Hi everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying the festive break.
I split this chapter into two parts as it was a bit long and heavy going to read at once. I've got no concept of family court proceedings in the USA so I took some liberties with my research. If I've got anything offensively wrong, please drop me a message so I can correct it! UK courts work very differently!
Thank you, as always, to my beta for the read through.
Thanks to you all for reading along, for all the reviews and PM's I've been getting on this story. It truly means the world to me :)
.oOo. Chapter Twelve .oOo.
The day of the court date arrived almost a month later.
Chloe woke up early, before the sun was up, and laid in bed contemplating all that had happened since February. She couldn't quite believe they were at a point where they were having to attend court over something which could have been settled between themselves to begin with. She knew they'd be some legal matters to take care of eventually, but they just wanted access to their daughter.
Oliver Harris, Chloe's attorney, had advised both David and Chloe not to attempt to contact Beca again. David had appeared quite triumphant at the news, but it had been weighing on Chloe heavily. She didn't like David's stance on the whole matter but had found herself going along with his forthright demands. She wanted to reach out to Beca, but she was also annoyed that Beca hadn't gotten in contact either.
Chloe turned over in bed, the quiet rustle of the bedsheets irking her. Knowing she wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon, she decided she needed some air and quickly changed into her running gear. Tying her hair up into a messy ponytail and, after checking that Stacie, her friend and assistant, was still asleep in the guestroom, she quickly made her way down to the kitchen, collected a water bottle and slipped out of the back door. Turning left out of the gate, she felt the cool morning air fill her lungs, burning at the same time as the weight on her chest made itself known.
She ran down Elmgrove, turned right onto Foxglove and picked up the pace as she ran towards the small park that the girls loved to play in. She knew she'd regret not warming up properly as she pounded her feet onto the pavement but that would be tomorrow. She wanted something to hurt so she could feel something other than the anxiety in her chest.
She paused at three miles into her run, the slight ache in her gut now bothering her, and stretched her back, using a small tree as support for a few moments.
She was not looking forward to the day ahead.
Making her way up the small hill past the park helped her focus. Her goal was to make sure her child, the little girl she'd carried inside her would come home to her for good. For the past two months, she'd had little else to think about. While she knew Beca had done her very best in raising Jessie, Chloe knew her place was back with her and Kate in the warm, safe and affluent house she could provide.
She checked her watch as she paused for breath at the corner of Grosvenor and Lake and decided to head back home a little earlier than usual. She wanted to make sure David was ready and dressed and able to help out with breakfast while she read through the questions that Oliver had left her one more time.
She entered the front door and kicked off her shoes by the door. She could hear Stacie in the kitchen with Kate and Alex, clearly engrossed in a discussion about the merits of Cheerios. Poking her head around the door, she let Stacie know she'd be heading upstairs to shower.
Standing under the hot steam did little to quell her nerves about the day ahead and she took longer than normal to wash her hair, feeling a little better as she sat on the edge of her bed, wrapped up in a fluffy towel as she read through her notes that her attorney had left her.
She'd laid out what she thought was her best suit and blouse the night before. It had been a gift from Armani to wear on her interview with Ellen, and she loved it. It fitted her perfectly, accentuating her slim waist and was a little more forgiving around her chest. She loved the blouse too, adorned with small pink and blue flowers, it was pretty enough to wear just about anywhere.
She dressed quickly, hoping the court room was air conditioned as she was beginning to feel quite hot. She selected a simple gold necklace and earrings and put on her Rolex. She twisted her hair to keep it off her neck and pinned it into place with a large clip. She wanted to look like she meant business, even if she didn't feel it.
Hanging her towel back up behind the bathroom door, she picked up her shoes and switched the light off in her bedroom. She was about to head back downstairs when she heard a voice behind her.
"Oh God, you look like Aubrey!" Stacie said, as she came out of the girl's bedroom. "Or a really posh flight attendant."
"It's my favourite-"
"-You can't wear it."
"What? Why not?"
"You look like you are going to a job interview." Stacie said, ushering Chloe straight back into her bedroom.
"Stacie?"
"You need a dress. Not pants."
"Why?"
"You need to look like a mother, not some sexy actress with the world at her feet."
"I don't think I-"
"-Trust me. You don't want eyes on you today, remembering you for that." Stacie said, gesturing towards Chloe's cleavage.
Chloe huffed. She's put some effort into choosing her outfit, wanting to feel empowered and look smart.
