On the other hand, running would be complicated with a pregnant wife, and I was in trouble in a fight two on one. Honestly, I don’t think I could take even one of them. So another option was to stall, get out of the car and try to delay them. If I could get them to talk for a decent amount of time, help could arrive.
I thought delay might be the best option, “Di, please trust me” I opened the door and got out, walking around the car and avoiding the debris of the accident. Several panels from my mustang were littered on the ground, as well as the front grill and some bars from the truck. I moved around to the passenger’s side of the car, letting Roger and Greg see me but trying to ensure that they didn’t think I had seen them yet. I had to act this one to give us time; I needed them to believe that I had not noticed it was them. I went around to Dianna’s door and yanked it open, helping her out to her feet. I then turned towards our two assailants and froze. They were standing very casually, no worse for wear from the accident. However, they looked haggard with worn faces, unkempt beards and tattered clothes. They look like they had lost weight a lot of the muscle generated working construction lost. There was a wild look in their eyes, something of a maniacal let loose. But the scary thing was what they were carrying. In each of their hands, they held a cheap-looking but very deadly looking shotgun.
I moved Dianna and I so the passenger door could act as a partial barrier between us. Of course, they were still some 30 meters away from us, but with guns, you never knew.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the mistake and the whore, fancy meeting you here of all places”, Greg gestured to my car. “It looks like you have been in an accident. Isn’t it fortunate that we happened to come along!” his smile was almost genuine. However, it was also dark.
“Enough Greg!” Roger snapped, then fixed his eyes on me. They were holding their weapons casually for the moment. “Boy, you owe me. You and your whore. You should not have gone to the police. You were supposed to do what I told you to do! Not run, not talk, and not talk to the fucking cops! After all, I have done for you over the years, treating you as one of my family, you owe me!”
“I owe you nothing!” was my response, Shit, I thought I should not engage them
“Nothing, how about all the years I clothed you, the years I feed you, the years that I let you exist!”
I took a step towards them. I ignored the threat they and their guns posed for a moment, my anger rising. I had engaged them, so let’s have it out. In the back of my mind I knew that help was on the way.
“How about all the years of abuse! The beatings, the bruises, the mental abuse, the abandonment. How about the piss poor excuse for a father you were to me. Your refusal to even acknowledge me as a son!”
He laughed, “Haven’t you figured it out? You’re not my son; you never were! I allowed you to exist because of my kindness, but I had to do nothing more than that. My wife was a slut and fucked another man behind my back while I was working hard to make a life for us, then hid it from me until it was too late. You’re a mistake, unwanted, a piece of dog shit on my boot that I could never scrap off or get rid of the smell!” He was waving the gun but not pointing it. When he looked at me, he noticed I wasn’t unravelled or shocked at his revelation.
His eyes narrowed, “Ah, it looks like someone told you, recently if I had to guess too. Haven’t they boy? Was it your whore of a mother or the slut of a wife that stands beside you now? Like she has some pillar of virtue! Has your cunt wife told you that she was a slut before you even met her, that she slept with her uncle and has been a slut for your entire marriage!”
Dianna started to protest
It was my turn to laugh. “Wow, just wow! You are one of the most pathetic individuals I have ever met. Yes, my beautiful wife and my sorry mother have let me know that the low life piece of shit standing before me is not my father. And yes, Dianna and I have spoken about her past. I know the truth, and I love her because of how strong she is despite the tragedy of what she has been through. But it was me that figured out that you were not my dad. You have never been. Dad’s lookout for their kids, biological or otherwise. They become part of their lives and encourage them to grow and take when they succeed and comfort them when they fall. So Nah, you were never my dad and standing here now I must say that I don’t regret that. But you know what’s worse Roger. What is worse is that your head is stuck so far up your own ass due to your poor wounded pride that you can’t even see that you broke your other children too. I know the truth, not the half-truths and lies that you’re telling”.
