Chapter 108

The Spencer-Rivera clan re-entered the court room and took their seats next to Mel and Doris. Ava leaning forward with a hand on Natalia's shoulder and Rafe holding tight to Olivia. Frank was brought back in and sat next to his lawyer and then the judge came in. Everyone rose as he entered and then retook their seats. The judge shuffled some papers and then looked down at the prosecution table.

"Is the prosecution ready with their first witness?"

Mel stood and straightened her jacket. "Yes your honor. The prosecution calls Mrs. Natalia Spencer-Rivera to the stand."

Natalia stood and gave Ava a sad smile. She kissed Rafe's cheek and whispered that it was all going to be okay. Olivia grabbed her hand and gave it a quick squeeze in support and then Natalia walked to the witness box and stepped inside. The bailiff came and had her swore in and had her state her name for the record. Then Mel stood before her.

Mel could tell that Natalia was nervous as she watched her fiddle with the hem of her suit jacket. And refuse to look in Frank's direction. "Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, could you explain for the court how you came to be acquainted with the defendant, Mr. Cooper."

"When I first came to Springfield I took a job at his father's restaurant, Company, and later moved into the boarding house above the restaurant with my son, after my husband, Nicky, died. Frank became a friend of mine. He was very supportive and helpful after Nicky died."

"So, he was a friend of yours? Someone you trusted and came to rely on?"

"Yes. He was. All of the Coopers were like family to me."

"And did you ever have more than a friendship with Mr. Cooper?"

"I don't think so no. We had dinner once, last January, out at my house, but nothing more came of it."

"So, you didn't have a romantic relationship with the defendant?"

"No. As I said, Frank was a friend of mine, but nothing more. Shortly after we had dinner, I told him I didn't want more then friendship from him, that I was in love with someone else."

"And how did he take that news?"

"Objection!" Mr. Carter shouted. "This line of questioning has nothing to do with the events in question."

Mel turned toward the judge and stated with confidence. "I am merely trying to paint a picture of the events that led up to that fateful night. Mr. Cooper is being charged for several incidences that happened before then and I believe the only way for the jury to be able to come to an informed decision is if we start at the beginning."

"I'll allow it. Objection overruled."

Mr. Carter sat back down with a huff. This line of questioning isn't what he was expecting and it was going to make his cross examination very difficult.

Mel cleared her throat and continued. "Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, how did Mr. Cooper react when you informed him you weren't seeking anything more than friendship form him?"

"He was upset. I told him at Company one evening. He had mistaken my wanting to speak with him to be a date and when I told him I wasn't looking for a relationship with him, he grabbed my arm and refused to let go. I eventually just yanked my arm away and walked out of the restaurant."

"Can you give us a brief walk-through of what occurred between yourself, your family, and the defendant up until the night of your wife's attack?"

Frank bristled at hearing Olivia referred to as Natalia's wife. Natalia chanced a glance at him and shuttered at the look of hatred coming from him. She took a deep breath and sought out her wife's eyes. When she found the deep green she loved so much, she relaxed a little and turned her attention to Mel, ready to continue.

"That occurred in late January of last year. I wasn't aware at the time, but Frank had been going to see my son, Rafe, who was in prison at the time for a mistake he made. Frank was seeing Rafe on a regular basis, more than even I was. He told him that we were dating, that we were in love."

"And Rafael never mentioned Frank's visits to you?"

"We had so little time together, and Olivia and our daughter, Emma, were with me on a lot of my visits. I never brought up Frank because I had no reason to, and I guess Rafe just didn't think about it. Even though he didn't know Olivia and I were together, he thought of Emma as his little sister, and when she was there, he focused mainly on her."

"And why didn't your son know that you and Mrs. Spencer-Rivera were together?"

"I was afraid. I had a hard time coming to terms with my feelings for Olivia. I was raised in the Catholic church, and it took me some time to balance my faith with my love for her. I knew Rafe would have just as hard a time as I did, and, since he wasn't at home with us, to see our love, and the family and home we created together, I knew it would be very hard for him to accept. I didn't want to risk him getting upset and doing something that might extend his stay his prison. It was a mistake on my part. I should have given my son the chance to be okay with Olivia and I, but I didn't out of fear, and as a result, Frank was able to try and hurt my family by using my son."