"I don't have anything else ready." She said, lamely and Stacie gave her a disbelieving look.
"I'm sure you have. Let's find something." Stacie said, walking over to Chloe's huge dressing room. She rummaged through the racks that ran around the room, her eyes falling to a summer dress she'd seen Chloe in a few weeks beforehand. She pulled it off the hanger and handed it to Chloe. "This one."
"I can't wear that to court, Stacie."
"Yes, you can."
"I wore this to a picnic a few weeks ago. It's too casual."
"It's not, if you dress it with a summer jacket." Stacie said, indicating a white linen jacket with a pink cotton detail on the sleeve. Chloe's eyes widened a little. Stacie had a point.
"Okay, I'll trust you."
"And wear the pink kitten heels, on the third rack down. They match the jacket really well. And wear your hair down, lose the Rolex and take off the dramatic makeup." Stacie remarked with a casual wave of her hand.
Impressed with Stacie's eye, Chloe quickly changed into less formal wear. She gave herself a quick once over in the mirror and unpinned her hair, running her fingers through it to slacken the curls and leaving it loose around her shoulders. She felt her stomach roll with nerves as she checked on her newly reapplied make up and ignored the tremor in her right eye as she made sure her mascara wasn't too clogged in her compact mirror.
Heading down the stairs, she could hear Stacie talking with David by the back door.
"You need to lose the blue shirt and tie today. Have you got pink or purple? You need to look like a girl dad today."
Chloe smirked as she heard David mumble something as she got to the bottom of the steps.
"Morning." She said, noticing her voice sounded a little strained.
"Morning." David said, turning towards his wife, baulking at her appearance. "What the heck are you wearing? You look like you're going to a bake sale or a Church picnic. Go and change immediately."
"Stacie!" Chloe squealed, stamping her foot a little in frustration.
"That's the look you're going for. Wholesome mother, remember?" Stacie mirthed. "David, you're the one who has got five minutes to get changed. Aubrey will be here to pick you up at eight sharp and you know she doesn't like to be kept waiting."
.oOo.
They arrived at the Santa Monica courthouse just before nine.
Chloe was grateful to Aubrey for offering to drive them both that morning. Her nerves were shot to pieces and David's silence wasn't helping matters. The last couple of months had been pretty unbearable as they argued over every single point of the case that they were putting together against Beca. Chloe was adamant that they could still sort it out between themselves while David was using every contact he'd made since dating Chloe and pulling in all outstanding favours, wanting to take Beca to court to force her to let them have access to Jessie.
Chloe was horrified when she discovered that David had Beca followed and photographed by a private investigator. David was mad at Chloe for not being more persistent with Beca and ensuring they had contact with Jessie. Chloe had tried to explain that it was much harder for Beca, but David simply didn't want to understand. Chloe told him about Jesse from what she remembered Beca saying in the hospital about him and how all of this happening had probably forced her to relive his death and the aftermath of her having to live and life without him in it.
David called Chloe soft, saying that she needed a stronger backbone if she wanted to see her daughter. Eventually, he began to wear Chloe down to where she was beginning to agree with his brash and harsh ways just so he would stop talking about it all day long. She was beginning to develop a constant headache and had stopped sleeping through the night. She'd also had several call backs for reshoots as the commercials and walk on parts she was filming simply weren't up to her usual standard.
In the end Chloe agreed to the court date, just to get some respite. She was still hoping to work it out with Beca but as time passed, she found the burning desire to see Jessie was affecting everything around her. She would dream of her daughter constantly, imagine the three girls playing together and as spring rolled over into summer, she began to purchase clothes for all three girls to wear, confident that Jessie would be coming to visit soon.
Chloe snapped out of her daydream as Aubrey pulled up to the parking lot opposite the courthouse, found a space easily enough and announced that they'd arrived. Together, they walked over to the modern looking building in silence.
"It doesn't look that frightening." Chloe said, as she took in the courthouse.
"It's just a building." Aubrey stated blandly. "A building can't be frightening. Remember that you are here for your girls, and their best interests. Try not to get any fanciful ideas or lose your way Chloe."
Chloe nodded and decided to keep her mouth shut, despite her emotions being all over the place. She liked to talk when she was nervous, it made her feel better, but she knew neither David nor Aubrey could understand what she was going through. There was only one other person who could truly understand, and she was just about to go to court… into battle with her.