“Well, aren’t you a smart one, but that doesn’t change the fact that you still owe me boy!”
He raised the shotgun, and I moved out from behind the cover of the door, pushing Dianna to stay there and raising my hands. If I was going to get shot, I was hoping to save her.
“So, what’s this then, your piss poor excuse at trying to get payment from me? If this was all about extorting money, then trying to kill me is a fucking stupid way to do it!”
Hey laughed, “You don’t get it do you boy? That child growing in your sluts’ belly is either mine or my real sons, so with you dead, my child will inherit your money, thereby I win.”
“That’s stupid logic. Long before any of this stupidity began, I have made sure that neither you will ever see a dollar of my money. Have you never understood why you couldn’t get your hands on it? It’s because you treated me like shit my entire life. I made sure that no one in your family could touch it if something happened to me. After you did what you did to Dianna, I have already set the wheels in motion to make sure that my money will now be used to ensure you a put into some dark place where the moss will grow on your ass and tiny little thing that you call a cock can never touch anyone ever again!.”
I think I was having somewhat of an effect, but perhaps Roger was losing it as he threw back his head and again laughed. He pointed at Dianna standing behind the broken mustang car door. “I fucked her, we all did, and she was a shit lay, but she took our loads all the same. And while you’re putting on a brave face, I know you, boy, deep inside your in pain as we made you a cuckold father. Your fucking slut of a mother helped too, your sister drugged her, and Greg and I made her pregnant.” As he spoke, he came closer, and Dianna went pale and shrank behind me. Roger stopped a few feet in front of me. “Face it, boy, you’re going to go to your grave being outdone by a man much greater than you.”
I threw my head back, and it was my turn to laughed hysterically. I needed more time, and I think I needed to take a bit of action. It would be perilous, but it would potentially save Dianna. I laughed deep, pulling my breath into my lungs and making the laugh deep and loud. Roger and Greg stopped; Dianna started as if I had broken.
“Roger, your one fucking stupid son of a bitch, you know that. That child isn’t yours or Greg’s; it’s mine! You maimed my beautiful wife, but she was already pregnant. We have been thinking about a child for over two months, and she went off the pill a month before that. We were doing it twice a day, and according to the doctors, my motility is through the roof. Dianna and I made love twice that day before your little slut daughter drugged my wife. And besides”, I looked down at their crotches, “We all know both of you are a little under average, with those little packages you might have thought you were getting in there, but I doubt that either of you could get close enough to a woman to do the deed. Not unlike the good seven and a half that my wife has for her exclusive use!” I had pushed them, insulted their manhood and told them I was better them in bed. Anger was written on both their faces, but also a whole lot of embarrassment. Out of the corner of my eyes in the distance, I could see lights approaching, but I doubt they were going to make it. I was going to have to do something stupid. I held up my hand as they both lifted their weapons to point at me,
“Wait, stop!” I said, just laughing a little to keep up the pretence that I was not a threat and perhaps a little unstable. They lowered their weapons just a little, but I couldn’t help having one more dig at them. “Roger, could you tell me, did mum have to go and get artificially inseminated to have Greg and Joan? Because I know that my real father gave mum everything she needed, apparently he was a pretty big guy, his cock made her wet whenever she saw it. He was loving and made her cum over and over again. Apparently, you are a big turd in the sack, and she can never feel you enter her.”
I smiled. I could see Roger would only need another slight push before he would react, and I would need to move quickly. “I hear that you are so bad that she needs a whole lot of lube, which surprises me because you are so small. While a son should never hear the details of his mother’s sex life, this afternoon, as I spoke to her, it was good to know that you couldn’t satisfy a woman even if she was moments from orgasm and needed you to finish her. I won’t be surprised now if mum gets out of prison that she’ll divorce you and try to find my real father George and marry him.”
