“I don’t hate you.”
“Then what is it? Please tell me what I’ve done so I can fix it. Jackie, please I….”
All rise for the honorable Judge Malory Flannigan
Chapter 22
“Thank you, Your Honor. I would like to submit into evidence the original power of attorney,” Jackie stated as she handed the document to the judge. She also clicked on the power point display to give a visual aid to her argument. “As you can see Your Honor, the document the defendant is using as their basis for the no-fault divorce is actually an edited copy of the original document Mrs. Jillian Abbott signed. The one the defendant submitted clearly has only one option with an ‘x’ and the date clearly has been removed. Mrs. Abbott kept the original in her safety deposit box along with her Will, and the birth and death certificate of their infant son William James Abbott IV.”
Jill looked over at Bill and his lawyer in a huddle trying to find a way to do damage control. She could see the shocked look on his wife’s face, probably because she too had named his son William James Abbott IV since he undoubtedly forgot to tell her he had a child with that name etched on his tombstone. There was no getting around this one and she enjoyed watching Bill panic in his designer three-piece monkey suit, he was a bigamist and the best part of it was that young bimbo, with the platinum smile and the body to die for wasn’t his wife. Jill was, although that thought made her want to barf…but now she held the cards. If she wanted to, she could call the police and report him, sue because of adultery and take him to the cleaners. But that wasn’t what she wanted, it was the divorce to be final as soon as possible and get what was rightfully hers….the business they built together, half of it was hers and she wanted it.
“Objection Your Honor. This document wasn’t part of discovery.” Bob Hardy stood up in desperation.
“Your Honor, the defense had not requested any discovery from my client. In fact any type of contact from Mr. Collins went ignored. We have a record of each attempt made by certified mail signed by Mr. Hardy and every phone call logged with voice tracking records. This document was not undisclosed and knowingly if the defense did not believe they had the original document they would have come looking for it weeks ago.”
Jackie stood in the middle of the floor dressed in the same business suit that day when Jill bumped into her and was instantly smitten. It must have been her lucky suit, blue like her eyes and hugged every curve of that amazing body. And now as Jackie stood there so confidently Jill was even more smitten, her heart grew and her chest puffed out with pride. That’s my attorney. She thought. My hero.
“Overruled.”
“In light of the apparent inconsistencies with the document Mr. Hardy is holding as the basis of his defense we ask the court to revoke the divorce making the settlement proposal null and void. We also ask the court to fast track the petition for divorce and an equal split of the marital assets.”
Jill’s smile widened when Jackie turned to look at her and winked.
“I would like to take a moment to review the findings before I make my ruling.” Judge Flannigan stood and with her, the members of the court rose to their feet.
“Now what do we do?” Jill asked when Jackie took her seat.
“We just wait.”
“You are amazing, by the way.”
Jackie didn’t look over at the expectant woman to her right and her voice was flat when she said, “Thanks.”
Jill placed her hand on Jackie’s forearm. “Please look at me.”
Jackie slowly turned her head and faced the brunette, but her eyes found every other object to focus on, trying to avoid the intensity of Jill’s gaze.
“Will you ever forgive me?”
Jackie quirked an eyebrow as her eyes rested on Jill’s face. “Forgive you for what?”
“For everything, for the times I spoke harshly to you. For the time I kissed you while you were sleeping and for being stupid enough to have sex with your boss. Well, I’m not really sorry I kissed you, but I shouldn’t have forced it on you like that.”
Jackie tried to hide a smile forming on her face when she thought back to the kiss and how she wanted so much more.
“Please…I can’t stand you being mad at me any longer.”
“Okay, I forgive you. I have no room to judge what you do with Jeff and as far as harsh words…I gave as good as I got,” Jackie paused for a moment finding Jill’s eyes, “And that kiss, well I didn’t exactly try and fight you off.”
