As the limo pulled up to the sidewalk Ben lost track of them as the reporters suddenly rushed in around the vehicle in a mob. Court officers pushed them back behind the barricades and Ben looked nervously at Walter who would be the first to exit.
“Show time,” Walter quipped and opened the door. The volume suddenly spiked as the vehicle’s soundproofing no longer kept it back. The man stepped out onto the sidewalk and adjusted his suit jacket as he looked out at the crowd. He made a gesture with his fingers to indicate they should follow.
Tina stepped out next and Walter helped her out and forward.
Gretchen was clinging to Ben’s arm nervously. “It’s ok Gretchen. I’m right behind you,” he said.
She nodded and accepted Walter’s hand to step out. They both moved away from the door to give Ben space.
When he exited the volume and flashes went up a hundred fold. He scowled but did his best to ignore them as he followed his lawyer and the two ladies into the building. He met Killah and Brooklyn just inside and went over to greet them.
“Ben! So good to see you again if not in the best venue,” the rapper said with a smile and shook Ben’s hand, pulling him in for a brief chest bump. Ben kissed Brooklyn’s cheek and gave her a hug as well as he remained stunned by their appearance.
“It’s great seeing you two but… what are you doing here?” he gasped.
“We’d spoken with your lawyer a few days ago but we didn’t think we could make it for the trial. But after what that woman said about you on TV last night there was no way we could stand by and let those lies go unchallenged. We knew the reporters would be here so we came to set the record straight,” Killah said with a serious frown and his girlfriend nodded.
“Uh, wow, I don’t know what to say. That was above and beyond. Thanks!” Ben stumbled with his words.
“Nah man, the truth is a privilege to speak.”
Ben smiled and nodded as Walter gestured for them to move on. The couple waved as Ben caught up with his group.
When he entered the court room he was taken aback by how packed one side of it was. The rows of benches on the left were filled with people but there were only a few sitting on the right side.
He saw Mr. Holland scowling back from the table in front of the empty rows. Wendy was sitting between him and another man who might have been LaRue. She was looking over her shoulder at the throng of people in the rows behind the table Ben would be sitting at. Her expression in profile and partially hidden by her shoulder was impossible to read but her eyes scowled at her lawyer when she looked at him. She turned away from the back of the room so Ben could no longer see her face. She hadn’t seen him so Ben felt a little relieved. He wasn’t ready for that.
Ben looked at the full benches and saw the Hernandez family, all of them. He saw La’Shia and Tilisha smiling at him. They had space next to them probably for Killah D and Brooklyn. He nodded in return.
He saw people he worked with at the Milling Shop. Jerry Taggart, his financial advisor and others he’d worked with. He looked out over this group with a stunned expression.
As he got closer to the front he saw Trish sitting with the McKellan twins and Rain. Next to her was Dr. Granger and Hannah.
Lucy had Karen and Penny with her. He gave them a look as they were supposed to be in school but they just grinned back at him. Then he spotted Catherine’s daughters next to them. They were also supposed to be in school.
Up on the front bench was Gabriella, Miriam, and Daniel with space left for Tina and Gretchen. Directly behind them was Chanel, Catherine, Jack and Lynda.
Ben steeled himself and finally looked over at the other table. Wendy was hidden behind her lawyer but Derek LaRue was on her right and was glaring at him angrily. The man’s hair had thinned considerably and he was pale and skinny. It was the bitterness in his eyes that surprised Ben the most but he had no time for the man so he just looked away. Wendy had not attempted to look at him yet so Ben just sat next to Walter.
A few minutes later the Bailiff walked in and announced the arrival of Judge Billings. Everyone rose to their feet except for Wendy, Ben noted, and the judge entered. The man glanced once at Wendy then sat down himself. Everyone sat. The judge looked at some papers on his desk for a moment.
“Mr. Holland. I see from your documents that your client is unwell. Is she well enough to attend this proceeding?”
The lawyer stood. “Yes your honor though my colleague’s attempt to turn this into a circus is wearing her reserves down causing her to be unable to stand as you arrived,” he said flinging his arm back to point to the full gallery behind Ben.
Judge Billings gave Holland a weary look. “A little less showboating please, Mr. Holland.” He turned his face towards Walter. “I am curious about why there are so many people in my courtroom for a divorce proceeding, Mr. Greyson. Might you explain?”
