Chapter 57
Today was the day. The day she was facing her father again in court. The day that would determine the punishment Carlos would receive for what he did to her. Callie was nervous. She was beyond nervous. Her stomach was in knots. Arizona had been trying to calm her down all morning.
'Calliope, are you ready Sweetie? We have to go.' Arizona asked softly. 'We have to leave now if we are going to make it on time.'
Callie took one last deep breath and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She could do this. She could face him. She was a rockstar Orthopedic surgeon. She created cartilage from scratch. She ran a successful medical practice. She was raising two healthy babies. She could do this.
She climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV and they headed towards the hospital to drop the twins off at the daycare center before heading to the court house. The ride to the court house was too short. Before she knew it they were pulling into the parking lot. Callie got out of the vehicle slowly. She wasn't ready. She was beginning to feel sick again. 'Calliope… look at me. You can do this. I am right here. Just focus on me and answer their questions. Can you do that for me?'
Callie nodded. 'Focus on you. I can do that.'
A car pulled into the parking lot and almost hit them. They jumped out of the way just in time. They turned to yell at the asshole who had almost ran into them.
'Of course, it's you. What the fuck is wrong with you?' Arizona yelled.
Tyler simply smirked and locked up his car.
Lexie and Amber were pulling into the parking lot in their brand new sports car. It got Tyler's attention. He appreciated a nice car. Lexie pulled into a spot close to Arizona's SUV and they got out of the car. Tyler's jaw dropped seeing his ex-wife getting out of such a nice car. Lexie grabbed her wife's hand and they walked with Callie and Arizona into the courthouse. Completely ignoring the still gawking man. They found the court room they were supposed to be in and sat down.
'You as nervous as me?' Amber asked her friend.
'Understatement of the year. I came close to losing it so many times this morning that I lost count.'
Amber patted her friend's knee. 'It will be over soon. That's what I keep saying to myself. Just another day at the office. We can handle this.'
'I hope you're right.' Callie said as she sat back in her seat.
'All rise. The Honorable Judge William Nelson now presiding.'
Everyone stood as the judge took his place in the front of the courtroom. 'Good morning everyone. Today we have the case of Calliope Robbins-Torres vs Carlos Torres. Would all parties please stand?'
Callie stood and slowly walked to the front of the court room and stood in front of the judge. She didn't dare look over at her father. She couldn't.
'You may be seated. Let's begin.'
Callie's lawyer stood and paced the front of the court room. 'Your Honor, this case is open and shut. We have video evidence of Mr. Torres slapping his daughter after a confrontation at her home.'
'Let's play the video.' the judge said.
The video footage was presented. Callie had tears streaming down her face She didn't want to see this play out again. She looked back at Arizona who nodded at her. She could do it. She remained strong and forced herself to look at the video playing.
'Mr. Torres, do you have anything to say for yourself? That is very obviously assault.'
'Yes, Your Honor. I do. I am guilty. Guilty of loving my daughter. She is living in sin. In the Bible…'
'We are not here to quote the Bible, Mr. Torres. What right did you have to strike your daughter? That is what I am asking.' the judge said cutting off the older man.
'I am her father.'
'That is not a reason to strike anyone. I can jail you for your actions Mr. Torres. You were not defending yourself. It was an unprovoked attack upon this young lady.'
'Unprovoked? Did you see the video? The things she was describing that her and that… woman.. did to one another? Throwing it in my face.'
'Mr. Torres. I am putting you behind bars for the attack of your daughter. There is also something else that I want to address. The threat that was made against Mrs. Arizona Robbin-Torres. What exactly did you mean when you said that she could disappear?'
'I meant just what I said. People always have a price. I just didn't have the time to gain her trust. I would offer her a large sum to just disappear.' Carlos said.
'Was there any intent behind that to have your daughter in law killed?'
'No. I am too powerful to get involved in murder. Too messy.'
'Mr. Torres, you talk so nonchalantly about throwing money around. You realize that bribery is also a crime? That you are being charged in several other cases involving Torres industry for several accounts of bribery. We are talking serious time here Mr. Torres.' the judge asked.
Carlos did not realize the hole that he had just dug himself into. 'I…uh… I meant nothing by it, sir.'
'Which is it? That you would pay her to disappear or that you meant nothing of it? Either way, Mr. Torres. You are hereby sentenced to a year in prison for the assault against your daughter. I am also granting the restraining order that Calliope has requested. You will not be allowed within 50 miles of her or her family at any given time for as long as you live. Am I clear?'
Carlos could only nod. The judge slammed his gavel down and Callie let out a sigh of relief. She walked back to her seat next to Arizona. 'I'm glad that is over.'
