Chapter 13 - THE SIGNATURE THAT DIDN'T SAVE ANYONE
At our first court appearance, nothing happened the way it does on television. There was no sudden witness bursting through the doors. The judge asked whether both attorneys were prepared, requested updated financial documents, and told Alex not to interrupt while I spoke.
I stood beside Nia with my hands folded under my stomach, which was finally beginning to show.
The court addressed temporary control of the home, the money that had been transferred, and safe communication while the divorce proceeded. The pregnancy and the incident were part of the record, but the judge wasn't going to decide a future child's whole life in one morning.
Alex's attorney mentioned my social media post. I admitted I'd made it.
"I was trying to punish someone," I said when the judge asked why. "It was wrong. I took it down, but not before people shared it."
Paige was in the back row. She stared at her knees. I couldn't decide whether it was more humiliating to have her hear me or to have her hear the truth.
The judge ordered us to use our lawyers or a documented communication channel for contentious matters and scheduled further proceedings. The court also put temporary financial arrangements in place. It wasn't victory. It was paperwork, caution, and a list of deadlines.
Outside, the October wind cut straight through my coat.
Alex caught up with me at the courthouse steps. He kept several feet between us.
"I signed the corrected accounting," he said.
"Nia told me."
"And the statement about that night."
"Yes."
He looked down at my stomach. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Not yet."
His eyes watered. I knew that expression. Once, I would have reached for his hand. I put mine in my pocket.
"I thought if I admitted what happened," he said, "you might forgive me."
"I believe you're sorry."
"But?"
"Being sorry doesn't put those eleven minutes back."
A city bus hissed to a stop behind us. For a moment he looked like the man I'd married: sleep-deprived, worried about his mother, wearing a shirt he'd ironed badly. I missed him with a force that made my throat close.
"I'll do whatever you need," he said.
"Then do the boring things. Show up for the hearings. Pay what you owe. Don't lie to the next person who asks you a hard question."
He nodded. I walked away before either of us could turn that into a promise about love.
Three blocks later, my phone rang. It was Dr. Bell's office.
May you like
"Erin, we need you to come in today," the nurse said. "There's something on the follow-up scan we want to check."
