Chapter Nineteen: Waiting In Vain
Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
Jan 24, 2020,12:00 PM
The phone rang half a dozen times before Phoenix answered. His deep, grumbly morning voice sounded like music to Maya's ears. It felt like it'd been ages since she'd last heard it.
"Hello?" He mumbled sleepily.
"Rise and shine sleepyhead!" Maya trilled, feigning cheerfulness to mask the anxious fluttering of her heart. "Time to join the land of the living!"
"Maya?"
He must have been in deep slumber if he wasn't recognizing her voice after four years of knowing it! With a pang, Maya realized that she had indeed woken him and that despite sudden fatherhood, her boyfriend was irrevocably still not a morning person! She hoped he wouldn't be too crabby with her.
"I'm sorry I woke you up, Nick," she said in an uncharacteristically small voice. "But it's noon, so I figured you'd be up already…"
"Noon?!" Phoenix sounded a bit more alert now. "Damn, I am so happy I didn't miss you this time! My love, I'm so sorry we haven't been able to connect lately. Either you're in bed, or I am … curse our stupid opposite schedules! I get home by three in the morning on nights I'm unable to bum a ride with Tyler and have to take the bus … and then I still wake up at seven to get Trucy ready for school, and if I'm fortunate enough I can catch a few more winks after she gets on the morning bus. Normally I'd have been up an hour or so ago…but last night was a rough one…"
"Nick, it's alright, I'm not mad," Maya assured him, so giddy about hearing his voice again that she nearly forgot the purpose of her call. "I know you work nights. Not everyone has to wake up with the birds to start their morning meditation rituals like I do!"
"You've got that right!" He chuckled. She heard him clanking something in the background and then take a large gulp of what she figured was his wakeup java. Nick was completely lost without his morning pick-me-up. "I was going to call you tonight anyway. I have some news for you!"
Maya felt her pulse quicken at the words.
"What a coincidence! Me, too!"
"By all means then!" There was a grin in his voice. "Ladies first."
"No, you first," she insisted. She hadn't heard him sound so peppy in ages, and it appeared to be due to more than just the instant effects of the caffeine ingested.
"Do you recollect me mentioning that miserable battle-axe social worker, Ms. Bea Verhunt?"
As if Maya could have ever forgotten the wretched, acrimonious woman who had been making surprise visits to Phoenix for the past year!
The crabby, miserable biddy had made a point of surprise drop-ins which were much more often than the customary once-a-week visits Children's Services usually opted for. Despite having never met her, Maya had despised the vile, suspicious-minded woman, who she deemed partially responsible for her estrangement from her boyfriend and the unnecessary delays in the adoption process. It'd often seemed as if the crotchety old bag had wanted to catch Phoenix in some sort of foul misdeed with Trucy! The Iron Lady, as Nick had called her, had acted as if being a single father were some sort of unheard-of crime which warranted personalized, scrutinizing watch! Nick had noted that she'd always seemed disappointed when no just cause for such attentiveness had ever been found and that she hadn't been able to make good on her ever-underlying threat to take his daughter from him.
"Of course, I remember! Does she have anything to do with your chipper mood Nick? Did she drop dead of a sudden heart attack?"
"Almost as good," he chuckled. "She's retired! I've been assigned a new social worker, Neal Bender. He and his husband, Bob, recently adopted their toddler, Jade, from China. Therefore, he doesn't share the same bias or prejudice about single fathers adopting a young girl as the cantankerous old coot did! He thinks I'm a great dad and has been putting forward fantastic letters of recommendation on my behalf. I've been corresponding a bit with Edgeworth via email as well…"
"How is he doing?" Maya interrupted, delighted about the direction of this conversation and eager to learn more about their dear friend. Unfortunately, she hadn't heard from the prosecutor since the day he'd boarded his flight abroad when she'd bade him adieu on the phone nearly a year ago.
"Edgeworth seems all right, but he didn't go into much detail as to what he and Franziska have been up to," Phoenix admitted. "You know they're on some top-secret Interpol mission. I think he's in Zheng-Fa now? But he's been giving me some much-needed legal advisement about this whole adoption process. Maya, if all goes well, I may officially be Trucy's legal guardian within the next six months!"
The diviner was so ecstatic, she thought she'd burst with joy as she realized what this all signified.
