laugh to myself at his 'P.S.', finding it ironic that his note saying the note doesn't rhyme is the oonly sentence that does and go to do what he told me to. I walk into the bathroom, where tons of candles are lit throughout. He is such a try hard, but it's sweet and I really need it. I strip and get in the tub... and just relax, that is until my phone rings. Picking it up from the side of the tub, I see it's Ryder.
"Hi."
"Hey, Marls… how are you?"
"Extremely relaxed, thank you for this. I really needed this… probably more than I thought I did."
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it, I worked hard on it." As he continues to talk, his voice sounds like an echo, where is he?
"Ry, where are you? You sound really strange."
"Well, I'm right here." He says as he walks into the bathroom, hanging up. He sits on the floor beside the tub.
"Oh, when did you get home?"
"About ten minutes ago."
"Where are the kids?" Finally realizing they aren't present.
"With Finn and Rachel, I think Puck and Quinn are there too though. They got to pick where they were going to spend the night."
"And they agreed on a place?"
"Finn promised Mikey that he'd play COD with him and Rachel said she'd give Mini a makeover."
"Finn knows I don't approve of that game!"
"Take a deep breath, Marley. Its okay, I doubt Rachel let him play it. You are not allowed to stress tonight, you are to forget everything beside yourself, but first you are going to explain to me what happened at the meeting that made you explode."
"Well, before I divulge anything I'd like to get out before I prune up." I tell him laughing as he helps me out of the tub, wrapping a towel around me.
"I know you kind of hate when I give you things but I brought more presents."
"Oh my goodness, you sure do know how to spoil me, don't you?"
"Yes I do. Now open them."
He hands me a large box that has to pieces of clothing in them. As I open the box, Ryder just grins and pulls me closer. I pull the first piece of clothing out and find it to be a bright red cocktail dress.
"I always thought red was your color. It makes people notice you, and I know that my favorite part of being out with you when the girls made you wear red, was knowing that none of those jealous and ogling guys would ever have a chance with you because you were my girlfriend."
"Really?" I ask him sort of shocked.
"Yes really, you're gorgeous, I wish you would get that through this head of yours." He tells me, kissing my hair. "Now look at the other one. I do as he says, and pick up what is left in the box, gasping as I lift it up.
"Oh my goodness! Ryder, is this really what I think it is?" It's the t shirt he gave me after we had our first time junior year, I can't believe he still has it.
"Yeah, I found it under a bunch of stuff in some box with my name written in your handwriting on it in my closet the other day."
"I gave that box back when we broke up before college, this shirt was the first thing I put in it… I didn't want to have to look at it while I was so heartbroken. I can't believe you still have it." I tell him as I slip off the nightgown I 'm wearing and put the shirt on, Ryder laughs quietly at me.
"That was one of those important things that happen to me in my life. You, Marley are one of those amazingly important things that have happened to me. I don't know what I'd do without you and I don't want to know what life would be like if I had never met you."
"Ry-"I start to respond but he stops me and hands me the second box. "Open it" he instructs, I open the small box and once again gasp.
"Ryder, you shouldn't have gotten me this… It must have been so expensive!" I look down again at the necklace he got me, it's a heart pendent with our birthstones, and Mike and Rachel's also, all lining the right side of the heart.
"Marley, the money doesn't isn't important to me." He says taking me by the chin so I'll look at him and not the beautiful necklace. "I got it to remind you that through all the chaos and no matter who tells you differently, you me and the kids are a family, and that I'm not going to leave you ever. You away too important to me and now your kids are too." God, I love him, he's amazing.
"You know you never cease to amaze me. You've never stopped giving even when I was done taking. Why?"
"Well, to quote you and Cyrano 'Ah, for your joy I'd gladly give my own, even if you should never know.'"
"Well, at least I know you listened in high school… but seriously, I don't understand, why still act so sweet, when I was such a bitch to you?"
"Marley, in high school, you were the only girl I could see myself being with, and when you decided you didn't want to be with me, it broke my heart but all I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. At the time I didn't make you happy, Jake did. I was okay because he was what you wanted. It was okay because he made you happy and it made me happy that you were happy. So I waited and soon I was who made you happy, and even when we were fighting, it was the best relationship I was ever in. When we broke up, I was heartbroken yes but if you were happier not being with me, It was fine. If Andy made you happy, that was fine too. It didn't matter to me who you were with or whether you were single or not, as long as you were happy."
