“Yes,” there was a murmur throughout the courtroom as I continued, “I suspected he was getting too close to someone he claimed was ‘just a coworker’.” The lawyer moved himself away from the table, back to the stand where I was sitting.
“What if I told you he claims he was raped by her weeks beforehand? Does any night ring a bell?”
“Objection! Leading the witness!”
“Overruled,” the judge grumbled behind his bench, before he looked at Caleb’s lawyer, “You’re towing the line.”
His hand motioned to me in what I assumed was his approval to say I could speak now.
“No. There was one night that he got home incredibly after going out with co-workers. When his cab arrived, the doorman called me to help get him into the building. He didn’t smell heavily of alcohol but he was falling over like he was hammered. He kept telling me to get my hands off him, that he had a wife at home waiting for him.” My hands fidgeted in my lap; I was nervous, because I didn’t want to revisit our marriage too deeply. Mainly because I knew I couldn’t ever forgive him or raise his affair child, and that was why I left. If it was true that she raped him, that means I would have tossed him to the wayside when he just learned of what she did to him.
Fuck.
How big of an asshole does that make me? Was I supposed to stay with him? To support him through this when he’d let me down and failed our marriage vows so spectacularly? Was I just supposed to be the good wife?
I never would have met Cash if that were the case.
Oh. Ohmigod.I could feel myself instantly pale.
“Ms. Murphey?” The lawyer's gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts that started to feel like they were beginning to spiral.
“I’m sorry. Can you repeat the question?” My voice came out shakier than I wanted. The man smiled at me, a look of pity and condescension.
“I know this must be hard on you, it must still be fresh in your mind. You learned of his affair, filed for divorce, and then learned of the affair-child. This must be incredibly difficult, knowing that what happened was different. Do you need a break?” He feigned concern. And I feigned no interest in punching his patronizing face in.
See? We’re both good at faking it.
I looked at Amber, she looked concerned for me, ready to jump in if needed. I shook my head.
“No,” I smiled, answering his question and Amber’s concern with fake innocence dripping from that smile.
I don’t look good in orange. It washes me out,I reminded myself. Amber nodded, leaning back in her seat, and relaxing slightly.
“Alright. My question was, when you confronted your husband, he swore all he’d done was kiss her, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe him?”
“No. How can you believe someone who had an affair behind your back? Be it emotional or only slightly physical? He still chose to lie and carry on with someone other than me. His wife. If he couldn’t show me loyalty, the person he swore to be with and remain faithful to forever, why would anyone believe him? They went and had an affair where anyone could have caught them, and did, at his office Christmas party where I was his plus one.” I raised an eyebrow in question.
“No further questions.” He walked back to his seat, keeping a neutral face, he said something to Caleb and his face paled. He looked sick. The fact I didn’t trust him was playing against him and he was just now realizing this? How was I a good key witness for him? He fucking willingly cheated on me!
“Your witness,” the judge offered me toherlawyer. I think a part of me would always despise this incredibly loose, pathetic woman, but I don’t think I’d hate her anymore after this. She went after my husband. Knowing he was married. But,hating her? That required me to put forth time, energy, and effort that she wasn’t even fucking worth.
“Ms. Murphey,” her fat, old lawyer said, smiling that creepy old guy smile that most got when he was picturing what he wanted to do to the “sweet little girl” in front of him. He looked like a sicko, and I could only imagine why she picked him. The guy looked about to be on his last remaining heart valve, “Did you just admit to not trusting your husband?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. Though, I don’t consider myself a single woman, I’m not married,” I realized something as I said that, bringing a smile to my face. I glanced at Cash quickly, blushing slightly. My ex-husband Caleb over there? I don’t trust him at all. He lied to me for months. How do you trust someone who lied?”
“Thank you—”
“But on the flip side,” I interrupted him, stopping those disgusting jowls from flapping any more than they already, “how do you trust someone who knowingly went after a married man and thought it would be fun to play his wife while knowing he was too drunk to consent because he thought she was me? How do you trust someone who could be that deceitful?”
“No further questions your honor.”
I smirked. Finding Cash’s eyes again. Letting him know that statement was about him. He bit his knuckles and in that moment, I was dismissed and looked from him to the door. Then back to him. He was already standing to walk out of the courtroom. I hurried out, turning the corner just to run into him. He picked me up and pressed me against the wall, kissing me like his life depended on it. I kissed him back just as furiously.
By the time he slid me down his body, I was overheating, and coming down from the adrenaline rush I got sitting on the witness stand. I felt flushed and dizzy.
