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Photographer in the Park	By : NutsAboutHarry Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Joshua Bell Views: 1770 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not know Joshua Bell (Do you think I'd be writing fan fic about him if I did?) the following story is TOTAL FICTION the prouct of my extraordinarily overactive imagination. No profit of any kind is made from the writing and publishing of this story!

Chapter List
- 41
- 42
- 43
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The following morning Louisa rose early and after a brief breakfast in a darkened kitchen. She then dressed in her jogging tracksuit and took Mocha for a run before returning to the house and taking a shower just as everyone else in the house began to stir.
‘You’re up already?’ Charlotte asked in surprise as she came downstairs with her hair twisted up in a turban.
‘Yeah I’ve been up since six’ Louisa said as she started making a huge batch of scrambled eggs ‘I had some cereal then too Mocha for a run. I needed to distract myself from throwing up, my guts are churning something chronic’
‘You’ll be fine Louie don’t think about it too much or you will barf’ Charlotte said moving into the kitchen and starting to prepare herself an espresso coffee from the elaborate cappuccino machine on the bench next to the microwave ‘just think there’s nothing you can do to change anything so just keep your chin up be strong and follow the plan we worked out last night’
‘Well that’s all that’s left to me I suppose’ Louisa said putting some bread under the grill and lighting the gas ‘can you make me a double shot latte? I’m going to need it’
‘Sure’
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Finally at ten thirty everyone was ready to go. Josh, Charlotte and BJ started off in Josh’s Porsche and Louisa and TJ followed in Louisa’s utility.
‘Notice he didn’t even look at me since he came downstairs?’ Louisa said as they drove across the East River ‘I’ve had to deal with that every day since this shit started. Did he say why he’s making me feel so bad?’
‘He said, and these were his exact words ‘I can’t trust myself not so say anything that will hurt her so I stay away’
‘Did you tell him he’s hurting me more by not speaking to me?’ Louisa said in frustration.
‘I did but all he said was ‘sorry TJ I can’t bring myself to do it, I can’t trust myself not to say anything more to hurt her I did it once in the past and I don’t want to chance things again’
An errant tear trickled down Louisa’s rouged cheek
‘That’s frustratingly sweet’ she said with a groan swiping at her eyes ‘It’s sweet he’s thinking like that but god I wish he’d say it to my face’
‘Well you’re right not to push him but know he is thinking about you every minute of the day’ TJ said.
‘Well I suppose that’s something’
Finally just after eleven AM Louisa and TJ arrived in Manhattan. Louisa parked her car in a nearby multi story car park then walked with TJ to the Manhattan Family Court where they met Josh, BJ and Charlotte by the bronze bust of some long forgotten luminary. Louisa made a point of looking deep into Josh’s bright blue eyes but he only held her gaze for a few seconds before turning to Charlotte.
‘Can we get this over and done with?’ he said tersely.
‘Of course come on let’s see what courtroom we’re in’ Charlotte said ‘now if Lisa and her attorney are in there already you are not to speak to her, you are not to approach her. If she approaches you say ‘If you need to speak to me do it through my legal team and back off. Do not let her engage you in any sort of dialogue got it?’
‘Don’t worry I’m not going to go anywhere near her’ Josh said.
‘And the same goes for you too Louie’ Charlotte said as they climbed the last step and walked toward the glass doors ‘do not engage anyone on Lisa’s team in any sort of communication. We know she wants to antagonize you in particular so if you stay away from her the likelihood of something happening is low’
‘I can guarantee you I’m going to where near that woman’ Louisa said.
‘Okay let’s do this then’
Moments later the group entered the courthouse where BJ led them over to the noticeboard where that day’s session listings were posted.
‘Here we go Matricardi versus Bell courtroom fourteen level fourteen’ she said ‘Justice Clementine Prescott-Cosworth presiding’
‘That doesn’t half sound like an Oxford grad’ Louisa said dryly ‘have you heard of her?’
‘No I haven’t practiced in Manhattan since I graduated from Harvard sixteen years ago’ BJ said ‘even then I was only here for two years before moving to L.A. I’ll do a bit of investigating at the end of proceedings and see if I can find out more about her. Some of my college pals still work in New York and may have gone before her’
‘So I take it you haven’t heard about her either?’ Louisa asked Charlotte.
‘Nope I’ve only ever worked as an attorney in L.A. Before that the only thing I did in New York was work as a track rider at Belmont with George when we first came over here six years ago. Neither of us did any legal work in the States til we started at Pillson and George’
‘Dmmit it’d be nice to know if we had a judge that was in our favour’
‘Excuse me? What do you mean in our favour?’ Josh snapped ‘I believe the court listing says ‘Matricardi versus Bell not Riminton’
Josh’s words cut through Louisa like a hot knofe through butter and her blue eyes welled with tears.
BJ opened her mouth to respond but TJ cut her off.
‘Grow up Joshua now is not the time to pull the asshol act’ she snapped ‘Louie is here to support you, that is not how you show grattitude’
‘You sound like Mom’ Josh said with a grunt avoiding his sister’s eyes.
‘Like hell I do if Mom was here you’d never hear the end of it’ TJ said ‘we al know you feel like shit but there’s no need to infect us all with your foul mood, got it?’
Josh screwed up his nose.
‘Got it?’ TJ repeated.
‘Whatever’ Josh said petulantly.
‘Don’t start w-‘
‘How about we head upstairs?’ Charlotte suggested pointedly cutting TJ off ‘court begins in thirty minutes and we’ll have to meet with the child rights lawyer, it’s procedure to confer before cases like this’
‘Lead the way let’s get this bullshit over and done with’ Josh said with a heavy sigh.
