Chapter 85

The hearing devolves into something of a circus after that.

Garnar tries to jump the table to get to Miles and has to be escorted out in handcuffs.

“This behavior is not becoming of your client,” the judge tells Garnar’s attorney, once things have calmed down. “If he cannot behave himself in a room of law and order, then I am loathe to consider what he might act like at home with children present.”

“I request leniency, your honor,” his lawyer replies. “My client believes that Representative Hamilton has been having an illicit affair with his wife. Being confronted with him would make any man jealous.”

“Jealous, perhaps,” the judge says. “But not violent. Representative Hamilton may have been brought here to speak on Esther’s character, but his presence has shown me all I need to know about Mr. Graham’s.”

“Ms. Owens,” the judge turns in his seat to face me. Odette elbows me lightly and we both stand. “In lieu of this behavior, I see no reason why I wouldn’t grant this divorce.”

I gasp. Odette whispers to me, “Congratulations.”

“Now, as far as custody is concerned. I am granting primary custody to Esther at this time, with weekly visitation rights to Garnar. This determination, however, is on the condition that you find a suitable accommodation for you and your children, Esther. So long as you stay in that house, the custody will continue to be granted to both.”

“I understand, your honor,” I say, with Odette’s gentle prompting. I do understand, but I didn’t know when to say so.

“Very good,” the judge says. “Representative Hamilton, you may step down.” Once he does, the judge slams the gavel and everything is blessedly decided.

I have never felt so lucky in all of my life.

As the judge leaves the room, some of the formality falls away. Cynthia rushes up and hugs me. Miles and Hugo aren’t far behind her, though they maintain more distance.

“Congratulations,” they each say, with smiles all around.

“Thank you,” I reply. I can’t stop smiling too. I had hope, with Odette and my friends at my side, that we would succeed, but in my wildest dreams, I never thought we’d be this successful.

“Garnar really showed his true colors, didn’t he?” Cynthia says. “Serves him right that he’d fall down from his own assholery.”

Hugo glances from Miles to me, but doesn’t say a word.

“How soon are you moving out of that house?” Miles asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. There’s a lot to consider. I have to find a suitable house in the same school district. I’m already asking for a big adjustment from the girls, I don’t want to push them further. If I can keep as much normalcy as I can for them, I will.

That’s the wrong thing to say to Miles, however, it seems, because his good mood immediately sours. “You can’t be thinking of staying there with him.”

“For now,” I tell him. “I have to think about what’s best for the girls.”

“The judge himself said that Garnar’s behavior is unacceptable,” Miles says.

“He’s always been a good father,” I reply.

“What about how he treats you, Ester?” Miles answers. “Now that he has his divorce, do you really think he’s going to be more cordial?”

“No, but…”

“Exactly.”

Looking between us, Cynthia clears her throat. “I don’t think this is the place to have this conversation.”

“Cynthia’s right,” Odette chimes in. “Besides, today is a day of celebration. Planning can come tomorrow.” She says that but I already see the wheels turning in her mind. She’s thinking about child support and alimony. That’s a separate hearing.

Even so, she ushers us out of the courtroom. In the lobby, Miles catches me by the arm. “I’d like to speak with you privately for a moment, if that’s alright, Esther.”

I hesitate for a moment. I can see the anger simmering in his eyes. I imagine this talk will be more scolding than conversation. But, delaying it won’t keep it from eventually happening. Sooner or later, unless I want to totally cut off Miles – which I do not want to do – I need to let him vent.

“Of course,” I say. To the rest, “We’ll catch up later.”

“See you at work,” Hugo says.

“I’ll be in touch,” Odette says.

Cynthia puts her thumb and pinky finger up like a phone. “Call me.”

After nodding, I turn to face Miles. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Not here,” he says. Still holding my arm, he guides me back the way we came, then down a corridor near the bathrooms. The door between them seems to be a supply closet.

Miles glances up and down the hall. No one is coming. Then, quickly, he opens the closet and gently pushes me inside. Following me in, he closes the door behind him.

“Miles, what --?”

That’s all I get out before I’m spun around, pulled against Miles’s hard body, and kissed senseless.

My hands immediately go to his shoulders. He hugs me secure around the back.

For a long moment, all I can do is hold on under the intensity of his mouth and tongue dominating my own. I moan against him, lost in the overwhelming sensations of pleasure that course through me only when he’s around and when we’re like this.

When we pull away to breathe, I take the chance to look at him. That’s when I realize we are in the dark, and I remember where we are.

Kissing this man really does have me lose my senses for a while.

“Miles,” I say, chiding lightly. “This is such a bad idea.”

“Not as bad as you choosing to stay in the same house with that man when you could be on your own.”

“It’s better for the children.”

“Your children deserve better than to see their mother emotionally tortured on a daily basis. If you stay where you are, they will look at the relationship between you and Garnar and think its normal.”

I could admit that, even to myself, even if it hurts.

“It’s only temporary,” I assure us both.

“Good.” Miles kisses me again.

Beyond the door the supply closet, footsteps echo up and down the corridor.

“Mr. Graham,” says Garnar’s attorney. “You need to just go home.”

“Not until I find my wife!”

“She’s not your wife anymore, sir,” the attorney says. “You need to accept that. This behavior is truly unacceptable.”

I freeze. Miles does too.

“We should make our presence known,” I whisper. I don’t want to accidentally overhear anything that could ruin my case.

“Shh,” Miles says lightly into my ear.

I stay quiet, biting my tongue.

“She thinks she’s won, but she hasn’t,” Garnar says. “I don’t care what the judge says, Esther Owens is my wife.”

“I highly advise against this way of thinking,” the attorney says.

“The children need her in the home. That judge doesn’t know what he was talking about.”

Garnar continues walking down the hall, his attorney following him.

Now that my eyes have adjusted somewhat to the dark, I can see the way Miles is giving his intense focus all to me.

He doesn’t have to say anything for me to know what he’s thinking. You can’t go back there.

But it’s only temporary. This behavior with Garnar isn’t anything knew.

“I have to go speak with the girls,” I say.