Chapter 283-2
The Verdict
Part 3
The Judge looked at my mother and
the police report and then looked at my father, and said. “Mr. Shepherd it
seems that you are digging yourself into a grave of lies and half-truths. So
far everything you tell me is one-sided which is based on how you view things,
yet when your wife gives her side of the story, it only makes me want to hear
more of your cases to see which side I should believe as a whole.
“Now then we will break for 1 hour then we will continue, but this time I am
going to allow your wife to speak first since I feel I am getting more truth
out of her then I am you and to save me time, seeing that thick folder Nate’s
caseworker has. I am going to look it over, then I am going talk with Nate and
his two sisters alone one at a time so they can give me their take on
everything that has transpired as well as their caseworker, who has overseen
your family for the past year or so?
“I am summing you have each of their current grades and over the past two years
as well as reports from their teachers how they are doing in the classroom
including his brother Aaron's.”
She nodded said. “Yes I do, I think you will find it very interesting reading.”
She handed the large stack of each of our names on each of the folders she has
compiled just for today. Knowing he
would ask for them. She then thanked him for allowing us to break to relieve
ourselves as she half ran out of the room before she pee’d her pants; with
everyone else at our table except for me and Dad.
Grandma watched as her lawyer quickly shook our hands as Stringum quickly
pulled out a card and wrote on the back of it, said. “Call me anytime, but if
you really want to help you can call this number. This person is the head of
our task force here. You won’t be able to reach me since I am scheduled to fly
out of the country tonight.
“If you wouldn’t mine, I would like you to send her bill to me. I know she
can’t afford much, but she’s family and family take care of one another
regardless if they are being pig head and stubborn. It’s the least I can do
since I feel responsible for this mess I have put her and her grandson in.
“If you're looking for a job, I am looking for lawyers like you, speak to my
man Landan and when you send me the bill.” He reached into his pocket and
pulled out his checkbook, said. “An advance, if you take the job, I am offering
you. And on the back of the card, you find with the number of our task force,
and what I prepared to pay you for your services.” He blinked as he saw the
amount and gasped as his mouth dropped repeating the amount.
He nodded taking the check and business card as Stringum made a quick exit. My
grandmother walked over to her lawyer said. “Please tell me he didn’t just pay
you off, for what you did to me by making a fool out of me in your closing
remarks?”
He said. “No, in fact, he just offered me a job and gave me the money as an
advance if I take it, and told me to contact someone if I really want to help
make our world a safer place to live in.”
Grandma growled. “What he just gave you was enough money to make funeral
arrangements for you and your family if you join their cause. I am firing you
because I now know I can’t trust you. Get out, I can handle this myself.”
Grandma left taking my sisters with her as my father and she stopped to argue
in the hallway.
My caseworker came into the room overhearing what happened said. “I understand
that Doris Shepherd fired you. I would like to rehire you for the remainder of
this court session as my attorney. I just overheard Mr. Shepherd and Doris
Shepherd that they are now going to come after me, after learning that I am no
longer Nate’s caseworker that has been overseeing Linda Shepherds children over
the last two years; hoping to discredit my testimony so everything in that file
I have given to the Judge cannot be used in a court of law. I am still being
paid as Nate’s caseworker, but that will end the moment Doris
tells him that I have turned in my two-week notice and have joined the Carrions
in taking down the satanic church.”
He rubbed his chin and smile, said. “I accept, that gives us an hour to go over
that file, I am assuming you have a copy?”
She said. “Of course I do, it’s in my office upstairs,” watching him follow her
out the door. Dad asked if my friend was still here. I shook my head no, said
he was close if we need him. Dad said. “Well least that’s something. It’s so
hard to sit here and listen to your father bash us with lies and half-truths,
but at least your mother is sticking it to him. I had thought we be done by
now, but it is what it is.” I nodded as we sat and talked about our trip. He
didn’t like the idea of what Jeff was suggesting, but he did have a better
understanding of the world then we did.
Mom came back to bring me and Dad a couple of sodas and chips from the vending
machine as my mother also soon joined us asking us if they had missed anything.