‘Okay let’s go’
‘I can’t beleive I’m going to marry that prick’ Louisa said to RJ in an undertone as they fell behine Josh, Charlotte and BJ ‘god he must’ve been irritating to grow up with’
‘Yeah he was but don’t worry Louie he’s not mad at you he’s mad at himself. As I said to you on the ride over he’s not mad at you the photos got out he’s mad that he trust himself enough to let you take them. He showed his ultimate vulnerability and that scared him, that’s why he’s snappy. The public don’t know the real Joshua Bell because he’s so fiercely protective of his life away from the stage and he’s afraid the public at large knowing who he really is’
‘That’s retarded’ Louisa said ‘it wouldn’t kill him for the classical music fans to knwo he’s a real person with real feelings and the father of three of the most gorgeous kids god ever breathed life into and has a horse vet that wants to be his wife more than anything else in the world’
‘I know it wouldn’t kill him but as you’re finding out the classical music scene is very snobby with plenty of cliques that get thier noses out of joint at the least littlest thing. Image to them is everything and unfortunately J has to tow that line. He doesn’t like doing it but he has to if he wants to continue performing and you know he loves performing so he’s going to do whatever he can to keep that going’
‘I just wish he'd come to me for comfort though’ Louisa said ‘I’m his fiancee the oen person he’s supposed to confide in’
‘I know, in that regard he's being a stubborn ass’ TJ said ‘he keps things to himself til somethig happens to make him realise what an idiot he’s been. That will happen but I think you might have to wait a while’
I could be waiting til the second comeing for that’ Louisa said dryly.
‘I don’t think you’ll be waiting that long’ TJ said in amusement ‘I know Josh he wants to talk to you but he doesn’t want to admit to being a butthead’
‘Doesn’t that sound lik every man on the freaking earth?’ Louisa said rolling her eyes.
TJ grinned
‘Yeah it does’ she said ‘all the ones I’ve dealt with have been like that anyway. Dad, my husband, my sons. Sometimes I feel like the only sane one in my household. I hope you and J have girls, girls are far less maddening in my opinion anyway’
‘God I’m not even thinking about kids yet TJ it’s not even certain we’ll get to the altar yet and I want that to happen before I even consider becoming a parent’
TJ patted Louisa’s arm
‘You will honey I knwo you will’ she said confidently ‘and when you do I fully expect an invite to the bachelorette party’
‘Ha!’
A few minutes later the group arrived on the fourth floor of the courthouse and made thier way to courtroom fourteen. Waiting outside of which was Lisa, her attorney who looked barely old enought to be out of law school Lisa’s parentsand a smartly dressed older woman Louisa guessed to be in her late fifties sitting slightly aside frm the group.
‘What the HELL is she doing here?’ Llisa spat her face creasing into an expression of vitriolic hatred ‘haven’t immigration deported you yet?’
‘’Stasia!’ Angelo her father explaimed in surprise as Louisa sat down and made a point of crossing her legs, staring at the ceiling and twiddling her thumbs in a theatrical manner.
‘Good good you’re going good’ TJ whispered.
‘Charlotte? Bianca? Good morning I’m Alessia Garlett the child rights attorney may I have a quick word with your client and yourselves in courtroom thirteen? It should only take a few mintes’ the older woman said introducing herself to Charlotte and BJ.
‘Of course lead the way’ Charlotte said politely.
Once Josh disappeared into the nearby courtroom thirteen with BJ, Charlotte and the child rights attorney the atmosphere outside courtroom fourteen became discernibly icy. Louisa kept her eyes turned upward at the ceiling but an ever so faint smile crept across her face when Lisa’s attorney pulled her away from the group for a private conference.
‘Why didn’t you tell me Josh’s counsel was Charlotte Preston and Bianca James?’ he hissed
‘Why does it matter who they are? Lisa hissed back ‘who cares?’
‘Because those two are the two best attorneys in California’ the young man said in exasperation ‘Charlotte Preston just got a convicted murderer off death row and had his record expunged just last week and is suing the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office for twenty seven million dollars for wrongful conviction! And Bianca James hasn’t lost a custody case in eight freaking years! Charlotte Preston has never lost a case of this nature. Together they have more connections than the Calabrian Mafia. We have no chance against those two’
‘We better have’ Lisa said threateningly ‘I’m not paying you a thousand bucks an hour to lose’
‘Don’t you dare threaten me or I swear I will walk this minute’ the man returned just as threateningly ‘I’m going to do my best but you know you have a flimsy case and if you lose out it’s not going to be because of me’
‘Are you hearing this?’ TJ asked Louisa in a barely discernable whisper.
‘Uh huh’ Louisa replied keeping her eyes on the ceiling.
Fifteen minutes later Josh emerged from courtroom thirteen with Charlotte, BJ and Alessia Garlett his eyes bloodshot and his face blotchy. He strode over to the row of seats opposite Lisa, her family and attorney and flopped down in the empty one beside Louisa. Despite the hurt she was feeling from his earlier comment she reached across the armrest and squeezed his knee.
‘I’m bleeding for you’ she whispered in French ‘I want to fix things and hug you til you feel better. Please don’t push me away’
Though it wasn’t visible to the others Louisa felt Josh flinch hard at her touch.
‘I hear you’ he returned in clipped tones.
Another ten minutes went by and a court sheriff emerged.
‘Matricardi versus Bell we’re ready for you now’ he said ‘please remember to turn off all cell phone before entering the courtroom’
There was a furious scramble to turn off all mobile phones before everyone filed into the spacious courtroom. Charlotte and BJ led Josh to the right hand side desk and Lisa’s attorney led her to the left one. Lisa’s parents sat behind their daughter in the public gallery and Louisa and TJ made their way to the public gallery behind Josh. Alessia Garlett the attorney acting on behalf of Josef, Ben and Sam sat at a smaller desk where in a criminal case a jury would sit.
‘Now we wait’ TJ said patting Louisa’s knee.
‘Yeah how long for?’ Louisa groaned.
‘As long as the judge decides’ TJ replied ‘I did a case last week where the presiding judge made us wait an entire hour’
Louisa groaned again.
‘Don’t worry you won’t have to wait that long’ TJ said as the sheriff disappeared through a nearby side door ‘the sheriff has gone to get the judge now’
A minute later the sheriff returned.
‘All rise for Justice Clementine Prescott-Cosworth’
A moment later a distinguished woman Louisa estimated to be in her early fifties entered the courtroom wearing flowing black robes and wearing her dark grey hair back in a tight bun. She ascended the steps to her stand and dropped down into her chair.
‘Alright take your seats’ she said in a distinctive South African accent ‘counsel please introduce yourselves’
‘Anthony Abo acting on behalf of Miss Matricardi Ma’am’ Lisa’s attorney said.