Jill pulled her bottom lip into her mouth as her cheeks warmed. She wanted so badly to ask her out, to tell Jackie to dump that cheating bitch and give her a chance, but she wasn’t up for another rejection. However, she did want to make her feelings known and felt an urgency to do so now. Once the judge came back with a ruling, she was terrified she would never see Jackie again. “Jackie, I have to tell you this before I lose my nerve,” Jackie looked like a deer caught in head lights, and Jill felt terrible to be springing this on her now…but it was now or never. “I um….I think I; no, I know I…a. Dammit, I didn’t think this was going to be so hard.”
All Rise for the Honorable Judge Malory Flannigan
“Shit,” Jill said as she stood up losing Jackie’s focus. But she was determined to get the words out anyway. It certainly wasn’t her preferred way, she would have much rather tell her those three little words over a candle lit dinner. However, they were here in court, and Jill felt the immediate need, so she leaned into her attorney and pressed her mouth close to Jackie’s ear. Jill could smell the sweet scent of Jackie’s hair and had to fight not to get lost in the beautiful fragrance. It was now or never, once the Judge ruled Jackie would be out that door and out of her life.
With her heart racing and her hands sweating she blurted it out, “What I was trying to say is that I love you.”
Jackie spun her head around and regarded the woman like she had just spoken Chinese. “What?” she mouthed.
Jill nervously smiled and mouthed those words again, “I love you”.
Jackie’s face fell into a deadpan stare. Did she hear that right? Did Jill just tell me she loved me? What the fuck… The judge’s voice stole her attention, and she turned her head disregarding the searing stare of her client.
“Please be seated.” The judge looked down at the papers in her hand, then regarded the two men sitting at the defendant’s table. “Mr. Abbott, do you know the penalties for forging a federal document, obtaining a divorce without consent and bigamy?”
“No Your Honor,” Bill’s voice cracked.
“Well, I suggest you ask your attorney. However, I am not going to hold you in contempt or have you charged without the consent of the woman you have discarded like yesterday’s trash.” Then she looked over at Jill and her attorney, “Mrs. Abbott.”
“Please call me Jill Your Honor.”
The judge smiled and giggled slightly, “Well, okay…Jill. I read through your attorney’s brief and feel that a grave injustice has been done to you. And I am sure by your appearance here today that your contesting of the divorce is based simply on this power of attorney.”
“Yes, Your Honor…it is.”
The judged paused again, looking directly at Jill. “I’m going to do something a little unorthodox…I’m going to remove the power of attorney and ask you to provide a verbal consent to this divorce if that is what you want. Then I will grant the marital assets be split according to New York law which is an even fifty percent split. Now you have the option for me to throw out the divorce which will make you still married to William Abbott and make him a bigamist giving you an upper hand for a future divorce hearing and settlement. But, I don’t think you want that, I think you want the marriage to be dissolved and your fair share of the marital assets.”
“Yes, Your Honor…that is all I’m looking for, what is rightfully mine.”
“Well, are you giving verbal consent to this divorce?”
“Yes Your Honor, I am giving you my verbal consent to pro
ceed with this divorce.”
A wide grin spread across the judge’s face as she turned to regard a dejected defendant and his lawyer, “Mr. Abbott. You should be very thankful to your wife that she is being very gracious right now. This marriage is hereby dissolved by the laws of the state of New York and the marital assets will be split between the parties in an even fifty percent.” The judge slammed her gavel down.
Jill was elated. Finally, she was able to win the battle and was able to stick it to Bill and that asshole Bob. Now she wouldn’t have to pinch pennies, she could afford her beautiful apartment and her car at the same time. But mostly what she was excited about was being able to help the animal shelter. The first thing she would need Jackie to do was to file a proposed settlement. She knew with the fifty percent rule that property would need to be sold and as much as she hated Bill, it wasn’t his wife’s or child’s fault that he was a dick; so she wanted to sign the house over to him as long as she could keep the apartment in Manhattan. After that, she would sell her stock in the company and put that money to better use.
She didn’t look over at Bill and see his hateful scowl or that boo-boo face he would always get when he didn’t get his way. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that either would affect her in any way. She was on top of the world right now and the wide smile plastered across her face was indicative of how happy she was at that moment.
