Can I Get a Witness?

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  Thomas’s expression changed dramatically. He now wore a cold, angry look. “If I seem to recall, neither one of us had much,” he said evenly. “And I do believe that I worked just as hard as you did throughout this marriage.”

  “Hmph!” Vanessa spat. “Yeah, you were working hard all right, but it didn’t have anything to do with building a foundation for our marriage.”

  “Now, Mrs. Kirk—” Dr. McDowell said.

  “It’s Miss Colton,” Vanessa said, cutting her off. “I’m going back to my maiden name.”

  Thomas displayed a thin smirk. “You never left your maiden name in the first place, Mrs. Colton-Kirk. Like you were too good to take my name.”

  Vanessa cocked her head. “Oh, is that why you cheated? Because I hyphenated my name?”

  Thomas sighed, shook his head, but didn’t respond. He was never good at clever comebacks.

  Dr. McDowell held up her hands. “Okay, now, the purpose of this meeting is not to go back and forth on whose fault the disintegration of your marriage is.”

  “It’s his fault,” Vanessa said.

  “The purpose of this meeting,” Dr. McDowell continued, shooting Vanessa a chastising look, “is to see if reconciliation is at all possible.”

  “I can answer that for you now,” Vanessa said. “Absolutely not.” She sat back and defiantly folded her arms across her chest.

  Dr. McDowell flipped her legal pad to a new page and pulled out a pen, then looked at both of them. “Per Judge Jarrett’s order, I’ll be the one to make that decision.” She turned to Thomas. “I’ll begin with you, Mr. Kirk. Do you still love your wife?”

  Thomas bit down on his bottom lip and his eyes slowly watered up. “I never stopped loving my wife. I will never stop loving my wife.”

  Vanessa couldn’t believe her ears as the mediator turned to her. “Mrs. Kirk?”

  “Colton.”

  Dr. McDowell inhaled. “Until your name is legally changed, I’m going to go by Mrs. Kirk. Mrs. Kirk, do you still love—”

  “No,” she said flatly.

  “So, you just fell out of love with me just like that?” Thomas said, staring at her like he was trying to see into her soul.

  That cut her deep. What did he think? “Having your husband get another woman pregnant can do that to you.”

  Thomas lightly chuckled as he shook his head.

  “Do you think this is funny?” Vanessa leaned forward, her brow furrowing.

  “What happened to for better or for worse? Till death do us part?” Thomas asked.

  He was acting like this was some sort of theory. “All bets are off when a baby is brought into the picture,” Vanessa said quietly, hating his calmness. When had she ever found that attractive? “Go be with your mistress and stop wasting my time.”

  “So there’s no way you could ever forgive me?” Thomas said.

  She looked at him like he was crazy. “You know better than that.”

  “Why did I know that would be your answer?” he said, shaking his head.

  Vanessa blew out an exasperated breath. “Then why did you ask?”

  “Okay, it seems we’re making some progress here,” Dr. McDowell said brightly. She turned back to Thomas. “Mr. Kirk, why do you think your marriage is disintegrating?”

  “Disintegrated, as in past tense,” Vanessa interjected.

  “Mrs. Kirk, please!” Dr. McDowell admonished. “I understand that you are harboring some anger in your heart, but as an officer of the court I think you would understand all too well why order is necessary in conducting this mediation. So will you please cooperate?”

  Vanessa held up her hands in surrender.

  “Thank you.” Dr. McDowell turned back to Thomas.

  “Let me see, when did our marriage start disintegrating?” Thomas held his finger to his temple as if he were thinking. “May 31, 2003.”

  “What’s the significance of that date?” Dr. McDowell asked as she scribbled on her notepad.

  Thomas kept his eyes focused on Vanessa. “That’s the day we got married.”

  Dr. McDowell twitched, startled by his answer. “So you think things started going downhill the day you got married?”

  “Yep, pretty much,” Thomas deadpanned. “My grandmother used to always say you can’t change a leopard’s spots. She always said what a woman shows you before she marries you, be ready for after she marries you.” He chuckled piteously. “Do you know Vanessa was late for her own wedding?” Thomas nodded as he recalled that day. “What woman do you know would be late for her own wedding?”