This meant that she and Phoenix would be able to be together again soon – and that they would no longer need to hide their relationship anymore! There would be no more poking into her lover's so-called unscrupulous history with her, and no further boundaries keeping him from becoming a legal father to the little girl he adored. She'd finally get to meet little Trucy and introduce her to Pearl – and they'd be like sisters! And she'd at long last be able to personally ask Trucy how she liked the 'magic panties' she'd sent her for Christmas! (Nick had told his daughter they were from Santa and had assured Maya that Trucy had so loved the gift that she insisted on using them all the time to whip out hidden items … both on and off the stage)!
"You have no idea how happy I am for you," Maya said softly. "It's about time you caught some sort of break."
"No kidding! Someone up there likes me!"
"Someone down here likes you too," she reminded him, swallowing a sudden lump in her throat. "A lot. I miss you so much, Nick."
"I miss you too, my love." His voice was filled with tenderness. "The only thing that dampens this joyous news is that you aren't here by my side to celebrate it with me." A long sigh. "But on a lighter note, you said you had news as well. I hope it's good?"
Maya mentally counted to ten, then spewed the words rapidly, before she lost her nerve.
"NicktomorrowismymastercermonyIhavebeentryingtoreachyoufordaystogiveyounoticepleasetellmeyoucancome!"
There was nothing but dead silence on the phone. A long one.
"Hello?" She tapped on the receiver. "Um, hello? Nick, are you still there?"
"Yes..." Her swain cleared his throat. When he spoke again, his tone was rich with amusement. "But now I'm wondering who I'm talking to on the other end of the line? My girlfriend, or Wendy Oldbag? Do you want to pause and take a moment to breathe there, Motor Mouth?"
The reference to Edgeworth's geriatric stalker, whom he'd always referred to as the Wicked Witch of the Witness Stand, coupled with the teasing note in Nick's voice, made Maya giggle helplessly in response. Partly it was out of sheer relief to have gotten that load off, and partially because he hadn't immediately negated the request, as she'd feared.
"I've done everything I can to delay the inevitable for as long as I could!" Maya wailed. "I even tried to claim the precise day was not ours to choose, but was required to occur on some specific date associated with the alignment of the stars, planets, and spiritual radiation of the current year… anyway, they didn't buy it. It's officially do or die time, and I'm finally out of tomorrows. I was hoping and praying that this was one time you could steal away from prying social worker eyes. And now that it's no longer an issue, all I can say is … hurrah for great timing for once!"
She paused to catch her breath.
"So, do you think you can come, Nick? It would mean the world to me if you could!"
"You bet your bottom dollar I will! I'll be there with bells on!" He assured her. "I would have found a way to come even if I was still under constant evil-eye surveillance!"
"What would you have claimed to Children's Services if you were still under watchful eye though?"
"I know what a big deal this is, and would convey it as such. So, I'd tell as much to the truth as possible, I guess, and explain that I was going out of town for a very important graduation ceremony for my dear old friend and former assistant, whom I've not seen since I took Trucy in," he replied simply. "Just let me see who I can get to babysit Trucy for the weekend."
Seriously, Phoenix thought to himself. Something must indeed be written in the stars - this is impeccable timing because I have no poker tournaments at the bar this weekend! What are the odds?!
Under any other circumstances, Maya would have leaped at the chance to meet her hopefully future daughter, and offered to have Phoenix bring her along. However, the ancient ritual of inauguration dictated that it be one of utmost solemn sacredness, and ergo, be closed to off to all village outsiders. As it was, she was probably going to have to fight tooth and nail to have Nick be able to attend, and probably would still have to deal with discord from the elders. The family card was exactly the one she planned to play while making the persuasive case for the council to allow Nick to attend the induction ceremony, as he was her 'pillar of strength.'
I need you, Nick. I need you so much that if the day ever came that you stopped loving me, it wouldn't matter, because I'd still love enough for both of us. If I couldn't have your heart, then I'd cling onto your body at least, my body will be with you even after I die.
It killed her that she had to go through so much strife to have her loved ones be in her life because in the Master's heart of hearts, Trucy was as much a relative to her as Nick was, despite the child being clueless to her existence. It was beyond maddening, as well as despairingly tragic.
"Trucy still doesn't know a thing about me, does she?" Maya realized gloomily.
"She will, as soon as the ink on those adoption papers dry," Phoenix promised. "And she'll love you as much as I do."
