There's an old saying that loose lips sink ships. Sometimes the best way to resolve a problem or a situation is to wait it out. The problem we humans have is that we are so busy trying to push the situation to get the problem behind us that we lose sight of what's right in front of us.
After three years of marriage, my loving wife had filed for a divorce while I was on a two week run in the farthest corner of the company's sales territory. We sold computers to set up to run certain lines of equipment. I was one of the few that could also install them. As a result, I had been sent into set three new installments up.
In the divorce petition was the reason why she had filed. According to a third party's statement, I was having an ongoing affair with her father's secretary. It was humous because his secretary worked at his state capital office. That was two hundred and seventy-five miles roughly from where we lived in Jackson Missouri. It made it sound like I was taking two days a week to travel to the capital to stay overnight in a hotel and drive back the next day.
Upon my first day back I was fired, no reason was given but I was paid what was due according to the state's labor laws. I believed but could not prove it was because of what was being claimed by my wife in her divorce petition. My boss and my wife's family were members of the same community church.
I smelled a setup. I had only met my father in law secretary once and that was during our formal engagement party. She had tried to come on to me and I had shut her down. Someone had seen the chance for advantage and went for it. The question was who and why now?
Rachel's father was more of a follower than a man who could stand on his own. He got into politics only when his father had decided to retire. His great grandfather a career politician had known when the interstate was going to be built and had bought the land around it all throughout the state. He had one rule; he only leased the land for development. When the lease ran out the improvements torn down ready for new development. The family ended up using some to develop their own Inn chain and bought other businesses. When he died the family was super-rich as a result and had continued on as he did. It was almost like a golden parachute for the whole family. He had won the seat in a landslide and had kept it ever since.
It hadn't even been a week since I had been served and here, we were standing before Judge Donald McDonald. I had not even hired a lawyer and was sleeping at a friend's place until I got back on my feet. My wife's lawyer a well-known feminist who was from state capital wanted to get the court moving towards the divorce. Even to the Judge this just seemed to be rushed and he wondered why. He was hoping to find something that would slow down the plaintiff's rush for judgment. It gave us both reasons for wanting to slow things down.
What had stuck out right away was that my wife's lawyer had scheduled the first appointment before the Judge the same day she filed. I listened with interest to what she had to say in her opening statement. The Judge then asked me what I had to say.
"Your honor two things have happened. First of all, we are all here before you because of hearsay. There is no proof. As for my wife Rachel and I as far as I knew everything was fine." I said.
"Secondly, I believe it's primarily because my wife Rachel is about to come into the rest of her family trust. Under state law when that happens, I automatically would be entitled to half if we got divorced."
"How soon is that going to happen?" The Judge asked.
"On her twenty-fifth birthday which in less than six months away," I said.
The judge picked up the petition and read the complaint through in full for the first time. After pausing for a few he said, "Mr. Richards do you have anything further to add?"
"Only that my former boss is my wife's father's best friend. They like my wife and I are members of the same church. When I returned from my last sales trip I was terminated, and no reason was given." I explained. "I request that my wife be forced to pay my lost wages until this is resolved. Her current trust is worth ten million and is still being controlled by her father. On her next birthday, she gets full access to the rest which will bring the total amount up to one hundred million. At that time according to the way the trust was set up her father also loses his control over it."
The judge turned to the feminist lawyer and asked. "Do you wish to dispute the facts that were just explained to me, Ms. Livingston?"
"No, your honor that's why I filed because the wife feels that there is no way they as a couple can work their differences out." Ms. Livingston explained.
The judge saw me smiling. "Any further thoughts Mr. Richards.
"Only one your honor," I said. "My wife is six weeks pregnant with our first child and I think that she is being influenced by others because of my point of view."
Having perked the judge's interest, he said. "Explain further please."
"My wife's family and friends are all politically aligned with one party's point of view. I am an independent with more of a conservative point of view," I said. "I feel her extended family are afraid that I am going to expose our unborn child to my point of view. With the political environment, we are living with the fact that hearsay is being used implies that this may be the very cause."
"There's no proof of that your honor!" Ms. Livingston said with excitement. "You can't allow hearsay to be used in court."
The Judged looked at me with a big smile. Then turned to my wife's lawyer.
"Your right Ms. Livingston we can't accept hearsay. That is why you're going to get the lady who provided the statement to appear before me so she can give the names of the party and their legal addresses who claimed to witness these things happening. I want them so I can subpoena them so they can testify before me in court." The judge said in anger." And since Mr. Richards as you have pointed out has been evicted from his own house and fired because of those same influences that started this I'm ordering Mrs. Richards to pay him five thousand a month temporary support. Retroactive from the day this was filed before the court, so his first payment is due."
"Your honor you can't do this," Ms. Livingston said. "The witness lives and works in the capital."
"Was your client's husband allowed to get anything out of the house? Did his wife confront him with the accusation?" Judge Donald asked.
"No, your honor to both questions!" she replied. "This statement was just recently obtained."
"By whom? You acted just like a politician, saw a chance to earn a dollar and take advantage of a situation to affect the outcome." Judge McDonald said firmly. "Come back in here again Ms. Livingston with a divorce that appears to be over the difference of views of those outsides of the family itself and I will hold you in contempt. Do you understand."
"Yes, your honor." She said meekly.
"Ms. Livingston in my court I expect both parties to physically present so have her here the next time you appear. One more question who is paying your bill?" The Judge asked.
"John Brownstone!" she answered.
"The local representative for the statehouse?" the judge said. "Who spends ninety percent of his time at the state capital.
"Yes, your honor," I said. "He's my father in law."
"How do you get along?" the judge asked.
"We tolerate each other," I said. "When he starts talking about making the country a socialist country, I leave the room. We both know each other's views and I see his conduct as trying to put a wedge between my wife and I."
"So, you haven't talked to your wife since you have been served?" the judge said.
"No, your honor. I did swing by the house to talk to her but learned from the security hired by her father to watch the place that she was out of town and that the locks had been changed. She has either changed her phone number or blocked me "
"Ms. Livingston where is Mrs. Richards currently residing." The judge asked.
"In the capital, with her father." Ms. Livingston responded.
"I see this is looking more and more like a hit job to me. Looks like Mr. Richards's view of things is exactly what is happening. I expect you both to appear before me a week from today at nine am. The court is adjourned." The judge said.
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I showed up in court with a lawyer this time. I could see my wife Rachel sitting beside Ms. Livingston and a lady I did not know. After taking the bench Judge Donald McDonald went right to work.
"Ms. Livingston has the defendant being paid the court-ordered alimony?" The judged asked.
No, your honor. Her father is refusing to allow it to be paid out of the Trust." Ms. Livingston replied.
"Let me address your client directly and have her answer through the mike." The Judge said.
"Mrs. Richards, you are of legal age are you not?" Judge Donald asked.
"Yes, I am," Rachel replied.
"Where are you residing at this time? The judge asked.
"With my father at the house in Jefferson," Rachel replied.
"You are living off of your trust right now. What were you using for money these last five years?"