She realised she was daydreaming when she heard David clear his throat to get her attention and she walked through the door that David was holding open for her. They'd planned to be early and had an hour to waste before their attorney was due to arrive but now Chloe was dreading the wait. Passing through security, David stated their intentions for the day, and they received their identification badges and security passes. Chloe declined the offer of additional security for her, knowing that it would more than likely bring unwanted interest to her. Walking through the lobby towards the staircase, Chloe attracted a few fleeting glances, but she kept her head down and to the side, trying not to draw attention to herself and hoped her redundant poise would just cause the usual, 'did anyone tell you that you look like Chloe Beale?' thoughts and remarks.
Santa Monica wasn't the largest of the Los Angeles area's courthouses and that was the reason for their attorney's request. Oliver Harris wanted the press to be kept in the dark about the hearing but would happily notify his contacts if the verdict went his way, knowing he could have forty reporters outside before the ink on the paperwork had dried.
As soon as David, Chloe and Aubrey finished climbing the stairs up to the courtrooms, they saw Trent, Helen, Jake and Tom waiting for them at the top, tucked into a small alcove that had a couple of bench seats, a water cooler and a sad looking plastic potted plant that was fooling no one into thinking it was real.
Chloe hadn't asked David's family to come, had wanted to keep them out of the drama that was unfolding but, in that moment, she was grateful that they were there with them. The small group of seven soon turned into thirty people as Chloe's studio executives, personal assistants and some of their joint friends began to show up, determined to show support for the couple. A court clerk soon moved them out of the area into one of the larger waiting rooms.
Chloe felt overwhelmed after a few minutes, something that Aubrey recognised in her lifelong friend and pulled her aside to sit on a bench away from the crowd that was slowly moving into the side room, lining up for the weak coffee and lukewarm tea that was being offered.
"You okay Chloe?" Aubrey asked, reaching into her purse for some gum. She knew Chloe got a little overwhelmed at times and gum seemed to give her something to focus on.
"No."
"It's going to be all right. Remember that you've done nothing wrong here." Aubrey said, offering Chloe some of the gum and replacing it in her bag when Chloe shook her head to say no, thank you. "You are-"
"-Aubrey!" Chloe said suddenly, reaching out and grasping Aubrey's hand.
"What is it Chloe?"
"There she is."
"Who?" Aubrey said, looking around.
"There's Beca." Chloe nodded towards the set of stairs they'd come up earlier that morning. Beca was just signing in with security and talking with one of the guards who was asking to see inside her purse.
"Nice to see she can be on time. I'm slightly surprised she showed up at all."
"She looks so little." Chloe said, ignoring Aubrey's bite.
"She's wearing a lot of earrings." Aubrey noted.
As Chloe sat and watched Beca quietly interact with security, she thought back to the last time she'd seen Beca. It was in the play area when Beca had walked away from her, upset at David's intimidation. She'd been so annoyed by her husband's outburst and line of questioning when they'd spoken at length about how they wanted the first meeting to be casual and friendly.
Chloe was disappointed that it hadn't gone better but as she drove home that night, she decided that she'd meet up with Beca without David present, in the hopes that the girl she knew from the NICU would be present, rather than the sullen, awkward woman who'd shown up that day in early March. She had met Jessie once, wanted… needed to get to know her own flesh and blood better, other than the brief meeting and two photographs that she had of her child.
She had hoped that they'd get rid of the awkwardness at the play centre and then they could go out for a quick bite to eat with the girls and break the ice even more, make a few play dates for the next couple of weeks and arrange for the girls to start sleeping at their correct parents' house.
She was highly unimpressed that David had gotten their lawyers involved but as time went on, and she also became increasingly upset with Beca's lack of responses, she started to listen to what he had to say. She began to see it from his side of things and the ache in her chest was getting worse. She was desperate to see Jessie again, to hold her, kiss her cheek and play games with her. Chloe knew she was doing her utmost to give her girls a good life and she knew, from reports, that Beca was unable to provide the same for Jessie.
She didn't agree with their lawyer's case. She wanted access to Jessie, but David insisted that they petition for custody of their twin. Their lawyers stressed they had a good case and wouldn't suggest demanding custody if they didn't have enough evidence against Beca.
Chloe had spent hours with the lawyers, answering hundreds of questions about Beca and Chloe's discussions from nearly four years ago. All recent communication had stopped after David threatened Beca with their lawyers. She wasn't surprised. Disappointed that the girl she'd known from the NICU was now fighting against them.
