‘Curious.’ The judge’s mouth twitched. ‘It appears that a year ago, Ms Templeton had her resort on the market and Mr Mayer posed as a potential buyer.’
Charlotte’s lip curled. She was glad that the judge was going to highlight what a creep Dennis had been getting the information. She still couldn’t believe herself that he’d already been in their lives for over a year and she hadn’t even known about it. A sudden chill ran through her and she shuddered.
The judge looked down from the bench over Ms Pylforth’s head. The light seemed to catch the Commonwealth emblem above his head. ‘Mr Mayer, please step into the witness box. You will explain this to me.’
Dennis’s lawyer turned and nodded to him.
Zara’s biological father stood up, entered the witness box and was sworn in. He addressed the judge. ‘Er . . . yes, your Honour. That’s true. As part of due diligence I was able to obtain financial records from the Templetons’ agent showing the dire circumstance under which the business was operating.’
‘I do not wish you to explain to me how you obtained the evidence,’ the judge said sternly. ‘That much is already clear. What I do wish to know is why you were snooping around their business at a time that pre-dates the receipt of your daughter’s letter.’
Charlotte turned narrowed eyes upon her foe.
However, Dennis did not even blink. ‘I am a successful businessman with friends in Mackay. I was looking to expand my business portfolio. Virginia Templeton is an old friend, as you have probably guessed. At the time, I did know of Zara but I thought that she was Charlotte’s daughter. When I saw Virginia’s business for sale, I took an interest. At one point I even hoped to rekindle our . . . er, friendship, until I found out that she had Alzheimer’s disease.’
Friendship . . . yeah right. Perhaps when he found out her mother was an invalid, he considered revisiting his old victim less interesting. Charlotte tasted bile in her mouth.
‘Very well,’ the judge said. ‘Is there anything further you wish to add to your case before I go on, Mr Mayer?’
‘Just to say, your Honour, that I am a family man. I am married with one stepdaughter already, who is two years younger than Zara. I feel she would fit well into my family. I am distressed that I have already missed so much of her life. Her mother, Virginia, deliberately and purposefully kept the knowledge of our child from me. I have been robbed of my rights as a father and feel that I should at least be compensated for that. I am a partner with my brother in a well-respected pharmaceutical business, which we both inherited from my parents. I earn good money. I know that I will be able to pay for private schooling for Zara, give her top medical insurance and ensure that all her needs are met from a financial point of view. Respectfully, I believe I deserve this chance to be included in her life, especially when it’s what she wants as well and she can only benefit from my involvement.’
The judge nodded. ‘Is there anything further you wish to add, Ms Pylforth?’
‘No, your Honour.’
‘Then I will ask Mr Townsend to respond.’
Trent stood up beside her and she had to brace herself. Now it was their turn.
Please, please. Let us make an impression.
‘Your Honour, in this case, I represent both Virginia Templeton and her daughter, Charlotte Templeton. As you know, Virginia Templeton has Alzheimer’s disease and her daughter Charlotte has been the guardian of her estate and the informal carer of her youngest daughter Zara Templeton since she was diagnosed eight years ago.’
‘Thank you for the recap, counsel, but I would prefer you cut straight to your response to the applicant,’ the judge instructed.
Trent raised his chin. ‘Charlotte Templeton wishes to apply for parental responsibility and residence for Zara Jane Templeton in Mr Mayer’s stead with no rights granted to Zara’s biological father at all.’
The judge raised his eyebrows. ‘Tell me, Mr Townsend, how is that in the child’s best interest given the financial aid her father might provide? Not to mention the fact that Zara asked to be part of her father’s life.’
‘My client requests this parental order on the grounds of the likely psychological damage to Zara if she is forced to be involved in her father’s life.’
The judge pursed his lips. ‘To be honest, Mr Townsend, I find your client’s affidavit to be rather ineffectual in supporting such an argument. If you propose to continue in that vein, I will have to stop you here.’
