Law of Love

21

Lindsey was sleeping on his back and Stevie with her head on his chest when she felt someone staring at her. She woke up abruptly and rolled over to see Addison and Kate staring at her. 

"What's going on?" She whispers to them. 

"Addison can't sleep." Kate sighs.

"Well, what can I do...can I get you some warm milk?" Stevie questions shifting slightly in bed. 

"My mommy used to read to me and cuddle when I couldn't fall asleep," Addison replies. 

Stevie purses her lips. "Well crawl on in, I've got some William Bryant poems I can read you. They'll probably bore you but that's perfect right." Stevie smiles. 

She flicks the light on and watches as Lindsey doesn't wince. Kate situates herself between her parents and then Addison climbs in on Stevie's right. Lindsey wakes up several minutes before his alarm the next morning and smiles when he sees the three girls curled up together. 

***

It had been two weeks since the court case began, and Christmas was sneaking up way too soon and no one wanted this case to go through Christmas. Especially for Addison's sake. 

Council and the Judge were sitting in the deliberation room, where the jury goes to make a verdict, Stevie at 22 weeks pregnant was getting leg cramps more frequently so she was perched on the table her left leg crossed to the best of its ability over her right leg. 

"Why is it that everything is falling through?" The judge asks.

"We don't know your honor, If we did we wouldn't be here." Lindsey scratches the back of his head.

"We just need a witness that sticks. We haven't been able to find a consistent decent witness yet." Stevie sighs. 

"We need like a child or something. That way they can at least give us a little bit of input on the initial fight and then maybe one of you will get inspired and something will jump right out at you." The judge shrugs. 

"I've got it." Stevie says suddenly. 

"A witness?" The judge asks.

"Maybe...I have to go, court resumes when?" Stevie questions hopping off of the table.

"Nine-thirty." The judge states.

"Great, see you then." Stevie smiles practically running out of the room. 

***

Stevie had to be at work early the next morning and she had a nervous feeling in her stomach. When the judge nodded to her she knew that this thing she was about to try may or may not end well, especially for her marriage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not trying to bias anything, and I have been given permission by the court to do this. The state calls my daughter, Miss. Kate Buckingham to the stand." Stevie announces her hand falling to her stomach. 

"What?" Lindsey asks aloud as the Judge just gives him a silencing look.

The Baliff carries her into the courtroom and sits her on the chair. He dumbs down the swearing in quotes, and Stevie can tell by the look on Kate's face that she's petrified. 

"Alright, Kate honey, the first thing I want to ask you is, am I making you do this?" She questions.

"No momma, you asked me last night if I would come talk, and you said I didn't have to but I wanted to. To help Addison." Kate responds. 

"Alright, you seem nervous. Are you nervous?" 

"A little bit, it's just a lot of people." 

"It is a lot of people, would it make you feel better if I sat in that big chair with you and asked you questions like I would if we were at home?" Stevie asks.