A/N - Happy New Year one and all.
As we all reflect back on a particular stressful year, I've been looking for the positives as well. We all know how difficult it has been, not seeing family and friends, working from home, home school and worrying for with sick/ill friends and family. I lost a good colleague and have been looking forward to this year being well and truly done as I am sure a lot of you have too.
But this last year, we've also gotten to know neighbours better, been afforded an opportunity to show a little community spirit and help each other out, and shown what we are made of. Let's hope some of this carries forward to the year where we hope we can begin to return to normal. We found news ways to stay in touch, innovative methods of communication and personally, I've picked up the phone a few more times than normal and called friends I've not properly spoken to in years.
I, for one, feel incredibly lucky that I've travelled the world a bit, met some amazing people along the way and had some great experience along the way. I certainly won't be taking my freedom for granted again when even popping to the supermarket is a hazmat style exercise.
Tonight, my country leaves the European Union and that brings me anxiety for our future but if we continue to care and support each other, we will get through this challenging time.
Thanks to my beta for your continuous help and support and thanks to everyone reading along.
Here's to 2021!
.oOo. Chapter Thirteen .oOo.
"Your Honour, as our first witness, I would like to call Mrs Chloe Mitchem-Beale to the stand."
The judge nodded and sat back in his chair a little. Chloe rose to her feet, and with a sideways glance at David, walked across the courtroom and up the small step to the witness stand. She breathed hard as she took her seat, kept her back straight and a delicate smile on her lips. Stepford Wives, as Aubrey had suggested. The Bailiff stepped forward and stood by the witness stand.
"Please stand. Raise your right hand." The clerk said to Chloe and she complied immediately. "Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do."
"Please state your first and last name."
"Chloe Beale, sorry Mitchem-Beale."
"Are you confused by your own name?" Judge Highberger asked, a trace of sarcasm to his words.
"No, Your Honour." Chloe said. "Beale is my maiden and stage name."
The Judge nodded for the clerk to continue.
"Please be seated ma'am." He said and walked off to the back of the room while Chloe retook her seat. Oliver Harris walked slowly over to Chloe, smiling as he did so.
"Now then Mrs Mitchem-Beale, is it all right to call you Chloe?"
"Yes, please."
"Thank you. Chloe, would you tell the court how long you have known Miss Mitchell?"
"I don't really know her." Chloe said, desperately trying to remember the words they'd chosen to use when running through the questions and scenarios. She was used to being able to redo a scene if it didn't work and was struggling with this being her only opportunity. She gulped hard. "We met in the hospital when our daughters were born. We became friendly while they were in the NICU, although I didn't know her surname or much about her. We talked about the girls mostly, music and food. When Beca… Miss Mitchell, left with the baby on the seventeenth of July, that was the last I saw of her until approximately four months ago."
"How did Miss Mitchell present herself to you when you met her four months ago?"
"She was wearing jeans and-"
"-I mean, how did the meeting go?" Oliver interrupted.
"Oh, sorry, well I could tell she was confused… nervous. We both were. My husband behaved poorly and has since apologised in a letter that he gave to Ms Davies, our liaison office. It wasn't a great meeting but then we hoped to arrange to meet up again. I was determined to make the best of this situation. I felt that Miss Mitchell wanted it to all go away as if it had never happened."
"Why do you think that?"
"She wouldn't return our calls, didn't make it to meetings on time and was unwilling to share stories and pictures of my daughter… of Jessica. I know there were circumstances that she-"
"-Did she ask about her own child, Alexandra?"
"No, not really but I will say that she has tried-" Chloe began to explain.
"-Did Miss Mitchell offer you to meet you at another time to discuss the situation? Away from the everyone else, just two mothers meeting over a coffee or lunch."
"No, but I-"
"-Do you know why?" Oliver interrupted.
"I believe that she had to work." Chloe sighed.
"Work?"
"Yes, she has a few jobs."
"Work was more important than meeting with you?" Oliver asked.
"I guess so."
"There wasn't one single opportunity for her to meet you?"
"I guess not."
"That seems pretty poor for someone who was going through the same thing as you. You could have been allies-"
"-Objection, guiding." John called out from his seat.
"Sustained."
"I'll rephrase. Were you disappointed that Miss Mitchell was unable to meet with you?"
"Of course. It would have been nice to get to know her better. I wanted the opportunity to become friends." Chloe said, sneaking a glance at Beca who had her eyes glued firmly onto the large clock behind Judge Highberger' s head.