‘Your Honour, please excuse our incomplete material. Mr Mayer gave us a mere seven days to prepare our case.’ The judge’s glare swung to Dennis’s hung head as Trent continued talking. ‘Despite this, however, we have managed to secure a police report and also a statement from Zara’s clinical psychologist for examination today. They have been annexed to appropriate affidavits.’
The judge’s gaze returned to him. ‘You understand that I will have to call a thirty-minute adjournment to allow Mr Mayer’s lawyer time to read these documents.’
Trent inclined his head. ‘I understand, your Honour.’
‘Very well. Mr Mayer, in the circumstances, you are released from the witness box.’ Trent reached into his materials and passed a copy of each of the new documents to the judge’s associate and then across the bar table to the scowling Ms Pylforth.
The judge then nodded to the clerk of the court, who proceeded to announce the adjournment, adding, ‘Court will resume at eleven am.’
The judge and his associate filed out, taking the new documents with them. Charlotte resisted the urge to bite her fingernails. Thirty minutes of limbo was going to be pure agony. The last thing she wanted to do was sit around and speculate on what was about to happen next.
‘I’ll be right back,’ she said to Trent and walked out of the courtroom, making a beeline for the ladies. After splashing some water on her face, she felt only marginally better. She hid in there for as long as she could, but it wasn’t long before Emily came looking for her. After that, it was back to the courtroom and she didn’t know whether to be anxious or relieved.
When the judge and his associate were seated again, Trent stood up to make their case.
‘Your Honour, any contact between Dennis Mayer and Zara Templeton would be psychologically damaging to his daughter. It is my client’s case that Mr Mayer sexually assaulted Virginia Templeton. Zara Templeton was conceived as a result of that sexual assault.’
The judge sat back further into his chair. He looked around the courtroom in a brooding fashion before focusing on Trent once more. When he spoke again his tone was grave.
‘This is a very serious allegation, Mr Townsend, and not one for this court.’
‘I am aware of that, your Honour,’ Trent acknowledged. ‘However, my client feels it is an issue that must be raised. The letter from Zara Templeton previously read by Ms Pylforth was written, as stated in the letter, at a time when Zara did not know her father’s history. She has recently found out he was jailed for three counts of rape and has also been told that the relationship he had with her mother was non-consenting and that she was the product of this one sexual assault. Zara Templeton was deeply disturbed by this knowledge and has since been receiving counselling from a therapist in Mackay. It is my clients’ understanding that at this point it would be more damaging to her mental health to be threatened with living with her father.’
‘Objection,’ Ms Pylforth stood up. ‘Your Honour, this is all hearsay from the bar table. My client was never convicted of the rape of Virginia Templeton.’
‘Nonetheless, counsel,’ the judge looked at her rather crossly, ‘your client is a convicted rapist who has served time. That information should have been declared in your own affidavit. Why wasn’t it?’
Ms Pylforth lifted her chin. ‘Your Honour, as you have just said, Mr Mayer has served his time and has been a model citizen for two years. He is no danger to anyone, including his daughter.’
The judge snorted. ‘You are in no position to guarantee that, Counsel, and nor is s
uch an assertion any excuse for the lack of disclosure. Sit down, Ms Pylforth. I will hear again from Mr Townsend.’
Ms Pylforth, much to Charlotte’s delight, shrank into her seat.
‘Although Mr Mayer was never convicted of Virginia Templeton’s rape,’ Trent continued, ‘he was convicted of the rape of three other women and so any contact with Zara Templeton is not, according to my client, an acceptable risk. At this point, your Honour, I think it prudent that my client address the court directly.’
‘Very well.’
At the judge’s nod, Charlotte stood up, moved around to the bar table and was sworn in. She knew that everything she said was crucial to their winning, and pressure gathered on her head like magnetic filings on the point of a needle.
