Zach seated himself at the witness stand and waited quietly for Livia to begin her questioning, "State your name for the record, please."
"Zach Slater," he replied softly.
Livia paused a moment and asked another question, "Is that your only name?"
"It is the name I have used for more than a decade. It has been my legal name since last year," he answered.
"Thank you. What is your relationship to Kendall Hart Slater?" she asked, taking the questioning very slowly.
"We're married," he said. He couldn't help but wonder what her tactics were, but he would trust her until she gave him reason not to.
"Please tell the court about your relationship with your wife," she said with a nod of her head.
Zach nodded before replying, "My wife and I married for business reasons. In exchange for half of my casinos, she agreed to marry me and carry the licenses in her name."
"I see. Why did you need to marry someone to get gaming licenses for your casinos?" Livia asked.
"I had never legally changed my name to Zach Slater and the gaming commission revoked the licenses when they found out," Zach replied while wishing that Livia would get to the important part of his testimony.
"Have you and your wife ever shared a residence or a traditional marital relationship?" Livia queried.
"No," Zach answered with a shake of his head.
Livia nodded her head again, "Please explain to the court why you and she decided to divorce."
"Kendall and I decided to create Slater-Hart Gaming," Zach answered. When Livia nodded to him again, he expanded his comments, "During the course of running the casinos we became friends… we helped each other through a difficult time and came to… um… care for each other. A fake marriage felt like a betrayal of that friendship… so we… uh… decided to end the marriage to honor the friendship."
"So even though you were planning to divorce, you intended to remain business partners?" Livia asked.
Zach nodded, "Yes. The documents creating Slater-Hart Gaming were filed at the same time as our divorce petitions."
"Were you with your wife at the time of the accident?" Livia asked Zach.
"No. We had just parted," Zach answered.
Livia looked sharply at Zach, "Were you present at the scene of the accident?"
Zach realized where Livia was leading him and answered, "Yes. We had lunch at a small restaurant downtown to celebrate the new company. I had offered to bring her car to her because of the rain, but she declined. She left the restaurant a few minutes ahead of me and when I left the restaurant I found her…" Zach's voice broke, "I found… she was lying in the street."
He looked at Livia who nodded for him to continue. In a voice hoarse with emotion he said, "She was… a car hit her. I… um… I… the driver… he called the paramedics… while I… I stayed… with Kendall. She lost consciousness before… and the police… well… I could tell… I mean… she…" Zach paused a moment and tried to compose himself. "When the ambulance left… I… I met them… at the… hospital."
"What did you do when you arrived at the hospital?" Livia encouraged him quietly.
"I… waited… and I spoke to… Dr. Martin," Zach replied.
"Did you call anyone?" Livia asked.
Zach nodded and rubbed his eyes quickly with his thumb and forefinger before replying, "I called her mother."
"And then what happened?" the attorney asked.
"I had to… Dr. Martin asked me to consent to surgery… and then… I sat with her for a few minutes… and I… asked her to come back to me… to us all," Zach said. Despite his efforts to control his emotions, the memory of the accident took him right back to his fear that she might die and a single tear slid down his cheek unchecked.
"Why did you withdraw your divorce petition?" Livia asked.
"Erica… Kendall's mother… made it pretty clear that she wanted rid of me. I… I guess it was selfish… but I wanted… I needed… to be with her. We were partners… and friends… and…" Zach's voice broke and he didn't continue.
"And?" Livia prompted.
"And I had fallen in love with her," Zach answered in a whisper.
Erica stood up and said, "You are a liar, Zach Slater. You take that back! My daughter Kendall does not love you!"
Before the judge or either attorney could reprimand her, Zach looked at her intently and answered, "I know."
Erica looked at Zach with a confused expression before the judge commented sharply, "Ms. Childs, I expect you to keep your client under control. Sit down, Mrs. Montgomery!" Without another word Erica seated herself.
Livia turned to Zach, "If you knew that your wife did not love you, why withdraw the petition?"
"Time," Zach answered. Once again, Livia nodded and he forced himself to reply more than he usually would, "I knew that it would buy me some time to spend with her. I consulted with both her sister and mother on all of her medical decisions and I stayed with her overnight while they slept. I just… I wanted to be with her… to let her know that I cared… loved… her enough to stay with her."
"Is there anything that you would like the court to know?" Livia asked softly.
"I… I realize that my wife… Kendall… does not share my feelings for her. I only want her to get better… and… that will be possible if… Bianca… Miss Montgomery… is granted power over her medical decisions. I know that her mother loves her… but she is blinded by her own needs and cannot see what is best for Kendall. Her recovery is all that matters… not my feelings for her… I just… I want her… to have her life back," Zach answered with raw emotion, clearing his throat as he finished his statement.
"I have nothing further, your honor," Livia said.
Vera Childs stood and said to Zach, "Why have you not reinstated your divorce petition… or fought the restraining order?"
"I will give Kendall a divorce whenever she wants it… and I will not force my presence on her. My only purpose here is to make sure that she has every opportunity to recover her life… and that she has a life to return to," Zach answered, much more in control.
"Do you plan to continue to direct your wife's business and financial affairs while she recuperates?" the attorney asked.