‘Ah good to see you again Mr Abo’
‘Charlotte Preston and Bianca James acting on behalf of Mr Bell’ Charlotte said clearly.
Justice Prescott-Cosworth’s eyebrows shot up.
From Pillson and George in Culver City?’ she asked in surprise.
‘Yes Ma’am’
‘Well your reputation precedes you’ the older woman replied ‘alright let’s begin proceedings, Mr Abo you may begin’
‘Your honor we’re here today to work out a proper and binding custody arrangement for Josef, Benjamin and Samuel Matricardi Bell’ Lisa’s attorney said getting to his feet ‘it is my client’s belief that in the current situation is untenable and that her sons remain in a poisonous environment in the presence of their father and his current partner’
Charlotte chose that moment to pull her handkerchief out of her pocket and blow her nose loudly.
‘Sorry’ she said in a cheerful sing-song voice ‘allergies’
‘Like hell’ Louisa whispered with a giggle in TJ’s ear.
‘As I was saying' Abo said shooting Charlotte a dirty look ‘it is my client’s wish to obtain full custody of her sons and removes them from the threat she believes currently presents itself to them’
He sat down and Justice Prescott-Cosworth nodded to Charlotte to begin. She stood up and turned toward Lisa’s attorney.
‘If any threat presents itself to my client’s children I’m Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer....’ she began.
‘Oh come on councillor-‘
‘WITH the obligatory Christmas carol!’ Charlotte continued emphatically ‘what exactly does your client perceive as a threat? Barbie and Ken?’
‘Pornographic material!’
‘And how the hell does your client define pornographic material?’ Charlotte asked.
‘Oh come on councillor you know what she defines as pornographic material!’ Abo exclaimed ‘the photos that appeared in OK magazine and TMZ.com!’
‘These photos?’ Charlotte asked reaching into her briefcase and retrieving a thick yellow manila folder.
Abo’s face went white as a sheet.
‘Your honour I submit to the court one manila folder containing eighty six glossy eight by ten photographs in sepia, black and white and colour. These photos were taken five weeks ago by my client’s fiancée Louisa Riminton who is in the public gallery today. Maybe it should be up to the court what constitutes pornographic material’
‘Objection!’ Abo exclaimed ‘I don’t see how this is relevant to the case at hand!’
‘Then how about you sit down and find out?’ Charlotte snapped.
‘Councillor behave yourself, Mr Abo objection dismissed the councillor does have a point. Miss Preston please continue’
‘Thank you your honour’ Charlotte said ‘as my learned colleague said in his opening argument we’re here to work out a viable mutually agreeable custody arrangement for the Bell children. I just want to present my client’s case so the court may make a fully informed decision. If that decision is that the children are in fact in a poisonous and threatening environment then fair enough and my client will stand by that decision. But I think it only proper for all evidence to be presented’
‘I agree’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said as she flicked through the folder of photographs ‘proceed with your case’
‘I would like then to call to the stand Miss Louisa Anne Riminton’ Charlotte said indicating to Louisa.
TJ squeezed Louisa’s hand.
‘You’ll be fine’ she whispered.
Swallowing hard Louisa rose from her seat and made her way up to the witness stand where she was swiftly sworn in,
‘Louisa, may I call you Louisa?’ Charlotte asked.
‘Yes’
Could you tell the court how and when you met my client?’
Louisa couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
‘It was September fourth twenty ten’ she said ‘in Central Park at the duck pond near the fity ninth street exit. I went there to take some photos. Photography is my hobby. I went there to try and take some photos of the swans and try out a new lens I had recently purchased’
‘So how did your relationship progress? Who introduced themselves to who?’
From memory I believe it was me’ Louisa said ‘I could see Josh was down about something and I distinctly remember saying ‘cheer up luv it mightn’t ever happen’
‘And did Josh say what he was down about?’
‘Well I didn’t come straight out and ask but after a bit of small talk I deduced his partner dumped him’
‘So how long did you and Josh chat for?’
‘About six hours’
‘You talked to a total stranger for six hours?’
‘I know it sounds peculiar but Josh was very easy to talk to right from the get go’ Louisa said fondly ‘I’ve met anyone during my photography excursions as easy to talk to before or since and I’ve been a ameteur photographer for nearly thirteen years’
‘Do you normally talk to total strangers?’
‘Usually nothing beyone cursory greetings’
‘Okay let’s move on’ Charlotte said ‘can you describe to the court how it came to be that you and Josh started dating?’
‘Well after it got too dark for me to take any useful photos Josh asked me what I was about to do and I said when in Manhattan I usually ended my day with a meal at Pieces a small cafe on fifty ninth before taking a taxi to Grand Central Station for a train home to Long Island where I live. He offered to buy me a coffee so we could continue talking and I agreed. At the end of the meal I realised I was running late to catch a train so I gave him my cell number and left. It was about a week and a half later he rang me and we organised a time to meet at Paolo’s a Luthier’s workshop on Fifth Avenue so I could see about getting my viola restored. From there we went to his apartment at Gramercy Park where for five hours we jammed after that was when Josh asked me out. And well....since then we’ve been an item’
‘Now I apologise for the personal nature of this question but how would you describe your relationship with Josh?’
Louisa went bright pink.
‘It’s difficult to describe’ she said with a smile ‘see my last relationship ended badly and Josh makes me feel things that in hindsight I never felt in my last relationship. I feel cared for, loved, made to feel I’m the only worthy person in the world. I feel like nothing else matters when I’m with him. Quite often I get a text saying ‘I love you’ or I’ll arrive at work and there will be a huge bunch of gerberas my favourite bloom waiting for me in the tearoom’
‘And how would you describe your relationship with his sons Josef, Ben and Sam?’ Charlotte asked.
Louisa lit up.
‘Oh it’s great’ she said ‘we’ve never shared a cross word. I’m teaching Josef to play the violin, or I was before his mother slapped a restraining order on me and I taught Ben and Sam to swim and to teach my dog tricks. Ben taught her to shake hands and Sam taught her to beg’
‘And it’s my understanding you were the primary caregiver for the boys when they were sick in January of this year?’
‘Yes, well only the twins were ill, they contracted Chicken Pox at Kindergarten. Josef was fine he had Chicken Pox long before I met Josh’
‘And how did you come to be the boys primary caregiver at this time given how large the Matricardi and Bell families are?’