"Chloe, can you describe your relationship with Katharine and Alexandra."
"Oh my gosh, I don't know where to start." Chloe beamed, thinking of the two girls she'd left at home with Stacie that morning. "They are both such amazing little girls and the absolute centre of my, and my husband's, world. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. They are quite smart, kind, friendly and they make us laugh on a daily basis. They have grounded me, made me re-evaluate my life and choices and make me want to be a better person every single day."
"Have your feelings towards Alexandra changed since you found out she was not biologically your child?"
"Not at all. It actually helped us understand why she was a little different in her preferences and choices if anything but no, we love her just the same." Chloe said, her throat tightening as she was beginning to wonder how Beca was feeling in all of this.
"Describe a typical day for me?"
"Katie is up first. She likes to come in for a cuddle at around six in the morning. She's the real cuddle bunny of the family. Alex is not far behind, she takes a little longer to get going in the morning, needs time to bring herself around. We then get dressed for the day, I make breakfast, David leaves for work and then we start our chores. The girls help by sweeping the floor although, most of it just gets spread around. They water the plants and pick up their toys. You know, little things that don't really matter if it doesn't get done. We then do a craft activity, make something or gluing something, painting, or something like that. We then have lunch around eleven thirty. It's always freshly prepared by me. Afternoons can then be spent visiting friends, playing games, making cookies, learning words or swimming in our pool. They go to Tumble Tots once a week on a Tuesday, which is them being shown how to do baby gymnastics. They have Wiggle Workout on a Thursday which is like baby dance. It's so cute and a precursor to ballet which they'll start when they are four. Friday is a Mommy and Me beauty afternoon at the local spa. The girls get their nails painted with glitter or some face paint. They get to play with a few of their friends. On a Saturday, we attend Music Mayhem in the morning as Alex loves anything music related and, in the afternoon, they've just begun learning to ride a pony. Our evenings are spent cooking, reading books, playing in the playroom. Then it's dinner time and after that, bath time followed by cuddles, story time and lights out around seven, seven thirty."
"Your days sound action packed."
"We're pretty busy but it's a good busy." Chloe grinned.
"And what happens when you have to work."
"Oh, my stars, I am so lucky there. If I'm working at one of the studios, the girls can come with me. There's a creche on site most of the time and I keep my hours as short as I can. If I am away filming, more often than not, the girls would come with me and I'll hire a nanny for when I'm shooting a scene. We've had the same girl for the last few years, so she's known very well to the girls. Depends where it is, sometimes their grandparents visit, or their uncles. If it's not practical, they stay home with David, but I call home and we FaceTime three or four times a day and they are happy with that. I think they enjoy the daddy time."
"Describe the girls' bond with each other."
"Oh, they love each other and are best friends."
"Has the revelation that they are not biological sisters changed that?"
"No, no, they are quite content. But I'm not sure they really understand it anyway. They are sisters, just not be blood. It would be the same as if we had adopted a daughter."
"You mentioned family."
"I did. My parents are elderly and live in an assisted living facility, up in San Francisco. David's parents are amazing, and we spend a lot of time with them. He's one of five brothers. The whole family is crazy but a beautiful crazy. I've never met such loving people."
"You have no siblings." Oliver asked.
"No, I don't. It is why I was extra thrilled when I found out I was expecting twins. I knew the girls would have a friend and sister for life."
"Looking to the future, what can you offer the girls?"
"Aside from love and security, they'd continue to have a good home. We have been looking around for a private kindergarten and school. As they get older, we can travel as a family and they can attend college. They'll not want for anything in life."
"And can all of that be extended to a third child?"
"Yes, of course. Without a doubt. We always wanted a larger family."
"And financially, the third child can be supported."
"Yes."
"What did you make on your last movie? Um, Indigo Horizon."
"Objection, this is irrelevant. The vast majority of parents don't have a Hollywood pay check." John interrupted.
"This information is available for public viewing, Your Honour. We are merely discussing the family's income in sustaining an additional child." Oliver counteracted.
"Overruled but get to the point Counsellor."
"Yes, Your Honour. Chloe?
"After taxes, it was three million."
"And on Richmond's Peak?" Oliver asked.
"That one was a little over four million as there was a soundtrack and computer game."
"The Younglings?"
"I did that for half the agreed fee, so a little under two million."
"Half?"
"Yes, I asked for the other half of my pay check to be donated to various food banks and charities in California."
"Why did you do that?"
"I want to help people."