Mel could hear Mr. Carter huff behind her. She had a feeling she was tearing apart his defense. That had been her plan. If she and Doris asked the Spencer-Rivera's all the hard questions, the ones that might arise doubt in the jury, themselves, then he wouldn't have much to question them on and the jury would have no choice but to rule guilty. She suppressed a smirk and continued with Natalia. "Thank you for clarifying that for us. Could you please continue with the order of events that led us here today?"

"After me telling Frank I didn't want a relationship, things were a little tense between him and I. We didn't speak often between then and his brother's memorial in March."

"What happened then?"

"It was an eventful day to say the least. Olivia's ex-husband, Phillip Spaulding, had come to the memorial, it left Olivia upset and the two of us argued a little. Although we were able to talk through our differences we both needed a little time after the service, so I went over to Company to see if they needed any help and lend my support to their family. They are all such wonderful people and they had helped me so much, I wanted to be there for them in any way I could. Anyway, when I got there no one was around so I went up to the boarding house. Frank was up there packing up Coop's room and I offered to help him." Natalia paused and swallowed hard, she still felt guilty for Frank kissing her. It didn't matter that Olivia told her it wasn't her fault, she still felt like all of this was her fault. She should have never gone over there and been alone with Frank.

Mel took in her features and could tell something was wrong as she watched a few tears silently roll down Natalia's cheeks. "Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, are you okay to continue?" When no response came and Natalia sat starring at her feet, Mel tried again. "Natalia? Natalia!"

Olivia was struggling to get to her feet, wanting to go to her wife, but Doris placed a hand on her arm stopping her. Olivia glared at her but sat back down and tried to meet her wife's eyes, to let her know it was okay, that none of this was her fault.

At hearing her name all but screamed, Natalia snapped out of it and looked up, meeting her wife's steady gaze, and seeing all of the love Olivia held for her staring back at her. She shook her head to clear it and looked up at Mel. "Sorry. Yes I'm ready to continue. When we were just about finished packing Coop's things, I leaned in to give Frank a hug, wanting to support him the way I would any friend. Frank mistook my gesture of friendship for more and kissed me, it was unwanted and I pushed him away. He became angry, tried to tell me that him and I were good together, that I was just scared because of my husband's death. I told him no, that I was in love with someone else, but he wouldn't believe me, he kept pushing me to tell him who I was seeing. I tried to leave, he and Olivia have a history and I knew it would upset him if he knew that I was seeing Olivia, that I was in love with her. I didn't want to make things worse after his brother's death and his father giving away the family business, but when I tried to leave he blocked the door and started screaming at me, demanding to know who I was seeing. I was scared and angry and my resolve broke. I told him it was Olivia and he became irate, insisting I didn't love her and that she had done something to me. I finally just pushed past him and ran down the stairs." Natalia had tears in her eyes as she finished.

Rafe had not heard about this and anger was bubbling inside him. Olivia took notice of her son's anger as she watched his fist ball and ran her fingers through his hair while bringing his head to rest on her shoulder while Ava leaned forward and rubbed her bothers back. Judge Anderson took notice of this.

It was interesting to see the fierce woman who had once tried to bribe him into sending Phillip Spaulding to prison be so gentle with the young man. He also noticed what he hadn't previously. Phillip sitting behind her with a hand on her shoulder in support and his other hand wrapped around her daughter's shoulders. Interesting indeed, how things change in under a year. He oddly wished he knew the story behind this change. Shaking his thoughts from his head he returned his attention to the woman sitting in the witness box.

"Did Mr. Cooper leave you alone after that?"

"No. He became worse. Just a week later he came to my house and proposed."

"And what did you say?"

