Travis

The fact remained, I was an intruder, but I felt I had that in common with Jemma. She was responsible for everything. I could see it in her eyes. It was easy when I wasn’t blinded by the child she was carrying. Andy wasn’t thinking clearly and was drawn in by her lies and manipulation.

It was two days before the job and I had watched Aurora jump through hoops. I was able to get her in touch with a good lawyer. It was her decision and I didn’t push the idea of making it a fight in court.

I decided to accompany her to the settlement meeting. I knew it wasn’t my business to be there, but I also wanted to be there for her.

“This is indeed unusual circumstances. My client was declared divorced on false pretenses. I’m here to make sure her rights are looked after. She has agreed not to attest the divorce. There is the matter of some shared property and belongings. I have itemized all of them in this document. I took the liberty of sending them via e-mail to you last night. I hope you have had enough time to go over them.” On one side of the table Jemma, Andy, and their lawyer, a shark named Michael Lyons was waiting patiently.

“We have had a chance to preliminarily go over the document this morning. I want to go on the record to say we are reasonable adults. This situation is difficult, but we will muddle through the best way we know how. My clients have some concerns. I’ve circled those items they are unwilling to bend about.” His bald head surrounded by a halo of hair made him look like friar tuck from Robin Hood.

“My client would like to use this open forum to speak openly.” Tammy Trask was an accomplished lawyer who was known to single out women who were looking to get their pound of flesh. She was perfect to make them squirm.

Her flaming red hair curled down the back of her neck and her intense green eyes backed down the most accomplished lawyer. She was a family friend and was gracious enough to offer her time pro bono. She didn’t have to do that. I was willing to pitch in, but it wasn’t like I had much, to begin with.

Everybody was acting aloof and trying not to say anything out of turn. The long rectangular table in the center of the room had both parties lining up to do battle with their words and body language.

They were whispering and Michael finally spoke on behalf of his clients.

“My clients have no problem with her speaking on her own behalf. I do stress caution for the sake of the baby. The child’s mother does not need any unnecessary drama in her life. This has been trying for all of us, but especially for the mother and the child.” Everybody was dressed impeccably, but I could tell from the way that she walked in the room that Jemma wanted to be the center of attention.

The low cut black dress exposed her cleavage in the best light possible. It was tight enough around the middle to make it impossible not to recognize her impending motherhood.

“I’m not proud of the way that I acted the other day. I really had no idea what I was going to say when the door opened. I’m not going to be a stickler for details. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. It’s unfair of me to make this any more difficult than it has to be.” Aurora was standing and flipping through the pages while making notations with bold indelible purple ink.

“I was afraid we were getting off on the wrong foot. We were expecting a lot more resistance. Your cooperation during these troubling times is appreciated. We don’t want to make this a war of attrition. Remaining calm is the key. Raised voices are counterproductive.” Michael was playing the mediator.

Aurora was remarkably collected, but I could tell it was eating her up inside to see her husband with her sister. I would imagine she would go after the both of them in a different circumstance, but the wrinkle of the baby made things less likely to escalate.

She sat there and scribbled madly before finally concluding with the drop of the marker. With a sigh of resignation, she slid the document across the table to where the lawyer and his clients could peruse it at their leisure. It was a taxing ordeal and I could see how she was struggling to remain in control.

I leaned in and whispered into her ear to make sure my comments weren’t misconstrued by those in attendance. This was a negotiation and it seemed rude to ask her to step out of the room.

“I know this is what you said you wanted, but are you sure this is the way to go about it. I don’t think I could be this generous in your shoes.” I was playing devil’s advocate.

“I’m not happy about this, but there’s not much I can do about it. I went over the police report of the accident many times over the last couple of days. There was no mention of foul play.” She was convinced Jemma had something to do with her condition.

I didn’t want to believe Jemma had orchestrated the fall from the top of the stairs. Aurora was lucky she didn’t break her neck tumbling down the stairs. Pictures were taken of her body at the hospital. They were attached to the police file. Nothing indicated that anything was amiss. No marks on her body determined someone had pushed her.