Oliver nodded, letting that settle in the courtroom for a few moments.
"Your home is mortgaged?"
"No, it's ours. The mortgage has been paid off."
"Describe your home."
"It's a five bedroom, three and a half bath Spanish style property, with a deck, pool and back yard. We also have a pool house."
"So, there is room for a third child." Oliver said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, completely."
"You don't think you'll have more children yourself?"
"No, we decided that this was it for us." Chloe said, setting her mouth in a thin line. She hated this question, but Oliver had explained it was necessary. She hoped that Beca's attorney would pick up on this line of questioning as she wasn't prepared to lie in court and had agreed with Oliver that they'd gloss over many of the subjects she wasn't willing to discuss.
"Why is that?"
"It's not that we can't afford them or wanted more. Twins were hard."
"And you don't feel adding Jessica into the family would negate that?"
"Absolutely not. She is Kate's twin sister. It wouldn't be hard to integrate her at all. She's part of us anyway and we have always loved her. While I didn't struggle too badly while pregnant, I was left with some permanent scarring from my emergency Caesarean. I've had to have four further operations to get where I am today, and I have also been advised to consider the strain on my body another pregnancy would cause due to this."
"No further questions."
"Does the defence wish to cross examine?"
"Not at this time, Your Honour."
"Mrs Mitchem-Beale, you may step down."
"Thank you, sir." Chloe said, as she made her way back to her seat. She avoided looking at anyone else but David as she walked over.
"Plaintiff, do you have another witness?" Judge Highberger asked, looking at the docket in front of him.
"Yes." Oliver said, pausing as he watched Chloe sit down. "I would like to call David Mitchem to the stand."
David cleared his throat as he stood up from his chair and briskly made his way over to the witness stand. He paused as the Bailiff stepped forward and spoke to the court.
"Please raise your right hand." The Bailiff said easily. "Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"Absolutely, yes."
"Thank you, Mr Mitchem. Please take a seat." Oliver said, walking over towards his side of the room and reaching over for a piece of paper from Lauren.
"Mr Mitchem, may I call you David."
"Of course." David replied, looking towards Chloe as he gave his answer.
"David, can you please appraise the court of your profession."
"I am a high school teacher and also assist in a youth programme for disadvantaged youngsters."
"And where do you teach?"
"I'm at Notre Dame High School at Sherman Oaks." David said, smiling broadly.
"And what do you teach there?"
"I teach English and drama."
"And is it true that you established a drama club there?"
"Um, no." David said, his smile dropping.
"Oh." Oliver said, looking down at the notes in his hand for a second before shooting a look to Lauren. "I understood-"
"-That was at my last school. I set up a drama club for the inner city, underprivileged kids there."
"I stand corrected." Oliver said, saving face. "Of course, it wouldn't be Notre Dame. That is a prestigious school with its healthy list of accomplishments."
"It is, yes. I'm immensely proud to work for such a good school." David said, his eyes flittering over to where Beca and her attorney were sitting. David hoped that this little piece he and Oliver had rehearsed had been noted by the judge and that it had been acknowledged that he had a good job at a great school.
"And what made you get into teaching."
"I love kids… I love working with kids." David said simply. "There's something about seeing their eyes light up when they come to a conclusion by themselves or solve a problem. With drama, the shyest kid came became a star and open doors for people from all walks of life. It keeps the young ones off the streets and busy. It's a calling, not a job and I love it."
"A teacher's salary isn't much to get excited about though, is it?"
"The rewards come in different ways. The pay isn't great, no, but it's enough to get by."
"Tell me about your home life." Oliver said, changing directions as he had with Chloe. He walked over to his desk and laid down the sheet of paper. Chloe glanced at it briefly and was surprised to see that it was blank. She narrowed her eyes a little and wondered what her husband had been cooking up with the lawyer without telling her. She suddenly felt a little worried.
"I have a great life." David said, turning his body ever so slightly towards the judge. "I have an amazing, talented and supportive wife, beautiful children, a lovely home and enough free time to enjoy it."
"Tell me about the girls."
"They're great kids. I love them dearly. They keep me on my toes and I'm trying to be the best dad I can."
"What do you do with them?"
"I work a full-time job, so I see them for a short period of time over breakfast but once I'm home in the late afternoon, I'll make sure we have some time together in the playroom or the pool before Chloe puts them to bed."
"How about weekends?"
"I have them when Chloe's working. She does schedule as much time on set during the holidays as she can, so I'm not at work and with them at Chloe's house." David explained and something in his tone made Beca look up from studying her hands to stare at him.