She slapped her hands on the table in her excitement and pulled Jackie into a bone-crushing hug. “You did it!”
Jackie’s smile was sheepish, “Actually…we did it.”
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Jill said as she released the hug and searched Jackie’s face.
“Um, I need to get back to the firm now,” Jackie was still stunned by what Jill had said just moments before the ruling.
“Wait,” Jill said, watching Jackie stand and begin to gather her folders…haphazardly tossing them into her briefcase. “Can’t we go to lunch, I think we have a lot to celebrate. My treat of course.”
Jackie looked into Jill’s sparkling eyes and could see all the joy and happiness just bubbling over. She could also see the depth of them and that look…that look which she had never seen staring back at her, not even when Suzanne sobbingly professed her love. But this is not what she planned, no matter how that look was drilling into her heart…she didn’t want this. Right now all she wanted to do was turn and run away, but she couldn’t pull herself away from Jill’s hopeful gaze.
“Um, okay. Something quick though,” Jackie said turning on her heel. “Let’s go to the courthouse café.”
“No, I valeted my car. I have the perfect spot.”
Jackie nodded her head still with her back to Jill and those expecting eyes.
Jill opened the car door for the silent woman and shut it as she stepped in. Jill’s heart fluttered in her chest. This was the moment, she was going to say it all…she was going to be brave and not let this love go without a fight. There was no more doubt in her mind that Jackie was the one. It no longer mattered whether she was a newbie or a lesbian virgin or a curious straight woman…those labels meant nothing to her and she was not going to let anything take this away…she had never felt anything like this before.
The drive to the Bistro was just under five minutes even with the crazy Manhattan traffic. But it felt like a lifetime being trapped in the silence of her thoughts and trepidations. She licked her lips and glanced over at the very quiet woman now avoiding her by way of the passenger side window. She knew Jackie felt it too, that Saturday afternoon, when they lay perched upon her bed passionately kissing…it wasn’t just her imagination. Just like the look in Jackie’s eyes as she stared down into her face, into her eyes…deep into her core. She didn’t care about her girlfriend, especially since she knew what she knew. She just wondered why Casey hadn’t done anything with her ‘so-called’ proof yet. But maybe she could help Jackie avoid the pain and humiliation of being played the fool…maybe if she would just take a chance.
As they sat in the valet line, Jill had to break the silence. She couldn’t stand just hearing the sound of her own heart pounding or the thoughts, mostly rejection swirling around in her mind. She cleared her throat, “I’m sorry I’m stealing you away for a bit, but I think with our win, your boss will afford you this celebration lunch with his best client.” Jill knew the ‘client’ plug was shameless, but she was desperate.
Jackie let out a cocky chuckle, “I suppose you are his best client.”
The accusation was like a punch in the gut, but she knew Jackie was doing her best to derail the situation. One step closer. Jill said to herself, “I know what I said was a shock to you and probably not in the best setting or timing for that matter. But I was feeling an urgency that I just can’t explain. I need you to know the yearning of my heart…it is you.”
The barrage of emotions was beginning to overwhelm her and Jill eyes started to well up, “Jackie please look at me.”
“Look at you…how can I look at you?” Jackie’s head completely turned, resting on the car seat headrest.
“Please,” Jill’s tone was pleading.
After a few moments, Jackie relented and looked over at Jill, but let her eyes dance around the car, looking everywhere but into those eyes.
Jill didn’t let Jackie’s feeble attempt to diminish the situation deter her from continuing on the quest to open her heart to this woman and lay all her cards on the table. “You are so beautiful.” Jill reached over and gently touched the side of Jackie’s face.
Jill smiled when Jackie’s eyes met hers. “I’m tired of eating my heart out, Jackie. I want you, I love you.”
“Jill, I can’t.”
Jackie’s lips may have said ‘I can’t,’ but her eyes were telling a different story and when Jill leaned over to capture her mouth in a kiss, it was returned with fervor.
