Their Escape

~16~

~16~

The days that led up to the hearing, were the most carefree I’ve experienced for a very long time. The kids ran around the yard of Jason’s house and were just able to enjoy themselves. We’ve been at his house ever since the night of his fight. It was like we were already a happy little family and I didn’t want to get rid of the feeling for the rest of my life. There was only one thing blocking me and that should be over today.

The kids once again talked me into letting them go to the hearing. They were hoping that Jason would go ahead and file to get their last names changed. I was also hoping that Kent would have things in motion so Seth’s parental rights were terminated.

We were up early once again but instead of somber moods this morning, there was a sense of confidence that everyone of us had. We left early to stop at IHOP for breakfast and then went to meet Kent at the courthouse. When we all walked in together, Kent had the biggest smile on his face and I honestly thought that he was going to spontaneously combust.

    “Things are in our favor. You’re not suppose to know that, I’m not even suppose to know but let’s just say, I do. You are going to walk out of here a free woman to make whatever choices you want. And he’ll be paying a hefty monthly alimony. At least until you and Jason get married,” he grinned.

    “How do you know this?” I asked.

    “Shh. I can’t tell you but trust me. So, let’s go get this show on the road.”

We all walked in together, much in the same fashion as before. I took I seat beside Kent and Dani took the one beside me. Instead of Savannah sitting beside her sister, she sat in the back between Jason and Matty. We were the first ones in there and I watched Seth’s face fall as he saw Savannah sitting and leaning against Jason’s shoulder. I started to feel like I was suffocating before the judge came in and I felt Jason’s hand tap my shoulder. When I turned my head, he smiled and winked at me. My sense of confidence started coming back and jut in time for the judge to come.

    “Mrs. Whitman, I’ll just let you know. Your lawyer presents an extremely strong case. You all cooperated without any questions and everything checked out on your side,” he said, before turning his attention to Seth.

    “Mr. Whitman, you showed up here expecting your lawyers to pull a win out of their rear ends. I hope your ready to pay up for everything you’ve put your wife through,” he said. When he said that, Seth and his lawyers looked up in shock and it took everything I had not to jump up and do a victory dance. “There were some doctor records that came into my possession and you really put her through the ringer. You caused a miscarriage seven years ago did you not?” he said, looking pointedly at Seth. I watched as he paled and looked over at me, I gulped because I never told him about the miscarriage.

    “What?” he asked.

    “It shows right here that on June fourth, two thousand and five, Mrs. Whitman checked herself into the hospital and was told that she was having a miscarriage. She also had two broken ribs, can you tell me what happened?”

    “Your Honor, if I may speak on this matter,” I said. He looked over at me a motioned for me to proceed. “This will be the only time that I will take up for Seth. He didn’t know I was pregnant, I didn’t until I went to the hospital.”

    “So, he didn’t know?”

    “No sir. It was already done and when I found out, I made the decision to have a tubal ligation. Seth didn’t know any of this.”

    “Can you explain to me what exactly happened?”

    “It was the day of my youngest daughter’s birthday and Seth wasn’t there. When he finally came home, I questioned why he wasn’t there. He more or less told me that it was none of my business and I smarted off knowing what he would do. He slapped me across the face and threw me against the wall. When I crumpled to the floor, he repeatedly kicked me in the stomach. The next day when I noticed the blood, I went to the doctor and that’s when I found out what was going on.”