Houston
It bothered the fuck out of me to see Teaghan with another guy.
My ears were red and hot to the touch. She was playing shit foul even bringing him here.
Hell, she shouldn’t have even been here.
This had nothing to do with her. If I lost custody of Malone, everyone that had something to do with it would feel me.
I would have nothing to live for and nothing to lose.
Although she was here and with someone else I couldn’t pretend that I hadn’t missed her slanted eyes, brown skin tone, and large lips.
I missed her a lot more than I thought I would.
In my mind, I figured parting ways was the best way to keep the idea of Malone being taken at bay.
I didn’t want that at my door because of her.
I didn’t want to resent her, so I had to let it go.
It was only supposed to be for a little while.
Now I wondered if it was possible for us to pick up where we left off.
She didn’t look happy, but I recognized the guy she was with.
It made sense for her to be with someone flashy and established.
I couldn’t help but be happy she found someone without baggage.
“Mrs. LeJune, can you confirm that you were, in fact, dating Mr. McGraw.”
“That is correct,” she answered in her soft voice.
She was nervous, her voice lacked the confidence and nurture it normally held.
That pissed me off also. Why was she being used as a pawn?
Her being in the mix was a scare tactic and I wasn’t feeling it.
Teaghan had been nothing but good to me and Malone during our short time and now I felt bad for bringing her in my shit.
I should have known they were up to something when they came back in the picture.
“How long had you known him prior to being alone with his son, Malone?”
“Maybe a month and a half to two months?”
“Would you leave your child with a man you didn’t really know after two months?” he asked.
“Objection, Your Honor, that question has nothing to do with the overall point,” my lawyer said with the objection.
“Sustained, Counselor let’s get to the point please,”
“Mrs. LeJune you were at the hospital when Mr. McGraw assaulted Mr. Phillips, is that correct?”
“I was at the hospital, but I wouldn’t say he assaulted anyone. It was a heated moment. Houston was upset as anyone would be.”
“So Mr. McGraw didn’t put his hands on anyone at the hospital? Well was his yelling at you true?”
“Again I didn’t see him assault anyone but yes we had words.
We are adults, it happens.”
“Were you afraid for your life?”
“Absolutely not. Houston, well Mr. McGraw, is a wonderful man and a great father. I understand you have a job to do but attempting to paint a picture that he is some monster won’t be done by me.
I’m here because I was made, not because I want to be here.
We live in a society where we want fathers to step up and raise the future and when they do we drag them to court and mock those very efforts.
If anyone threatened my fatherhood or legacy I would do anything I could to stop them.
You have me here as a witness to something that shouldn’t be the determining factor if Houston is a good father.
I won’t be a part of it because no matter where Malone is, the fact will remain that Houston is and will always be his father.
Malone has already lost his mother and I’m disgusted that you are attempting to take his father also,” she said pointing to his grandparents.
I appreciated her standing up for me, she didn’t owe me that after the way I acted.
I was out of control that night and I owed some apologies.
One to her specifically. Turning my back on what we had was not necessary or even close to how a grown man should handle adversity.
Subconsciously, I knew I was looking for anything to make her not be the one for me.
When the moment presented itself I ran with it.
And now I was sitting on the opposite side wishing it was me walking in holding her hand.
“Ms. LeJune, please answer the question asked,” he retorted without acknowledging all that she said. “Now haven’t you also been called to the school on behalf of Malone's behavior. Can you explain what that’s about?”
“Malone is still mourning the death of his mother. I believe we assume age coincides with feelings or understanding and I can say it doesn’t.
Will each person be able to deal with the situation the same?
No, but each person no matter the age or the level of understanding will deal with the situation.
Malone has done just that in his own way.
Malone is brilliant, if things haven’t changed when I received his file he was doing most things on a fourth-grade level, that’s amazing wouldn’t you say?
However with all that brainpower it doesn’t negate the fact that he is still a young boy with no mother.
He needs time to adjust and not be picked on because of it.
That was the issue, that was my diagnosis.
While with Malone I discussed things with him about his mother.
Me and Mr. McGraw facilitated the visit to her gravesite and devised a plan.
He doesn’t need to be tossed in the middle of a pissing contest.”
“In your line of work you are called to make a decision or an evaluation for children. Is it your opinion that Malone should be removed from his father’s care?”
“Listen, sir, I’m not doing this anymore,” she said standing to her feet and dusting off her pants.
Tears flooded her eyes. The judge banged on her gavel and it didn’t faze her not one bit.
I still couldn’t understand what their angle was for bringing her in here.
She didn’t have any dirty laundry to air out.
“Ms. LeJune, understand that if you don’t want to continue we can call for a recess, but you are under oath and can be held in contempt if you won’t provide accurate answers.”
“Do what you have to do, ma’am. I will not be a part of the systematic teardown of a family, as I said previously.
Please have it on record that I am not doing it.
I’ve watched my own father be more concerned with his work than with my birthday, my first debate meeting, and a list of other things in my life.
It ruined me and it was his choice. Malone doesn’t deserve this and if his grandparents would remove their head from their asses they would see that.
I’ll sit in a jail cell before I continue to sit and be questioned about how well Houston can raise his own son because an accident happened or because he as a man showed emotion during a dark moment. Lock me up,” she finished like a boss.
Without hesitation, Teaghan was being read her rights and removed from the courtroom.
I didn’t know if this would help my case or not, but I appreciated her standing up.
But I don’t know how I expected anything less from her.
Teaghan was by far the one woman I knew that stood for what she believed in even if she had to stand alone.
“Let’s take a fifteen-minute recess to regroup,” the judge ordered.
The doors to the court opened and everyone stepped into the hallway.
I did my best to stay away from everyone.
Being antagonized would only add more fuel to the fire brewing between family.
Luke and Shawn were in attendance and didn’t agree with their parents, but I knew at the end of the day it was me standing alone.
I prayed for a miracle because it looked bad.
I lacked self-control but I had been through so much, it was bound to happen.
“I’m Bobby, how long have you been in love with Teaghan?” I heard come from behind me. Turning I came face to face with what I assumed was my competition. He didn’t faze me not one bit. It was all in his face that he was fazed.
“Since day one, who’s asking?”
“I plan to make Teaghan my wife and you know she’s wonderful much like I do but I believe you should move out the way before someone gets hurt,” he commented looking around and handing me an envelope.
I grabbed the envelope and almost chocked looking at the blue faces perfectly placed.
I looked up and he shrugged. “Listen, don’t take this the wrong way but Teaghan works for me.
It’s already been designed this way and some lumberjack can’t stand in the way of that.
I can’t afford to start over this late in the campaign.
The only thing men love more than women is money. Treat yourself and stay away.”
He sauntered off and my guy was casket sharp.
I could see what she saw in him and I also knew it wasn’t going to work.
They may have grown or come from the same tracks but Teaghan broke free from that lifestyle years ago.
She didn’t care about appearances or about fitting in with her class.
Teaghan had the mind and elegance of the upper class, but she operated as a downtown girl.
Her flesh and bone were called to help, not take.
So he was in for a rude awakening when the nice dinners wore off and all she wanted was the pizza spot on 5th avenue.
The expensive flower arrangements wouldn’t be so magical once the ones we planted started to bloom.
The acceptance of her father would dull because he never tried to understand Teaghan; he only tolerated her.
I shrugged and shook my head because Bobby was in over his head.
But that wasn’t my focus, it was time to learn the fate of my fatherhood.
The gavel sounded loudly through the courtroom and I relaxed knowing, either way, Malone would always be a product of me.
If I lost today I wouldn’t sleep until I had him back.