‘Well none of Josh’s family live in New York they’re all in Indiana. Josh was in the U.K on a teaching assignment at the Royal College of Music, Lisa was on tour with the New Jersey Symphony in Canada and her parents were in Pozzuoli in southern Italy where I believe they go twice a year. As I understand it the rest of the Matricardi family live interstate or upstate and are too far away from Josef’s school and the Twins Kindergarten. I live closest, it only takes forty five minutes from where I live in Nassau County to St Catherine’s the school and Kindergarten the boys attend’
And you have absolutely no qualms or objections to looking after three children who aren’t your own?’
‘Absolutely none’ Louisa said ‘I love those boys as if they were my own. Josh was honest with me from the beginning, he’s a package deal and I’ve never had any problems with that. I love all his family they’ve become my own seeing as my family is in Australia and I’m lucky to see them twice a year’
‘And how long did you have to take off work to look after the boys when they were ill?’
‘In total twenty days’
‘Were these paid or unpaid days?’
‘Unpaid. I had only been in my job three and a half months at that stage and didn’t have enough paid days off accrued and I wanted to keep aside my sick leave for when I was actually sick’
‘So you could say looking after the boys cost you money’
‘I suppose you could say that’ Louisa said ‘but I don’t think of it like that. The boys are priceless, money and the cost of things is not something I think about when I’m with them’
‘A loud ‘TUH’ could be heard from Lisa who rolled her eyes. Charlotte ignored this and continued on.
‘Can you tell the court how the photo the judge now has came to pass?’
Louisa felt her cheeks warm.
Well it had been several months since I had taken my camera out because I had been so busy so I asked Josh if I could follow him and the boys around and take some pictures of them. I had recently been to Indiana to visit his family while he was in Asia and Eastern Europe and noticed none of them had any recent photos of Josh or the boys. He said yes and for a whole week I took pictures of them swimming in my pool, playing with my dog and cat and riding ponies at the Picton Acres Agricultural Show in New Jersey. There’s one of the boys and Josh on the back of a massive Clydesdale that sits atop my display cabinet at home and it’s my favourite’
‘This one?’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth asked holding up a picture of Josh, Josef, Ben and Sam sitting astride an enormous bay coloured Clydesdale gelding.
‘Yes ma’am, I included that particular photograph in every portfolio I created for his sisters and mother’
‘It’s very good’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said in admiration ‘please continue’
‘Well one night long after the boys went to bed asked Josh if he would let me take photos of him alone in a slightly more adult setting. He’s away for much of the year and I wanted to have some photos of hi8m to look at while he was away. After a lot of discussion he agreed but only if he could take some photos of me for the same reasons’
‘And what do you mean by a slightly more adult setting?’ Charlotte asked leaning back against the desk she BJ and Josh shared ‘totally nude?’
Though she was expecting this question Louisa couldn’t help but turn a magnificent shade of scarlet.
‘Well not totally nude’ she said ‘a towel tied low around the hips, a shirt with an extra button undone or a bed sheet twisted in an artful way. None of the thirty photos I took show anything that could be identified as genetalia. There’s an illusion of sure plenty of that but no actual full frontal stuff, that’s what I was aiming for. The problem with pornographic material is that it leaves nothing to the imagination. I wanted whoever was to look at the photographs the intention for it only to be Josh and myself, to think about what might be there not what actually was. Porn is the total opposite. The photos I took are erotica not porn. In my opinion anyway’
‘Of course now one last thing how would you describe your relationship with Lisa Matricardi?’
‘I wouldn’t define it as a ‘relationship’ Louisa said ‘she hates with a vociferous passion and I-‘
‘Oh COME ON!’ Lisa exclaimed.
‘D’you think you could at least try controlling your client?’ Charlotte asked Abo in exasperation ‘I’m trying to do my job and she’s making it extraordinarily difficult. If she waits a bit she’ll get her chance to have her say’
‘Miss Preston I’ve warned you before behave yourself’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth sais sharply ‘I will not tolerate bickering in my courtroom. Miss Matricardi the councillor does have a point you will have the opportunity to speak. Please remain quiet til that time comes. Miss Preston you may continue’
‘As I was saying before we were interrupted ‘could you describe the nature of your relationship with my learned colleagues client?’ Charlotte asked Louisa again.
‘As I said before she hates me’ Louisa said ‘whenever I’ve answered Josh’s cell phone all I’ve gotten is a torrent of abuse from ‘Get Josh bitch’ to ‘I don’t talk to whores’. When Josef told her I started teaching him the violin she went off her nut and called me a stupid immigrant whore’
‘Yet she still let you look after her children?’ Charlotte asked in surprise.
‘Yeah go figure’ Louisa said dryly.
‘Why do you think Miss Matricardi reacts like to you like this?’
‘Personally I think she’s jealous I’m the one with Josh and she isn’t. I think she regrets dumping him.
‘Thank you Louisa, that is all from me for now your honour’ Charlotte said with a polite not towards the judge.
‘Miss Riminton you may return to the public gallery unless you have any questions Mr Abo....’
‘I do in fact your honour’’ Lisa’s attorney said getting out of his chair ‘Miss Riminton what do you do for a living?’
‘I’m a veterinarian’ Louisa replied ‘an equine veterinary surgeon to be specific, specialising in orthopaedics'
‘Ah I see, and how much do you earn?’
‘My salary is sixty five thousand dollars per annum’
‘And you live in East Hills, Nassau County Long Island?’
‘Yes I have since August twenty ten shortly before I met Josh’
‘Is Central Park at the duck pond by the fifty ninth exit?’
Louisa opened her mouth to respond but Justice Prescott-Cosworth cut across her.
‘Mr Abo we’ve established where Miss Riminton met Mr Bell please move on with more relevant questioning’ she said in clipped tones ‘repeating questions only wastes the court’s time and I do not tolerate that’
Lisa’s attorney look suitable abashed but continued on.
‘Miss Riminton are you aware the area of Manhattan you met Mr Bell in is known for a rampant prostitution industry?’’
Louisa rolled her eyes.
‘The whole of Manhattan is known for a rampant prostitution industry’ she said witheringly ‘anyone within a hundred million miles of the city centre knows that. Why do you ask?’
