“Th- that’s not me.”Bryan directed a hard, hateful stare at Rachel, who kept her gaze focused straight ahead, the way Julian had told her to.“I have no idea who that is.Could be anyone with the way she gets around.”He had close-cropped blond hair, cold blue eyes, a goatee and a chip on his shoulder so big, it took up all the extra space in the courtroom.
“Is this your address?”Julian asked as he dropped another sheet of paper on the table in front of Bryan.
Bryan leaned in for a closer look.“You know it is.It’s all over the divorce paperwork.”
Julian approached the bench to deliver additional documents.“Your Honor, we’ve tied the IP address for Ramblr26’s account to Mr.McDavid’s home.”
With a glance toward Bryan and his attorney, the judge reached for the documents while Julian stepped back to watch the show.The only thing that would’ve made this better was popcorn.
While the judge reviewed the documents and the vicious, foul things Ramblr26 had written about the mother of his children, Driscoll leaned in to confer with Bryan in frantic-sounding whispers.
Julian and Rachel had learned about the posts from a mom at the boys’ school.Rachel had never met the woman, but she’d called to tell her what was being said about her online.When she’d relayed the information to Julian, she’d been full of outrage and disbelief that the man she’d once loved, to whom she’d given two beautiful sons, would say such vile things about her publicly when none of it was true.She’d never once cheated on him, but he sure as hell couldn’t say the same.
Julian had proof of that, too, thanks to his investigator brother Carson, who’d put together a full report on Bryan’s extracurricular activities over the past four years.He’d planned to hold that back in case he needed it, but he didn’t care for the way Bryan was glaring at Rachel, clearly trying to intimidate her into backing down.
Not on his watch.
“Your Honor, I’d also like to enter into evidence this investigative report that was recently completed detailing Mr.McDavid’s extramarital affairs over the past four years.We believe you’ll find it helpful in determining a fair settlement as well as custody of the McDavids’ young sons.In our opinion, the boys would be detrimentally affected by spending time with a man who speaks so disparagingly about their mother online and conducts extramarital affairs so frequently, we wonder how he’d find the time to care for his kids.”
Bryan surged to his feet so quickly, his chair went crashing into the half wall behind him.“You fucking bitch!You had me followed?”
“Mr.Driscoll, please remind your client that that language and behavior are not acceptable to this Court, and unless he’d like me to end this right now without any further input from your side, he’ll sit down and be quiet.”
Driscoll moved quickly to retrieve the chair and plopped Bryan’s ass back in it before he made things worse.
After returning to his seat at the table, Julian reached for Rachel’s cold and trembling hand.He’d told her ahead of time what he planned to do and warned her to be ready for Bryan to get ugly.But how could anyone prepare to have the person they’d once loved enough to marry and have children with talk to them that way?
Bryan was breathing hard and nearly foaming at the mouth with rage.
Good,Julian thought as he stared him down,let the judge see how he behaves when he’s angry.Maybe he’ll grant our request for full custody with a domestic violence restraining order that’ll keep him the hell away from her and their kids.
After about ten tense minutes, the judge put down the documents and looked at Bryan.“This new information, in addition to what I’ve already read in the file, leaves me with no choice in this matter.The horrible, hateful things you’ve said online about Mrs.McDavid, even if every word were true, are so revolting that I agree with Mr.Remington that joint custody is not in your sons’ best interest.Sole custody is hereby awarded to Mrs.McDavid, and I’m approving the request for a domestic violence restraining order that’ll prevent you from coming within one thousand feet of your wife and sons.”
Bryan let out a cry of anguish.“I never laid a hand on them!”He glanced frantically at his attorney.“How is this domestic violence?”
“Abuse doesn’t have to be physical in nature to count as domestic violence, Mr.McDavid,” the judge added.“Your behavior has disturbed the peace of your soon-to-be ex-wife and your sons, which is a qualifying factor.”
“But I never hit her!She’s lying if she says I did!”
Driscoll told him to be quiet.
“I hereby grant Mrs.McDavid sole custody of the minor children as well as child support in the amount of three thousand dollars per month, due on the first day of each month, and spousal support in the amount of one thousand dollars, due concurrently.The child support, in the amount of fifteen hundred dollars per child, will continue until the children reach the age of eighteen.The spousal support will end only if Mrs.McDavid remarries.The decree will be final sixty days from today, with the initial payment for child support due on the first of next month.Spousal support will begin thirty days after the divorce is final.If you violate the restraining order, you’ll be arrested and charged.Am I clear on that?”
Bryan was now softly sobbing as tears ran down his face.“You’re really going to take my kids from me after everything she’s done to me?”
“She hasn’t done anything to you, Mr.McDavid,” Julian said, “other than be a faithful, loving wife and mother.You’re the one who filed for divorce, refused to engage in mediation and then took to social media to air out your made-up grievances against the mother of your children.If you’re looking for someone to blame, you might want to consult a mirror.”
“Fuck you, you slick piece of shit.”
“This matter is concluded,” the judge said.“Mr.McDavid, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from your wife and children.”
Bryan glared at Rachel.“This isn’t over.Count on that, bitch.”
“Mr.Driscoll, please inform your client that he can be arrested for threatening Mrs.McDavid, and let him know that this is, in fact, over.You can petition the Court in twenty-four months to possibly modify the restraining order and revisit visitation with your children.I suggest you use that time wisely and invest in anger management classes if you hope to convince the Court to allow you to see your sons.”
“Twenty-four months?” Bryan asked on a scream.“I can’t see them fortwo years?”
“Based on the things you posted about the mother of your children, I wouldn’t let you care for my dog,” Julian said.“You’re lucky it’s only two years.”