Jackie couldn’t contain herself any longer, she needed to know if this was just an attraction or if it was something more. She had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about this woman, and when she did sleep Jill haunted her dreams. Jackie couldn’t eat, she could barely look at Suzanne without having a few cocktails under her belt. She may not have been physically cheating, but there was some emotional deception going on.
“Take me home,” Jackie whispered when she broke the kiss.
“Casey’s there.”
“No, my home, Joni’s has clients all day.”
Jackie didn’t need to say another word as Jill slammed the car into first gear and sped off.
Jackie wasn’t thinking, she was just feeling and right now her heart ached for this exasperating woman whose eyes drilled deep down into her soul. They were so innocent, so telling, and warm…like home. All she wanted to do at that moment was to drown in them and the thought of the cheating act she was about to commit was as far removed from her as the moon was from the earth. The only thing she wished at the moment was that she could transport them into her room since the only open space on the street was a block away from her brownstone. Jackie knew the walk in silence was almost unbearable, but she knew and she was sure Jill knew it as well…that if a word was spoken the spell might be broken and bring them back to reality. Probably her more so than Jill since she was the one with baggage, the same baggage from four years ago…she had fallen victim to the same patterns which destroyed her and Suzanne’s relationship before. And the uncertainty of it, as with the inconsequential role she seemed to play in her girlfriend’s life as of late was making her suspicious that Suzanne too had fallen into the same patterns of her philandering.
She looked over at Jill who looked about as nervous as she did and remembered that Jill hadn’t been with a woman yet and the prospect of being her first gave her a juxtaposed feeling of excitement and terror. But she was willing to go through, wanting this…craving this and finally able to admit it to herself the connection she had with this beautiful woman.
She was careful to approach the house from the rig
ht side of the street just in case Madame Drina was lurking about in her store front. She was hoping Joni was in session and that no one canceled on her…what she didn’t need was her interruption.
Jackie unlocked the front door and ushered her companion in and guiding her up the steps into the house. Once through the door, she made an effort to listen for any movement or noise that would indicate they were not alone. Thankfully the house was quiet and more importantly, empty.
Jackie took Jill by the hand and led her back towards her room. She could feel Jill’s hand shaking in hers and she wondered if this was still something Jill wanted or had she changed her mind. But when she closed the door to her bedroom and pulled the brunette to her, she could see the desire in her eyes and she knew Jill was still a very willing participant.
At first, it was a frenzy of kissing and hands pulling at hair and tugging at each other’s clothes. Since this would be Jill’s first time, Jackie wanted to slow things down…she wanted this to be magical for her, not just some heated fuck up against the door which is where it was headed. Jackie pulled her hands out from under Jill’s skirt and let it fall back over her legs when she broke the kiss. As she stared into Jill’s eyes and it made her shudder almost like she was that awkward teen again and this was her first time as well.
Jackie pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and sighed as her gaze left Jill’s eyes and wandered to her lips. Jill had an exquisite mouth, beautiful full lips that tasted like raspberry and a smile that would light up a room. And the thought of Jill’s mouth on her body made her clit throb wildly. But now wasn’t the time for being a bottom, she wanted to seduce this brunette beauty, take her over the cliff of ecstasy and into the depths of orgasm until she couldn’t take anymore.
Jackie claimed her mouth again in soft kisses, just wanting to feel Jill’s lips on hers…soft and slow. Jackie grinned at Jill’s eagerness when she pushed her tongue through deepening the kiss. She began to unbutton Jill’s silk shirt, one pearl button at a time then slid it off her shoulders exposing a beautiful white lace bra atop of breasts perfectly captured beneath the fabric and she ached to touch the soft mounds of flesh, to graze the nipple ever so slightly, but instead she ran her hand over the soft lacy material and over her belly to the waistband of Jill’s skirt. When she unzipped the closure and let her skirt drop to the floor, Jackie's knees weakened. Jill stood there in a white lace thong poised high on each hip.
Without A Pail Page 24
