8. Citrell #2
The judge banged her gavel. “Miss Derricks, I understand that we are here for a contempt of court filed against your child’s father.
I also want you to understand that all it takes is a bang of the gavel for you to be in contempt as well for your outburst. Do not let it happen again.
While I’m giving you advice that you need, I advise that in matters such as this, you obtain counsel. ”
Iesha mumbled under her breath that she wasn’t wasting money on an attorney for this bullshit. Bullshit! She considered this bullshit. Her ass was helping my case, and she didn’t even know it.
The judge put her attention back toward me and my attorney. “Mr. Wick, if you felt the welfare or safety of your child was at risk, then why not file with the court to have her visitation revoked? I want Mr. Wick to answer this one.”
“Your honor, I know that the way I handled things wasn’t the proper way, but at the time I was not thinking. I have a recording of Miss Derricks expressing that she didn’t want visitation anyway,” I revealed to her.
Her brow arched before she placed a questioning eye on Iesha. “Oh really? I would love to hear that.” She held her finger up. “Miss Derricks, contempt.” The judge reminded her to chill.
Yeah, Iesha was about to have a fit. I was sure she had no idea what recording I was talking about.
She brought this shit on herself. If I had to take a consequence for the hinderance of visitation, I would take that shit.
My lawyer played the recording. All you could hear was breathing and Iesha’s voice from the recording in the courtroom.
Once it was finished, there was still silence. The judge’s jaw clenched with the bottom and top of her eyelids almost kissing. “Miss Derricks, is there anything you want to say to your own and boyfriend’s deplorable words? I want you to think about your words before you say them.”
A tear fell from Iesha’s eyes. I knew better than to think she really cared.
She was embarrassed because she was caught.
She dropped her head before she started to talk.
“I never really wanted to be a single mother.” She lifted her head, then said, “Callira has down syndrome, and it’s hard to deal with her.
She acts out, doesn’t listen, and is spoiled on top of that.
It’s just too much. It’s like I can’t keep a man because when she’s at my house and someone comes over, she’s rude and unruly. ” She huffed like she was the victim.
The judge’s face held a mixture of emotions, but I wasn’t sure what they were.
“Miss Derricks, I find it hard to sympathize with you because this is your doing. I have presided over every case that has been related to Callira Wick and from what I saw, you had the opportunity to relinquish your rights. You sit here today like woe is me when you made the decisions you made. On that recording, you made it clear that you didn’t want visitation, so I’m going to grant you your wish and revoke them.
If you would like to see your daughter, it is now at the discretion of Mr. Wick. ”
There was a moment of silence. I thought Iesha would have said something, but she just stood there with a blank stare. Typical.
The judge continued. “If at any time you want to establish visitation again, please feel free to file with the courts. Child support will be determined at a later time. Until then, like I said, your visitation is revoked. As for you, Mr. Wick, you still violated a court order which cannot be overlooked. I understand your reasoning; however, that does not negate that you should have filed the proper paperwork to take care of the situation correctly. For your contempt of court, I am fining you fifty dollars.”
I wanted to laugh, but I refrained. That fifty dollars would be paid before I left today. When the judge asked if either of us wanted to say anything, Iesha cleared her throat. All of the attention went to her.
She twiddled with her fingers. “Um, your honor, what are the steps to relinquish my rights? I love my daughter enough to know that I’m not the mother for her.”
I turned slightly around to catch my mother and Sundae’s reactions.
They both showed shock as I did. Yeah, I didn’t expect Iesha to care about the visits being relinquished.
Hell, I knew it would take a weight off her shoulders.
Even with all of that, I never expected her to want to just give her rights up.
A part of me felt that she just didn’t want to be subjected to the child support.
The judge chuckled. “I’m not sure if I should say I’m disappointed in you as a mother, or I commend you for realizing that just because you can procreate that doesn’t mean you should.
Regardless of which, based on the recording that was heard, Callira will be blessed to not have you in her life. ” Well Damn!
She told the clerk to get the paperwork so it can be completed before Iesha left the building.
The clerk was quick when it came to getting the necessary forms, and the judge made Iesha fill those shits out right there.
She put us in recess for thirty minutes so they could be completed.
By the bang of the gavel at the end, I had full legal custody of my daughter and Iesha was out of our lives.
Once court was adjourned, Iesha walked out with no words to anyone. I walked behind the barrier to hug my mother and woman. When Sundae’s eyes met mine, she smiled. “I guess Callira does have one mommy now.”
She was right. It was crazy how the universe worked. I appreciated it though. My lips went to her ear. I didn’t want my mother to hear her son’s freshness. “I wanna play a game with you.”
I felt her cheeks rise, so I knew if I looked at her those cheeks would be rosy. The warmth of her breath tickled my earlobe. “I’ll play if I get to the pick the song. This time, let’s go with vocal chord changes. Let’s have that meeting in my bedroom.”
Oh shit! It was time for me to brush up on the song. This was about to be some good shit. It was clear early in our interactions that my strings made her legs sing. It was the perfect harmony of our love that ultimately made the music we both were growing to love.