I had given it a careful going over to make sure everything was seen through fresh eyes. It was declared an accident with no need for further investigation. I had given her my unbiased opinion. They were never going to be friends, but at least she could put to rest the possibility of her sister taking over her life on purpose.

“I know you were looking for something to give them a reason to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law. You need to find a way to make nice with them. I know how important it is to you to be a part of your nephew’s life.” She was understandably upset and had every reason to want somebody to pay for what happened. I knew Aurora would do the right thing and be the bigger person.

“I just want this to be over and done with.”

“I want you to let me take you out to celebrate tonight. This chapter might be over, but a new one is beginning.”

“That would be lovely, Travis.”

“It’ll be our first date too,” I whispered.

Finally she let us a slight smile. I was trying very hardest to not smile from ear to ear, it wouldn’t look appropriate judging by the setting.

They were still talking and looking over at us from time to time across the table. The negotiation was dragging, but we were making headway. It was time for everyone to realize the strings had to be cut on the past.

Aurora looked at her watch again. She watched them negotiate, whispering back and forth.

“It can’t wait til this is over.”

“Stay strong and I promise this new journey will be worth it. Everything you are waiting for is around the corner.” Her next stop was a face to face meeting with Sheila, her business partner.

They had already talked at length on the phone, but it was one thing to hear her voice but another to see her up close and personal. She was determined to take this next step on her own without me crowding her. I didn’t know if I could walk away even for a little while. It would give me enough time to arrange for a surprise to make her panties melt from her body.

They were taking their time going over the details. The second hand on the clock on the wall moved immeasurably slowly. I could hear them mumbling in closed ranks.

Another half hour had passed.

“My clients have agreed to everything. That includes the timeshare in Tahiti.” It sounded like a good investment. It would a place to visit to hide away during the winter months.

“It looks like our business here has concluded. I will be in touch to draw up the final papers. This was easy considering the circumstances.” Tammy had everything she needed and she barely had to say a word.

Aurora was putting on a brave face, but I knew that she was breaking apart inside.

“I would like to be the first one to proffer an invitation to Sunday dinner. We need to get past these differences. I’m willing to break bread with you.” Jemma was as subtle as a hammer to the skull.

“I will get back to you.” I had to give Aurora credit for making the best out of a bad situation.

“I’m not suggesting we go on a family vacation together. It’s only a dinner. You’re more than welcome to bring your guest. I think it would be good for everybody to see that we are moving on with our lives.” There was a sick satisfaction in her eyes. Jemma was callously putting her on the spot for her own selfish reasons.

“I wouldn’t push this any further. I’m doing my best to walk out of here without looking back. Think about what you would want if the roles were reversed. I can see you are trying to meet me halfway. It appears that way, but I am suspicious of your motives.” I wanted to say something, but it wasn’t my place to make things better for her.

“There’s no reason for you to act like this.” Jemma was provoking her into a verbal sparring match, but she wasn’t taking the bait.

“I was taught to turn the other cheek, but you are dangerously close to getting more than you bargained for. Quit while you are ahead. I make no promises, but I will think about joining you for Sunday dinner. I will carry on without you in my life.” She was forged in the metal of the kind of courage rarely seen in domestic disputes.

I had been drifting through life trying my best to please my mother.

“I hope the two of you will be very happy together. You might even find the kind of love I share with Andy. I have to say he is an animal in the sack. He doesn’t remind me of the cold fish you mentioned when you got drunk one night. Perhaps, he was looking for a partner who understood how his needs could be met in different ways.” I could see how things were rapidly deteriorating. It was time to leave as graceful as possible.

Just as I saw Aurora had her hand raised, I grabbed her wrist and made her follow me to the elevator. The cocky looking grin on Jemma’s face was enough to twist the knife a little deeper.

“She’s trying to get a rise out of you. Don’t give her that satisfaction.” She couldn’t escape the painful truth. There was a hidden rage inside ready to burst forth.

“I’m glad you were here. I don’t know what would have happened had you not been. It’s a good thing we don’t have to find out. You would think she would be content with having my husband. She continues to needle me. I don’t think she can help it. It’s built in her DNA to get underneath my skin.” Jemma mockingly waved four fingers and I had to pull back Aurora until the door closed.