As she watched Beca receive her identification badge, she wondered what was going through her head that morning. She wished they could have been friends as no one else could understand how she felt. It was in that precise moment that Chloe's heart began to really thump in her chest.
She felt her face heat up as a thought flashed through her brain.
"Oh God." Chloe said to Aubrey, suddenly leaning forwards and laying her head in her hands. "It's literally just hit me."
"What has?"
"That she had her child swapped too."
"Chloe, I-"
"-Oh God." Chloe cried out again, loud enough to draw the attention of two court clerks walking through the lobby. "It's not even crossed my mind that I might have to give Alex back. I want Jessie so badly, but does this mean I have to give Alex away? Aubrey…"
"Breathe Chloe, just breathe."
Chloe watched as Beca walked up the steps towards the court room. She was adjusting the collar of her jacket as she slowly climbed the stairs, casually ignoring the throng of people who were milling around at the top. She was clearly uncomfortable in her surroundings and had no one with her as she carried a packet of documents in one hand and a small purse in the other.
Chloe thought she looked really pretty as the early morning sunlight filtered through one of the top windows, catching the natural highlights in her hair as she sat down. Keeping her focus on the courtroom door, Beca ignored everyone around her as she took a seat quite far down the hallway. She shrugged off her purse and begun to dig through it, clearly needing to keep her fingers busy.
"I have to ask you something." Aubrey said, drawing Chloe's attention away from Beca.
"Yes?"
"What did you think was going to happen when you petitioned Miss Mitchell to hand Jessie over?"
"I thought it would scare her into letting us see Jessie more."
"And what would you have said if Miss Mitchell had come to you and asked you to swap Alex back?"
Chloe blinked a couple of times, unable to answer Aubrey's question.
"You need to keep focus today Chloe. You need to keep your mind sharp and remember that you are trying to gain access to your own child. You can't let you heart start making grand gestures because you feel sorry for someone you've known for next to no time. You are here to keep Alex and get custody of Jessie. David asked me to remind you of this, if you waivered in your conviction."
Chloe nodded, wanting to agree with Aubrey when she heard her attorney call her name.
"Good morning Chloe." Oliver Harris said, coming to a stop in front of her. He was in his early forties, had a reputation for being ruthless and was a favourite amongst celebrities for keeping their business out of the press. "Are you ready for this?"
"No." She said softly.
"You went through the questions again?" He asked, checking the time on his watch.
"I did. A few times."
"And you remember the order in which I'll be asking them."
"I do, yes."
"Good. It'll be fine today, you'll see." Oliver said before giving Chloe a once over. "You look the part of a mother today, good choice of clothing."
Chloe glanced down herself as if she had forgotten what she was wearing.
"Shall we go in and get settled?" Oliver asked.
.oOo.
There was a general murmuring in the courtroom, a few minutes before ten thirty and the start of the court case.
"Aubrey, I feel sick." Chloe said, leaning back to speak to Aubrey, who was sitting in the row behind Chloe, David, Oliver and his assistant, Lauren.
"Pay attention Chloe." David said, tugging on her arm, before Aubrey could say anything.
Chloe looked around the court room. It wasn't as formidable as she'd been dreading. Her side was packed, filled with her in laws, friends, people from the studio. She gasped when she saw just three people on Beca's side, sitting so far towards the back, it was obvious that they weren't with her. She saw Ms Davies three rows behind Beca who nodded her greeting at Chloe as she caught her eye.
Chloe couldn't see Beca's attorney and wondered if he'd had to step out for an urgent matter.
She watched Beca look up at the clock a couple of times and then to the back of the room where the entrance was, as if she was looking for someone. Chloe quickly realised that Beca's attorney was late.
"Oyez, oyez, oyez… Department One of the Superior Court of the State of California, the Honourable Judge William F Highberger presiding, is now in session. All rise."
David grabbed Chloe's hand as they stood up, he smartened his tie as she smoothed down her dress. Chloe looked over towards Beca who kept her gaze on the judge the whole time. Chloe could see her hands trembling just as her attorney finally joined her, looking like he'd rolled out of bed and jogged to the courthouse. She spoke sharply to him as the judge entered the room, his robes billowing out behind him. The judge looked over the courtroom and gave a curt nod to those present. He took a seat and the court officials moved about, taking seats and organising papers.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen." Judge Highberger spoke, his authoritative voice was calm but firm. He looked out at the room in front of him before he spoke again. "Family court hearings are habitually closed hearings. The only persons usually allowed in the courtroom are people directly involved in the case. If there is anyone in the courtroom who is not directly involved in this case, you will have to leave at this time and wait in the holding room. I will not be persuaded otherwise."