"Is Chloe a good mother?"
"Yes, absolutely." David said honestly and Beca felt that was the first honest thing he'd said in the last few minutes. "She's amazing with the girls."
"And how did you feel your meeting went when you met your biological daughter, Jessica Amy?"
"It was so amazing to meet her, I can barely put it into words. She was a spirited delight, and I am proud of her and all she is…despite being three years old. But unfortunately, her current caregiver ruined the experience."
"Are you able to embellish on that?" Oliver asked, taking a couple of steps back to give David the open court to speak freely.
"I found Miss Mitchell to be sullen, rude and moody. She barely asked any questions about my daughter Alex and seemed to give one-word answers to any questions that my wife asked her about my daughter, Jessica. She barely said two civil words to me and dismissed my efforts at getting to know her. I stepped outside for some fresh air at one point and she left, taking Jessica with her and leaving without giving us the chance to say goodbye properly. I felt-"
"-Objection." John Seymour called out.
"Yes?" Judge Highberger responded after John failed to give a reason for the objection. The judge observed Beca speaking furiously into John's ear.
"Objection." John said again. "Mr Mitchem's opinion of the day is not the only one, Your Honour."
"Mr Seymour, may I remind you that there are always two sides to every story and your client will have her chance to explain her side of things when she is called to the stand."
"Yes, Your Honour."
"Mr Harris, please proceed."
"David, how did your attempts to make contact with Miss Mitchell after the initial meeting evolve?"
"They didn't." David said bluntly.
"Can you explain further?"
"My wife and I both attempted to call and text Miss Mitchell on many occasions and aside from a couple of pictures and a few responses, we had nothing of value from her."
"And how did that make you feel?"
"I was deeply saddened by this. This woman, Miss Mitchell, is clearly of low intelligence and has no purpose in bringing up my daughter. She makes claims that are ambiguous, attempts to obstruct us in our pursuits and clearly is in desperate need of someone to put her in her place. She is clearly not in a relationship and I am in a position where I can provide my daughter with both a mother and a father."
"And you feel, in today's society, that is important?" Oliver said, looking uneasy at David's outburst. There was silence for a few moments and Chloe looked over to Beca, again, to see that she was crying softly, looking ashamed. Chloe wanted to reach out to her so badly.
"Yes, I do." David said coldly and Chloe looked sharply at him, wanting to say something to the judge. David sensed the tension from his wife and stared her down from his position. "A child needs stability, love, routine, discipline and respect. I don't believe Miss Mitchell can provide that."
"I can see that this line of questioning is emotional for you." Oliver said, clearing his throat a couple of times. He glanced towards Beca who's shoulders were gently shaking with her sobs. Without taking his eyes off of Beca, Oliver continued. "And what do you hope to achieve today?"
"I want access to my daughter on a permanent basis. I want the opportunity to get to know her. I want to give her all the good things in life that she is clearly missing out on."
"Do you feel she is missing out in her current situation?"
"Absolutely. She has no opportunities where she is at this moment, no additional stimulation or activities. It appears that she is looked after most of the time by friends of Miss Mitchell in an unstable environment. Miss Mitchell is always working and never spends time with Jessica."
"Miss Mitchell has a long workday?" Oliver asked.
"I know she has a few jobs, but she makes out that she has to work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Maybe if she'd stayed in high school or gone to college, she might have been achieving more by now." David said unkindly.
"Objection, my client does indeed work eighteen hours a day most days to provide safe housing for the child." John offered up quickly.
"Overruled." Judge Highberger said in response.
Chloe took a moment to look over at Beca. She knew she worked hard but didn't realise it was that many hours. If she spent even a couple of hours with Jessie, it didn't leave much time for herself or for sleep. A thick knot was starting to form in Chloe's throat.
"David, where do you see yourself in ten years' time?"
"Hopefully as a head of my department during the day and fending off unacceptable suitors from my three daughters, when they begin to discover boys." David mirthed but no one reacted to his lame ass joke.
Oliver gave him a weak smile, knowing that there was little else he wanted to ask David. His answers weren't as polished as Chloe's had been, but he needed the opportunity to show the judge that his clients were a strong couple.
"No further questions at this time." Oliver said, after a quiet moment.
"Does the defence wish to cross examine?"
"Yes please, Your Honour." John said and rose to his feet, taking a few steps over towards David. "Good morning Mr Mitchem."
"Good morning."