Walter stood. “Yes, your honor. Thank you, I will.” He looked at Holland. “My colleague intends to prove the validity of his case based on claims that my client was abusive towards his client during their marriage and is a man of low character. The televised broadcast last night was nothing more than an attempt at character assassination. Each of the people in the gallery behind my client has come of their own free will to give statements which directly refute these accusations. Each of these people have direct contact with my client. Many were close neighbors at the time my colleague’s client abandoned him.”
“I object!” Holland barked, leaping to his feet.
“Sit down Mr. Holland. He’s answering my question. Continue Mr. Greyson.”
Walter nodded. “They can and will give testimony which proves my colleague’s case is comprised entirely of fabrications.”
The judge nodded and Walter sat once more.
He looked up at Mr. Holland with a curious expression. “I’m not seeing anything in your documents that proves your client’s claims or justifies the need for a hearing.”
Holland was back on his feet once more. “Your honor, my colleague’s audacious attempt to mislead you with a noisy group of strangers is nothing more than another grievous injustice perpetrated upon my client! She-”
“SHUT UP!”
The courtroom went quiet.
“You’re fired! Get out!” Wendy said staring at the table before her, trembling.
Holland leaned in to speak to her. “I said you’re fired! Get away from me!” Wendy yelled.
Ben stared in her direction in surprise and saw Holland stand and nod to the judge as he collected his brief case and walked stiffly down the aisle. Ben watched him as he exited the court. Two police officers were waiting for him and took him into custody. Ben looked back towards Wendy but she was looking at Derek. He was rubbing her back and whispering to her.
“Don’t! Don’t touch me. Never again. Leave! Don’t come back,” she hissed at the man.
Derek stood and glared down at her. “Fucking bitch!” he growled and stormed off with a final glare at Ben.
Now Ben could see Wendy as she faced forward. He saw the signs of the disease that had taken her mother. Wendy was ill.
“Mrs. Shepherd-” the judge began.
“Harrison. Call me… Wendy Harrison. I don’t want his name linked to mine anymore,” Wendy said tiredly.
“I’m certainly willing to grant you the divorce if that is what you want,” Judge Billings said.
“Yes,” Wendy sighed, still looking at the table surface.
“What was the point of this hearing?” the judge asked.
“We weren’t supposed to see the inside of a courtroom. Holland convinced me Ben wouldn’t risk us going to the press with our story and would pay up. He met Ben on several occasions to threaten him with it.” She snorted and looked over at Ben for the first time.
Ben saw the same bitterness in her eyes he’d seen in that restaurant the night she’d left him. “He didn’t pay. Holland said he was going to have to play dirty but still, he didn’t pay.”
“Ms. Harrison, you understand you are implicating yourself in a case of extortion,” Billings said.
“I’m dying! It doesn’t matter, does it,” she growled.
The judge looked at Walter and raised his eyebrows. “No I suppose it does not. I am granting the dissolution of your marriage.” He signed the paperwork. “This hearing is adjourned. Case dismissed.”
“All rise,” the Bailiff called out as the judge left and the gallery erupted in cheers.
Ben watched as Wendy shrank in on herself just a little more. He stood and moved to her table ignoring the calls from behind him.
“Wendy, may I sit?”
She wouldn’t look at him but she nodded so he took the chair next to hers.
“Why didn’t you just… speak to me directly?” he asked.
She was quiet for a moment then she looked at him. Her eyes contained rage and confusion. “Because you still love me! Don’t you get it? I don’t love you!” she hissed.
Ben felt the pain of that but pushed it aside. He shrugged.
“Why didn’t you just pay?” Wendy asked. “You’re rich now I hear.”
“Because it’s not my money. It belongs to them.” He gestured to the gallery over his shoulder. “I do what I can to take care of them. What do you want? What can I do to take care of you? Have there been any breakthroughs in experimental medicines? Clinical studies?”
Wendy sat back and stared at Ben incredulously. She shook her head then frowned as a tear rolled down her cheek. She caught Ben’s hand twitch like he was going to reach for it. She wiped it away herself. It was too much.
“There… there’s a clinic. In Switzerland. They can help… I think,” she said finally, all of her energy gone.