"I guess that makes sense, huh? I feel like that was one of the reasons we broke up wasn't it?" I ask him as I cuddled into his side. "It was like unless we were fighting, which felt we always were, we weren't happy. We had good times, and during them, we were great. But we-"He pulls me closer and answered for me.
"But we had bad times and during them, we were a disaster. You can't think about that now though, that was always our problem, and everyone else's too now that I think about it, we all always wondered when we would blow up again. So we never were able to stay too happy for long because all we could think about was the bad." He tells me, nuzzling my head with his.
"Well, then let me tell you what happened, or the factor of this case that has me going crazy."
"Oh God, what happened?" He looks nervous, and I'd rather him be nervous than angry. That'll ruin the evening.
"First, I need you to promise you won't let this ruin the evening… because you're not going to be happy."
"Okay, I promise, what's going on Marls? You're worrying me."
"Well, Jared and I found out today that because Andy and I never got an official divorce, we can't stop him from seeing the kids… God, this is all so messed up… Ry, what are we going to do… Ry?" I finally tell him what happened; realizing the severity of the situation, trailing off and soon, I find myself in his lap just whimpering.
"Well, is there any way to get a divorce now? That's going to be the only to get out of this." He suggests, running his hand through my hair, calming me.
"He's not going to go through with it though, I'm sure he knows this is the only way to torture me. He is probably keeping away from us because he knows we're going to try that, and he knows that if he can see Mikey and Mini, it'll break my heart."
"Well, I guess Jake and I have some work to do." He says looking serious.
"What do you mean? Ryder, please don't do anything to make him angry…" I plead with him.
"I just want to see if we can find him, then tell Jared, and let him handle it." He explains.
"I guess that's okay, just be careful, please? Don't do anything to get in trouble. And don't get Jake in serious trouble either, because if he gets put on probation one more time, he's suspended from the job, okay?"
"It'll be fine, we're not that stupid baby, and I know what could happen. So can I call him in the morning?"
"Yeah, I guess so." I tell him. He kisses my forehead one more time.
"It'll be okay." He tells me. "We're gonna get him to leave us alone. He's not going to be able to hurt you again." He assures me. I know he's right, and that everything is going to be fine, but I can't help but worry.
I know, I know, now do you have any more surprises?" I say coyly, knowing he probably does. He lets go of me, and walks over to the dresser, opening the bottom drawer which is dedicated to his stuff he leaves at the house. He pulls out a large thin package and comes back over.
"Now, I know you told me not to do this while the case was still going on, but I got an offer I couldn't refuse." He tells me as he hands the package to me. "Go on, open it. Don't worry, you're going to love it. I'm sure of that."
"Oh my Gosh… Ryder! When did you get this done?" I exclaim as I rip the wrapping paper off a picture in a frame, It's a picture of him and the kids, he's standing the middle of them holding them upside done by their knees. At the bottom of the frame, are the kids and Ryder's hand prints.
"Quinn did it for me, when they watching them. She did it for free too. The quote on the top was her idea. She told me you had pointed it out the last time she saw you." He says as I look at the sides and top of the frame.
"Family isn't who you are, or where you come from. It's who loves you and where you belong."
"Oh, Ryder… I love it… thank you, this is exactly what is needed, not only to remember this time in their lives but to help remind me of what this case is about…"
"I'm glad you like it. The shoot was tons of fun; it really gave me a chance to get to know Mike and Rachel."
"It's amazing; it's going to go right over the couch in the living room."
"What about over the bed?"
"I don't have any hooks-"I start to tell him turning around to look at that wall, and he corrects himself.
"How about over the dresser then? Then you'll be able to see it every single morning." I look over and see that where there were no hooks, there now are.
"I think it would be great there." I agree with him. He takes it from my hand and get up, walks over to the dresser and puts the picture on the wall.
"What do you think?" He asks, turning back to me and walking over to hold me once again.
"It's perfect."
Hey Guys! Sorry I didn't update sooner, but my internet turned off and I didn't know how to turn it back on! OOPS! Well now I'll be able to really get into some drama, because of the way I set different story lines up in this chapter. So soon, Ryder and Jake will be tracking Andy down and Marley will be attempting to get a divorce! Oh don't you just love drama? I hope so, because I really do. I will be updating again soon, so keep an eye out for it! So, read, enjoy and review!