"How do you feel about your wife earning more money than you?"
"Objection! This is irrelevant to the case." Oliver called out, as he sat in his chair.
"Sustained."
"Mr Mitchem, is it true that you attempted to strike my client when you first saw her at the CPS office?" John asked.
"No, that is not true. I was angry, yes, as I thought Miss Mitchell had kidnapped my child."
"But you didn't have to be restrained by your wife and her friend, a Ms Aubrey Posen?"
"A cool hand on my shoulder is hardly being restrained." David said, his eyes narrowing.
Chloe huffed a little in her seat, remembering an entirely different situation to the one that David was describing. She remembered him bringing that day up in an argument several weeks later and how mad he was that she had held him back. Chloe remembered the muscle strain she had received from gripping onto him as he flailed his arms around.
"Fair enough." John said, scratching the side of his nose. He stood in the middle of the court room for a couple of minutes.
"Mr Seymour, do you have any further questions?" Judge Highberger asked.
"No, not at this time." John said, returning to his seat to the exasperation of Beca who threw her hands up in the air in frustration at her lawyer's lacklustre attitude.
"Plaintiff, any further witnesses?" The judge asked.
"Yes, Your Honour." Oliver said, standing up again and fixing his gaze on his opposing counsellor. "But first, as Mr Seymour neglected to do, may I ask my client to stand down?"
"Yes, of course. Mr Mitchem, you may step down." Judge Highberger said.
"Thank you, sir." David said, quickly walking across the courtroom to his seat.
"We'd like to call Miss Caroline Davies, Liaison Officer with Child Protective Services, Los Angeles Branch." Oliver declared, a small smirk spreading across his lips.
"Very well." Judge Highberger said, watching as the woman rose from her position in the courtroom and walked up towards the witness stand. The Bailiff stopped her before she took her seat.
"Please remain standing and raise your right hand." The clerk said to her. "Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do." Ms Davies said simply, before smoothing down her starched shirt and take a seat.
"Ms Davies, thank you for coming today." Oliver said.
"No problem."
"May I call you Caroline?"
"I would prefer not. We are not friends nor shall we mix in social gatherings which is the only time my given name is used."
"No problem, Ms Davies." Oliver said, casting a hesitant eye over towards Lauren. Beca was watching him as he gave the CPS officer a quick glance over. She felt somewhat slightly vindicated that Ms Davies was able to make the salient lawyer feel slightly uneasy. She had felt the same when she'd had her past dealings with the woman she despised so much.
"I understand you were assigned to the Mitchem and Mitchell case in February, is that correct?"
"Yes sir, that's right." Ms Davies said. "I handle all the high-profile cases for CPS in Los Angeles."
"Please explain what you mean, for the sake of the court."
"There are some higher profile cases that the Los Angeles department handle. Clients with money, political status or are well known. We aim to keep everything as private as possible for our clients. With Mrs Mitchem's elevated status, we thought she should be afforded a little privacy while the two families got to know each other."
"And did you have a chance to meet both parties individually before the arranged first meeting with the children?"
"No. I met with Mr and Mrs Mitchem on several occasions but not with Miss Mitchell."
"Can I ask why you didn't meet with Miss Mitchell?" Oliver asked.
"She is not the high-profile celebrity. She didn't respond to my messages and requests for a meeting, so I didn't follow it up. I am here to assist the willing."
"May I ask, as I am sure Miss Mitchell's lawyer will bring this up with you if I don't, why Mr and Mrs Mitchem and Miss Mitchell weren't treated the same in this case. I understand Mrs Mitchem's elevated status but surely, in broken down facts, they are both mothers who lost a child." Oliver said, his tone dropping for a brief moment. Beca cast her eyes towards him as he oh so slightly nudged his head towards her.
"There was simply no need." Ms Davies explained. "Mrs Mitchem has a list of accolades as long as my arm, she's won more awards for her work than most newcomers in the business, she can act, sing and dance which is a full trifecta for Hollywood. Mrs Mitchem is a fan favourite and an easy person to get to know. On a personal note, she is generous, and wonderful, and a beautiful, warm person and I consider it my pleasure to have gotten to know her."
"You sound quite the fan." Oliver said simply, almost bristling when he realised what he had said.
"I am." Ms Davies said simply.
"Objection." John called out. "Ms Davies clearly has a fan's opinion on one of her clients and therefore her testimony should be stricken from the record."
"Slow down counsellor." Judge Highberger said, raising his hand. "I believe I am the one who makes this sort of decision here. I will allow this to continue if Ms Davies can keep to the facts."