I had goaded them into attacking me like I wanted, keeping the focus off Dianna. Roger raised the gun, his target at me, Greg also trying to follow, “Fucking George Daniels isn’t half the man that I am. He’s a fucking bookworm, but at least when I am done with you, I’ll know who to go kill next!”
His finger pulled the trigger, and I dove. He anticipated that I would dive right away from Dianna; however, I dove straight forward, directly at him into some of the random car parts that were there. As it was, I got caught by the spread of shotgun pellets. My right shoulder and part of my back hurt took several pellets, and it hurt like hell, but I couldn’t stop both Dianna’s and my lives may depend on what I did. As I tried desperately to make it under the weapons reach. I drove right into the middle of a few car parts that had come off in the collision, including the rear wheel guard. Without too much thought and using the momentum of my dive, I picked up the panel and tried to throw it at where I thought Greg was standing. Greg’s shot rang out; however, it missed me. I didn’t manage to land a solid hit on Greg. However, I did manage to knock his weapon out of his hand, and he would need a few moments to review. I knew I still only had moments, and I ended up grabbing the next piece of debris beside me, which happened to be part of my now wrecked mustang tailpipe. I don’t know if you have seen them; however, they are a kind of sharp-edged machine metal finish for the part that sticks out of the rear of the car. Now I was not even a body length from Roger. I grabbed the tailpipe and heavied myself upwards, bringing my makeshift weapon straight out in front of me. By this time, Roger had chambered his new round and got it into line directly point blank in my face as I was rising to my feet. He obviously planned to finish things in one final move.
“Goodbye Boy!” he screamed. I swung the tailpipe upwards as he pressed the trigger, and the shot went off. This time the shot missed me completely but discharged near my left ear over my shoulder. I will say this; shotguns are loud. However, I didn’t have time to think, and death was a moment away. Now within range of the off-balanced Roger, I used my tailpipe to push him backwards. Roger fell on his ass, and I kept moving. I swung the sharpened edge down and went to use it as a spear. This man had systematically tried to destroy my life and tried to hurt everyone I cared about. I was going to end this by impaling him and remove him from my life.
As I drove downwards, I put all the pain, the hurt, the years upon years of abuse, the feeling of betrayal into that one downwards thrust. He was wide-eyed, seeing it coming. His shotgun had been knocked out of his hand, too far away to his right from him to reach. It would have been useless anyway with no round ready to fire, and my rage had a lot of force behind it. Roger saw his impending doom. The moment stretched just like the accident not long ago, and I could feel the end in sight, but I was surprised as my makeshift spear approached terminal velocity. I was hit from the side by something hard. Greg had abandoned his weapon and shoulder charged me knocking me off course. As I rolled, I could see the lights of our help getting closer, but I still wasn’t sure if our help would make it. I was back to two on one, and I was not confident I would get out of this alive. But at least Dianna would be safe. I was also starting to feel a little out of it due to my shoulder and back injury. Greg was back on his feet after the full-body tackle he just gave me. He was stamping his feet like an enraged bull.
“Common mistake, let’s go, you and me, I’ll wipe the fucking floor with your face and fuck your woman before your body is even cold” I wasn’t sure how I was going to get past this. Greg was almost twice my size, even having been on the run for the last few months. I was injured, my wounds leaking blood everywhere; the only advantage I had a few moments ago was surprise. Add to the fact that Greg knew how to handle himself; I was likely fucked. He was going to wait for me to get up, most likely because he knew he could knock me down again and feel like ‘the man’. But then luck, at last, went in my favour. As I put my hand down, it came down on Rogers’ discarded shotgun. A moment of hope flared as I stood, picking it up and chambered the next round. Swinging the weapon round in front of me to point it at Greg.
He was charging me, a snarl on his face and something sharp in his hand. “Fuck you Greg!” and I pulled the trigger. He never knew what hit him as the full range of pellets hit directly in the chest, and he crumpled. I moved slightly to point the gun at Roger and noticed that he had passed out. While my impromptu spear had not hit him in the chest, It had ended up impaling his right arm at almost the shoulder. A good deal of blood was beginning to pool on the ground around him as I would say his body was going into shock. Well, fuck him too!
