Safe. Home.

12

I drove myself to the court house because I didn't want to be in the same car as my dad. I am preparing myself for what's to come during this trial. My life is about to change. Am I going to be living with the Busker's or with my awful excuse of a father. I really hope me testifying will get the judge to rule against my father. My father knows what he did and he doesn't care.

I park my car in the parking garage near the court house and walk into the building. There I see Miranda, Daniel, and another man with them. When Miranda sees me she runs and gives my a big, tight hug.

"Oh baby how are you?" She asks me not letting me go.

"I'm much better then I was. Is Lucas with the twins?" I asks as we let go of each other.

"Yeah he wanted to come but we told him to stay and take care of the twins while we were here. Grace keeps asking for you. You are like her big sister; she misses you. Hopefully you will come home with us after this." Daniel flags her over and she nods. "I have to go but I will see you in court ok and good luck; you'll do great I know it."

She walks back to where Daniel is standing with there lawyer and they walk away. I wait a few and then start heading to the room where this will be held. I find the room and walk in. Daniel's lawyer is already up and ready to go all we have to do is wait for my father to show up.

I sit in the first row of the room and look around. On the other side of me I see my dad's boss and wife that came over one time before and three of my father's friends from work that I've seen before. How are they apart of this. Finally the doors open and my father and his lawyer comes in the room and sets up across from the other lawyer. Finally we can start.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Rider." The police officer spoke. We rose as the judge comes into the room and sits on his chair. Motions us to sit and he begins.

"I looked over this case and we can begin. Mr. Holt you have the floor."

My father's lawyer stood up and proclaimed his defense." Your honor we are here today because they claim that my client here Mr. Montgomery here is an alcoholic abusive father. That he neglected his daughter after his wife had died. I'm here to say that is not true. That he has been not right since his wife died when his daughter was four but wanted everything for his daughter. These strangers here claimimg that they know Jessica more than her own father want to take her away from the only family she has. And that is wrong." he looks over at the other lawyer and sits down.

"Alright now Mr. Howard you have the floor." Judge Rider says.

"Yes, now as Mr. Holt has said we do claim that his client Mr. Montgomery here abused and neglected his daughter and that my client here wants her to leave that abusive environment and come live with them since she is much more comfortable and feels love there. I do have facts to show that Mr. Montgomery here has abused his daughter. My clients just want to have her be in a safe environment for Jessica to live in. That is all." He sits down in his chair.

"Now that we got the the opening remarks we can go in with the witness. Mr. Holt" Judge Rider says.

"I would like to call Mr. Rowen to the stand please." My dad's boss stands and comes to a little box next to the judge and sits in the chair. Mr. Holt got up from is and walked to the witness stand. "Please that your name please and your association with Mr. Montgomery."

"My name is Rolland Rowen and I am James's boss" he has a deeper voice then I remember.

"Now how is Mr. Montgomery at work? Do you occasionally see him sometimes during working hours." He starts asking the questions.

"He is a fine lawyer; best in the state. He is hard worker too sometimes puts in late hours leaving the office after I leave. I trust him with anything. I know he will get things done. I do see him occasionally. He is easy to talk to and has a great sense of humor." He finishes.

"Did Mr. Montgomery invite you to his his house as guest?"

"Yes he did about 6 months ago in January. My wife and I was invited to his house once."

"How was it? Was is good hospitality? was there tension between Mr. Montgomery and his daughter through out the night?"

"Not from where I could tell. She was a very sweet girl and she cooked and set the table. She looked happy. She was quiet though not very talkative. She was a bit zoned out. But I guess when your around adults you don't want to talk very much. But she looked happy there with her father"

"That is all you honor" Mr. Holt walked back to his sit when Mr. Howard steeped up and started asking questions.

"I have one question. Did you ever try to engage a conversation with her? To get her talking or did she just ignore you?"

"No I didn't but my wife did it was brief but she spoke a little then Got really uncomfortable and she just put her head down and ignored everything that was around her."

"Thank that is all. I would like to bring up Mrs. Rowen to the stand please." Mr. Rowen got down from the stand as his wife takes it. Mr. Howard starts this time.

"Mrs. Rowen at the dinner did you see anything weird happening when you were there? Anything that would seem weird or unusual?"

"Well you could say that. My husband is probably not very observant. I like to observe my surroundings when I'm in a new place and this was no different." She has an eleventh voice.

"Could you tell me what you observed while at that dinner." He asks.

"Of course. I could see that Mr. Montgomery here was already tense when he enters the room. He had this look of irritation. It looked like something pissed him off or irritated him before we got there. Also fumming dinner I did ask her a question. You see I saw a bruise on her arm and I got curious and asked her about it."

"What did she say?"

"She said must have bumped into something really hard and didn't notice it. I knew better than to think that she hit it somewhere. You can not get a bruise like that by hitting it somewhere. Anyway after that the mood changed. She looked like she was in big trouble and mister here looked like he was super pissed of at something. I didn't want to bring it up so I left it alone."

"I have to further questions your honor." Mr. Howard says going back to your seat. The judge looked at Mr. Holt.

He stood up," I have no question your honor." And sat back down. Mrs. Rowen went back to her seat too.

"We will break for lunch and be back here in an hour. We all stood up as the judge left.

I quickly walked out the room and then the building. I need some fresh air. Those were only the first two witnesses and I'm already sick of it. There were two different aspect of the same thing. What was my dad pulling here? I see why his boss, but why his wife? I guess to show a different perspective on the same scene. I wish I didn't have to this, but in order to be free of my father I needed to do it. I was the only one that can but him down. I know I can't eat anything right now because if I do I'll be too nervous to do it.

I take a walk around the court house and then start to come back up the road. I really hope the second half is better.
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Part 2 coming....