Author's Note: See, I told you that I inspiration found me :D
Chapter 8: Face To Face With The Devil
" The hardest yet most fulfilling thing to do, is to face your worst fear and laugh in its face."-Anonymous.
I pace the living room nervously, popping my head up every few seconds to see if anyone has come into the driveway, and everytime I see that no one new is there I sigh heavily and continue my pacing. My mind wanders, to just a little over an hour ago when Mom, Brandon, and Kyle came to pick Carly-Ann up for what they promised was going to be a day of fun, with a trip to Disneyland no less, to take my daughter as far away from this living nightmare that we're in.
" You keep pacing like that your going to run a hole in the carpet," Michael's voice calls from behind me and I stop moving peering down at the clear mark of my nervousness.
" Good thing you need new carpet," I murmur, tensing only slightly when he wraps strong arms around me in a tight hug.
" I know that what I am about to say is pointless, but you need to try and relax Dani," he murmurs in my ear and I know that he's right. The truth is I want to just relax, but how can I, when any moment now a lawyer will be showing up to help me fight for my daughter? I shudder at that and feel the all too familiar sting of tears behind my eyes, letting a stream of soft curse words under my eyes.
" How is this possible Michael? After so long, why come back now? He wasn't there for any of it. My pregnancy, labor, and everything after that. So how in the world is it that he can just wake up one day and decide that he wants to be a part of it all now?" I ask, turning to look at him. His eyes are dark, shadows marring his beautiful skin underneath, proof of the many restless nights that he's had since I got the news.
" I don't know baby, but we'll figure this out, together," he murmurs resting his forehead to mine. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, my heart skipping a beat when I hear a car pulling up outside.
" She's here," Michael whispers, brushing a soft kiss to my forehead before going to the door.
" Jamie," Michael says his voice light as he swoops down hugging the petite blonde fiercely, and I cant stop the flash of jealousy that comes over me. I smother it quickly. This is definately not the time to be worried, jealous no less, about Michael wrapping his arms, my arms, around another woman. A beautiful woman.
" Michael, its been too long," the woman says, her voice a sweet southern rasp.
" Well I have been a little busy with the tour," he says wrapping an arm around his companion, pulling a velvet giggle from her.
" Very true," she says and I clear my throat lightly, pulling them away from their conversation.
" Oh, sorry. Daniella James, James Colbert," Michael says and I quirk an eyebrow at him before turning towards James.
" I was named for my Daddy," she says reaching a hand out to me, " Please just call me Jamie."
" Oh well then please call me Dani," I say walking towards the couch. I sit quietly, crossing my legs, nervously fidgeting with my fingers, forcing me to wipe my damp palms over my jeans.
" Michael hasn't told me much, about what's going on, but I figure it must be a doozy if he's calling me for legal assistance," Jamie says pulling a yellow legal pad and pen from her briefcase.
" Yeah, well, its pretty complicated, I don't know where to start," I say stumbling over my words, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by all of this.
" Just start at the beginning," she says placing her hand over mine squeezing lightly. I let out a deep breath and smile.
" Okay, the beginning," I murmur nodding my head feeling completely at ease the moment that Michael sits next to me and takes my hand in his.
Two and half hours later I watch as Jamie studies the notes that she's made, and I run my hands nervously through my hair.
" So what do you think?" I ask, " Do I have a shot at beating him in court?"
" Absolutely," Jamie says at length looking up at me an unfamiliar light in her eyes, " You've been the sole provider for Carly-Ann since before she was born, you've done it all on your own. You have maintained full time work, you went to school, she's getting an education. I think we have a damn good case Dani." I close my eyes as they flood, ashamed of the overwhelming emotions that I feel.
" I'm sorry," I cry, burying my face in my hands.
" Daniella, don't be sorry. What your going through is every single parents nightmare. To think that someone who hasn't been a part of the child's life can suddenly show up and decide that they want to take that all away is horrifying, but my job is, if you will let me represent you, to show beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are the best decision for raising your daughter. And you have something that Nathan doesn't have," she says, and I look up at her confused, " You have the proof that your the best choice. You've been doing it, and succeeding beautifully, don't forget that."