Cars were racing towards us now, and they were going to be here any second. I stumbled back to Dianna and found her on her side, gasping for breath, blood also pooling at her side. Her sight was unfocused, her breathing getting raspier, her back looked covered in wounds from shotgun pellets. It appears that during the fight that she had gotten hit. I wasn’t sure how bad it was. There were a dozen spots all over her upper back bleeding. It looked like the car door had deflected quite a bit and protected her lower half, including the baby, but she was injured. Try as I might, I couldn’t do anything; every ounce of energy I had was leaving me with each movement. My shoulder was an open wound, and like Dianna, my back was bleeding from a dozen spots.
I collapsed down beside her, the last of my energy gone. I think she sensed me there, knowing it was me and not one of the other two. I helped her put her head in my lap. For a moment, her eyes found focus, and we looked deep into each other’s eyes. There were no words needed, and for a third time in less than fifteen minutes, the moment stretched into forever. As we looked deep into each other’s faces, I had nothing but unconditional love moving between us. She was my soulmate, I belonged to her, wholly and completely, but I knew nothing that I could do to help. She reached up a bloody hand to cup my cheek, a gentle and loving caress, tears now spilling from her eyes. “Harry, I love you!” and she closed her eyes.
Chapter 5 — Aftermath
My daughter was born only a few hours after the fight, where both Dianna and I were shot. A premature birth brought on by the trauma of the accident, I was absent from the delivery as I was on an operating table under a general anesthetic, having shotgun pellets removed from my shoulder and back as well as a shoulder reconstruction. I was in surgery for over 12 hours and didn’t wake up for over two days. Apparently, I passed out mere moments before our security team ran up to us. The ambulance was not far behind, and both Dianna and I were loaded and promptly evacuated for surgery. I was later told that Dianna was in the operating room for around twenty hours. Her labour with our daughter lasted only three hours, and fortunately, everything came together for a quick, if traumatic, delivery. Immediately after, Dianna was rushed and had surgery on her back to remove the pellets and close the wounds. During the fight, I missed that Greg had gotten a second shot off at Dianna while I was grappling with Roger and the tailpipe. It had caught her in the back as she was trying to duck down behind the door. Then apparently, Greg had seen me knock roger down and came to charge me before I could kill his father. We almost lost Dianna three times on the operating table. While her injuries from the weapon discharge were not life-threatening, the lack of blood due to childbirth made her very week.
I was the first to wake, both of us in separate beds back in the same suite we had been in earlier. There were five people in the room with us, not including doctors. On the couch on the other side of the room, Jack and Cindy were curled up, sleeping. Over by Dianna’s sleeping form was June, while on a chair sitting between Dianna’s and my beds as Norman reading something. But what surprised me was the sleeping form holding my hand in an orange jumpsuit. My mother was there. She was handcuffed to the bed and had her head resting on my hospital bed mattress. But her hand was firmly lodged in mine. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but first things first. I tried to speak.
“Water”, I tried to say, but I think it came out like a light groan. But it stirred the room, and soon everyone was around me. Then, finally, Dr Hill walked into the room; someone had obviously paged her.
“Harry, welcome back. Can you look into the light for me, please?” She ran a few tests and was happy that I was waking up. I got a small cup of water and took a sip.
“Dianna?” I managed to croak out.
Dr Hill gave me a small, tight smile. “She’s in her bed to your right, she’s still asleep, but we expect her to make a full recovery after a successful labour and surgery.”
“Labour?”
This time the smile was larger and shared around the room. “Harry, you’re a father to a tiny but gorgeous little girl, congratulations. She’s currently in the premature ward, and I would say you will be able to visit her in the next couple of days.”
