Wrecked

SIXTEEN

What was he going to do about the twins?
He had spent the past hours thinking but nothing! He had no idea.
"Mommy is starting to like me."
What was that!?
For God's sake, he knew he could never forgive Jody for her infidelity but there was one thing he could never doubt and it was that she loved his daughter. The tears in her eyes was just another proof.
And Vincent.
He had to win Vincent over before he convinced Jody to leave the house.
His phone shrilled and he picked up immediately to shut off the noise the ring tone caused.
"Hello?"
"No longer have my number, son?"
He sighed. "Sorry Dad. Didn't look at the ID before I picked up. How are you and mom?"
He held the phone his ear with his left hand and picked up files that he needed to check out and headed down to his study.
"How do you think your mom is feeling?"
"Fine, of course."
"Really? Do you really think so despite the fact that for two Sundays now you have refused to bring Tory to see us?"
He shut his eyes. He had totally forgotten, after the argument Vincent and Victoria had, he hadn't been able to think of anything else. "Sorry, Dad. I forgot."
"What is the problem, Son? The last time you sounded like this was when you found out Jody was---"
"Can you not say it, Dad? Please."
"Really? What did God say about forgiveness, huh? Have you been going to church for naught, son?"
He sighed. "Forgiveness? Oh please." He snorted. "It doesn't change the fact that Jody is a harlot or that my heart was crushed. Or that it's because of her, that same woman that I can't have a moment of peace in my life. Or in my house. So what's up with the forgiveness? If you called because of that, you can forget it."
He kicked the door to his study shut.
"My God. It's really bad with you, isn't it? Divorce her already, Will you? And get rid of all the bitterness inside of you. The Bible accepts that you can get divorced for adultery."
"No, I wont give Jody a divorce." He hissed.
"Oh really? Then are you going to take her back? Because I don't see any other option."
"She'll be living with me for Tory's sake."
"No way." His father snarled. "Now, listen to me, son. I didn't raise you in a conflict filled home and you are not, and I emphasize, not going to subject Tory to that, do you understand me? You don't love Jody anymore, divorce her. Jody can visit Tory all the time."
"No Dad. My mind is already made up."
"Really?" His father barked. "How about I do this? Call Jody tomorrow and tell her to file for sole custody of Tory because I will be her lawyer. What do you think?"
Steve clutched the phone tighter or it would have fallen out of his hand.
"You are joking, right?"
"I've never been more serious."
No
"You can't do that to me." He muttered.
"Watch me." His father told him. "Oh, and have a good night. Tell Jody we will talk tomorrow."
"No, you wouldn't because my children deserve to be with me."
"Children?"
He almost laughed at the shock in his father's voice. "Tory has a twin, Vincent. Jody's hidden him for years and I'd rather die than let Jody take him from me again."
A pause.
"So you are going to subject not one but two of my Grand children to conflicts? I think what I need to do is to seek sole custody of the twins myself. God knows I did I good job taking care of you even though I don't know what has gotten into you and I know no judge will refuse my plight seeing how unstable you and Jody's marriage is."
He gasped.
"Dad..!"
"Goodnight." He hung up.
No way.
He dialed David's cell phone number
"Is this a professional or a personal call?" David said without preamble.
"Professional. I'm going to ask you this question as my legal advisor, which you've been for years."
"Ride on."
"If my Dad wanted to take sole custody of the twins, could he?"
"Yes, he could."
"Even though I'm married?"
"Yes. And you are not married. You are separated."
No way
His heart was about to beat right out of his chest.
"You can't mean that."
"I definitely do. Do you want to listen to why he could win?"
"Y..yeah, I guess." He swallowed.
"Your father is going to present the case like this. He's married, and has been for thirty years or so while you were married for less than nine months before the separation. He's well to do, has enough in his account to take care of the twins. His wealth is stable and has been for years. While your company is upcoming and could crash---"
"It won't!" He barked.
"They are practical theories. The house your father lives in was the one you grew up in, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"That means he has a permanent residence, unlike you who just got your house two years ago. As a lawyer, I'd tell you the truth and it's that if your father files for custody, it'd be in his favor. No judge will pick you and Jody as better guardians for your children unless..."
"Unless?"
"You won't like this."
"I've not liked anything I've heard for the past three minutes."
"Unless you convince the judge you are willing to fix your marriage"
"Fix?"
"Yes. You know what I mean by fixing?"
He dragged his hand through his hair. "I think I need you to explain in details."
"Marriage counseling."
"No way."
"Yes way."
"What was between Jody and I can't be fixed."
"If you tell a judge that, Tory will never live with you again." David said. "Now as a friend, man, what's going on? I didn't say anything when you didn't show up at work on Saturday because you are the boss. What's going on?"
He sighed. "Jody moved in with Vincent yesterday."
"Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"I don't know anymore. Vincent is resentful."
"Wow, that means you two are really alike."
Steve paused. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"That you are resentful too. Anyway I'm all ears."
"My Dad found out and got angry. He said he couldn't believe I was subjecting my kids to our conflicts. He told me to divorce Jody."
"And you said no and he decided to file for custody."
"Yes."
"So?"
"So... What?" He frowned
"So be smart and convince your father that you and Jody want to mend your marriage and that the kids would help, before he files the case."
"That's a joke. I don't want to mend nothing with Jody. Mend what? So she can go behind my back again? No way."
"I'd be happy to represent you in court then."
"No one's going to court here."
"If your father files, you will have no choice. Not to be rude but I've got to go."
"And not to be nosy but where are you going? It's eight o clock."
"I'm eating out."
"Wow." He grinned. "Who's the lady I should be sympathising with?"
"I'm a great guy!" He protested
Steve chuckled. "Let's do this, if your date agrees to another date, I will admit that you are great guy indeed."
"I'm sorry but you've lost. This is our second date."
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Wow, man. That's fast. Who is she? Do I know her?"
"I don't know. You might. Her name's Rose. She's beautiful and intelligent."
"I know a Rose Bryant. Could that be her?"
"You know her?"
"Yes. She's Tory's teacher."
"Wow. Small world."
"That's..cute. Tell me, is Tory going to be a flower girl soon?"
"What... Stop with the teasing, man. This is the second date. Besides, I'm still praying about it."
"But more than just praying, watch it, okay? Or you might end up like me."
"I think that love conquers all. Talk to you later."
Love conquers all?
Had Jody loved him at all?
He didn't think so.
No, he had to think about important things.
What was he going to do with his father?
He knew just who to call.
Dr John Paul.
He picked up his cell phone and dialed his number.
He picked up on the third ring.
"Howard. I had started to think you changed your mind."
"No. Here's the latest. Jody and my son moved into my house yesterday."
"Oh. And how's that going?"
"Bad. My father thinks it's a bad idea and wants to file for custody of my children. My lawyer says that my father is most likely to win unless I convince the judge that Jody and I are mending our marriage."
"Hmm. And you don't want to mend your marriage. So what do you want to do?"
"I don't know."
"Talk to your father then. Tell him to give you sometime so that Tory can come out of her depression. Meanwhile love your family with all your being. Love conquers all, you know."
"I don't know."
"You do know. Follow your heart, Will you? Remember that your kids deserve a great family, not what you are offering right now."
After the the conversation with the doctor and a call to his father, he sighed in relief. Some of the tension rolling off his shoulders.
Involuntarily, he recalled how Jody would massage the stiffness in his shoulders and the pleasure that came with it.
He groaned, immediately feeling the consequence of his wayward thoughts.
No way, he couldn't possibly still feel this way after all this years.
Tossing the thoughts into the air, he opened the file he needed to work on and went to work.