So there's no excuse for posting this so late, but better late than never right? Anyway, I have at least the next three chapters written, and just have to type then up and send them off to my beta, whose just amazing and I don't know what I'll do without her help. Anyway here's the next chapter.
CHAPTER 2: PHASE ONE COMPLETE
Twenty minutes after leaving my office, I enter the chamber of Judge Judith Miller. I look around the room realizing that I'm the last to arrive, except for the judge. I see that Rory, who's accompanied by her mother and attorney, are standing at the far corner to the right, while Jess and his attorney are standing in the far left corner. As I go to greet Jon, my lawyer, the judge enters the room. The two other lawyers approach the judge's desk. All the lawyers are now standing in front of the desk, while we, their clients, stand behind them.
The judge looks over the papers then turns towards the lawyers. "Could each of you gentlemen identify yourselves, and your clients," she requests.
Jess' lawyer speaks first. "Michael Donavan, you're honor, representing Mr. Mariano," he says, pointing Jess out.
Rory's lawyer goes next. "Carrie Frazier, representing Mrs. DuGrey," she states, also pointing out her client.
My lawyer is the last to speak. "Jonathan Callaway, representing Mr. DuGrey."
Judge Miller turns towards my lawyer, before speaking. "Now, Mr. Callaway, your client is petitioning to have the paternity suit that Mr. Mariano filed postponed, am I correct?"
"Yes, your honor," he responds.
Turning her gaze towards the other two lawyers, Judge Miller asks "Ms. Frazier, and Mr. Donovan, what say your clients?"
Jess' lawyer, Mr. Donavan goes first. "Your honor, this is nothing but a trick orchestrated by Mr. DuGrey to nullify any rights or claim that my client has to the child. Since he is married to Mrs. DuGrey, the law recognizes him as the father. The only thing my client wants your honor is to find out if that child is his, so that he can take the appropriate actions to secure his rights. And the only way to do this is to have the test done as soon as possible."
It's now Frazier, Rory's lawyer, opportunity to speak. "My client, your honor, wants to have the paternity test done as soon as possible, so as to levitate as much stress as possible, which we all know is not good for the baby."
The judge turns her attention to me, before addressing me. "Mr. DuGrey, can you quite possibly tell the court why you want to drag out the paternity. I would expect for you to want to know the paternity of the child right away, as well?"
I move closer to the Judge's desk. "I do want to know the paternity of the baby right away your honor," I state in a very sincere voice. Spending years in Hartford society, one tends to be able to sincere when they're not; I of course am a Master at it.
"Then why the petition?" the Judge asks, a little bewildered.
Now is the time for me to lay it on real good. "When Rory first told me that she was pregnant, I was so excited. I couldn't believe that I was going to be a father. It's one of the main things I've wanted every since I married her- to have children that represent our love for one another. I swear your honor, on the day she told me that I was going to be a father, I wanted, and I still do, to do everything in my power to see that this child had everything it could possible want and his well protected, and I intend to keep that promise. While, I know that this test is safe, its not one hundred percent safe, and I'm not willing to risk the baby's health in anyway." I can see that she's completely buying it. Lorelai, however, looks like she wants to throw up. But do I care what she thinks, or feels? Ahh, no! Everyone was skeptical, but I don't give a damn.
"That's very noble of you Mr. DuGrey, but Mr. Mariano could possibly be the father, and if I grant you this petition, then he would lose any right, and the ability to be there for this child, until the child is born," she respond. But I can tell that she's now more sympathetic to me. All I have to do is give her a reason to rule in my favor.
"I have a solution to that problem, your honor," I say, keeping the sincerity act up.
"I am listening," she says.
"I propose that both Mr. Mariano and I accompany Rory to all her doctors appointment, Lamaze class, and whatever else a father would accompany the mother to. And when Rory gives birth, we'll do the paternity test then. I will also have legal documents draw up that will state that I will give up all rights to the child, if it's not mine," was my response.
Everyone in the room shoots me a look of shock and confusion.
"Why would you want to put yourself in that position Mr. DuGrey, or them for that matter?" the Judge ask me to clarify the odd suggestion.
"I know it sounds crazy, but we're all adults, who are capable of acting like adults. I know this is going to behard on everyone involved; I mean I expected to be the main person by Rory's side throughout this pregnancy, but now I have to share that role, with that person she cheated on me with, but I'm willing to put that aside, along with the pain of not knowing if my wife is carrying my child or not, for the sake of the child. I only hope that they can do the same for me," I say as I turn to look at them.
