Seems Like A Lifetime

All I want

He was scared. And I mean scared. He was sweating bullets and staring me down.

What? I had nothing to do with this! Not that I'm not happy Gary Batteto is on my side, but with his skills he'll probably be able to get me full custody. After talking with him for all of ten minutes, he said he said he had all he needed.

"All rise, the honorable Judge Atwell residing." The bailiff said as Judge Atwell entered the courtroom.

"Are both counsel's ready to proceed?" The judge asked.

"Yes we are your honor," both Mr. Brown and my lawyer said in unison.

"You may begin."

"Your honor," Mr. Brown started. "Mr. Johnson would like full custody of their children, Troy Jr. and Megan, relinquishing Mrs. Johnson of all her parental rights." He added.

Was he crazy? He didn't even want me to have visitation rights? Was he out of his damn mind?

"Your honor, my client is not a threat to her children, nor is she incompetent. She is looking only for full custody with visitation rights on the weekends." Mr. Batteto said.

"Your honor, Mrs. Johnson does not have a Job, nor any steady income, how will she support herself or the children." How dare he? I wanted to work, I did, Troy insisted that I stay home and take care of the children.

"My client has a degree in Political Science, your honor, and is currently looking for a job. She was advised by her husband at the beginning of their marriage that she should stay home and take care of the children while he supplied the household with the income, otherwise she would have been working. However, until Mrs. Johnson becomes employed, Ms. Davies, a childhood friend will be helping out."

"You mean lover!" Troy yelled, making the judge bang his gavel and call order. Yeah Troy, that's right, show your true colors and how uneven tempered you are.

"Your honor, Ms. Davies, is not a friend as Mr. Batteto put it, is not a friend indeed, they are lovers." I knew he would use that against me.

"Your honor, I don't see the relevance. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have filed for divorce and this is a custody hearing not a witch hunt." Mr. Batteto said.

I smiled.

"Your honor, I am trying to prove that Mrs. Johnson does not have a stable household therefore it will be an unfit place for children." UNFIT? Is he stupid? I would never put my children in harms way.

"Mrs. Johnson, who has cared for both children since birth while Troy went on business trips for weeks at a time, would never put her children in an unsafe environment." Damn right I wouldn't.

"Bringing children up in a household without a father figure is doing just that." Mr. Brown said.

"Is this a custody hearing or a gay bashing?" Mr. Batteto said.

I smiled again. He was right. Troy was making this all about Ashley and not about the fact that he was never there and I was the one that took care of the kids all the time.

The judge banged his gavel again.

"Approach the bench counsel." He said. Uh-oh. Trouble.

Both counsels approached the bench. The judge exchanged a few words and the trail proceeded.

"Do you have proof Mr. Brown that Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Davies are an item?" The judge asked.

"No your honor, only the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Johnson."

"Which is hear say. That evidence is not to be brought up again. Understand?" Thank you judge Atwell.

"Yes, your honor." Ha! Take that Troy! Now he has no case at all.

"Your honor, with out that evidence Mr. Johnson has no case against my client. Mrs. Johnson has been the sole parent in the upbringing of these children. She has been to every dance recital, every game, every teacher parent conference, every PTA meeting, Mr. Johnson has merely been the bread winner." Mr. Batteto was right. The only thing Troy did for us was money related.

"Is there anything else Mr. Brown?" The judge asked.

He looked frazzled. He didn't know what to say. I'm guessing that he intended on coming in here and bashing my character because of whom I chose to love. That was his entire case. Ha.

"Well your honor, um... you see your honor we..." What is it Mr. Brown? Cat got your tongue?

"Mr. Brown, either you have more evidence or you don't? Can you prove that Mrs. Johnson is an unfit mother or not?" The judge asked, looking a little frustrated.

"No your honor." Mr. Brown admitted.

"Well I have no other choice but to grant full custody to Mrs. Johnson pending an agreement that Mr. Johnson will have visitation rights on the weekend, and every other holiday and birthday. Do you accept opposing counsel?"

Mr. Batteto looked at me. Do I? Hell yeah!

I shook my head yes.

"Mrs. Johnson accepts your honor."

"Good." The judge banged his gavel and it was over. I got full custody. I couldn't believe it.

Take that Troy!