Chapter 51:
'You've been amazing'
"When I first came across this case, I have to say, I was astounded."
Michonne nearly jumped when she felt Rick's hand on her knee and the bouncing movement she had done continuously since they took their seats came to an end. Her husband appeared calm and collected, and she believed that he was to some degree, but the way his eyes darted from one face to another, told Michonne that he wasn't completely at ease.
"I was also intrigued. I wanted to see first-hand, what kind of situation you people have gotten yourselves into"
She stared at the judge sat at the head of the long, wooden table, not entirely sure where he was going with his speech.
"A mother effectively abandons her son, putting the final nail in the coffin by giving up all rights to him… two years? I believe two years later, then over a decade passed and she files to have her rights reinstated on the ground of… poor mental health at the time they were dissolved…", The judge looked to Lori, who sat on the left hand side of him, "And to make matters more complicated, that child has been adopted, and has had permanent residence and custody with his biological father and adoptive mother"
Michonne refused to even look in Lori's direction.
"You've claimed that, at the time, you were unwell, and in a fragile state from having no contact with the child, and that you were bullied into signing away your rights. You've claimed that the child rebuffed any and all attempts you've made to reconnect, and you think the reason behind that lies with his parents. You've claimed that you've been on the receiving end of abuse from both of the child's parents, and you've also claimed that you don't know how safe the child is as his residing home… You have made a lot of claims"
Michonne's heartbeat appeared to slow down to a healthier pace.
"Then there's you two", The judge looked to Michonne and Rick, "You've claimed that the birth mother willingly signed away her rights. You've claimed that the child chose not to have any relationship with the biological mother, a decision you had no say in. You've claimed that the child's biological mother has been nothing but a pain since returning to the picture and you've also claimed that the birth mother filed the case maliciously, and that she holds ulterior motives"
Her knee began to bounce again, but Rick gave her a little squeeze.
"It's quite extraordinary. I don't think I've ever come across a scenario like this…", The judge sat back in his chair, his eyes darting over to Lori, "I have a few questions to ask you Miss Hindley, the first being, about the child you actually have custody of…"
Lori sat up straighter in her seat, "Yes"
"It was brought to my attention that you've not had a smooth sailing agreement in place with the father?"
"No. We're fine now though, We're able to co-parent for-"
"I understand you ran away with her at one point, sometime last year, if I'm correct?"
Her eyes widened a fraction, "I didn't exactly run away with her-"
"Her father wasn't aware. He filed a police report, which I have right here actually…", The man opened one of the folders in front of him and retrieved the report. Rick's eyes slid over to his wife's, and she gave him a quick, knowing look, while the Judge continued, "You brought the girl to the next town over, where you were staying with your sister?"
"I did, and I did leave a message for her father-"
"Even if I were to believe that, such a subject shouldn't be shared via 'message', you don't have the right to interfere with the visitation schedule set by a court, unless special circumstances allow so. Failure to properly inform the other parent is a serious matter, and I'd hope that you understand why I can't overlook such a thing, especially when you've file something like this"
Lori's eyes didn't leave the man's face.
"Now, don't mistake what I've said, because even without this police report sat in front of me, most judges wouldn't dare reinstate rights to parent that signed them away. Claiming you felt pressured or bullied into doing would be a matter to consider, if it didn't take you over a decade to file a complaint", The man shook his head as he gave her a pointed look.
"Excuse me, your honour", Lori cleared her throat, "But can I please explain why it took me so long to file this?"
"The child is in fact a teenager, am I correct?"
"...Yes, he is"
"The first time you had contact with him was last year, shortly after moving with your daughter to the neighbouring town, where the police found you, correct?"
Her tone was strained, "Yes"
"And you respected the fact that he didn't wish to have a relationship with you? As I understand he has had regular contact with your other child but you kept your distance?"
Lori nodded, "Yes, I kept back and I tried to understand his decision-"
"Then why are we here?", The Judge rested his forearms on the table, clasping his hands together, "Unless he changed his mind, I want to know what's brought you here?"
She hesitated, "B-because I've always wanted to get my son back, I've never stopped thinking about him, but it's been difficult and I think that they have made it even more difficult for me-"
"I understand that these people gave you a small loan to help you move?"
Lori's eyes widened once again, "He did, but it wasn't to help me move"
"Then what was it for?"
The woman looked from the Judge, to Rick and Michonne, realising that she had to either tell the truth about her lie, or play along, "It was… sorry, I'm mistaken, it was to help me move"
"That's a very generous thing to do then, wouldn't you agree?"
"It was", She admitted with reddened cheeks.
"And I understand that you invited their other child to your child's birthday, they've invited your child their child's birthday…", He threw his hands up in the air, "I'm honestly struggling to understand why you thought this was necessary?"