"At first I was just stunned. I mean I told him I didn't want more then friendship, I told him I was with Olivia, that I loved her, and then he shows up with a ring. Once I got over the shock, I tried to tell him no, that I was with Olivia, that I was in love with her, but again, he wouldn't listen. Olivia had come out of the house and also tried to get him to leave, but he wouldn't. He just started screaming about how Olivia couldn't love, telling me that I should be with him and that she would only hurt me. Eventually Olivia and I were able to get him to leave."

"How did you feel after that? Were you angry at him?"

"No, not really. I was upset at myself. I felt that it was my fault he was acting the way he was. He was my friend, and even after that dinner, and telling him I didn't want more from him, he kept helping me and my son and I excepted his help. At the time, I thought that by allowing him to help me like that, that I was leading him on or something. I felt like everything was my fault."

"Do you still feel that way?"

"No." she said with conviction. "I know now that I didn't do anything wrong. We were friends and friends help each other. I told him I didn't see him as more than a friend, that I was with Olivia, and that I loved her. Nothing I did should have made him believe that I wanted anything more than friendship from him, and especially not marriage."

"Was that the end of this kind of behavior from Mr. Cooper?"

"No. unfortunately it gets worse. A few weeks later, my son had a review hearing for his case and was released to a half-way house. He was able to stay at home with me for a week before going. I didn't know then, but Frank had lied to the parole board and Rafe. He told them that he and I were getting married and that's why Rafe was allowed to stay at home for a few days before reporting to the half-way house. Frank even lied to Emma who was only eight at the time. Telling her that she should encourage me to marry him because it would make me happy. He used both my son and my daughter to try and trick me into marrying him."

"Did you think about marrying him at that point?"

"Not even for a second." She stated, giving Olivia a half smile. "Oliva and I were engaged then and she was and is the only person I want to be married to." She paused for a second before continuing, telling the jury of how he had almost cost her Olivia by praying on her fears and doubts at Henry's christening. She then told them about the fight he had with Doris's guards outside of Farley's and how he once again tried to make Olivia run from her at the hospital by throwing her past in her face again. Making her feel she was unworthy of Natalia and their love.

"Was that the end of it?"

"We thought so for a while. Frank quit trying to break us up. He was Rafe's mentor at the time and things were going really well. He would come to the house and spend time with Rafe, and sometimes they went out. Rafe found out about Olivia and me, in not the best way. We were waiting to tell him until he was settled back at the house. He caught us in an intimate moment and he didn't react very well. He turned to Frank for support and Frank was there for him. Rafe was very angry with me and, at the time, he couldn't accept my relationship with Olivia, and asked me to choose between them. That wasn't something I could do. So, I left town for a while." She said with regret in her voice, looking down.

When she looked back up, she couldn't look at her wife, so instead focused on Mel. "While I was gone, Frank kept an eye on Rafe, really helped him through me not being there. When I came back, Olivia was, understandably, upset. She didn't know if she could forgive me if she could trust me and be with me again. Frank encouraged her to give me another chance. When we did get back together, neither of us thought for a second that Frank would be a problem for us. We both thought that he had accepted us and moved on. It wasn't even something we thought about or talked about. All of that was in the past and we just wanted to move forward, rebuild our relationship and our family. Frank had started dating someone else and I was so thankful to have his friendship back and not have to worry about his interference with mine and Olivia's relationship."

"Is it safe to assume that you were wrong in you assumptions?"

"Very much so. Olivia and I were planning a New Year's wedding. Two of our greatest friends, Doris, and Blake, were actually doing most of the planning. Blake was dating Frank at the time. Just before Christmas, we invited Doris and Blake over for dinner and to finalize our wedding plans. Doris brought her partner and Blake brought Frank. We had a wonderful dinner together and everything seemed to be going well. Doris wanted to head out before any more snow fell so she and her partner left. Blake and Frank stayed to talk a while longer. Blake was talking to us about the wedding when Frank asked to speak with me privately. I had no reason to believe anything was wrong, so I agreed. We went outside and he walked to the side of the house. I followed and asked him what was wrong. That's when I realized that he was far from okay with Olivia and me. Once again, he tried to get me to leave Olivia, to be with him. He tried to use my religion and my son to get to me to do so. When I refused to leave Olivia and tried to walk away, he grabbed my arm and tightened his grip every time I tried to get away. He didn't release me until my son tackled him to the ground and punched him several times."

