Questioning

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Amara nervously shifted in her seat as Joshua's lawyer walked up to give her opening statement. Because Joshua was the one who had sued Amara, his lawyer--who Justin had introduced to Amara as Carolyn Carmichael-- was allowed to go first. That didn't bode well for Amara.

She looked to the little car seat where Joel was still sitting. He was still quiet, and seemed to be really content with just sitting, so Amara didn't worry about him. Abigail tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling. She was fascinated by the ceiling fans. Amara struggled to hold her as the baby suddenly arched her back, but she managed to keep her from falling into Ethan.

"Your Honour, this morning, my clients are here to fight for the custody of the two young children that Miss Gray is raising. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are concerned about the way Ms. Gray may be raising them. Given that Mr. Leonard is the biological father of the babies, we believe that he at least deserves a chance to raise them, and that he has a better means to do so."

"Oh, now he admits to being the father," Amara muttered.

"Yeah, now that there's something in it for him," Ethan whispered.

Justin approached the bench next to give his statement.

"Your Honour," he began, "my client would like to contest Mr. Leonard's custody claim. Ms. Gray has been raising the children from birth and sees no reason for things to change now. While she isn't in as good of a financial state as the Leonards are, she is concerned about leaving the babies with two people they've never even met."

Amara shifted again. Just the thought of losing the twins to Joshua sent shivers through her. Her heart was pounding and her hands were clammy. Gabby reached over and gave her a reassuring pat on the arm. It didn't do much to help Amara, but she was still glad of the support.

Next, the judge called Joshua up to testify against Amara and state why he felt that he deserved to keep the twins with him. This was the part Amara was dreading the most. They were both under oath, but they had also both done some shady things to each other, all of which could be condemning for either person. She just hoped that the judge would dislike Joshua more.

Joshua took the stand and confidently looked out at those who were watching him. Amara didn't know how he could be so self assured. Maybe it was because he had nothing to lose.

Carolyn stood, smoothed down her skirt, and addressed him. "Mr. Leonard, could you explain why you want custody of the babies who are currently in Miss Gray's care?"

"Of course," Joshua said with a charming smile. Amara's lip curled in disgust. How could this be the same man she had once thought was so perfect?

"I am the babies' father," Joshua stated. "Unfortunately, Miss Gray hasn't even given me the chance to see my children, let alone spend time with them. I don't think I've ever even met them."

"You expressed concern over how the children are being raised," Carolyn said. "Would you care to elaborate?"

"Yes," Joshua said. He looked over at Amara before continuing. "Miss Gray used to work for me before the conception of the children. However, after becoming pregnant, she became increasingly hostile towards Nicole and I, so I had to fire her. When I met up with her once to discuss the children, she obviously had no job, and I fear that this may negatively impact the babies."

"He came to ask me for custody when they were a week old," Amara said in a low voice. Her words shook with anger. "Of course I didn't have a job! He didn't even try again before suing me."

"Justin knows that," Ethan whispered. "He'll take care of it."

Amara just hoped he would.

"Amara has a lack of income at this point," Joshua continued. "I just don't see any reason to excuse children living in poverty. Nicole and I can give the babies so much more and give them more opportunities in life."

Amara stifled a groan, as Carolyn concluded and sat down, but she perked up when she saw Justin stand.

"Your Honour, I'd like to cross examine the witness," he said.

"Yeah!" Gabby whispered clutching Amara's hand. "He's gonna get the truth out of him for sure."

The judge nodded and Justin approached the stand. Joshua didn't look any less confident as he made eye contact with Justin, but he didn't look as smug as he had when talking to Carolyn.

"Mr. Leonard," Joshua began. "You've stated that you're the father of the babies, but isn't it true that you denied paternity until after the children were born?"

"She didn't have any proof," Joshua stated. "I wasn't about to get caught in a paternity trap."

"So what changed?" Justin asked. "Why did you suddenly meet to discuss custody of the babies if you didn't believe they were yours?

"I changed my mind," Joshua said. "I took everything into account, and decided that, if she really was telling the truth, then these children deserve better. They deserve two parents who can provide for them and give them a chance in life."

"After you met up to discuss the children, what did Amara say to you?"

Joshua's eyes moved to Amara again. There was distain in them. "She didn't want me to have anything to do with them. It was obvious that she wanted me out of their lives, but I wasn't about to let that happen. I'm their father, I have a responsibility."

"Yet you never paid child support," Justin put in.