After she left, everyone came gathering around my bed. I could see looks of concern at my form, happiness that Dianna and I were alive and some anger that this had happened to us. Then, finally, after a few rounds of your looking like a truck hit you, yes, they were poor jokes, but we did all laugh, my mother spoke.
‘What happened sweetie, a few hours after you left the prison, I got a notification that you had been in an accident?”
I explained how Roger and Greg had rammed us in the truck after leaving; and how they must have been waiting for us and chose the right time to make their move. I told them of the fight, How I had shot Greg when he charged me and impaled Roger after he missed me at point-blank range. Then I told them how I had found Dianna by the car and collapsed. I looked over to see Dianna in her hospital bed and saw her eyes open and staring at me, tears in her eyes. Jack immediately ran out and found Dr Hill, who came back and checked Dianna over. No one interrupted Dr hill. However, Dianna’s eyes never left mine, and when she was told that our baby girl was born, the tears rolled down her cheeks. Her voice was weak, but vaguely, she recalled the labour, but not giving birth or our baby surviving.
“So, can anyone tell me what happened once Dianna and I passed out?”
Norman jumped in, “I think I can. I arrived on the scene around ten minutes after the first responders. I had been alerted that both Dianna and yourself had pressed your panic buttons, and there was a team heading your way. When I arrived, both Dianna and you were being laid onto stretches and I can tell you the scene was a mess. Apparently, the police only finished the investigation this morning. And I assume that Tim will want to bring the investigation team to interview both of you at some point to validate everything. As I understand it, the intersection is still closed.
“Once you were both stabilized in the ambulances, you were both brought here for treatment. I stayed with the team at the scene, knowing that both of you were in good hands. June, Jack and Cindy met you both here and have not left your sides. You likely know your mustang is totalled. There was also a lot of blood, shotgun pellets and car parts everywhere. Once word got out about the accident, the fight, and that shotguns and people on the run were involved. The media were all over it. And when they found out it was local legend Harry Other, our cities youngest millionaire, they went into a frenzy. I have had media requests coming into the office all day. I’ve even had movie studios reach out they want to buy the rights!”
Despite my injury, I laughed. Dianna also chuckled, “Who would want to buy the rights to my life, sure? It hasn’t been fun, but it’s also sad.” I thought, “Norman, what happened to Roger and Greg?”
Norman hesitated a bit, then looked at Martha. My mum nodded. “Greg died at the scene. Ambulance crews tried to resuscitate him. However, the damage to his chest was too severe. The police have some working theories about what happened, and I am sure you won’t be charged as it all sounds like self-defence. Our legal team are already all over it. Apparently, there is a traffic cam that caught most of it. It’s all poor quality video, but it lines up with a lot of what you just said, and I am sure the Police will want to hear it from you”. I nodded, I had hated Greg with all my soul, and I wanted him to suffer for all the pain and torture that he had caused me over the years. However, I don’t know how I felt that it was my hand that had taken his life.
Surprisingly it was my mother who put that to rest for me. Handcuffed to my hospital bed, and apparently, there was a uniformed police officer outside my door to keep tabs on her. “Harry, I don’t want you to feel bad about that. It was always going to come down to you and him. And while I am sad that I have lost a son. I also know that he deserved what he got. Besides, I also know that the son that we all wronged is alive. Besides, when you told us what happened, while I loved Greg, I think I would have pulled the trigger myself if I could have saved you.” She cried at the point, and I squeezed her hand.
“Mum, what are you doing here?”
She was still weeping but wiped away her tears. “It was Norman and Tim’s idea, I am still to be sentenced next month, but when I heard you and Dianna were in surgery, They reached out to see if I would be willing to come under guard to be here to see you before my arraignment. I have hated what we did to you and Dianna, and I meant it when I told you that I would take this shame to my grave. But, when they brought you in, I broke down, so they hooked me up here,” she lifted her handcuffed hands, “And just kept watch.”