'Let's hope I have the same luck with him.' Amber said. Now it was her turn to be nervous.
'Next up we have the case of Amber Grey vs Tyler Robbins. Please approach.'
Amber and Tyler got up at the same time. They met at the little swinging door and Tyler opened the door to allow her to enter first. 'Thanks.' Amber mumbled. Tyler gave her an evil smirk as she walked through the swinging door.
'Mrs. Grey…you are here to obtain a restraining order against Mr. Robbins. Is that correct?'
'Yes, Your Honor. He is harassing my wife and I. We have two children together and I fear for their safety.'
'From reading the notes here, I understand that you were once married to Mr. Robbins and those children are biologically his.'
'That's correct. He signed over his parental rights and my wife has since adopted the children.'
'Ok. So let's start from the beginning.'
'I met Mr. Robbins when I was in med school. We dated for awhile and I got pregnant with my daughter. We got married eventually and I got pregnant with my son shortly after. I was in an accident and when I went back to work, my boss instructed me to work at Mercy West since they were not as busy, but I could still get readjusted to the ER again. That is when I found out that Mr. Robbins had another family. I actually treated his son for a broken arm.' Amber explained.
'And you went to med school with Mrs. Robbins -Torres, is that correct?'
'I did. Yes.'
'Were you aware of the money that Mr. Torres gave to Mr. Robbins?'
'No, sir. I was not aware of that until the night of Callie's altercation with her father.'
Tyler's lawyer stood up. He was a real greaseball looking guy. 'Your Honor, I would like to interject here. Mrs. Grey says that she was unaware of the money, but she is driving a brand new sports car that costs at least $90,000.'
'Is this true Mrs. Grey?' the judge asked.
'Yes, me and my wife just purchased a new vehicle. What does that have to do with anything?'
'It makes me wonder where the money came from. May I ask a few questions?' the lawyer asked.
'I have nothing to hide. Go ahead.' Amber responded.
'Exactly how much money do you have Mrs. Grey?'
'How is that relevant?'
'You said you have nothing to hide. Just answer the question.'
Amber huffed. 'Close to five million in the bank.'
Tyler's eyes widened. He was not expecting that. 'And you and your wife recently opened a new medical clinic, right?'
'Yes.'
'Where did you get the money for that? Was it a present from Mr. Torres?'
'No.' Amber took a deep breath. 'Me and Lexie won the money in Vegas. It was completely by luck. Does any of this have anything to do with the fact that Tyler just keeps showing up unannounced? That I have had to have him removed from our clinic by security? That he has shown up at the hospital and threatened me? That his wife has caused a scene in the bar across from the hospital with me and Lexie? I have all of this documented. I have left him alone. I want nothing to do with him. I want him out of our lives.'
'It's funny you say that you have left him alone. What I have here are pictures of you. Pictures at Mr. Robbins' home, at his work terminal, at his parents' home. You are quite the little stalker Mrs. Grey, aren't you?'
'I don't know what you are talking about.' Amber said not breaking eye contact with the dirty lawyer.
'Take a look.' The lawyer placed a stack of pictures in front of Amber. She flipped through the photos quickly. They were obviously fake.
'This is not me. This is some random woman that looks like me from behind and from afar, but is not me. The only real similarity is that we both have black hair. This could be anyone.' Amber said.
'Can you prove that Mrs. Grey?' the judge asked.
'Easily.' Amber stood and looked back at her wife. Lexie wasn't sure what her wife was going to do, but she trusted her. If she said that the pictures were fake then the pictures were fake.
'Usually I have to go out a few times before I take my shirt off for someone, but given the circumstances Your Honor, I have to remove my top to prove my innocence.' Amber said.
'Do what you need to do.'
Amber began unbuttoning her shirt and slid her blouse down her arms leaving her in her tank top. 'I have tattoos. Multiple tattoos along my back and down my sides. Even a few on my legs. I've had some of them for years. The woman in the photos doesn't have any.'
'Do you have any other questions?' the judge asked the lawyer.
'Um… no sir.'
'Alright then. I grant the restraining order. Mr. Robbins is never again allowed within 500 feet of Amber, Lexie, Maci, or Riley Grey. Court is adjourned.' the judge struck his gavel again. Amber got up quickly and rejoined her wife and friends.
'Are you ready to get out of here?' she asked.
The three other women nodded eagerly and they quickly got the hell out of the court house. Once they reached the parking lot, they heard a voice calling to them.
'Amber, wait! We can work it out! I'm so sorry. Give me another chance. I love you baby!' Tyler said chasing them down.