Dad said. “No, not much… appears that Nate’s grandmother fired her lawyer;
because Stringum offered him a job and he offered him an advance if he takes
it. Then before he could leave the room our caseworker rehired him, which I am
sure is going to make her day.”
Mom laughed out loud said. “I bet she won’t be too happy about that. Good, we
could use someone on our side, considering we have a lot to atone for.”
Dad said. “About that, it appears that our ghostly friend would like us to tear
up that agreement, we made with Linda and in doing so, Nate would have to
choose, who he wants to live with and what name he would take. Nate and I were
talking and we think it should be his choice to prove once and for all that he
is an adult.”
I excused myself said. “I am going to make a rash adult decision right now. I
was thinking about this last night, and I can’t think of a better time to do
it.” Dad shrugged his shoulders to Mom not knowing what I had planned as I
slipped by them, the moment Rhoda and Eli came into the room with Jackie and
Greg with his parents.
I got on my knees taking Rhoda’s hand and, said. “Rhoda will you marry me, I do
not have much to offer, and know we have promised to see where our lives take
us, but I can not let our lives be separated if something happens that causes
me to leave you, I could never live with myself if you left me. I will love you
and cherish you for the rest of my life.”
She looked at me as my grandmother and everyone else started to come back into
the room. My grandmother made a quick
dash begging her not to do this of all days; watching me slip the ring on her
finger, the same ring we were married with. She said. “I don’t know, that
depends if you are ready to be a father.”
Grandma said. “Oh God, please don’t say it.”
My face brightened and said. “Oh well, then how can I refuse? I have been
hoping to wait until we graduated from High School.”
She said. “Yes, I will marry you, and I was going to tell you tonight, but the
doctor says I am pregnant again.” I kissed her and then placed my hand on her
belly and kissed that too.
Grandma sank into a chair next to my two sisters, as my father asked. “What did
you do boy?”
I said. “Becoming a father, and my making my mother a grandmother if you must
know, and for your information that’s what married couples do we have sex and
we have children that we love and when creating a family.” I returned to my
knees and fished out three more rings. Taking Greg’s and Eli's hands said. “You
both have been by my side through it all. I would like it if you married me as
well, even though in truth the world won’t recognize us being married, but when
has that stopped us. It’s the world that isn’t ready for us.”
Eli looked at Greg and they both nodded Eli said. “F**k the world. Yes, we will
marry you.”
Grandma groaned rubbing her face with her hands as I placed the ring on their
fingers and stood up and kissed them both, letting everyone outside in the
hallway looking in and my father growled at my mother. “This is what you have
caused because you refused to listen to me. I will not stand for it. And the
law is on my side, and so is the church when it comes to polygamy and gay
marriages.”
I ignored him and got back on my knees asked Jackie to marry me as well placing
the ring on her finger then kissed her. My caseworker and her new lawyer came
into the room after watching what just took place and made her way over to us
and shook our hands and hugged us congratulating us asking us when we are going
to get married. I said. “The moment the Judge comes into the room,” watching
the bailiff close the door stating it was closes hearing as we quickly took our
seats.
Grandma shot daggers at me and then said to her lawyer. “I thought I fired
you?” When she realized her lawyer was in the room and making his way over to
our side.
He shrugged his shoulders said. “You did, but apparently Mrs. Holliman has
retained me as her lawyer.”
My father growled angrily. “You can’t, she hasn’t paid you, and neither has my
mother.”
He said. “Actually she has, I have a check right here and signed a contract
that states I am her lawyer. As for your mother, I have already received
payment in full.” We all stood as the Judge came into the room.
Dad said. “Well, this at livening things up.” Mom shushed him, as she wiggled
with anticipation. My mother asked me if this was a wise move.
I said. “Maybe, maybe not.”
The moment the Judge took his seat Jeff popped in taking his seat on our side
of the room giving me two thumbs up. I stood up and said. “Judge Griffin, may I
speak first before we get started?”
He said. “Of course, you can Nate. I understand congratulation is in order, may
I ask have you chosen a date to renew your vows?”
I said. “Yes, I have. We would like you to marry us before we start these
proceedings.”
He said. “I see, I am assuming you have a reason?”
My father said. “Yea, he just got his w***e knocked up again.”
