WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT WHEN CARMA'S INVOLVED?

TREINTA Y DOS

As every woman knows, our emotions often get the better of us. It was after coming clean about my feelings from that night did he tell me his. He admitted his hesitation on that passionate night was because of how emotional I was. To him, jumping in me felt as if he were given a get out of jail free card to take advantage of me. After the party, Arianna’s call added to my grief and sorrow. Alixxander took phenomenal care of my mind, body, and soul. He truly did. We connected differently. Starting the next morning, his jets had cooled off. While it came as a relief, I didn’t know what to expect or how to handle the avoidance. Román called and asked Alixxander to meet him at the office. That cut our talk short.

Before leaving, Alixxander profoundly stated, “I could tell your body was not ready to accept and handle our intimateness. As wonderful as it felt.... I can wait until your body is healed, and you are certain of your emotions.” He kissed my forehead and left.

With Alixxander and I on better terms, working together became less pressure and sorta fun. Unfortunately, Arianna didn’t stop her constant blitz attacks on my phone. For two weeks, she called, texted, and tried to video chat every single day, multiple times a day. I’d decided more than enough time had been spent away from the office and with my return looming, I could not have my phone tied up when clients try to contact me.

“Harmoney, I'm home and I brought dinner.” Alixxander watched too many 'I Love Lucy' reruns while I worked.

I jumped for my phone, but it wasn’t the caller I expected. Fcking hell. Alixxander knew who the problem was by my tone. Arianna ended it. I had nothing more to say to her. The fcked up things she said during the last call showed her true colors. Colors I ain’t seen in a crayon box. Alixxander assumed she acted out because of him.

“Had you never told her we slept together....” The phone rang again. “All of that,” he pointed. “That wouldn't be happening. There is a solution though.”

If I were advising a client, I’d suggest a restraining order. A restraining order would reveal my address and I did not want that. It’s not like she left harassing or threatening messages. Most of them were apologies. Some were anger fueled, but then more apologies. Alixxander’s solution came in the form of a box. A company phone with no bill. You bet your ass I snatched it from his hand. My phone would remain active on the off chance my family called. I had high hopes that Arianna would get the picture and cut the sh*t out. The phone wasn’t the only present. He plopped a stack of mail from the office beside me. The manila envelope with Las Vegas postage caught my attention. Inside were copies of documents and Alixxander’s marriage certificate. Carefully, I scanned each document.

“Dinner is served.”

“Hey, quick question. You said you escaped to Vegas to get away from Carma.” He bobbed his head as he chewed. “Did you ever talk about getting married there?” He shook his head rapidly.

Thirty-nine days before the date typed on the marriage certificate, preregistration papers were filled out and filed. Without showing him the full document, I asked if the signature was his. He nodded. Maybe Carma asked him to sign, and he did without reading it. A quick internet search of Vegas law showed after preregistration gets completed the applicants could pick up their license at the Vegas Marriage License Bureau. I meticulously scanned the documents for the smallest discrepancy. At first glance, it looked to be in order. The dates threw me off. My thought processes were not deterred. As crazy as it could be, Carma was flush with Alixxander’s cash, and she could bribe one or more persons to get exactly what she wanted. I emailed Kimmie and asked her for a copy of Alixxander’s calendar for the past two years. While waiting, I moved on to another case.

Ten out of twelve of Alixxander’s cases had achieved out of court settlement status. Number eleven was fairly close to the same result. The lively four-way discussion about Mr. Carmichael and his case yielded no resolution. How the deceit of the police department and all who backed them could be ignored, bewildered me. It was as plain as the knockers adorning my chest. I told the gaggle of lawyers fighting tooth and nail, if they couldn't stand the heat, they needed to settle with my client and get the fck out my kitchen. Was I too c*cky? You bet my big ass I was.

Our first court appearance with Carma was in two days. The greedy btch wanted a hundred grand a month in alimony and another fifty grand for child support. She'd done lost her mind. Before getting a penny, I wanted DNA proof that Alixxander was the baby's father. Last-minute preparations aren’t my style, but with Carma changing her demands every other second, I figured why make more work for myself? There I was, knee-deep. Dinner had gone cold and Alixxander fell asleep watching TV. If Carma or her council thought they were going to blindside me, they were in for a rude awakening.