There's no way that they could do anything, but agree. After all, it is my life that is ruined by their actions, and here I am volunteering to be in their presence for the rest of Rory's pregnancy. I turn to take a glance at the Judge, and from the look on her face- I knew I won. It doesn't matter what the decision, she is going to rule in my favor.
"Ms. Frazier and Mr. Donavan, your clients have heard what Mr. DuGrey as proposed, I'll give you some minutes to go over it with them?" the Judge asked.
"No need your honor. If Tristan can put his feelings aside, so can I. All I want is to be there for my child," Jess replies.
I never wanted to hit anyone as much as I want to hit him right now. 'All I want is to be there for my child.' His child! Can you believe his audacity! The dude slept my wife once, and he thinks that the child is his! I feel someone's hand on my arm, and I look to se its Jon's. I turn to him, and he's silently telling me to calm down; so I take a few breaths. There's no need to get worked up about Jess' comments, after all this is what I want- to have him agree to go through Rory's pregnancy with us. It's the only way I could really get the information I need to make him wish that he never would have slept with Rory, let alone lay eyes on her.
Coming out of my thoughts, I hear the Judge ask Rory a question.
"Mrs. DuGrey, do you need sometime, or do you already have an answer for me?
"I agree also," Rory says. I knew she would. After being married to her for all this time, I can read her like a book. I know the way she thinks, and it sometimes amazes me that as much as I can read her, she can't read me. She has no clue what I have in store for her. I've been discretely watching her this entire time, and I know, she knows I'm up to something. But, she has no clue to how far I'll go. And it's Lorelai's fault. By trying to protect Rory from the 'evils of Hartford society' she deprived her of the real world. Of a world that's full of ruthless people that would stab their best friends in the back, just because they can.
Maybe I'm wrong. After all Rory did stab me in the back, and almost got away with it.
"Then the petition is granted, and the paternity will be done after the child is born," the Judge says.
Seeing that I had accomplished what I set out to, I head straight out the judge's chamber. However, I do not get far, before Rory catches up to me.
"Tristan, why are you doing this? I love you; you know I love you. And I know you love me, so why are you doing this?" she asks while holding on to my arm.
I draw my arm away from her, before I respond. "Do I?" I ask her.
"Do you what?" she ask, with a confuse look on her face. She can be so oblivious sometimes.
"Do I know you love me? Because up until two weeks ago, I never had to ask myself if you loved me- I knew, but now that's gone. For months you've lied to me; you knew there was a possible that child could not have been mind, but you said nothing. If Jess didn't ask for a paternity test would you have told me?" I ask, in a deep low voice, staring straight in her eyes.
"It's not that simple!" she replies with tears starting to flow down her face.
I step closer to her, till there was little space left in between us.
"Yes or no, would you have told me?" I ask again, in a much louder voice; drawing attention to us.
Rory remained quite.
"YES OR NO!" I scream at her. I had to know.
"I DON"T KNOW!" she yells back.
"THAT'S BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT! ANSWER THE QUESTION RORY, WOULD YOU HAVE TOLD ME!"
"NO! THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW! I WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU!"
There's absolutely no movement in the halls at this point. Everyone focuses on us. I slowly start to retreat, while still looking Rory straight in the face.
" Thanks for finally being truthful to me, Ror. Now I know that what we had was one big lie; you never loved me."
When Rory and I got together, she preached that we had to be honest with each other- no lies. On our wedding day we vowed that we would always de there for one another, go to each other when either of us had a problem. These was to be no secrets, no matter how little or destruct they could be. We vowed that as long as we were together, nothing would tear us apart; we just had to have faith in one another. But, she didn't have faith in me. The only person I truly trust in this world, did trust me back.
Rory rushes up to me and grabs both of my arms, before yelling, "TRISTAN, THAT'S NOT TRUE! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART- YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME!" At this point she really starts to cry.
But, I don't care.
I pry her hands off me. "I can't believe a word that comes out of your mouth," I whisper to her, before turning my back on her, and walking out of the courthouse.
So I really need you guys input here. Do you like it? Hate it? Don't care one way or another? Let me know? I'm also accepting any input suggestions you guys may have. So review, review, review! The more reviews I get the fast these chapters come out.