Amara's jaw dropped in surprise and amusement. She knew all this stuff about Joshua, but having someone else bring it out into the open made her feel really justified. A low murmur erupted from the crowd watching the case. A few people laughed. Amara was sure she heard someone mutter, "Busted". 

Joshua didn't answer. Instead, he pressed his lips together. His face was angry, but he remained quiet. For once, Amara realized, he didn't know what to say.

"No more questions, Your Honour," Justin stated. 

As he turned to sit down, he caught Amara's eye and smiled victoriously. Carolyn was bristling, but quickly covered it up and glanced at her paperwork. Amara smiled. She knew it was still early in the case--she still had to give her own statement as well as hear the witnesses--but this was the first time she finally felt as though things were going in the right direction.

The judge called her up next. Amara handed Abigail off the Ethan then approached the stand. Justin was to question her first. The butterflies started up in her stomach. Even though she was feeling better, she was still nervous. They still had a long way to go.

"Miss Gray," Justin began. "Why do you feel that Mr. Leonard is not fit to raise your children?"

"Well," Amara said, "a lot of it has to do with the fact that he originally denied paternity. I came to him time and time again to try to get him to even acknowledge that the babies were his, but I ended up with nothing. He was adamant that they weren't his, and only changed his tune after the babies were born."

"Do you feel that he would be an inadequate parent?"

Amara's eyes shifted to over to Joshua and Nicole. Joshua was giving her a death glare and Nicole was rolling her eyes, looking bored.

"Yes, I do," Amara stated.

"Why do you feel that way?" Justin asked. He already knew a lot of these answers, but he had to ask them anyway.

"He wasn't interested in the babies until after they were born and after he was married," Amara said. "I worry that maybe this is just a phase, and that they will both lose interest in the babies, especially once they get to the toddler stage. And even if they pass my kids off to a nanny, I don't want that for them. They deserve a life with someone who cares about them."

Justin nodded, then said, "No more questions, Your Honour."

"I'd like to cross examine," Carolyn spoke up.

A feeling of dread shot through Amara. She had hoped that this part wouldn't happen. Amara knew what to expect from Justin, but with Joshua's lawyer? She was totally unprepared.

Carolyn walked up to the stand, never taking her sharp, green eyes off Amara. Amara guessed that was an intimidation tactic, and, unfortunately, it was working. Justin sat back down, but watched warily.

"Miss Gray, prior to your pregnancy, what was your relationship like with Mr. Leonard?" The stern lawyer asked.

"We were...friends," Amara answered carefully. She had a feeling something bigger was about to be asked.

"Were you good friends?" Carolyn continued.

"Well, I mean--we got along," Amara stated. "He was my boss. We had a fairly good relationship, but nothing more."

"I see," Carolyn said. She was like a snake, ready to attack for the kill. "So do you make it a habit of sleeping with those you have a good relationship with?" 

Amara's eyebrows drew together and she was sure that her heart nearly stopped. "What?"

"Objection!" Justin called. "Your Honour, this has nothing to do with the case."

"Yes, it does," Carolyn argued. "I was just getting to it."

"I'll allow it," Judge Lockhart said. He drilled his eyes into Carolyn. "But you must make your point clear within the next few statements, otherwise it will be dismissed."

"Of course," Carolyn said, turning back to Amara. "How often do you sleep with your superiors?"

"What are you talking about?" Amara asked. She wanted to answer, but she was too stunned to even think of one.

"Is it out of the question for Mr. Leonard to have assumed that the baby was conceived by someone else?" Carolyn asked. "For all we know, this wasn't the first or only man you were sleeping with at the time."

"Yes, he was!" Amara shot. "I've never slept with anyone other than Joshua! And he knows it!"

"But did he know that at the time?" Carolyn asked. Amara didn't like the gleam in her eyes.

"I don't know!" Amara exclaimed. She lowered her voice at the triumph on Carolyn's face. "I don't know."

Carolyn turned to the judge. "Your Honour, based on the statements provided by Miss Gray, I think it's safe to assume that Mr. Leonard was in the right when he stated he didn't want to get caught in a paternity trap. While Miss Gray may be telling the truth in regards to who she sleeps with, the Leonards had no way of knowing that at the time. That would explain their lack of child support and taking responsibility. Though it doesn't excuse it, it explains why they were so reluctant to get involved in the first place. But who are we to deny them now? At Miss Gray's own admission, he is the father. And he deserves some right to be in his children's lives."

Amara sunk back in the chair. Her face was hot with embarrassment. She looked at Gabby and Ethan, who were fuming. Justin swallowed hard. He didn't look like he was giving up, but it did look like he recognized that the rest of the case could be a real challenge.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net