Phoenix Wright
The Borscht Bowl Club
Jan 24, 2020, 9:30 PM
As it turned out, the hobo hadn't ended up making any false promises to Maya. There were no obstacles whatsoever that would keep him from going to Kurain that weekend.
Having no champion card tournaments that weekend meant he would not need to bring his daughter into work with him – since the night at the Detective's place when he'd first learned of Trucy's 'special talent' she'd become the main indispensable reason for his still undefeated winning poker streak. Also, luck had it that there were no concerns about whom to leave his precious treasure while he was away.
The ever hospitable Gumshoe and Maggey were always happy to care for Trucy at a moment's notice without any questions, even though the detective insisted on giving Phoenix a totally transparent wink and nod when he dropped his young daughter off earlier that evening, citing that he would require their babysitting duties till Sunday. To his merit, Gumshoe never mentioned the spirit medium by name, but the gleam in his eye told the pianist that he knew very well that they were still together. The former detective understood the need for discretion, for which Phoenix was thankful. Trucy didn't know a thing about Maya and as much as he knew she would adore her "new mom," the timing just wasn't right. He'd tell her one day – when it was safe for them to be together again.
He just didn't know how long that would take.
Maggey had just airily declared that as long as his daughter wasn't traumatized by the sight of baby Gordy latching onto her boob intermittently throughout the night, Trucy was welcome to consider their home her own for as long as she liked. The new parents absolutely adored the little magician; she was ever so cheery and well-behaved and they thoroughly enjoyed her antics. Also, since they'd wisely learned to lock their cupboards, there had been no since repeats of Java Bean Gate – and the feeling was mutual. Trucy saw her beloved Aunt and Uncle as the ever-captive audience to her magic tricks … almost literally one night!
To the Gumshoe's supreme humiliation, during a magic trick gone terribly wrong, Phoenix's daughter had borrowed her uncle's old handcuffs, accidentally linked him and Maggey together… and then had temporarily forgotten the magical words to make the keys re-materialize! The bumbler had then needed to call the station for an officer to bring another set of keys over, and then had spent the entire time futilely explaining to the clearly disbelieving cop that no, he and Maggey hadn't been "engaging in kinky, deviant acts within a child's presence!"
Phoenix paused in his piano playing and decided that he'd been playing broken chords of show tunes long enough. He needed a break. Murmuring into the microphone that there was a 15-minute intermission, he rose from the bench and headed over to the bar to score a grape juice from Tyler.
The young bartender, since the arrival of Petra and Kaya, his unexpected twin baby girls last summer, had been working the longer 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM shift to help make ends meet for his surprise (but welcome) brood! His friend always managed to sneak the new pub employee a few bottles every night, citing that there had to be some perks to working this lousy gig, as long as the penny-pinching Russians didn't find out!
It was unbelievable, really. The same unscrupulous owners who hadn't thought twice about hiring an underage bartender, and who didn't bat an eyelash about a young child hanging out in the seedy underground poker scene, would have blown a gasket if they knew one of their lowly employees, even one who brought in copious amounts of revenue to their business, hadn't paid full-price for a lousy non-alcoholic beverage!
The card shark leaned against the bar and took a long swig of his drink, his thoughts now on Maya. How desperately he'd missed her! If only she knew how she'd been plaguing his thoughts and dreams since the last, passionate moment they'd shared eons ago. How the concept of seeing her again was his sole true joy, save for his daughter, since he'd lost his badge.
He wondered idly if his voracious lover would ever get bored of him, or ponder about what else was out there in the male domain. After all, Phoenix was the only man she had ever gotten involved with, emotionally or physically. He'd broached the subject with her once, telling her there was a chance that what she considered "gratifyingly toe-curling in the sack" (her words) was simply just fair to middling instead of mind-blowing! Maya had just laughed at him then, her beautiful smile lighting up her eyes as she announced that if he was just standard, then the expert level would assuredly land her in traction at the hospital!
He loved that answer. He loved her. She always knew just what to say to make him feel good about himself again.
Phoenix had every intention of them finally being together, for good, as soon as Trucy's adoption was finalized. However, until then, this special occasion aside, he didn't know when he'd see Maya next. Their schedules barely allowed them enough time to get it together long enough for a phone call, never mind a visit! He didn't want her to feel like he was choosing to pop in and out of her life as if she were a drop-in center. And it was because of that very reason that Phoenix made a firm resolve not to take advantage of her nearness again and show her just how much he'd missed her these past nine months!