"I've seen how Mr Grimes talks to my son", She blurted out, "I'm worried about him"
"I read that part of your complaint, that would be the incident…", The judge looked through his sheets again, his dark eyes quickly scanning over a piece of paper, "When his father caught him skipping school? Am I correct?"
"Yes"
The judge looked at Rick, "I hope you dealt with him accordingly, Sheriff? You don't want that to become a habit"
"I did", Rick rasped firmly, "I'd like to think that he's not crazy enough to do that again"
"Good to hear", The judge looked back at Lori, "So you witnessed the boy getting a scolding for skipping school and that gives you reason to believe that he's unsafe?"
"I don't agree with how he was spoken to", Lori insisted firmly.
"I think you'll find yourself speaking in a questionable manner when you have a teenager in your home", The judge snickered, placing the sheet down, "Miss Hindley, I believe that you may very well like to have a relationship with the child involved, but it seems that the choices you're making to do so are all wrong, and If the boy is aware of what's taking place here, then I imagine this has only made matters worse. His parents appear to be very reasonable people, and I think it's great that you're allowing your children to know each other. You shouldn't eject tensions into that with things like this"
Lori's shoulders fell, "I wasn't-"
"I would also like to advise you to think hard about any over complaints you wish to file in the future. I don't understand why your other child's father didn't press charges for your deplorable act, but I will make sure that these files are made easily accessible if you do decide to return here"
The other woman didn't attempt to speak, instead she kept her mouth clamped shut.
"Well", The judge smiled as he gathered his papers into a pile, "I hope you all are able to get along for the sake of the children involved. Thank you and case dismissed"
Lori's mouth hung open as her chest heaved, her eyes darting between all the faces in the room, while relief washed over Michonne, and she was overwhelmed with emotion, "Thank you, Ezekiel"
"My pleasure", The man grinned as he stood up, "Enjoy the rest of your day. And please, tell Andrea that she can stop leaving messages with my secretary now. Anymore and I would have had to call the police."
Her smile tightened, "I will"
"Thank you", Ezekiel stepped away from the table, heading towards the door.
Rick rose from his seat, holding Michonne's hand as he helped her up, "How are feeling?"
"Like I can finally breath", She sighed, holding her purse in her other hand, "Weeks of worrying... over in a matter of minutes"
He glanced in Lori's direction as the other woman hopped out of her seat and stormed out of the room after Ezekiel, "We barely had to say anythan'... Hey, stop that"
Michonne dropped her head against his chest as tears rolled down her cheek, "I'm just so glad it's done"
"I know", He huffed, wrapping his arms around her, "I'm so proud of you"
She frowned, her voice muffled, "Why?"
"Because you really dug up the dirt", He sniggered, "I was surprised when he brought up all that stuff"
She smiled against him, "I hoped it would come in handy"
"Remind me not to look far whenever I need a lawyer"
"I'll charge you if you do come to me"
A snort of laughter left him, "I bet you will"
She happily sighed against him, melting into his hold, "I don't want her anywhere near any of us ever again, Rick"
"She won't. I'll make sure of that", He agreed sternly.
"Good."
"You did fantastic", He pressed his lips against hers temple, giving her a soft, little kiss.
"Thank you", She beamed, but only for a moment, as she began to recoil from him, "God, your cologne is too strong"
"You bought this for me", He furrowed his brows at her.
She blocked her nostrils with her Index finger, "It's making me nauseous"
"I forgot you were a bloodhound now", He blew a calming breath, "I won't wear it for another six months then"
"Thanks. Come on, I'm hungry", She stepped around her chair, "You can take me to lunch before my appointment"
"Yes ma'am"
…
"So the whole family get to see the baby today! Aren't you both excited to see your little brother or sister?"
Judith grinned from her father's arms, "Yep... Where is it?"
The nurse chuckled as she took hold of the wand, swirling around in her chair to face Michonne, "You are about to see. I'll show you on the screen..."
"How do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
The nurse opened her mouth to speak, but swiftly snapped it shut when she caught sight of Rick, who was slowly shaking his head. She appeared to give her answer some serious thought, "Well… little boys have… they're… they are shaped differently from little girls"
Judith seemed to accept that reply, "Okay"
Michonne looked up at Carl, who held her hand tightly, "You okay?"
He nodded, still glowing from the news about the court case, "Yeah. This is actually pretty cool"
"Are we going to the pet store after this?", Judith quizzed, tilting her head at Rick.
Michonne frowned at her daughter, "What for?"
Rick appeared to avoid looking at her, but Judith happily answered, "For my rat! Like in ratatouille!"
Michonne's eyes nearly bulged, "A rat? Wh-"
"And now let's take a look at this little bundle", The nurse announced, placing the tip of the wand against her exposed stomach.