‘Miss Riminton are you are a prostitute?’
‘OBJECTION!’ Charlotte and BJ bellowed leaping to their feet.
‘How the hell is that line of questioning relevant?’ Charlotte asked angrily.
I DEMAND and apology!’ BJ seethed ‘and a retraction of the question!’
‘And you’ll get it’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said angrily ‘Mr Abo you will retract the question and off your apologies to the witness’
‘I apologise your honour I retract the question and offer my apologies to the witness’ Abo said ‘it was misguided’
‘Oh you don’t say?’ Charlotte said sarcastically.
‘That’s better’ BJ snapped.
‘Alright everyone calm down’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said firmly ‘Miss Preston, Ms James your reactions are justified but please resume your seats. Mr Abo please continue on with your questioning but be very careful. You’re skating on extraordinarily thin ice’
‘Yes of course your honour’
‘Your honour may I ask Mr Abo a question?’ Louisa asked the judge.
‘Go ahead Miss Riminton’
Why do you want to know if I’m a prostitute?’ Louisa asked.
‘I only asked Miss Riminton because to me it is highly suspicious that a vet on a sixty five thousand dollar a year salary lives in one of the most prestigious upper class areas in New York. How can you afford to live in what I’ve been led to believe is a two story ten roomed mansion with a swimming pool and a half an acre backyard? My research indicates that the average house price in your part of Nassau County is two point three seven million dollars way beyond the budged of a middle income earner. Just how did you pay for your house?’
‘I’m sorry but how is this line of questioning relevant?’ BJ asked ‘we’re here to work out a custody arrangement for the Bell children not evaluate Louisa’s financial records’
‘I’m only asking these questions to establish Miss Riminton’s character!’ Abo exclaimed ‘it’s highly suspicious that someone on such a small salary can live on Saville Row! Usually only drug dealers and hookers can afford to live in the posher areas of town’
‘Are you accusing my client’s fiancée of being a drug dealer?’ BJ asked ‘I thought we established she’s an equine veterinarian not Pablo Escobar or Heidi Fleiss!’
‘You sure about that Ms James? Abo asked imperiously ‘it’s my client’s aim to remove her children from the presence of someone she sees unfit to supervise her children namely a drug dealer!’
‘Oh come on councillor we all know the only reason your client wished to remove her children from my client’s fiancée's presence is because she hates her with a passion and for no other reason! If my client’s fiancée is a drug dealer I’m the president of the United States of America. Depriving three young children of contact with their father and the woman who is going to become their stepmother is nothing short of disgusting and wrong. And your client knows this. Her motivation for seeking sole custody is jealous hatred. She’s pissed that my client moved onto another woman and plans to marry her. She’s wasting the court’s time by slapping a restraining order on the two most harmless people in the country and the two people who produce the least threat to the Bell children. Louisa looked after all three of them off her own back and to considerable financial loss. If your client defines that as a threat she needs her head read!’
‘HOW DARE YOU?’ Lisa shrieked leaping to her feet ‘stupid bitch!’
Justice Prescott-Cosworth brought her gavel with a deafening BANG.
‘I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS SORT OF RUBBISH IN MY COURTROOM!’ She bellowed ‘Miss Matricardi SIT DOWN! You are not doing yourself any favours. I do not tolerate foul language in my courtroom! You insult the opposition councillors again and I will hold you in contempt of court. Ms James your speech was misplaced take your seat you’ll have your chance to put forward fresh views in the closing argument phase of today’s proceedings’
‘I don’t actually mind answering Mr Abo’s question’ Louisa said.
‘Are you sure Miss Riminton?’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said ‘you’re under no obligation to’
‘I’m sure’ Louisa said giving Abo the filthiest death glare she could manage ‘you want to know my financial in and outs? I’ll tell you. Thirty years ago when I was born my parents my mother who is now Queen’s Counsel lawyer and my father is now is the deputy CEO of Price Waterhouse Coopers Australia an accountant who made his fortune in investing in real estate and mining set up a two part trust fund for me. The first part I could claim on when I turned eighteen. That part paid for my university education and all its associated costs. The second part of it I could claim when I turned twenty five. This was for the purpose of buying a house, maybe setting u a business, something along those lines. I kept rolling over the accrued money every year til July last year when I withdrew what had accrued to three million dollars US and purchased the house I live in for two point three million. The remaining money I used to renovate the said house, install a swimming pool and purchase a top of the range especially fitted out dual cab utility which cost me eighty two thousand dollars. Every horse vet requires a vehicle that has the capacity to tow a horse float and I decided to customise a vehicle to suit my specific needs. I spent a hundred thousand dollars especially furnishing the house and twenty two thousand dollars of that went on the security and fencing systems. I spend a little under five hundred bucks a week insuring my Guarneri Del Gesu viola. My current bank balance is seventy four thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars and thirty seven cents and now I’m in negotiations to purchase a Gloria Jean’s coffees franchise with my sister and brothers. Is there any other financial details you require? I spent ten bucks at Starbucks this morning and on Friday I spent a quarter at a public phone when my cell battery died’
Charlotte, BJ and TJ let out amused snorts of laughter.
‘I’m not a drug dealer I never have been’ Louisa spat ‘I experimented with weed in high school and university but nothing since and I know for a fact your client did exactly the same when she undertook her own tertiary studies. I would dare anyone in this courtroom to say they haven’t experimented with drugs’
‘Okay I think we can move on’ Abo said ‘can you tell me who else besides you has copies of the photos you took of yourself and Mr Bell?’
‘Josh has the photos of the boys on his laptop and the ones of us together and me on his cell phone. I put them there myself. I have all the photos on my laptop in a password protected folder and the only other person who has every single photo I took is your client’
‘And how do you suppose she got them?’
‘I gave Josef a flash drive that contained all the photos I took that week but-‘
‘So you’re admitting you gave a six year old pornographic material?’
‘It’s not pornographic! As I said it’s erotica there’s a difference!’ Louisa snapped.
‘I think that’s purely subjective Miss Riminton’
‘Sure but have you actually looked at every single photo on that flash drive? If you’d done your job properly maybe you would be in a better position to say what is subjective and what isn’t!’