He couldn't. He wouldn't. He still felt it'd been selfish of him to surrender to the moment last time, even though Maya had made it clear she'd wanted it as badly as he had. Being as close as man and woman could possibly be, despite it being an act of love...in their case, was just wrong. It only made the lengthy separation afterward even more unbearable.
The concept of them secretly stealing sporadic coitus moments, when the other most important girl in his life didn't even know his girlfriend existed didn't sit well with Phoenix. It made it seem as if Maya were some random dirty strumpet he was ashamed of and needed to hide, rather than the future mother of his children!
Was he overthinking? Or possibly insane for putting a lid on an opportunity that any other man would have savored and pounced on at the drop of a hat?
The first time after we made love, I never called her again. The second time after that, I had to sneak her out of the place like a thief in the night, even though it was broad daylight! I can't keep doing this to her, just hooking up with her every time I see her, whenever circumstances and our lousy schedules allow! I can't ever let her feel like I'm using her for sex. I'm sure we'd both enjoy such secret trysts, but the closeness we share has always been about so much more than just that, and I don't want to lose sight of it.
He squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand over his chin, cringing at the sharp stubble. He definitely needed to shave, something he'd gotten far too lax with lately, before he went up to see Maya tomorrow morning. He looked down at his ragged sweatpants and scuffed sandals and let out a rueful chuckle.
And some part of me doesn't want that beautiful body defiled by the dirty old hobo's, even if it is my own.
Moreover, if they did wind up being intimate again, he didn't think he would be able to let her go this time.
But most of all, Phoenix knew, it was because he very well knew that what Maya truly wanted was precisely what he was unable to give her right now – the commitment of someone who stayed with her, instead of disappearing and leaving her like everyone else had. Her father. Mia. Her mother. Her aunt who'd 'left' her by betraying her and was now rotting in prison for it. Worst of all, when he'd asked her about it, Maya hadn't even been aggrieved of her abandoning relatives, except for Morgan. She'd simply accepted they thought they needed to do something which took them apart from her.
Perhaps this is part of the reason she grew so attached to me. I came back for her.
Maya deserved a man who would stay and support her every day of her life, instead of just selfishly using her for his own comfort and lustful desires. She deserved nothing less. Part of him was fearful that she might move on and find someone more suited to a woman of her stature, who could better fulfill her needs. Thus far, however, to his intense fortune yet disbelief, she'd made no sign of attempting to do so.
Maybe I should just tell her point-blank that it's okay, she should find someone more worthy, without all this baggage and hang-ups. But I can't. I'm too selfish. I love her too damn much.
The former attorney was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the slight movement near his side until the shadowy figure was right next to him. Despite the already frigid atmosphere in the bar, the area immediately around him seemed to instantly drop yet another 10 degrees.
"Greetings, Herr Wright," a familiar voice intoned coolly, jarring him from his reverie.
It was right then that Phoenix realized the hairs standing on the back of his neck and the arctic chill going down his spine had nothing to do with the cold room temperature as he looked up at that moment, and met the icy, soulless gaze of The Coolest Defense in the West … L.A. renowned defense attorney, Kristoph Gavin.
Mood music from this chapter - full video and lyrics on thejordanphoenix dot com:
Bob Marley – Waiting In Vain
October 26, 2021: This story is now being uploaded to be more family-friendly as the previous version was removed for being too steamy and setting off the site smoke alarms, and for having song lyrics. No harm, no foul. Seriously, I'm not worried - who the heck only reads a story for song lyrics and like, TEN chapters of canoodling out of 195? That's grossly underestimating my amazing and loyal readers, wouldn't you agree?
In the meantime, as I go through the painstaking task of ensuring my new version complies with regulations per the admin's advising, the full uncut version of Turnabout Everlasting, and Filling The Void (the other far too sexy for this site previous casualty, which I've started reposting in a less risqué format) plus all 100+ chapters of Singing In The Courtroom can be found on THEJORDANPHOENIX dot com
All 195 chapters are now on my personal site and going forward, I will be posting there first when I write new chapters, so make sure to follow me for the latest updates and direct music video links! (I am still taking reader song requests, BTW) 😄