‘Your Honour,’ she croaked and then hastily cleared her throat, ‘in my opinion, I do not think my sister would benefit from a relationship with her father. Her distress at finding out about his past was extremely hard on her. In lieu of her presence, I have a letter from her therapist, which accords with my own opinion, and also a copy of the police report my mother filed after she was raped sixteen years ago. If you would like me to read them to the court, I can do so now.’
The judge shook his head. ‘That will not be necessary. Is there anything else you wish to add, Ms Templeton?’
Her breath caught and her mouth dried. Did he need more information? What had she left out? She wracked her brain and could think of nothing. She gripped her hands together; she could make promises at the very least. ‘Only that, although our financial situation is not ideal, Zara has never wanted for anything. And should we need to sell the business at a future date to make ends meet, then that’s what we’ll do. I will always make Zara’s well-being my top priority.’
The judge nodded and then turned to the room at large as Charlotte resumed her seat. ‘The applications before me present a number of serious concerns and while I don’t propose to reserve my decision, I do intend to take a recess to gather my thoughts and we will reconvene after lunch at two-fifteen pm.’ He turned to his associate and the clerk of the court who immediately said, ‘All rise. This court is adjourned until not before two-fifteen pm.’
Without further ado, his Honour and his associate walked out.
Charlotte released a long shaky breath. It was now in their hands. Trent turned to her with a smile. ‘You did well.’
‘Did I?’ she asked, her fingers cold and trembling. She had to clasp them together to stop them shaking.
‘Very well.’ He nodded optimistically. ‘Let’s go have lunch.’
Without even glancing at Dennis Mayer or his lawyer she got up and filed out of the courtroom after Trent. To be honest, she did want to get out of there as quickly as possible even though she wasn’t the slightest bit hungry. How could she eat while the judge deliberated over Zara’s future? Her stomach was churning far too much already.
In the hall, Mark and Emily were already standing there waiting for them. She met Mark’s solemn eyes over Emily’s shoulder as the girl immediately stepped forward to give her a hug. Although he said nothing, she took both strength and comfort from his steadfast gaze.
She knew she had feelings for this man. Deep feelings. Feelings that she didn’t want to think about because if it was love she must be crazy. There was nothing lover-like about him. He was blunt, abrasive, rude and obnoxious. The number of times he had insulted her were no longer countable. Yet, here he was. By her side, in this time of need. Like an anchor, keeping her in safe harbour – cocooned in his care, however distantly he gave it. He’d bought her airline tickets, paid for the lawyer and the accommodation . . . even come along. But what was she supposed to do with all that if he would admit nothing? When she had challenged him on his motives, he’d pushed her further away. In fact, he completely refused to acknowledge feelings for her at all – if there were any. Perhaps it was a bloody big assumption on her part. He could just be a man who took his position as an employer very seriously.
The wife he had lost coloured his life to the point where he’d let his grief take control of it. If she could not break through the barrier he had set around himself then what future could they have? She would not be part of a relationship that included a ghost.
‘I saw this great little place down the road on our way here,’ Emily was saying. ‘Do you want to go there for lunch?’
‘Sure.’ Charlotte again tasted sawdust in her mouth at the thought of food, but this time she didn’t know whether it was because of Mark or Zara. Maybe both.
Two hours later after a very lacklustre lunch at a little café called Noel, the four of them returned to the Family Court to receive the judge’s decision. Charlotte shivered as she walked into the room and sat down even though she wasn’t cold.
Just tell me what I want to hear. She repeated the words like a mantra, keeping her eyes firmly on the front of the room rather than on Dennis or his lawyer.
‘All rise,’ said the clerk of the court. They all took their places.
Charlotte had to purposely make herself not hold her breath as she resumed her seat.
‘The applicant has made a solid case for custody, however, on balance I cannot, at this time, grant him even partial parental responsibility or residence for Zara Templeton.’
Charlotte could not stop the smile from stretching across her face or relief from swelling her chest.