‘Ooooh buuuuuurn’ Charlotte said to BJ in a carrying whisper.
‘You’re doing a great job Miss Riminton I must commend you’ Abo said dryly.
Louisa grinned.
‘Thanks’ she said brightly’ if I weren’t under oath I would return the compliment’
Both Charlotte and BJ who had chosen that moment to drink from their water bottles choked on their water and laughed loudly. Charlotte wiped her nose and flashed her friend a wink.
‘Okay okay so you’re not for committing perjury congratulations’ Abo snapped ‘but you’re not above knowingly giving a six year old porno-oh sorry ‘erotic’ material’
‘I didn’t knowingly give Josef the photos!’ Louisa exclaimed ‘come on I looked after him and his brothers when they were ill. I spent ten thousand bucks on fixing up and furnishing their room at my house, why would I give them photos that were taken for their father and their father only? Your question should be why did your client release those pictures to TMZ and OK!?’
‘There is no proof that is the case Miss Riminton-‘
Louisa slapped her forehead theatrically.
‘Course not because you haven’t done your job properly! She exclaimed incredulously ‘there may not be any outward proof she released those pictures but think why would Josh and I the only other people in possession of those photos release them to the two most notorious gossip media agencies in the country? You may think otherwise councillor but I am NOT stupid. I have the welfare of those boys as high on my priority list as their parents do’
Then how DO you explain how my client came to be in the possession of the photos Miss Riminton?’
Well as I was intending on telling you before I was so rudely interrupted the flash drive that I gave Josef was obviously the wrong one. The previous week I had purchased a maths, spelling and problem solving computer game called ‘Add, Spell Puzzle' for Josef so he could play a constructive and educational computer game when not in school. I copied it onto a flash drive so Lisa could out the same game on her computer for Josef to use at home and clearly I picked up the wrong flash drive. In hindsight I realised the flash drive with the game on it and the one with the photos on it were identical. Do you honestly think I would jeopardise my and Josh’s careers and reputations by releasing private material? You’re mental if you think I would do that’
Abo furrowed his brow.
‘Alright alright Miss Riminton no need to resort to petty insults’ he said ‘so you say you’re above giving pornographic-sorry erotic material to six year olds. What about having sex in front of them? I’ve been led to believe you do that quite a bit’
‘WHAT?’ Louisa yelped for the first time looking at Lisa and shooting her a murderous death glare ‘what the bloody hell have you been telling him? Jesus!’
‘Miss Riminton mind your language Mr Abo I’m going to tell you to behave yourself this time. The questioning is relevant but the attitude is unnecessary’
‘Yeah it’s called baiting the witness!’ Charlotte said loudly.
‘Miss Preston please!’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said quellingly ‘Mr Abo please continue, drop the attitude and re-word your questions’
‘Alright then Miss Riminton how about ‘sexual relations’ in front of my clients children? Do you do this with any regularity?’
‘Mr Abo’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said warningly.
‘I don't do it with any regularity’ Louisa spat ‘Josh and I have never done anything aside from kiss or hold hands in front of the boys. Yes there was one time when Josef walked in on us being intimate just before Easter but at that stage Josh and I had put the boys to bed well over an hour earlier. Usually in that amount of time they would be sound asleep so we both thought it safe. We weren’t the first couple in the world to get busted by kids being intimate and we won’t be the last. But I can tell you not for one minute did we intend on getting caught. I don’t know about you but when I’m intimate with my partner I like total privacy that’s reasonable don’t you think?’
‘Well yes-it-is’ Abo said reluctantly ‘okay that’s it your honour I have finished questioning the witness’
‘You may step down from the stand Miss Riminton’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said ‘unless you have any questions Ms Garlett?’
‘No your honour not that this point in time’ the child rights lawyer said crisply.
‘Alright then we’ve been going for an hour and a half and I propose a short recess of ninety minutes for lunch’ Justice Prescott Cosworth said ‘we shall resume at two PM sharp....dismissed!’
She banged her gavel down sharply.
‘I’m going to the loo’ Louisa told TJ as she left the witness stand ‘excuse me’
Louisa left the courtroom in a hurry and made her way to the other side of the fourth floor where the ladies toilets were situated. She leaned against the blindingly white tiles of the bathroom and burst into hysterical tears. The sense of hopelessness Louisa felt was all encompassing. Wave after wave of emotion washed over her and her mascara ran down her cheeks in smudgy grey tracks.
A minute after entering the toilets the door swung open and Maria Lisa’s mother entered the bathroom.
Immediately the atmosphere became awkward.
‘Erm-hello’ Maria said ‘er how are you?’
‘Don’t’ Louisa said in a wavery voice ‘don’t you dare and try and make nice Maria it’s too late’ Do you have ANY idea how Lisa is making Josh feel? He’s DYING inside because she won’t let him see his boys. He hardly speaks anymore I haven’t heard him pick up the Strad in weeks and he’s not eating. He would’ve lost ten pounds since YOUR DAUGHTER started this crap and all because Josh chose ME!’
‘Louisa I have to support my daughter’ Maria said in a pained voice ‘I can’t abandon her’
‘But you can do the right thing by your grandsons!’ Louisa wailed ‘Maria you know Lisa is only doing this because she’s jealous of what Josh and I have. She’s punishing Josh for something SHE DID! SHE cheated on Josh SHE terminated their relationship! You want to know how those pictures got on TMZ and OK!? SHE SOLD THEM!’
Suddenly the bathroom door flew open and BJ and Charlotte burst in.
‘We heard y-yelling’ BJ puffed.
I was just informing Maria is fucking Josh around for FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!’ Louisa screeched ‘your daughter Maria sold out her boys and exposed them to more than Josh and I ever could for a lousy fifty grand! I MEAN WHO DOES THAT?’
Louisa turned away from Maria and leaned over the nearest sink. Charlotte went to her friend and laid a hand on her shuddering back.
‘Calm down getting riled up isn’t going to help any’ she said reassuringly.
‘Is what Louisa said true?’ Maria asked BJ.
‘Yeah it is’ BJ replied ‘my brother is a journalist and did some discreet investigation and found out that Lisa got fifty thousand dollars for the two photos that appeared on the TMZ home page’
Maria’s face went chalk white and her mouth fell open.