  “I had a good reason,” Vanessa responded defensively.

  “You always do,” Thomas shot back. “At least good to you.”

  “Anyone would understand why I was late. It’s not like I was off somewhere sipping tea.”

  “Going to a rally to meet Hillary Clinton doesn’t quite classify as a good reason to me,” Thomas replied coldly.

  “That’s just it,” Vanessa said, this time talking directly to Dr. McDowell. “He doesn’t understand the importance of my career.”

  Granted, she was just a divorce court judge now, but it was all part of Vanessa’s master plan. She planned to get a few years of judgeship under her belt, then run for a Texas State Senate seat on a family values platform. From there she would run for a U.S. Senate seat and who knows, maybe even seek out a seat on the Supreme Court. How was she supposed to do that now when she couldn’t even keep her own family together?

  “I understood, all right. But at any point did I ever come first to you? I didn’t,” Thomas replied, not giving her a chance to answer. “Not even on our wedding day. It’s been that way ever since.”

  He was hitting too close to the mark. She had known for a long time that she should try harder. She said weakly, “Don’t put the blame on me because you’re an adulterer.”

  Thomas didn’t press his advantage. “You’re right, I’m a horrible person for what I did. If I could take it all back, I would.” He looked sincerely at Vanessa. “I regret hurting you. I regret my relationship with Alana. But I can’t regret this child. The child I’ve so desperately wanted. The child I wanted you to give to me.”

  Vanessa was fighting back the tears that were threatening to overtake her. His words pierced her to the heart. Thomas was actually going to be a father. She wanted kids one day, just not yet. But she had wanted them and she had wanted them with Thomas.

  Never in a million years had Vanessa dreamed that her life would take such a wrong turn.

  “Mr. Kirk,” Dr. McDowell said. “What was it that you felt you got from the other woman that you didn’t feel you could get from your wife?”

  Vanessa’s ears perked up at that question.

  Thomas contemplated his answer before saying slowly, “I don’t know. I mean, even though I was with her only a couple of times, Alana made me feel important, both emotionally and physically.”

  As soon as he said the latter part, he looked like he wished that he could take his words back.

  Vanessa released a pained laugh. “So that was it? She made you feel like a stud in bed? She was your freak in the sheets?”

  Thomas rubbed his forehead. “That’s not what I meant at all. I just…”

  “And what happened to ‘we only slept together one time?’” Vanessa continued. When he didn’t respond, she said disgustedly, “You are such a liar.”

  “Vanessa, have you ever given any thought to the fact that maybe you weren’t fulfilling your husband in bed? I mean, that is a big deal to a man,” Dr. McDowell stressed.

  Vanessa’s eyes widened in astonishment. “What?”

  “I tell all my clients the reality is that sex is important in a marriage. If Thomas was sexually frustrated, it’s to be expected that he would seek fulfillment somewhere else.”

  Thomas’s eyes brightened in agreement. “I’ve been trying to tell her that.”

  Vanessa couldn’t believe they were ganging up on her. She scowled at Dr. McDowell, then realized t
hat wouldn’t get what she wanted. She kept her gaze steady as she asked Dr. McDowell, “Do you have enough?”

  “Well, I really would like to talk with you all some more.”

  Vanessa scooted her chair back and stood. “Let me rephrase that. You have enough. There is nothing left to discuss or mediate. Thomas and I are over. Forever.”

  Vanessa shot daggers at her soon-to-be-ex-husband one last time as she hurried out the door. She expected Thomas to hurt her, but Dr. McDowell had crossed the line—both professionally and as a woman. Vanessa fought back the tears as she stomped to her car. She would add Dr. McDowell to the list of people that had better learn she wasn’t a person to be messed with.

  Chapter 29

  Vanessa logged on to the Bank of Texas’s website. She printed out the paperwork to have Thomas’s name removed from the bank account and credit cards. She checked the balance on her private savings account, grateful that she had gone against Aunt Ida’s advice and kept a separate account, one that Thomas knew nothing about.

  Ida had said separate accounts were the devil’s first tools to destroy marriages. Vanessa was glad she hadn’t listened.