‘Although it is not a matter for this court to decide whether relations between Virginia Templeton and Dennis Mayer were of an unlawful nature, there have been some very serious issues raised with regard to Zara’s current mental health. And it is clear that it is not in her best interest to change her home life at this time. Given that Zara has been in Ms Charlotte Templeton’s care for the last fifteen years without mishap I do grant her parental responsibility and residence at this time. However, I will state that Zara is of an age now where she is capable of making some of her own decisions. If her mental health were to improve and she wishes to seek a relationship with her father then, if necessary, this matter can be brought back before me and we can assess other issues such as whether it is an acceptable risk to have Zara partially in his care.’
And then, in a flurry of final formalities, the judge gave a nod to both parties. ‘Court adjourned.’
It was all Charlotte could do not to scream for joy as the judge and his associate filed out.
She heard Dennis Mayer’s chair roughly push out and hit the bench behind him. She looked up as he slammed his file shut. Their eyes met for a brief moment across the room, and she received the full blast of his fury. She braced herself against it. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t touch her now. Even as she finished the thought, he turned to Ms Pylforth, who was trying to reclaim his attention. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Mayer. I thought we had a better chance.’
He seemed to pull himself together quickly enough, an oily smile slicked across his lips to match the sheen on his forehead.
‘Would you care for a debrief over a drink, Ms Pylforth? I know a good pub nearby.’
Charlotte shuddered as the two of them walked out.
Suddenly she felt a hand cover hers and realised that she was still sitting there at the desk in a kind of stupor.
‘Are you okay?’ a gentle voice inquired.
She looked up to find it was Mark who was addressing her. Trent had moved away to speak to Emily.
‘Definitely.’ She smiled radiantly at the remembrance of her win. She turned her hand over to grip his. For a moment, just a moment, he stood there and she sat there, holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, a perfect bubble of triumph and bliss. And then, as she knew he would, he withdrew his hand and put it into his pocket.
‘Well, Charlotte, I guess your holiday is over. Time to get back to work.’
Ah, the insensitive remark that always followed. ‘How lovely of you to remind me.’ She stood up briskly, pushing in her chair and straightening her jacket. ‘Shall we go?’
‘I thought you�
��d never ask.’
They went out into the foyer, where Emily and Trent looked like they were having an argument. As soon as Emily saw Charlotte she spun around in relief. ‘You know what we should do?’ she exclaimed.
‘What’s that?’ Charlotte inquired lightly.
‘Go shopping,’ Emily suggested with a tad too much enthusiasm. ‘I’ve never been to Brisbane before and it’ll be a great way to kill the rest of the afternoon.’
‘Sounds good.’ Charlotte smiled watching the way Trent’s mouth opened and closed. She knew he’d been hoping to spend the afternoon with Emily himself but he could hardly invite himself along to ‘shopping with the girls’.
Neither could Mark. However, the project manager did not seem as put out by this – merely mildly amused. She didn’t know whether to feel relief or pique that he didn’t care whether he spent the afternoon with her or not.
Trent finally cleared his throat. ‘Well, we should at least celebrate this win, tonight. All of us, together. For dinner.’
Charlotte glanced at Mark, who was silent. After her snub the night before it was clear he wasn’t going to second the invitation but merely wait and see the outcome. She supposed there was no point in being churlish, especially considering he had been so kind financially. She nodded her head. ‘All right, dinner tonight in our hotel’s restaurant. Seven pm.’
‘Agreed,’ Emily added.
‘I’ll be there,’ Mark murmured.
So they split up and she and Emily jumped on a ferry to see Brisbane. It was actually a very enjoyable few hours exploring this river city. They shopped, they had coffee, they walked along the south-bank foreshore, enjoying the parklands and the artificial lagoon. It was a gorgeous day, warm and bright, and she felt so much lighter. The angst of the week before was gone. Everything was how it should be. Except for one thing.
Mark.
‘You’ve gone awfully quiet,’ said Emily as they waited at the ferry station to catch their ride home. ‘What are you thinking about? Or should I say, who are you thinking about?’
The Girl in the Yellow Vest Page 33