"Only Slater-Hart Gaming, and her share of the profits will be deposited in a trust over which I have no control," Zach replied.
"I have nothing further," the attorney commented. She seated herself at the table and Erica could be overheard whispering heatedly to her as Zach was excused.
The judge surveyed the courtroom and commented, "It is very apparent to me that Kendall Slater has a family that loves her very much… and is in significant conflict over her best interests. We shall recess for ten minutes after which time I will render my decision."
As soon as the judge left, Zach quickly departed the courtroom before Bianca or Myrtle could stop him and headed straight for exit. Ryan and Greenlee Lavery stepped in his path and forced him to stop. He stood quietly with his head tilted to the side, warily waiting for them to speak.
"Quite a performance, Slater, I didn't think you had it in you. Not that I bought a word of it… but still… I'll give you credit for creativity," Ryan commented sarcastically. "I mean… I always knew you were a pathetic loser… but really… to profess your love for a woman who will never love you in open court…"
Without giving Zach any chance to answer if he had been so inclined, Greenlee jumped in, "I hope that Kendall never has to hear about that little display of yours in there. Maybe you think in that twisted brain of yours that she would appreciate your 'sacrifice', but I think that she'll just be embarrassed to hear what you said. She only ever spoke of you with contempt."
Zach calmly looked from one of them to the other before shaking his head, and then turned around and walked the opposite direction without replying. He had no doubt that they were hoping for a reaction that they would try to use against him… but he would not give them the satisfaction. He paused, though, when he heard a female voice calling his name, "Mr. Slater."
He turned and saw Kendall's nurse, Taylor, hurrying toward him, "Mr. Slater. Won't you reconsider? She wants you… and she was confused by your message to her. She misses you."
He placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head, "Thank you, Taylor, but no. This is what's best for her. You saw how much I irritated her… I'd only interfere with her recovery. It's better this way. Just keep taking good care of her."
"Will you at least visit her once to explain?" Taylor asked him.
"No… that will only make things worse… for both of us. It's better this way. She's used to my absence now. If the judge rules for Bianca then Kendall will be just fine," he answered quietly. He glanced at his watch, "I think we ought to be heading back now."
Everyone had returned to the courtroom and the judge announced her ruling, "After hearing all the testimony, I find that it is in the best interests of Kendall Hart Slater to grant the petition of her sister, Bianca Montgomery. I am also lifting the restraining order against her husband, Zach Slater."
Erica jumped up, "But your honor… you can't… I mean… he…"
The judge continued, "Ms. Childs… your client."
Vera Childs placed her hand on Erica's arm as she sat down. When the courtroom became quiet again, the judge continued, "In addition, I am directing that the trust fund established for Kendall Slater be continued. I am not making a ruling at this time to dissolve the marriage of Zach and Kendall Slater, however, if the existing petition is not withdrawn within one year of the date of filing I will grant the divorce at that time. If Mr. Slater reinstates his petition for divorce, I will grant it immediately."
"But…" Erica once again interrupted but was stopped by Jackson who placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head sharply.
"Mrs. Montgomery, I urge you to continue to visit your daughter and participate in her recovery… and I urge you to do the same, Mr. Slater. The goal of these proceedings is the temporary guardianship of Kendall Slater. Let her decide for herself what her future relationships with you both will be. Court is adjourned," the judge commented before rising and leaving the courtroom.
Erica launched herself from her seat and catapulted across the courtroom to where Zach was seated, "Well… I hope you're proud of yourself. Did you enjoy causing such dissension in my family? I mean, whatever grudge you still have against me should be directed towards me… not at my vulnerable daughters. Oh, and don't think for one minute that I fell for your little declaration. I certainly don't know what you hoped to gain from hurting me, but you can rest assured that this will not be finished until you pay for your interference."
"Mother!" Bianca exclaimed. "Just because you refuse to see that Zach loves Kendall doesn't make it any less true. I don't want to fight with you any more… I just want to help Kendall get better. Please… come with me and Zach to see Kendall and explain everything to her."
"I'm not going anywhere with that man… you wanted control of your sister's care… well… you've got it. And when you find that you can't manage without me… you let me know. Until then… I think I'll visit her when you're not around," Erica answered sharply. She turned on her heel and walked over to her husband, "Jack… let's go home."
Erica swept out of the courtroom followed by Jackson and his children, Vera Childs and Ryan and Greenlee Lavery. All of Kendall's caregivers except for nurses Taylor and Shannon had departed after their testimony. The two nurses briefly congratulated Bianca and Zach before leaving. After the nurses departed, Zach hugged both Bianca and Myrtle before pulling out his cell phone and placing a brief call.
Zach ended the phone call and smiled at Bianca, "Dr. Geoffrey has finished her examination of Kendall. She is ready to meet with you, Dr. Donelson and Dr. Stallman to work out her plan of treatment."
"But… you're coming, too… right?" Bianca asked in confusion. "This is all your doing… you need to be part of it."
Zach shook his head, "No. My part is finished. Now it's up to you." He lowered his voice and bent close to her ear, "Kendall needs you now. Thank you."
With that comment, he turned and walked from the courtroom without a backward glance. Livia, Myrtle and Bianca stood and watched in bemusement at his departure but none of them called out to him or asked him to change his mind.