‘Are you going to bring that up in court?’ she whispered.
‘We can’t we’ve got no solid proof’ Charlotte said ‘we know our sources are solid but legally it’s hearsay. Trust us Mrs Matricardi if we had proof there’s not a court in the entire country that wouldn’t award Josh full custody of the boys. If we can get proof both Josh and Louie have grounds to sue Lisa for defamation’
‘And you can bet the second the opportunity arises I’ll be doing that’ Louisa spat.
‘I had no idea’ Maria whispered.
‘Of course you don’t neither does Lisa’s attorney!’ Louisa said ‘I had to put up with all that questioning Maria. Aspersions were cast upon my morals. I was accused of being a drug dealer and a street walking whore! Do you have ANY idea how that made me feel? And it’s all because of Lisa’s misguided jealousy! I have never been so humiliated in my life!’
Maria took a step toward Louisa and reached out to her.
‘Louisa I’m so sorry I really had no idea-‘
‘Don’t’ Louisa said snapping her hand away ‘try and get Lisa to make nice then I’ll talk. I’m too hurt now Maria I can’t talk to you’
And with that Louisa turned and headed toward the door.
‘I’ll be at Pieces at the corner of fifty ninth and Carter’s’ she said to BJ ‘it’s only two blocks from here’
‘We’ll see you there’ BJ said ‘don’t do anything stupid’
‘I promise I won’t’
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After an awkward lunch at Pieces Louisa returned to the courthouse with BJ, Charlotte, TJ and Josh. The group made their way upstairs and settled into courtroom fourteen. As Louisa settled into her seat in the public gallery she couldn’t help but notice he absence of Maria and Angelo Lisa’s parents and Lisa sitting beside her attorney with an even darker look of hatred upon her face.
‘Where are her parents?’ Louisa whispered to TJ.
‘I’ll tell you later’ TJ replied as the sheriff called them to rise for the judge ‘it’s fascinating’
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‘Alright I want to hear from you Ms Garlett’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said an hour and a half later after Josh and Lisa had their turn on the witness stand ‘if you wouldn’t mind’
Alessia Garlett got to her feet and shuffled a sheaf of papers in front of her.
‘You honour my role as a children’s advocate lawyer I am charged by the state with the responsibility of doing what is right in the legal sense for anyone under the age of eighteen’ she began ‘in this case I act exclusively and solely for Josef, Samuel and Benjamin Bell. Over the last few weeks I have spent many hours with these children separately an in a group and interviewed their teachers and non family caregivers and it is my professional opinion that Josef, Sam and Ben have been detrimentally affected by losing contact with their father and future stepmother. Most recently I have interviewed Miss Karina Rinaldi Josef’s first grade teacher at St Catherine’s Primary School and she reports the quality of his class work has degraded to the point where she’s now working with him one on one. His classroom behaviour had degraded to the point where he is often sent to time out or to the office of the school counsellor Sister Anne Dolan whereas before losing contact with his father and future step mother Josef was an enthusiastic and gregarious child he is now sullen and withdrawn. He no longer volunteers information and is rarely seen playing with his friends in the school yard. Quite often he has to be hustled out of the classroom to go outside for the lunch and recess breaks and particularly in the last two weeks he’s been known to just sit in a corner and cry-‘
At the front of the courtroom Louisa could see Josh hunch over the desk and break down. Tears slid down her own cheeks as Charlotte gave him a box of tissues and patted his back.
‘The teachers and aides of Ben and Sam at their kindergarten report many of the same behaviours their older brother displays’ Alessia Garlett went on Julie Parkinson the manager of the St Catherine’s Kindergarten report that the boys no longer interact with the other children and only play with themselves. They only give one word answers and often stay in the sleep area well after the other children leave. Miss Matricardi has hired the services of three nannies in this time and all three women report the boys exhibiting anti-social behaviour, rudeness, anger and sullenness. All left the employ of Miss Matricardi stating to me they eventually found the three boys behaviour too much to deal with. One of these women a Mrs Loretta Winters has been a nanny for the boys on and off since they were born and has been a professional child care worker for thirty years. Her professional opinion is that the boys were better behaved when their father was in their lives. Now it is not my job to tell the court what to do but in the best interests of Josef, Ben and Sam it is imperative that they resume contact with their father and future stepmother as soon as possible for their mental physical and emotional well being’
She sat down.
Louisa collapsed against TJ and silently cried into her future sister in law’s shoulder. TJ wrapped her arms around her friend and the two women leaned against each other the other the only source of comfort.
‘Alright councillors closing argument time’ Justice Prescott-Cosworth said ‘Mr Abo you first’
‘You honour my client stands by her original claim’ Abo said getting to his feet ‘she maintains her sons remain in danger when it comes to their father and future stepmother. She will negotiate supervised visits but ultimately she requests full custody’
‘I don't believe that!’ Louisa hissed to TJ as Abo sat down ‘after all that?’
‘It's not all over yet’ TJ whispered back ‘Char and BJ will give a convincing closing argument I’m sure of it’
Charlotte got to her feet and took a moment to compose herself before she began to speak.
‘Your honour there’s nothing my lent wants more than to be a father to his three sons’ she said ‘yes he realises the nomadic nature of his profession is not ideal but as been stated earlier when he’s on tour he Skype’s them daily and when a reliable internet connection is not available he phones. He’s the best father he can be and although the boys don't live with them he is fully responsible for their entire financial welfare. He started a trust fund for them when they were born the interest of which pays for any tuition. He pays for all of their healthcare and recreational activities and pays Miss Matricardi maintenance of one thousand dollars per week per child which pays for clothes food and travel to visit any interstate relatives or extracurricular activities the boys wish to participate in. He’s as a responsible parent as one can be in this situation. He’s not seeking full custody he doesn’t wish to deprive his sons of contact with their mother he just wishes to stick to the previous visitation plan, that being the boys live with their mother most of the time but when he’s home in New York they spend one week with him every two weeks weekends when any other caregivers are unavailable, alternate Easter and Christmas holidays and two weeks every two weeks in the Summer holidays including travel interstate and overseas. This has worked satisfactorily in the past and my client doesn’t think it unreasonable for it to be continued in the future’
Charlotte nodded at Justice Prescott-Cosworth then sat down.