Chloe casually looked over her shoulder towards her family members and friends as they started murmuring about having to leave.
"If you are not a Youth Court or Family Court member, a Counsellor, or guardian, you will have to leave at this time." Judge Highberger repeated. "I do not have to stress at the sensitivity of this case, due partly to the status of one of the participants. Tomorrow, if this case continues, I may allow members of family and friends to join us but today, I want the facts of the case laid out as they are without theatrics or sentiments."
There was an immediate rise in the level of noise as people grumbled over the fact they had to leave before the crowd of forty people dissipated to hang out in the waiting rooms outside.
Once the courtroom had cleared, leaving only a small handful of people inside, Chloe stole another look at Beca. There was a modicum of relief on her face which hadn't been there when the court had been full.
"Everything that goes on in Family Court is confidential. We will take an oath of confidentiality. If everyone will please raise their right hand and repeat after me:"
He waited while the few hands were raised.
"I solemnly swear that I will not divulge, either by words or signs, any information which comes to my knowledge, in the course of this Family Court session, and that I will keep secret all said proceedings, which may be held in my presence. Thank you. Please be seated."
Chloe looked around again as she took her seat. Her eyes landed on Beca as the judge began to speak again. Beca continued to stare steadfastly in front of her.
"Bailiff?"
"Calling the case of Mr David Robert Mitchem and Mrs Chloe Anne Elizabeth Mitchem-Beale, of Studio City, Los Angeles, California versus Miss Rebeca Mitchell of Los Angeles, California. Are both sides ready?" The Bailiff called out across the room.
"Ready for the plaintiff, Your Honour." Oliver, Chloe's lawyer, said as he stood up from the desk. He smoothed down his tie as he retook his seat.
"Yup. Ready for the defendant, Your Honour." John, Beca's attorney, said but he remained seated. His placed his fingers over the stack of papers on the desk in front of him.
"The plaintiff may proceed with its opening statement."
"Thank you, Your Honour." Oliver Harris stood up from his seat and walked to the side of the Judge's desk. He turned back to face the room. "In the opening statement, it is my duty to tell you what the evidence will be and what we hope to achieve in the outcome of these proceedings. For now, I present the background. On the night of July the fourth, three infant girls, one singleton and one set of monozygotic twins, were born at Flintstone Hospital, between the hours of eight ten and nine fifteen to Mrs Mitchem-Beale and Miss Mitchell. All three babies were born prematurely and needed assistance after birth. The twins were to be transported to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital by private ambulance where the Maternity Unit was more suitable for their needs. It was the hospital's decision, rather than the parents of the babies, to send the singleton along in the same transport."
Oliver paused for a few moments to allow the court reporter time to catch up.
"As far as we understand it at the moment, there was not room for the three NICU incubators on the transport and one of the twins, the younger and smaller baby, was the sickliest of the three girls born that night and needed oxygen through a canula. Someone, and that person is still being investigated, decided to put the second twin and the singleton into the same NICU incubator, thus splitting the sibling group up."
Oliver looked around the room to make sure he had everyone's full attention.
"However, that person did not travel with the babies that night and when the transport arrived at the hospital, it was assumed that the two girls in the incubator were the twins. They had not received identification tags in Flintstone Hospital, which I would hasten to add was not a maternity or general hospital and was greatly unprepared for two pregnant women to arrive at once from the scene of an accident, which also saw two severely injured parties also transported. Three parties needed immediate surgery. We would also like to mention that the surnames of the two women are similar enough that a simple handwritten error could also have been to blame when filling out the forms for the women once they were checked in. We will be submitting our affidavit to this effect to this in due course."
Oliver looked around the room to make sure everyone was still listening, and Chloe followed his eyeline. She clutched at David's hand tightly and he gave her what he hoped was a comforting squeeze back. As had been her habit that morning, she looked towards Beca and saw the tears rolling down the brunette's face. Chloe's heart jumped as she watched her suffering alone and wondered, for a moment, where her friend, Luke, was.