"At this time, I would remind the jury of evidence exhibit five, the photos of the injuries sustained by Mrs. Spencer-Rivera on the night of the twenty-first of November of last year. As well as remind them of exhibits six through ten, the statements from all of the Spencer-Rivera family of these events, including Mr. Spencer-Rivera's admittance of striking the defendant, breaking his nose and jaw while trying to protect his mother. As well as Mrs. Olivia Spencer-Rivera's admittance of striking the defendant in his testicles trying to protect her fiancé at the time."

Mr. Carter and Frank seethed as they witnessed Mel further crumble their defense. Her tactic of having the Spencer-Rivera's admit to any possibly perceived wrong doings on their part was leaving them with little to work with to try and paint Olivia in a bad light. Frank wasn't worried though. There was still plenty of skeletons in Olivia Spencer's closet, and he intended to drag them all out.

Mel turned from the jury and back to Natalia. "Is there anything else you'd like to add that occurred before the night your wife was attacked?"

"Only one last thing before that terrible night. It was our wedding. We had a beautiful ceremony at the Spaulding Mansion. Toast had just finished when Frank appeared. He started going on about how awful of a person Olivia was. Trying to make me see her as someone who was unlovable and deserved all the pain she had lived through in her life. When I made it very clear that I would never love him, that I chose Olivia, he lunged at her. Luckily, several of our friends were nearby to stop him. Phillip and two members of his security, and also close friends of ours, Josh, and Bill, were able to escort him out. I'm not sure of the entire story there. All I know is what Olivia told me, and that is that when they escorted him out he tried to fight them to get back into the wedding. Apparently he thought Olivia had forced me into marrying her and he had to save me from her. Or at least that's what I was told he was shouting. They had to use force to get him to finally leave. We thought that would be the end of it. That he would finally realize that there was nothing he could do to separate Olivia and I." She shook her head as tears welled in her eyes. "We were so wrong." She choked out.

Mel handed her a tissue. "Thank you Mrs. Spencer-Rivera." Mel returned to her seat, rubbing Olivia and Rafe's shoulder's as she passed.

Judge Anderson turned to Mr. Carter. "Would the defense like to cross examine?"

Mr. Carter stood and buttoned his jacket. "Yes your honor." He walked to stand in front of Natalia, lifting his head in confidence. "Ms. Rivera. How did you meet Olivia Spencer?"

"Objection!" Doris stood, anger building in her. She knew this was coming, but it still angered her. "How my clients met has no bearing on this case."

Mr. Carter looked the judge. "As Ms. Boudreau pointed out, it's important for the jury to have a full understanding of the people involved in this case. I am only trying to give everyone a clear picture of the type of person Ms. Spencer is so they have all of the information to make an informed decision, as Ms. Boudreau also pointed out was important."

"He's right Ms. Wolfe. Your associate opened up this line of questioning. Objection overruled. You may continue Mr. Carter." Judge Anderson said.

Mr. Carter cleared his throat. "Please, answer the question Ms. Rivera."

"It's Mrs. Spencer-Rivera. And Olivia and I first met when I was hired as a maid at her hotel, although we didn't officially meet until her daughter's seventh birthday. She and my husband were friends and he brought me with him."

"And would you stay that you and Ms. Spencer were friends at that point?"

"Again, it's Mrs. Spencer-Rivera."

The judge scowled. "You will address the witness properly or I am inclined to stop this line of questioning."

"Of course, your honor." Mr. Carter said. "Mrs. Spencer-Rivera. Were you and Olivia Spencer-Rivera friends from the beginning?"

"No, we had only just met, and as I stated, I was a maid at her hotel, I didn't know her and she didn't know me."

"Did you two have any arguments before you became friends?"

Natalia nodded with a small smile ticking her lips remembering the early days with Olivia. She schooled her features and did as Mel and Doris had instructed. Gave as short an answer as possible. "We did."