‘That was a brilliant closing argument’ TJ whispered to Louisa.
Justice Prescott-Cosworth inhaled deeply and exhaled noisily.
‘There is a lot to be considered’ she said after a period of contemplation ‘the focus must remain on what is best for the children. As I am sure you realise and it would be wrong of me to make a decision today. So in an effort to see that justice is done by all parties I’m going o call an adjournment and order a resumption of this hearing in eleven days time on the third of November at Nine AM. Alright?....good court dismissed!’
Everyone in the courtroom got to their feet and Justice Presscott-Cosworth left her stand and returned to her chambers.
‘Well I think that’s the best we can hope for for now’ TJ said to Louisa.
‘What’s your professional opinion?’ Louisa asked.
‘Professionally Lisa’s case is wafer thin’ TJ replied ‘it’s obvious as balls on a bull that she hasn’t told her attorney everything or he would’ve presented a stronger argument. He didn’t know Charlotte had every single photo you took and it weakened his argument when the judge complimented you on your skill with the lens. YOU did brilliantly on the stand not losing your composure and answering all questions from both sides calmly and maturely unlike Lisa when she lost her cool when Charlotte grilled her. I think the favour will find in favour of Josh his requests are far more reasonable than Lisa’s...actually can you excuse me for a while?’
‘Aren’t you going to tell me where Maria and Angelo are?’
‘I’ll do that later I promise’ TJ said as Lisa and her attorney walked by ‘Mr Abo may I have a word?’
And with that TJ disappeared from the courtroom with Lisa and her lawyer. Louisa turned and waited for Josh to come up the centre aisle with Charlotte and BJ.
‘Are you going to talk to me?’ she asked him.
‘Not at the moment’ Josh said avoiding her gaze and continuing on up the aisle.
More tears fell down Louisa’s cheeks.
‘After all that he still won’t talk to me’ she said to Charlotte as BJ went after Josh ‘I have to go to Kentucky Sunday afternoon I don’t want to leave while there’s a rift between us’
‘Don’t worry Louie I have all the confidence in the world you two will make up’ Charlotte said as they left the courtroom ‘maybe you going away for work will help things’
‘HOW?’ Louisa yelped
‘Well maybe you not being around when he wants to talk will force him to think about things’ Charlotte said ‘then when you come home you’ll be on your back for a week having awesome make-up sex’
Louisa let out a great snort of laughter.
‘Like that’s going to happen’ she said rolling her eyes ‘it’d be nice to experience but the way things are going at the moment it’s doubtful’
‘Let’s see how things go eh?’ Mind if I get a ride back to the house with you and TJ? BJ will be alright with Josh’
‘Sure thing’ Louisa said ‘well I’m glad that’s over for the day I’m exhausted’
‘You did good today kid’ Charlotte said giving her friend a squeeze ‘I’m proud of you’
‘Thanks Charlie’
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Louisa didn’t think it was possible but her and Josh’s relationship deteriorated even further. He stayed in his room all day and only emerged late at night. He refused to emerge from his room when Charlotte and BJ returned to Los Angeles and TJ returned to Indiana. He began drinking copious amounts of alcohol and Louisa noticed the levels of Patron and Grey Goose in the teak liquor cabinet dwindling. Every night Louisa went to bed thinking about nothing but Josh, the direction their relationship was heading in and not a minute went by when her thoughts brought her to the brink of tears and she had to stop whatever she was doing at the time to cry. It was then as she prepared to leave for the week long equine dentistry seminar in Kentucky with a heavy heart. She loaded her suitcase into the back of her utility then loaded up Mocha and Cookie into the back seat. In preparation to drop them off to Mel and Rob’s house before making her way back into the house and upstairs to the end of the second landing. She knocked smartly on the furthest door and walked in without waiting for an answer.
‘You c-could’ve waited for an answer ‘Josh mumbled drunkenly from where he was lying on the bed.
‘Why Josh? You wouldn’t have given me one’ Louisa said.
‘Is TJ here?’
‘No she left two hours ago, her plane would be due to land in Indianapolis by now’ Louisa said as Josh sat up ‘don’t you remember her leaving?’
‘No g-gawd what time is it?’ Josh groaned rubbing his stubbly face.
‘Half past twelve, I’m just getting ready to leave for Kentucky’ Louisa said ‘I have to drop Mocha and Cookie off at Mel and Rob’s place first Rob’s minding them while Mel and I do the seminar’
‘Oh r-right’ Josh mumbled with a drunken hiccup ‘I forgot about that’
Louisa reached for Josh’s hand and squeezed it.
‘What I’m about to say is really difficult for me’ she said ‘but I have to do it’
Josh raised an eyebrow.
‘J I love you’ she said rubbing the back of his hand with the pad of her thumb ‘I’ve loved you since the day we met so what I’m about to say kills me. You know I’m ready to walk down the aisle and marry you and have your babies but lately over the last few weeks I’ve started to wonder if you want the same things as I do. You don’t talk to me anymore and you don’t touch me and you purposely avoid me. I used to feel loved and adored every minute of the day but now I don’t know how you feel about me anymore and I never ever thought that would happen between us. I don’t want to go to Kentucky but I think the break will do us the world of good’
Louisa took a deep breath and reached into the left cup of her bra where she retrieved the quarter of a million dollar ring he had proposed to her with at the beginning of September.
‘You know how I feel about you but I don’t know how you feel about me’ She continued on ‘and while that’s the case I can’t wear this. You need to think about what you want in life. You need to consider if marrying me is the right thing for you. If it isn’t then we’ll call it quits and go our separate ways, but if I am what you want you can give this back to me and we’ll work things out. But you need to think really contemplate things for the latter to work. I’ll be back in a week and you can tell me what your decision is. But for now I need to get going, the plane to Kentucky leaves in three hours’
Louisa put the ring in Josh’s hand and closed his fingers around the precious piece of jewellery, she then leaned forward and kissed him softly tasting the mellow tang of Grey Goose Vodka on his lips.
‘I love you’ she whispered resting her forehead against his ‘I have to go now but I’ll be back next Sunday see you then....’
‘Louie I-‘
But Louisa didn’t hear the rest of his sentence. She got up and left the room silent tears streaming down her cheeks.
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Photographer in the Park