The Judge said. “I should fine you for that, but seeing as we haven’t started
yet I will let that go. Well, then I have no problem with you getting married
and its only fitting that I should be the one to do it, after what I have put
you through by removing you from the Downing’s. Give me a moment to get my
things together.”
I nodded as he quickly left the room and came back with a marriage certificate
and his bible. We came up front and he asked if I had the rings we nodded as we
quickly removed them. He said. “Ok take your girl's hand, and tell me your full
name you will be using.”
Rhoda said. “Rhoda Lang it was my mother’s middle name before he married Eli’s
father.”
He nodded as he wrote on the marriage certificate. “I amusing Eli and Greg are
going to be your guy’s best man?” They both shook their heads no. And my
grandmother groaned. He said. “I see, you do realize that your marriage won’t
be legal in this state?” They nodded and said. “Ok, then, we will marry you
boys after Rhoda and Nate.”
I shook my head No, said. “I want Rhoda to be married to by my birth name.”
The Judge blinked a couple of times, said. “Ok. I am assuming your adoptive
parents are ok with this?”
Dad said. “Yes, but I would like to do something first if I may. In my hand, I
have two documents one is the contract I had his mother sign stating if she
hurts either of her boys ever again. She will lose them and end up in before
the courts to decide her fate. The second is the adoption papers that state if
the other happens her son belongs to me, and the adoption is closed and she
will no longer be allowed to see him. I am now going to rip this up after you
have read them to make sure they are the same ones in his case file.” Dad
slipped them out as my mother, and my grandmother's mouths dropped not knowing
why he was doing this after all these years holding it over their heads.
The Judge read them, said. “You realize without these documents, that the
adoption is null and void and you’re letting his mother, off the hook. You
better make sure you really trust that she doesn’t go back on her word.”
Dad said. “I do, she has proven to me and her two sons and that she wants them
in her life, and she loves them, and only wants the best for them.” Dad took
the papers and ripped them up into little shreds of paper then tossed into the
garbage can as they caught fire. As he jumped back as everyone gasped.
Jeff smiled because he caused that little blaze, as the bailiff said. “Ok, that
was unexpected. The garbage can I emptied personally after destroying those
tapes earlier.” He turned over the garbage can showing that he had as the
charred remains of the paper floated out. Grandma faces blanched as her hands
started to shake and eyed the room to see if she can see Jeff.
The Judge said. “Then all need is his mother and his father to sign off on
this.”
My mother said. “Glad to do it. I can’t believe I am finally going to be a
grandma.”
My father said. “Don’t look too me, I am not going to put my name to something
I don’t agree with.”
Dad said. “Good because I don’t really think we need your permission if I am
correct. The decision is all your sons and the ones he is marrying. After all
did you not Judge Griffin state in a court of law, not more than a few hours
ago. That Eric here is now officially an adult according to laws that govern
us?”
Judge Griffin said. “I did, a matter fact I did say that on the record. Well
then I see we don’t need Mr. Shepherd's permission, but without those adoption
papers, it means he no longer a Rothwell either or a Carrion. So I will ask
again are sure you want to do this, for once it is done son, you will not be
able to walk away and shake hands. This marriage contract will be binding.”
I nodded. “Yes and double yes.” Grandma groaned and my father growled angrily
knowing there was nothing they could do. My mother was all excited as she
bounced on the balls of her feet.
The Judge said. “If I marry you, I feel I am cheating you out of a girls
Cinderella wedding.”
She said. “Done it… and no I don’t need a repeat of that trust me, your honor,
it isn’t something any of us want to relive it.” He nodded and quickly married
us, using our real names, but this time. I used my father’s last name, making
him angry enough to chew nails.
I then married Eli and Greg and kissed them as my father and my sister gagged
with horror. Even though they couldn’t be on the marriage certificate all that
mattered was that they and we were a family. I married Jackie as well and let
Eli marry her using his father’s last name as they put their names on the
marriage certificate as husband and wife.
Mom, Dad, and my Mother congratulated us as the Judge said. “Ok, it's official
today you are adults I have proof right here saying that. “Now then let’s get
back to business; by asking one simple question; where are you kids planning to
live, since you still in high school?”