" I would be very happy if you represented me, though I need to know how much this is going to cost," I say taking the glass of water that Michael is holding out to me.
" You don't need to worry about that," she says, and before she can finish the thought Michael clears his throat.
" That's right, I'm taking care of everything," Michael says sitting next to me, taking my hand in his.
" Michael, I cant let you do that," I say prying my fingers from his to pace the room.
" Daniella," he says sternly and I whirl around glaring at him.
" I'm serious Michael. This is my fight, not your yours. I wont have you footing the bill," I say annoyance bubbling in my blood.
" Daniella be reasonable," he says shaking his head getting to his feet to show Jamie to the door.
" Dani, I'll be in touch, very soon. I will have to arrange to interview your family, and of course Carly-Ann. My secretary will be calling you in the next few days," Jamie says letting herself out of the door, probably sensing that things were about to take a turn for the worst.
" Thank you Jamie, for everything," I say giving a stiff wave. I lower my hand slowly as Michael closes the door and turns to me, his smile faltering slowly when he looks at me.
" What?" he asks his brown eyes lighting with confusion.
" I appreciate that your trying to help me Michael," I say, " However I do not appreciate you treating me like a child in front of people. I'm not a child, and I can, and will pay for my own lawyer."
" Dani what are you talking about? I wasn't treating you like a child," he says his voice growing soft.
" Yes you were," I say throwing my hands up, " 'Dani be reasonable.' Seriously Michael? I am more than reasonable. I think through all of this mess I have been doing a damn fine job of handling myself, and if you want to go through this with me, then go through it with me. Be at my side. Don't try and stand in front of me to try and protect me, don't coddle me, just be with me."
" Honey, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to coddle you, I just," he says running his hands over his black curls, " I just wanted to help."
" And I love you for that Michael, I do," I say the anger in me quickly dissipating, as I walk towards him and wrap my arms around him, " But I don't need a knight in shining armor." I settle my head against his chest finding instant comfort in the weight of his arms around me, the sound of his heart beat in my ear.
" Okay," he whispers, stroking a hand down my hair, " Then I'll just be with you."
" Carly-Ann, its time to go," I call out sliding my feet into my heels. I listen closely for a response and when I'm met with silence I sigh heavily walking towards her bedroom.
" Carly-Ann? Honey?" I turn a slow circle in her room before walking into the hall.
" We're in here," Michael's voice floats through the hallway, and I smile faintly walking towards Michaels room. I lean against the door jam, looking at Carly-Ann who, in her prettiest purple dress, is curled up against Michael's side is listening intently as Michael reads, his voice weaving a story of far off lands and fairy tales.
" Hey you two, we have to go, the meeting with the lawyers is in half an hour," I say when Michael pauses his reading and looks up at me.
" Okay," Michael murmurs nodding his head, " We'll finish the story tonight." I take Carly-Ann's hand and help her slide off the bed, kneeling down to straighten her dress.
" You ready to go baby?" I ask, brushing a hand over her perfectly curled golden locks.
" I guess," Carly-Ann whispers shrugging her shoulders lightly. I take her face in my hands, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
" Hey, you remember what I told you. They are just going to ask you some questions and you tell them the truth, and if you get scared, I'll be there, and so will Michael, okay?" I ask waiting to watch for her to shake her head, " All right, lets go."
" Miss. James?" A soft voice asks when we walk into the law offices of Colbert and Mitchell. I nod at the receptionist and point to the chairs behind me showing Carly-Ann where to sit with Michael.
" Hi, sorry we're late, we hit a little traffic on the way in," I say and she smiles with understanding.
" That's understandable. It will be just a few minutes," she says motioning to the chairs. I walk over to where Michael and Carly-Ann sit, but before I can take a seat myself the door opens revealing Jamie.