The day came and I wore my hot pink suit. Alixxander chose a black suit with a light pink tie. Together we walked around looking like a powerhouse couple. Carma and Mr. Driver were already in the courtroom. It’d been the first time seeing her since the day in Alixxander’s office. She sported a huge belly and extra junk everywhere other than her trunk. It made me jealous and envious. Putting those feelings aside, we held our heads high, and sat on our side of the aisle.

The best piece of knowledge handed down by a professor was to never look in your opponent's direction. Why, you ask? Intimidation between attorneys is a real thing and can affect performance. I ignored every word from that professor and glanced to my left. Her numbnut representative nodded with an overconfident smirk. I looked because Carma had something I thought I never wanted. What can I say? My little girl changed my mind. I knew with the utmost certainty becoming a mother was everything I wanted. My new strategy was not to attack Carma. Simply showing a pattern of infidelity, the court would understand Alixxander's skepticism. His inability to recall details from the night of his nuptials hurt our case. Carma could say anything. We had no way to confirm or deny any aspect of the tall tale she wanted to tell.

Judge Howard Hugh Howards has a tough stance on men refusing to support the children they create. Alixxander refused nothing. I made the decisions for him. We rose as Judge Howards entered the courtroom. Being told to sit, the room went silent. You could hear a fly land on a table from twenty feet away. Judges preside over many cases a day, and though we were his first that morning, it made sense for Judge Howards to take a second look through the file and get a sense of the parties present. Putting faces to the names of complainants, lawyers, and anyone else involved helps. Appearances also say a lot. Lord, forgive me. Carma looked like a pregnant hooker in clown makeup.

“Miss Sanchez,” I stood up. “Your filing states Mrs. Savage has been unfaithful to her husband of less than a year. Irreconcilable differences and there is a question of paternity.”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“YOUR HONOR, these accusations are outlandish. Mrs. Savage has been one hundred percent faithful in her marriage and resents the accusation that the child isn't her husband’s.”

“Calm down, Mr. Driver. If a simple swab test gives Mr. Savage peace of mind, where's the harm? I'm sure Miss Sanchez has proof to back up any allegations.”

Judge Howards didn't bring the hammer down the way I pictured he would. Carma left. Furious with her attorney. Poor baby. It was only the beginning of how miserable I planned to make her life. The next court date wouldn’t be scheduled until after the birth and the completion of DNA. In the meantime, it gave me time to check into those discrepancies I questioned.

Exiting the courthouse, the sun shone brightly in the clear gorgeous blue sky. There wasn't a cloud as far as my eyes could see. The fresh air invigorated my hurt soul. Alixxander and I carpooled. But the day was pristine. I decided to walk to the office. I hadn't had much exercise since I found out I was pregnant. It seemed like a good day to get back into the swing of things.

Swapping my pumps for the sneakers I kept in my carry bag, my walk began. You never realize how much you miss the sounds of vehicles zooming to their destination. The unnecessarily loud conversations from people weaving their way through the crowds. Of course, the construction mixed with the birds chirping and bees buzzing. As soothing as it all sounded, my insides reverberated with uneasiness. Many times, I stopped to look behind me. No faces were familiar. I’d convinced myself it was Alixxander keeping a watchful eye. Satisfied, the sensation ceased.

Greetings around the office were not all warm. I did not care. The giddiness wasn't going to be tainted by those living in a jaded society. Turning the light on in my office showed how extremely dusty everything was. A few pieces of mail littered my desk. If there was a window to the outside world, my office would be less depressing. I missed it, nonetheless. I kept cleaning wipes in my desk and used them to make my office look presentable for my return.

“I heard you were in the building, Miss Sanchez.” I didn't expect Román to visit.

See what happens when you give into an impulsive decision. Román asked how court went. Alixxander was supposed to call him when it was over. The rundown was short, sweet, and to the point. The judge understood we weren't trying to avoid anything. It doesn’t hurt to have reassurance. Alixxander would be an excellent father. Román closed my door, and I steeled myself.

“Betty enjoyed your company.” Phew. I stopped chewing the inside of my cheeks. That was weeks ago. Why didn’t Alixxander tell me? “If you're up to it, she would like me to extend an invitation for you to visit without us boys around.” To refuse her kindness would be rude. I told him she could contact me through the company cell. That’s how I found out Alixxander wasn’t truthful. I wanted to ring his neck.