'Five hundred feet asshole.' Lexie said. The women got into their vehicles and sped off. This was a new beginning for all of them.
Seven months later… March
'Spring break in Spain. It's unbelievable.' Callie said relaxing back into the beach chair.
'I know…who would have thought. Look where we are Callie. We are both successful surgeons. We own a freaking prosthetics clinic! We have beautiful wives. Amazing kids. Look at us!' Amber said sipping her sangria.
'It's overwhelming. So much has happened. We are very lucky.'
The two women sat back and watched as their wives played with their kids in the sand. Life had been great to them since going to court. The clinic was booming. People were traveling from all over the country to be seen by the best team of surgeons on the west coast. They decided as a team to give the entire clinic a two week paid vacation as a big thank you for all of their hard work. So here they sat in Spain, on the beach, sipping sangrias.
The two friends looked back at each other. 'I have something to tell you.' they said at the same time.
'Sorry, you first.' Amber said.
'No, go ahead.'
'At the same time.'
Callie nodded. 'Arizona's pregnant.' 'Lexie's pregnant.'
'Oh no, Cal! What have we done?' Amber laughed.
'I don't know. Congratulations!'
'Thanks, you too.'
August
'Push, Arizona… Push him out. You can do this!' Callie said. Arizona's water broke sometime in the middle of the night and she woke up with contractions.
'Callie…I'm so tired. This is hard.' Arizona said as she sunk back in the bed.
'I know Honey, but you are so amazing. You can handle this. I know you can. Think about how happy we were when Levi and Naya were born. They are waiting for their little brother. You can do this.' Callie reassured her wife. She pressed a kiss to her forehead.
'Alright Arizona, let's push. I can see the head. He's a blonde!' Addison said from between Arizona's legs. 'You're getting your wish Cal.'
Arizona grunted and pushed with all that she had. She focused all of her energy on pushing her son out. Another fifteen minutes of pushing and he was out. Their perfect little boy. Little cries rang out in the room. Their son was here.
'August… haha… August 17th, born at 4:12 PM. What's his name?' Addison asked. She was filling out the information for his birth certificate.
'Carson Daniel Robbins.' Callie said. The small family had officially dropped the Torres name shortly after their court appearance. Callie wanted no more connection to her slimeball father, who was spending at least ten years in prison for all of the charges brought against him. She was done and much happier to be a Robbins.
Callie slipped out of the room once Carson had been cleaned up to get her older children so that they could meet their brother. They were walking down the hallway when Amber slipped out of one of the nearby rooms and pressed herself against the wall. She brought her hands up to her face and let out a long puff of air.
'AMBER GREY! WHY DID YOU LET ME DO THIS? THIS HURTS!' Lexie yelled from inside the room.
'Trouble in paradise?' Callie asked.
'Just in a little pain.' Amber said. 'Is he here?'
'A little while ago. I'm bringing these two in to see little brother now.' Callie said.
Amber squatted down to the twins' level. 'Are you excited to see your brother?'
'Brudda.' Naya said. Levi started stomping his feet excitedly.
'I think they're excited. Congratulations, Cal.'
'AMBER, GET BACK IN HERE!' Lexie hollered.
'Duty calls.' Amber slipped back into the room. She was hoping Addison would be giving her wife that epidural real soon.
Seventeen Years Later
'Our babies are all grown up.' Arizona said with tears rolling down her face.
'It seems like just yesterday that they were born.' Lexie said.
It was the day that their youngest children were graduating high school. Asher Grey was born just a day after Carson and the two were inseparable since birth. They were best friends. They played baseball together. They drove to school together. They did almost everything together. They were even planning on going to the same college in California.
Maci, Riley, Naya, and Levi were all there cheering on their brothers as their names were called by the principal. Maci decided she wanted to follow in Arizona's footsteps and be a pediatric surgeon. She was always a natural with kids. So kind and gentle. It just fit for her. Riley wanted to be like his uncle and joined the military right after he graduated from school. Amber and Lexie were so proud of their kids. Naya and Levi were currently attending Northwest University. Naya was planning on getting a teaching degree. Levi was still undecided, but wanted a career that would help people. He had time to figure his life out. Callie and Arizona supported their kids, no matter what they decided to do with their lives.
As the four women watched their boys walk across the stage and receive their diplomas, they thought about how it all started for them. It was a journey of true love, and what a journey it had been.
Thanks to everyone who motivated me with their reviews and kind words. I never thought I would be here 57 chapters later. It might have been a little too stretched out, but that's ok. It was fun. It was challenging. I hope everyone enjoyed it. It seemed like overall, everyone did. Thanks again.