"Are you a fan of Mrs Mitchem? Did you know of her before the meeting?" John blurted out from his seat.
"Counsellor!" Judge Highberger barked. "It is not your turn to speak-"
"-I have seen all of her movies, yes." Ms Davies answered, interrupting the judge, who raised his hands to the ceiling of the courtroom.
"I am calling a recess." The judge growled, bringing his gavel down onto the block. "I expect the Counsellors to have spoken to their respective clients and witnesses upon my return. We shall reconvene in twenty minutes."
"All rise!" The Bailiff called out as the Judge rose from his seat and walked swiftly from his position, muttering as he went. The door banged sharply behind him.
"It's going well." John said, turning in his seat towards Beca, smiling at her as he dug his finger in his ear.
"You really think so?" Beca said sarcastically, standing up and pushing past his chair as she made her way down the aisle to the exit.
She pushed open the door and ran to the nearest bathroom, ignoring the confused looks as she fled down the corridor. She entered the first stall she found and kicked the door shut behind her as she sat on top of the closed toilet and ground her knuckles into her thighs to stop herself from screaming out in frustration. She sat for a few minutes, breathing deeply in the small cubicle and ignored the sounds of women coming and going as she focussed on keeping calm.
'It's going well.' She scoffed to herself, replaying her lawyer's words as she rested her head in her hands. Chloe, David and Ms Davies had all said the same thing; she hadn't committed to meeting up, returning texts and calls. She was now worried that, as Luke had said, it was about to bite her in the ass. Where had she missed the part about David and Chloe wanting full custody of Jessie, how had she not seen that in the reams of paper that had been sent to her and how did Luke not point that out as well?
Beca heard a toilet flush a few minutes later and realised she needed to get back to the courtroom. She blew her nose and flushed the toilet, exiting the stall and quickly walking over to wash her hands. She wanted to splash some water on her face, but her makeup was already shot to pieces and she didn't want to make it worse. She patted at her eyes with a hand towel, trying her best to catch the mascara that was threatening to cascade down her cheeks if she shed one more tear.
"Hi."
Beca jumped a little at the soft voice. She spun around towards the small blonde woman who was rinsing her hands under the water.
"You're Beca Mitchell, right?"
"Umm… yeah."
"I thought so. She looks so much like you. She's a wonderful little girl."
"I'm sorry, who are you?"
"My name is Helen. Um, Helen Mitchem. David's mother. I'm-"
"-I have to go." Beca said quickly, dropping the tissue into the nearest bin as she turned to leave the restroom.
"I'm sorry." Helen called out. "I know this is hard on you. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Beca paused for a second with her fingers wrapped around the door handle, before she ignored Helen's comment and left the bathroom.
'Fucking people.' Beca grunted to herself as she hurried back along the corridor to her courtroom, feeling her stomach roll at Helen's kind words. She closed her eyes for a moment as, somewhere in the pit of her stomach, she wished she'd made a better effort with answering Chloe. They could have worked all of this out and she could have been included in some small way into their family. Chloe had talked at length how nice the Mitchem's were when the girls were in the NICU.
She took her seat next to her lawyer who was busy playing Candy Crush on his phone and smoothed down her hair. She side glanced towards Chloe who, she noted, looked as bad as she felt. It gave her little comfort.
She wished she had Luke with her more than anything in that moment but took a deep breath, put on her poker face and waited for the judge to return.
"All rise. This court in now reconvened." The Bailiff spoke out to the court. Judge Highberger retook his seat and nodded to the Bailiff.
"Counsellors, approach the bench please."
Oliver and John left their seats and approached the bench and spoke with the judge for a couple of minutes. It was so quiet in the court room that Chloe could hear the large clock behind the judge's head. She watched Oliver return and crouch down to speak to them.
"Judge Highberger has asked that Ms Davies not be brought back to the stand."
"Why?" David asked.
"He feels she is not impartial and has requested her written affidavit instead."
"Will this hurt our case?" David inquired.
"No, I don't think so. Ms Davies's words were not discounted but he, and no offence to you Chloe, doesn't want to hear a fan's version of events."
Chloe nodded gently as the judge cleared his throat, subtly signalling he was ready to move on. Oliver quickly moved to sit down as the judge spoke.
"Does the defence wish to call their first witness?" He asked.
"Yes, Your Honour." John said. "The defence would like to call Rebeca Mitchell."
.oOo.