Chapter 1 : Part 5

Your Bed or Mine?
by Candy Halliday

(Page 5 of 6)

Living in the furnished apartment he'd rented month-to-month for the last six months had been nothing short of a nightmare. He'd endured the type of agony all apartment dwellers endure, from less-than-desirable neighbors to no privacy whatsoever.

Had Bob not been so confident the judge would rule in his favor, he might have considered going ahead and buying another house. Possibly even having the house equipped to accommodate Simon.

But Bob had assured him the victory would be his.

He'd held out and dealt with the inconvenience.

Handing over the apartment keys to the complex manager earlier that morning, however, had been the equivalent of being let out of prison.

Now, he was only minutes away from being a free man.

Free to go back to the suburbs.

Back to his neighborhood buddies in Woodberry Park.

Back to Saturday night poker games with the guys.

Back to Sundays on Woodberry Park's private golf course, the eighteenth hole of which could be seen from his own back deck.

Back to an empty house without Zada in it.

Rick frowned at that thought.

Don't go there.

Enough is enough.

Not once during their separation period had Zada given him any indication she'd regretted filing for the divorce. Once the judge ruled in his favor, if Zada did have any regrets, she'd just have to . . .

Voices raised suddenly.

Rick's head jerked to the right.

A face-off.

The debate was growing hotter by the minute.

Rick glanced back at the judge.

Judge Parkins looked anything but pleased.

"Order in the court!" Parkins declared. He banged his gavel twice.

Rick flinched both times.

"We are in an esteemed court of law, counselors, not some backyard brawl!"

Parkins boomed this from the bench as he glared from one attorney to the other. Both attorneys, Rick noticed, stood up a little straighter.

"A busy court of law," Parkins added. "Too busy to waste time going over a property dispute that should have been settled before you ever walked into my courtroom."

Rick glanced at Bob.

His usual cool-and-confident attorney, the all-American linebacker from Notre Dame who had known no fear on the football field, seemed to wilt under the judge's cold stare.

"Your honor," Bob said, "if it pleases the court . . ."

Parkins cut him off. "For the record, Mr. Thompson, nothing about this case pleases the court."

The judge looked over at Zada for a second.

Rick sat up straighter when Parkins looked back at him.

Parkins said, "Both parties have agreed to a no-fault divorce. Is that correct?"

Both attorneys nodded in agreement.

"So you would assume if the parties could agree on a no-fault divorce like two mature adults, they could also agree on a property settlement like two mature adults. Is that also correct?"

Neither attorney nodded in agreement with that statement.

"Yet, what we have here," Judge Parkins said, his frown deepening with every word, "are two self-absorbed people, childishly trying to outdo each other, while they waste the court's precious time and the taxpayers' money on an argument over a dog, and what appears to be the dog's eight-hundred-thousand-dollar doghouse!"

Several people snickered.

A loud gasp followed.

Rick didn't even turn his head.

He knew the gasp came from Zada.

"Don't shush me, Angie!" Zada said loud enough for him and everyone else in the courtroom to hear. "I happen to be one of those taxpayers! A taxpayer who came here to get a divorce. Not to be insulted!"

Typical in-your-face Zada, Rick thought.

He leaned back far enough to peer around Bob.

As expected, Zada had one of her just-who-do-you-think-you're-talking-to looks on her face. Her embarrassed attorney was doing her best to keep Zada in her seat.

The wrath of Zada personified.

Rick smiled.

Parkins will rule in my favor now out of pity for me.

Rick didn't appreciate the judge's insult, either. But being at the mercy of the court called for a certain amount of diplomacy.

He glanced back at Zada again, trying to imagine his feisty soon-to-be ex-wife being diplomatic in any given situation. The thought was so absurd, Rick almost burst out laughing.

"Do you find this situation funny, Mr. Clark?"

Bob punched him.

"No, sir!" Rick said emphatically.

"Then wipe that silly smirk off your face," Parkins warned, his ears now flushed a deep red.

What?

Zada's the one yelling.

Why are you reprimanding me?

Rick looked over at Bob for an answer.

Copyright © 2006 by Candy Viers

About the Author

Candy Halliday is a renegade Baby Boomer who is also a part-time dental hygienist. She's been married to her Mr. Right for 17 years, has one daughter and two fabulous grandchildren.