  Since leaving the mediation yesterday, she’d been on a mission to remove Thomas from her life. Vanessa glanced at the clock and noticed the time. “Shoot,” she mumbled. She was supposed to meet Rosolyn for brunch in fifteen minutes. Vanessa quickly showered, dressed, and jumped in the car.

  Rosolyn shot her an evil look when she walked up to the table at The Breakfast Klub thirty-five minutes later.

  “Sorry,” Vanessa said, sliding into her seat. “I was handling some business and got a late start.”

  “Mmm-hmmm,” Rosolyn said. “Well, I just ordered. I’m starving.”

  “That’s fine,” Vanessa replied. “Let me go place my order.” Vanessa stood back up and walked over to the cashier to place her order. Her stomach was cramping really bad, probably because she hadn’t eaten all day. “I’ll take the waffles and wings and an iced tea.”

  “What’s wrong? Why are you rubbing your stomach,” Rosolyn asked as Vanessa returned to the table.

  “It’s hurting. I guess I need to get some food into my system.”

  Rosolyn shot her a concerned look, but let it pass when her cell phone rang. “This is probably the surprise I had for you.” She looked at the phone, then handed it to Vanessa.

  Vanessa eyed the phone suspiciously before taking it and saying, “Hello.”

  “Hi, Miss Vanessa. Did Mrs. Frazier tell you? I have a new mom and dad.”

  Vanessa smiled at the sound of Shelly’s voice. “Yes, she told me,” she said, her eyes showing their appreciation to Rosolyn. “I am so happy for you. But promise me you’ll keep in touch?”

  “Of course I will.” Shelly’s voice brimmed with contentment. “You know, I have my own bedroom and everything. They have a giant house, even a pool, and a dog. He’s so cute. His name is Pugly because he’s a pug and Mr. Taylor—I mean, Daddy—said he’s so ugly.” Shelly laughed. Vanessa had never heard such a happy sound from the little girl. “They said they wanted me to make their family complete. They used to have a daughter, but she died. And so I think we’ll be perfect for each other.” She paused, then explained the equation she had worked out. “They lost their little girl. I lost my parents. And now, it’s like we found each other.” The excitement was evident in her voice.

  “Mommy and Daddy said I could give you our address and phone number,” Shelly said. “And when we get settled, they said you can come visit me.”

  “Here, I’ll give you mine.” Vanessa rattled off her information before bidding Shelly good-bye with the promise to keep in touch.

  “You know, you are going to make a good mother when you get your own child,” Rosolyn said.

  “At the rate I’m going, I’ll be too old to enjoy my kids,” Vanessa quipped.

  The two of them chatted some more until the waitress returned with their food. Vanessa immediately dug in.

  “Girl…” Vanessa chewed slowly, swallowed, then finished her sentence. “Please tell me how you do it. I know you told me about the problems you and Henry had, but you make marriage seem so easy.”

  The first time Rosolyn tried to bring up Thomas a few weeks ago, Vanessa had changed the subject; she hadn’t been in the mood to talk about him. But now she wanted her sister’s advice. She wanted to understand where she and Thomas had gone wrong. She wasn’t going to mention Dr. McDowell because she had her own plans to deal with the good doctor, and she didn’t need her sister trying to talk her out of it.

  “Please,” Rosolyn replied, “marriage is far from easy, even for a man of God. Henry has his issues, too. You just have to decide what you will and won’t deal with in a marriage. It’s hard work. It demands a lot of give and take. Something I don’t think you did enough of.”

  “I beg your pardon.” Vanessa stopped chewing and narrowed her eyes at her sister. “I gave a lot in my marriage.”

  Rosolyn sipped her tea before responding. “What did you give? Thomas gave up his desire to have a family. He gave in to your decision to work all crazy hours. What did you give up?”

  “Ummm, I gave up a lot.”

  “Okay, like what?”

  Vanessa thought about it for a minute. The truth was, she hadn’t given up much. Most of the time, what she wanted prevailed. She set her fork down and leaned back. “Okay, maybe I wasn’t the best wife, but that still doesn’t excuse him going out and sleeping with another woman.”