"What were the arguments about?"

"What didn't we argue about? My wife is a very passionate and stubborn woman, as am I. There was very little we didn't disagree on in the beginning."

Growing agitated, Mr. Carter tried to reign himself in. "Did Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, or did she not, try to steal your husband Augustus Aitoro?"

Natalia swallowed her smile at his agitation. "She did. However…"

"And is she not responsible for the untimely death of you husband?'

Natalia looked to the judge. "Your honor, if I may, I would like to finish my answer to Mr. Carters first question and then I will answer his second."

"You may. Mr. Carter, I suggest you do not ask question you do not intend to allow the witness to answer."

"Thank you. Yes Olivia did try to steal my husband. However, she was very sick at the time. Her heart was failing and she was dying. She was scared and alone. Back then, I was very upset with her. I thought of her as nothing more than a power-hungry barracuda who took what she wanted with no regard to anyone else's feelings." She paused as she glimpsed Frank smiling, thinking she was giving him what he wanted. Painting Olivia in a bad light.

She met her wife's eyes before continuing. "But, once I understood how truly sick she was, that she was just scared, I understood that Gus was one of few friends she had, and she just didn't want to die alone. In fact, I encouraged Nicky, Gus, to be with her, not physically of course, but I asked him to make her believe he loved her as she wanted him to. I didn't want her to die feeling alone."

"As to your second question, no, Olivia is not responsible for Gus's death. That was an unfortunate accident. She was dying and he was rushing to the hospital to be with her. He didn't want her to be alone. He was speeding and ran a stop sign and was hit by a car." Tears glistened in her eyes as she remembered that day. "As much as it pains me to not have him here with us, his heart saved Olivia's life, and for that, I thank god every day."

Eric Carter almost growled at her response. "Did this woman not take your wedding rings from you, the home your husband had left you?"

"No, she didn't. Olivia paid me very well for my wedding rings. She knew I needed the money and she needed to feel close to Gus. She gave them back the same day, and never asked for the money she paid me for them. As to Gus's house, I couldn't afford the mortgage. She bought it, paid down the mortgage, and sold it back to me for a mere ten thousand dollars that was found among my husband's possessions. However, I never paid her that money, instead it was used for a trip I took. To this day I still haven't repaid that."

"Mrs. …."

"And she worked a deal with the governor for the purchase of that house for well over market value which allowed me to buy the house we now share."

It was evident to the jury that both Frank and Mr. Carter were growing more and more frustrated. Mr. Carter realized that he wasn't going to get what he wanted from her. With a sigh, he resigned to the fact and looked at the judge. "No further questions."

The judge looked down at Natalia and suppressed a smile of his own at her answers to the questions being asked. He could tell what the defense was trying to do, and thus far wasn't working for them. The prosecution had prepared their witnesses. They were very smart he thought to himself. "You may step down. At this time, we will recess until nine a.m. tomorrow morning. Court adjourned." He slammed his gavel and stood to exit.

Natalia all but ran to her family as Frank was escorted out, growling at how today had gone. Natalia gently enveloped Olivia in a hug, being quickly joined by their eldest children. Once the kids pulled out of the family embrace, Natalia pulled back and kissed her wife soundly. "I love you so much querida."

"I love y-you too sweetheart. You d-did so good. I'm s-so proud of you."

Natalia smiled at her and helped her to stand, Ava and Rafe assisting. "Let's go get our other baby and go home, huh?"

Olivia kissed both Ava and Rafe's cheeks and then her wife's lips once more. "I think th-that sounds perfect."

As the family walked out of the court room, Doris and Mel close behind, a crowd of their friends were waiting for them. Phillips security surrounded them, with people filing in front, behind, and to their sides, making a protective circle around them to shield them from the media as they made their way to their vehicle. Once safely inside, Olivia smiled at all of the supportive friends she never thought she would have. She reached for her wife's hand and blew a kiss to those around them. This kiss was for the overwhelming amount of gratitude she felt for all of them.