"These facts, Your Honour, are still under investigation within the hospital. This is to form the second part of our plaintiff request and this has been discussed with the defendant prior to arriving here. When Mrs Mitchem-Beale and Miss Mitchell arrived at the hospital, the former arriving the following day and the latter arriving three days later, they were presented to the girls in the NICU at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital. Their first few days were spent by their children's incubators and each child was receiving treatment. Miss Mitchell was the first to hold one of the children, the child who had been told was hers, and commented at the time that she struggled to bond with the time. It was deemed that the three-day delay in her arriving at the hospital was the cause, rather than the child belonging to Mrs Mitchem-Beale. These facts are undenied by both parties."
"Thank you, Counsellor. Does the defence have anything to add to this statement?" Judge Highberger asked.
"No, I don't, Your Honour." John Seymour rose from his seat with the grace of a moody teenager. "At this time, we are not disputing the facts as laid out by the plaintiff."
"Thank you, Counsellor." Judge Highberger spoke. "It is my understanding that we are here today to determine parentage, visitation and custody of Jessica Amy Mitchell, aged three years and eleven months and Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Louise Mitchem also aged three years and eleven months. Katharine Rose Elizabeth Francine Mitchem, is the third child and twin sibling to Jessica Amy, and will remain with her natural parents at this time. I understand both parties wish to seek compensation from Flintstone Hospital in a separate matter, but this custody matter has been brought forth by Mr and Mrs Mitchem who have petitioned for access to Jessica Amy, Mrs Mitchem's biological child. Defence, what say you on this matter?"
"Your Honour, my client does not wish to share custody of Jessica Amy. She has raised this child on her own and believed Jessica was her biological child. It is unfair to request shared access where her home life would be disrupted."
"Does Miss Mitchell wish to seek access to her biological child, Alexandra?" Judge Highberger asked.
"Miss Mitchell would like to spend time with the child of course but wants the best interests of the child to be taken into account first and foremost and if seeing the child would confuse her, then Miss Mitchell would rather leave things the way they are. The children are currently content and happy with their respective families."
"Low blow." David leaned towards Chloe and whispered in her ear.
"Plaintiff?"
"Thank you, Your Honour." Oliver said, still facing the room.
"Why are we here today? This is a matter that could be resolved out of family court with lawyers." The judge asked.
"My clients, Mr and Mrs Mitchem have made it perfectly clear they are willing and able to take custody of all three children and allow Miss Mitchell time with the children on a supervised basis."
Beca's head snapping round to stare at her attorney caught Chloe's attention. She watched as Beca ducked her head and began talking furiously with him. This was clearly news to her, and she could catch John insisting that he'd talked to her about it and her vehemently shaking her head as she began to rifle through the paperwork in front of her.
"Your Honour, Miss Mitchell has been uncooperative from the start and continues to obstruct my clients petition. We seek full custody of all three children today. We are here to prove that Miss Mitchell is an unfit character-"
"-Objection, Your Honour. That is a defamation to my client." John called out, trying to keep Beca's hands from worrying the stack of papers in front of her.
"Counsellor's, please refrain from jumping ahead. I would like to see some evidence and research before flying to any conclusions. Plaintiff?"
"Thank you, Your Honour." Oliver said, sending a small smug glance towards John. "We are here today to prove that Miss Mitchell is an unfit character, not worthy of raising a child by herself."
"What are your client's thoughts on switching the girls back to their biological parents?" Judge Highberger asked Oliver.
"At this point in time, our interest is in taking custody of Jessica Amy."
"This would leave Miss Mitchell without a child." Judge Highberger stated, factually.
"Your Honour, since learning that her own biological child was swapped at birth, Miss Mitchell has only met the child once in the past few months. She has not tried to get to know her child apart from at the first meeting, asked Mr and Mrs Mitchem anything about her child since that initial get together and has not offered any monetary support towards the child. Miss Mitchell, in my opinion…" Oliver said, shooting a glance towards John. "… is uninterested. She has however taken money, gifts, toys and clothes from Mr and Mrs Mitchem for Jessica Amy which constitutes section three point eight of the-"
"-Objection!" John bellowed into the court room. "There is no proof of this."
"Sustained." Judge Highberger said.
"All right…" Oliver sighed. "… Miss Mitchell accepted some gifts from Mr and Mrs Mitchem for Jessica Amy which included money, clothes, gifts and toys."
"Counsellor, I would like to start hearing from your witnesses. On that note, ladies and gentlemen, I shall hereby refer to any persons speaking for either side of this settlement as a witness as, at this point in time, there is no prosecution."
"Your Honour, as our first witness, I would like to call Mrs Chloe Mitchem-Beale to the stand."
.oOo.
Part two will be coming up in a couple of days xx