Dad waited for the shoe to drop knowing he had just given way my chance of ever
being a Rothwell all because he was told Jeff wanted him to do this without
explaining why, as still hadn’t dawned on him that. He just saved my bacon by
making sure without a doubt that neither my father nor my mother could claim
custody and more so my grandmother, who was still processing what in the hell
just happened.
I said. “With my adoptive parents, I am still a Rothwell slash Carrion. Too me
they are my family.”
My mother looked hurt the moment I said that, as put my arm around her and
said. “My mother is considered part of that family until she decides she
doesn’t want to be of her own free will. Nothing is holding her, if she wants
out she can simply walk out that door anytime she wants too. Knowing that I
have forgiven her and I love her.
“But make no mistake as long as she is my mother and has kept her word to me,
and the Rothwell’s and my brother Aaron. I will protect her and Aaron with my
last breath; if her husband or my two sisters hurt her or my brother Aaron ever
again.
“Now then, I believe my mother would like a chance to be with my two wives and
my two husbands. So they can talk about our new baby and our plans when we
leave here today. So I will let my two
sisters go first, but I doubt you will get much truth out Susan. If I was you,
Judge Griffin, I would hide your wallet and your checkbook and make damn sure
that she can not find your zipper. She likes it rough; she likes to force her
self on men and boys. Then accuse them of raping her as you have found out
today. She isn’t an angel and she is she certainly earned that reputation of
being the Ice Queen.”
My sister broke down in fake tears sobbing as she called me a monster. My
father stood up and reached for his belt, as Dad stood in his way, said. “I
wouldn’t if I was you; I helped train that boy of yours. One word from me, and
I will let him beat the crap out of you. Then when he is done it will be my
turn for laying a hand on my son.” My father pushed him to the side, asked the
Judge if he was going to allow this.
The Judge said. “Allow what Mr. Shepherd. I didn’t see anything nor heard a
word that was said, Becky your first, while your sister gets herself under
control. By the way Susan I know for fact those tears and sobs are fake. I
should know considering I have seen my share of girls like you trying to get
unearned sympathy.”
Becky nodded and made her way towards the Judge's chambers said. “For the
recorded, I no longer have sex with men; I have been a good girl… Mostly?
Unless you count, all those boys that were here earlier. What can I say? I like
sex, and love a good around the world.”
My father rubbed his face with his hands, as my grandmother groaned. “And this
is all your fault Linda, and this why you are an unfit mother.”
My mother said. “Maybe, but if you remember I tried to stop her, and I have
been gone for a little over two months. It was my husband’s job to make sure
that didn’t happen.”
My mother took her seat as my caseworker and her lawyer followed Becky. Grandma
asked my caseworker and her lawyer. “Where in the hell do you think you're
going?
My caseworker said. “To review her file, being as I am signed by Mrs. Shepherd
to oversee each of her children.”
My mother nodded as my grandmother said. “Fine, I am going in there as well
since I am her grandmother.”
The Judge turned and said. “No, you are not. Last I checked Linda is still the
parent and her husband… and so far has proven he can not be trusted. Mrs.
Holliman is employed by this state as the family caseworker to oversee all
matters when it comes to her children. Last I heard she still their
caseworker.”
Grandma said. “Well last I heard she quit that job and today is her last day.”
My caseworker said. “She right, as of three
o’clock today I am no longer employed here. However being as I
haven’t been replaced yet, and I have been in this room the entire morning and
afternoon I am still on the clock, and according to my lawyer who I have asked
to join me for the remainder of these proceedings. He has spoken with my
supervisor confirming that once I leave this courtroom and the verdict has been
decided I will no longer be employed by family services and a new one will be
appointed first thing tomorrow morning. If you need proof I have it right here
in writing.” She handed him the form they had all signed and notarized.
The Judge said. “I see, well then you will be sorely missed. May ask why you
are quitting after all these years?”
She said. “Yes, so I can help children and their parents as a school counselor
at Heber Elementary and my husband will be the new teacher and the head of the
seminary program at Heber High
school when school starts at the first of the
year.”
He nodded and said. “Well then I happy to hear that, shall we proceed?” She
nodded as she put her arm around Becky as they went inside the Judge’s chambers
closing the door behind them.