She tore her gaze away from her husband to look at the screen, making a mental note to question him later. Her heartbeat slowly increased as she realised she was about to see the baby. Her baby. She was nervous to say the least, but after everything else her family had been through, it was a little less scary.
"Can you see it? This little body here?"
"Whoa", Carl breathed, looking to the other members of his family, "That's… amazing"
"Is that it?", Judith squinted at the screen, "Are you sure that's the baby?"
The nurse chortled, "I'm very sure, honey"
"...My aunt Maggie had a baby and she didn't look like that"
"Well your little brother or sister will look like your aunt's baby when they're born, but just not right now. Now, they're really small"
Judith looked at the woman strangely, then whispered to her father, "I don't think that's the baby"
"That's the baby, sweetie", He whispered back with a grin, before turning his attentions to Michonne, "You okay?"
She nodded, her eyes stinging as she looked at the sonogram adoringly, "Yeah"
Knowing her baby was healthy and developing well put Michonne's mind at ease, and seeing the tiny limbs flail occasionally made her heart warm. It was as if the wall that she had built between herself and her pregnancy had been broken, and she was able to fall in love with the child she harboured. The guilt she carried for the son she lost hadn't been completely eradicated, but she wasn't sure if that would ever be the case. Until then, she knew she could still love the new addition all the same.
"Hi baby!", Judith yelled, looking down at her mother's stomach, "It's me! Judith!"
Rick groaned as he put her down on the floor, "It was only a matter of time before that happened"
Having Carl and Judith with them only made the event more special. She initially thought the idea wasn't a good one, as she wasn't sure how she would react, but she was glad she listened to her husband, and as they strolled through the parking lot back to their vehicle, she was sure to let him know, "Thank you"
He peered down at her, and she could tell that it took him a moment to understand what she was talking about, but it soon clicked, "Just doing my job"
She rested her head on his bicep as she held his forearm, "And I love you for that"
"Just for that?"
"For a lot of things…", She gently squeezed his forearm, "You've been amazing. Perfect, in fact. I don't know what I'd do without you"
He smirked, "Well I hope you threw out that damn 'toy' you got from Andrea, so I won't have to guess"
"...You didn't have a problem with me using it though?", She countered, "In fact, if I remember correctly-"
"You liked the other night, right?"
Michonne eyed the side of his face suspiciously, "Of course I did"
He looked out in front of them as he nodded, "Alright"
"...You think I didn't?"
"I'm just asking"
She didn't completely believe that. The fact that he even bothered to ask such a question, told her that he was still a little doubtful, but she was sure to put his fears to rest as soon as she got the opportunity. In the meantime, she had other matters you attend to, "Why does Judith think she's getting a pet rat?"
The arm she held tensed, and he groaned quietly, "Because I may have told her-"
"You did not-"
"I did"
Michonne couldn't react the way she normally would have, so instead she used a forced light tone, "Well I guess you're going to have to tell her that you were mistaken, and that we can't have a rodent in the house"
"I can't do that to her. She's so excited about it, she even cleared some space in her room for the cage", He looked down as her as he pleaded for his daughter.
Her eyes narrowed, "I can't believe I even have to say this to you, but she is not getting a pet rat, Rick"
"Would you rather a rat in a cage, or a dog running free?"
"How about neither? That's also an option, you know?", She cocked her head at him, "Just because she asks for it, doesn't mean she has to get it"
His eyebrows sprung up, "Do I detect a little attitude?"
Her lips pursed together in annoyance, "We are not getting a rat"
"Look, we'll see what kind of care they need, decide if that's somethan' we think she can handle, then we'll let her take on the responsibility of looking after one"
"We don't have to decide if that's something she can handle because she won't handle it. You know how Judith is, she asks for a pet after any movie with an animal in it. Remember the bee? Remember when she wanted a bee, Rick?"
"I remember when she tried to catch one", He bit his lip in a bid to stop a little chuckle leaving him.
Her expression didn't change, "If you bring a rat home, then I swear to god-"
"That sounds like a threat", He deadpanned, "I don't think Aaron would appreciate that"
"I don't think you'll appreciate sleeping in the cage with the rat-"
"You better not drop her", Rick warned Carl, ignoring Michonne as he watched the teen spinning Judith around as they reached the car.
"I never do", His son responded, still turning with the girl in his arms, "Can we get something to eat? I'm hungry"
"Me too!", Judith managed to eject through a fit a giggles, "I want a hot dog!"
"The rat topic is not over", Michonne sighed, looking up at Rick, "But I've still got your card, so we might as well go out to eat. Again."
He scoffed, speaking in a dry, sarcastic, "You've still got my card? I'm so surprised to hear that"
She cackled evilly, tugging him to walk further, "Come on, let's get you some fancy 'land steak'"
His laughter rang out, and it made her heart warm to see him smile, "Yes ma'am"