" Daniella, Michael," Jamie says, " and sweet girl." I smile at the way Carly-Ann beams up at Jamie, and take her hand leading her in the direction that Jamie walks.
" I'm going to show you to the room that Carly-Ann and Michael can wait in until it's Carly-Ann's turn," she says and I nod my head tightening my hold on my daughters hand. We walk into a smaller room, full of toys, and I take Carly-Ann's jacket off, folding it and laying it on the arm of the couch.
" Okay sweetie, Its going to be my turn first and then they will come get you and Michael okay?" I ask, hugging her tightly.
" Okay," she whispers and I stand up, smoothing my pencil skirt and white blouse. Michael hugs me quickly, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before I follow Jamie to the office.
" Nervous?" Jamie asks, and I look at her as her hand pauses over the office door.
" Terrified," I murmur nodding my head to show her that despite the fear that is slowly building inside of me, I'm ready to get this part of this whole ordeal to be over.
I stand in shocked silence when across from the rather large and shiny wooden desk in Jamie's office sits not only Nathan's lawyer Mr. Ethan Smyth, but Nathan. A familiar punch of burning anger and fear hits my stomach and it takes everything inside of me not to double over from the shock of his presence.
" Ahh, so nice to see that Miss. James could join us," Mr. Smyth remarks sarcastically and Jamie gives a cold chuckle.
" Traffic," Jamie says, pulling my chair out for me.
" Dani," Nathan says slowly, his familiar voice sending chills down my spine. I incline my head at him, not daring to yet trust my voice.
" Well now that we're all here lets just get this over with shall we. Let the record show that the deposition for case number one, one, nine, dash, seven, four, six, B was started at three eleven p.m on January sixteenth, nineteen, ninety-three," Jamie says, tucking her chair under the table.
" Miss. James," Mr. Smyth says smiling slowly as he looks at me from across the table, " How old are you?"
" Twenty-Two," I answer clearly and honestly, finding courage in the fact that my voice is strong.
" And in what year was your daughter, the child in question, born?" he asks, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes at him.
" Nineteen eighty-seven."
" The month and date please."
" Doesn't your client know?" I ask, sarcasm dripping in my voice. I cant help but find some satisfaction when Jamie barely restrains her laughter.
" Just answer the question."
" I'm sorry. January twenty-second, nineteen eighty-seven."
" All right. Can you tell me why you refused my client any sort of visitation with his daughter?"
" He never asked for it before now."
" Is it true that you left the day that you told him you were pregnant? That he went out to get dinner, and when he returned you had packed your things and left?"
" Only after he beat me and told me that he wanted nothing to do with me or my 'mistake.' Yes."
" Is there proof of this supposed beating? A police report? Pictures perhaps?"
" No."
" Is it true that you have ignored every attempt that my client has made in the last five years to establish some sort of relationship with his daughter?"
" I was never aware of any attempt to open lines of communication. I lives with my Mother until I finished two years of college, after that I moved into my own home not five miles from my Mother. Never once in the last five and a half years, before now, has he ever asked or tried to contact my daughter, or myself."
" You are aware that Carly-Ann is my clients daughter as well. You keep referring to her as 'my' daughter."
" Biologically yes, she is his daughter as well, however, she is, and always will be, my daughter. Sperm doesn't make a Father."
" I would like to let the record show that the defendant is cold and callous when referring to my client, one Nathan Colin Christianson. That's all the questions we have for Daniella."
" Let the record show that a short recess was taken at three forty five p.m." Jamie says, pushing away from the table, leading me out of the room.
I follow Jamie down the hall and into a bathroom and wait until she closes the door behind us.
" You did so good," Jamie proclaims, hugging me quickly, " I am so proud of you."
" I wanted to rip into him," I say, finally feeling my body shake, " Why didn't you tell me he would be here."
" Because I knew if you did that you would be petrified," she says, handing me a wet paper towel to wipe my face with.
" Good call," I murmur, dreading the fact that Carly-Ann is going to have to come face to face with her the man who helped create her, and there isn't anything I can do about it.