  “Hey, I totally agree with you,” Rosolyn said. “But have you ever, even for a half a second, considered forgiving him?”

  Vanessa thought about it, but Rosolyn continued before she could answer. “I mean, you do love him, don’t you?”

  Vanessa was silent. She loved Thomas with everything inside of her—even if she didn’t act like it.

  “All I’m saying is just think about forgiving him.”

  “And then what?” she asked, bewildered. “Just accept this baby? Have this child be a part of my life? No, I can’t do that. I’m no fool.”

  “Neither is Henry.” Rosolyn’s expression turned pensive. “He just loved me enough to forgive me.”

  Vanessa bit down on her bottom lip. “Oh, sis, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “No, you meant it,” Rosolyn said. She took another bite of her food. “People automatically think because you forgive somebody for something like infidelity, it makes you a fool. It doesn’t. It makes you human. God forgives us for all kinds of things every single day.”

  “Well, I’m not God.”

  Rosolyn sighed. “I know that. I’m just saying that many people would say Henry is a fool. But he chose to honor his commitment to me, and so he dug deep down inside, prayed a lot, and used his faith to help him get over the pain of my betrayal.” She paused, thinking of another angle. “Would you basically say I’m a good person?”

  Vanessa let out a slight chuckle. “Right up there next to Mother Teresa.”

  “Then how do you think I could’ve possibly gotten pregnant by another man?”

  “I think you just made a horrible mistake. You weren’t trying to hurt Henry.”

  “Exactly,” Rosolyn replied.

  Vanessa smiled at her sister. She got the point. “Okay, you and your reverse psychology. But just so you know, it’s not working. Thomas and I are over. And the only thing I have for him is a one-way ticket out of my life. As a matter of fact, I’ve already got something in the works to ensure that that happens.”

  “What?”

  Vanessa flushed guiltily. “Don’t worry about all that.”

  “I don’t have bail money,” Rosolyn said, knowing how bullheaded her sister could be.

  “Naw, it’s nothing like that. Let’s just say I’m confident that the mediator will grant my divorce expeditiously.”

  Vanessa had to get down in the gutter to get the ammunition she needed to ensure her divorce, but desperate times calle
d for desperate measures.

  “I’m going to tell you like I told Dionne—I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  Vanessa weighed her sister’s words. Maybe what she had planned wasn’t right. But Dr. McDowell’s sex analysis and Thomas’s quip about her not fulfilling him was the last straw. She was sick and tired of letting people make a fool of her. It was time she fought back.

  Chapter 30

  Vanessa stood impatiently in the immaculately decorated lobby. The sleek, contemporary furniture was evidence of Dr. McDowell’s good taste, and the numerous awards that lined the wall were testament to her success. She might have had all of these accolades, but after the way she and Thomas ganged up on her, Vanessa felt like someone should give the doctor a lesson in tact. It had taken her a week and a lot of money, but she’d gotten what she needed.

  Vanessa shot the receptionist another impatient look. The woman feigned a smile as she placed the receiver back on the hook. “Dr. McDowell will see you now.”

  “Thank you,” Vanessa said, quickly brushing past the receptionist’s desk, clutching a manila folder for dear life.

  “Judge Kirk.” Dr. McDowell stood and greeted Vanessa with a warm smile. “I was actually going to give you a call today. I wanted to ask you to come in for a private session.”

  Vanessa measured the woman, gathering up the nerve to do what she had come here to do. “Well, I wanted to talk to you, too.”

  “Wonderful. Get with my secretary and we’ll set something up,” Dr. McDowell said.

  “Nah.” Vanessa closed the door.

  “Excuse me,” Dr. McDowell said, narrowing her eyes. “I do have an appointment coming up. I really would like to talk to you a little more because I’m concerned about the hostility that you’re harboring toward your husband, but we will have to schedule a time to do it.”

  “You ever been married, Doctor?” Vanessa asked, casually sitting in the chair in front of the desk.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Dr. McDowell asked, sitting back down.

  “I’m just wondering. I know you have your degrees and all. But I’m just curious as to whether you’ve ever been through what I’m going through.”