Hello everyone. Here is the next chapter. There will be one more after this some time. Just know for this chapter, I am not a lawyer, nor will I ever be, so I have no idea how much of this is accurate or would be allowed in an actual court of law. I'm just writing for fun. Anyway, the OC Chuck and the mentioned OCs Everett and Aaron are mine, the OC Amy belongs to KagamiPINKAgreste, and everything else is Disney's. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Life Will Get Better: Chapter 9
Mal and Ms. Phillips decided that one of their best choices was to put Amy on the stand and tell how she hadn't seen her sister for five years and to talk about the incident with Mal and Chuck that had happened in her bookstore months before.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The bailiff asked.
"I do," Amy promised with her right hand raised. After, she took her seat as Ms. Phillips got up to start the questioning.
"Amy, before the last few months, when was the last time you saw your sister?" Ms. Phillips questioned.
"Five years ago, shortly after Everett was born," Amy answered.
"Then it can be assumed that you didn't see your nephew during that time either?" Ms. Phillips continued.
"That's right," Amy admitted.
"Did you see anyone in regards to your sister in the past five years?" Ms. Phillips inquired.
"I would see Charles on occasion. He would come to see me Bookaholic's fantasy and tell me that it was for the better that Everett didn't know who I am." Amy said.
"How would you describe Mal as a mother?" Ms. Phillips wondered.
"She's a great mom. She loves Everett more than anything and only ever wants what is best for him." Amy praised.
"One last thing. Can you please share with the court about the incident that occurred between Charles, Mal, and yourself at your business a few months ago?" Ms. Phillips asked.
That day was seared into her memory for many reasons, so for Amy, that would be easy. "Uh, that day Mal and Everett came to Bookaholic's Fantasy. It was the first time I'd seen either of them in years. Anyway, Charles burst in, and Mal and Everett hid from him. I don't know how Charles knew they were there, but he seemed to. I tried to get him out, threatening to call my friend Jay to come to help me, but he wouldn't listen. Mal walked over and confronted him. He insulted us and stormed through the store looking for Everett. Finally, Mal convinced him to leave, so he did before anything got worse." Amy explained.
"Thank you. No further questions." Ms. Phillips smiled, walking back over to the table and taking a seat.
"Amy, may I call you Amy?" Mr. Radcliffe wondered, standing and buttoning his coat.
"I'd prefer Amelia," Amy replied. She didn't really have anything against this man, except that he was defending Charles, so he was only allowed to call her by her legal name.
"Alright," Mr. Radcliffe nodded. "Amelia, you said that you didn't have any contact with your sister or nephew, but would on occasion interact with my client, yes?"
"That's true," Amy confirmed.
"When my client would come to see you on those occasions, would he ever talk about your sister or nephew?" Mr. Radcliffe questioned.
"Usually," Amy responded. "He would mention things that were going on in their lives. I always believed Charles always did that as a way to annoy me."
"You don't like my client very much do you?" Mr. Radcliffe inquired.
"Objection!" Ms. Phillips shouted.
Amy turned toward the judge. "No, Your Honor, I'd like to answer his question." Once the judge nodded Amy went on. "I don't like Charles at all. I've been very clear about that even before this all started, before they got married in fact. But Charles has made it clear that he feels the same way about me, that's the only reason that makes sense to me that he kept my family away from me."
"You said that he told you it was for the better that your nephew never had contact with you, but did he ever say this in regards to your sister?" Mr. Radcliffe asked.
"No, not specifically," Amy answered.
"Then how do you know your sister didn't choose on her own to stay away from you for all of those years?" Mr. Radcliffe saw that Ms. Phillips was about to object again. "Withdrawn," He added. "Nothing further, Your Honor."
Mal really wanted to testify, and Ms. Phillips saw nothing bad that could come from that, so she put Mal on the stand, even though she didn't have much to ask her. Once she was sworn in, Mal was ready to answer questions. "Mal, we heard your sister say that you were a great mom, how do you feel you are as a mother?" Ms. Phillips started out.
"I think I'm a great mom. My son always comes first to me." Mal told her.
"Do you think your ex-husband is a good father?" Ms. Phillips questioned.
Mal looked in Chuck's direction. "I do."
"Do you have a good support group when it comes to raising your son?" Ms. Phillips asked.
Mal chuckled a bit. "Yes, any one of my friends jump at the opportunity to help me out with Everett anytime."
"Okay. Your witness." Ms. Phillips once again took her seat as Mr. Radcliffe rose.
"Mal, is it true that you and my client had another child?" Mr. Radcliffe inquired.
"Yes, a son, Aaron. He would have been five in a few months." Mal confirmed.
"What happened to Aaron?" Mr. Radcliffe asked.
"He passed away two years ago," Mal answered.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Mr. Radcliffe said. He walked closer to Mal. "Who was with Aaron when he died?"
"I was, no one else," Mal replied.
"Where was my client? Why wasn't he there as well?" Mr. Radcliffe wondered.
"We didn't know that Aaron was going to die then. Chuck's father was ill at the time, so Chuck was filling in for him at a meeting. He didn't want to go, but I assured him that everything would be fine." Mal teared up just thinking about that final day with Aaron.
"So he was in your care at the time? Aaron died under your watch?" Mr. Radcliffe questioned. Mal was shocked at first and hesitated with her response. Before she could say anything Mr. Radcliffe continued. "She doesn't have to answer that, Your Honor, I'm done."
"Redirect, Your Honor?" Ms. Phillips requested. The judge nodded in agreement. "Mal, can you give more context about Aaron's death?"
"Um, he-he was sick and the treatments weren't working. They told us that we could take him home, that it would be better for him to pass away in a familiar place surrounded by people he knew. That's exactly what we did." Mal explained.
"But everyone knew what was going to happen? You, Chuck, the doctors?" Ms. Phillips clarified.
"Yes, we all knew and every day I prayed that we would make it to the next." Mal replied.
"Nothing further." Ms. Phillips took her seat.
"I have decided that court is adjourned for today, I'll see you all again tomorrow." The judge declared.
Mal was relieved that the judge had ended things. She hadn't expected anything about Aaron to be brought up. Mal walked over and sat by her friends and sister. Amy put an arm around her when she started crying. They all tried to comfort her, she really needed them all right now.