“I am so sorry for everything I did to you. I am sorry to you are well Dianna, I am sorry I was not the mother I should have been, I should have protected you from Roger, from Greg from Joan, I should have told them where to shove it and just left with you. I am sorry, and I know that I won’t ever deserve your forgiveness, but I will always love you! Now that your both awake, I will get them to take me now.”
Before even the next heartbeat, I held up my hand, the IV lead hanging from my wrist. This was going to be complicated. “Mom, I forgive you! I know we still have a lot to go through, and I think our family is broken forever, but I forgive you.” She cried. I know it was more than she expected, and I was surprised that I was willing to forgive. But upon reflecting on everything various people had told me over the last few months. My mother was also a victim of Roger and his kids. She had also been beaten, threatened, sexually abused. If she didn’t do what she was told and keep me in line, I would be killed. She had been forced into incest with two of her three children, and been thrown in jail for her part in the sordid affair. So I felt that the least I could do was give her some forgiveness.
“What about Roger?”
Was that a smile on Norman’s face. “Well, he’s still alive; however, he lost his right arm and a lot of blood after you impaled him on the car part you stabbed him with, he’s had two surgeries already, and he will need another two because there is an infection in the arm. In addition, he’s under heavy police guard and is pretty much never going to see the outside of prison walls again for his entire life.”
My mother again chimed in, “I’ve also spoken to my lawyer; once he’s stable, I am going to divorce him on the grounds of adultery, mental cruelty, alienation of affection and a few others. I am not sure what will stick, but I should have done it years ago. Oh, I know I still need to do my time inside, but I won’t have anything to do with that man anymore. I never truly loved him, but as we had kids, I stayed with him and couldn’t figure out how to escape. So there won’t be much in the divorce settlement, but I’ll be free in one sense.
Next June brought out a manilla envelope and handed it to me, inside was a piece of folded paper and an envelope. “Is this?”
June nodded to my mother. “Yesterday, when the police bought her in here while you were asleep, Martha gave me directions and had me retrieve these for you?”
I looked at mum, and she nodded to me. Everyone watched me open the DNA test results. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at. My degree is in chemistry, not biology, so I close it. Someone could help me with that later. Next was the letter. I opened it and began to read,
“Harry,
If you’re reading this, you have been told that Roger is not your real father, my name is George Daniels, and I need to tell you that I am your biological father. Your mother and I dated back in high school, and fate tore us apart. Then for a short time, we were brought together, and you were conceived. But Martha was married and already had a child, so we chose to end the affair.
I hope that I can watch you grow from afar and some point in the future, formally meet you and introduce you to my side of the family. I hope you will be proud to know we are a book intelligent but hard-working, we all enjoy a challenge, and I hope you will inherit this from me.
Harry, you are my first child, and I don’t know if you will have any siblings when you read this. But, if you do, then I hope we can all meet together.
You will always be in my heart
Lots of love always my son
George Daniels”
It felt like all I had done is sawing between anger and sadness over the last few months, and again I felt tears in my eyes, but this time I felt like they were tears of happiness. I had an actual father. I showed the letter to mum, and she also cried. I then called over Jack and Norman and showed them the letter. After Dianna had mentioned his name to me months ago, I had suspected. However, Jack confirmed it.
“Harry George is my older brother. There is quite an age difference, but that is his handwriting, but this would mean that I’m your….”
“Uncle,” I finished, “And Norman, that means your, my second cousin? I have thought of both of you as a family since you helped me out in high school. Since then, both of you have always been there when I needed you. Damm, I can’t get away with anything anymore.” We all laughed
Mum looked at Jack funny, “George is your older brother?” Jack nodded, and for a few minutes, we watched them talk about the person they knew. It was not long after that that Tim came in with a fellow officer, and it was time to talk my mother back to prison.
She looked at Dianna then me, and she waited to be unchained and handcuffed, “I can’t tell you how proud I am of both of you. And I promise you I will spend my every waking moment working towards forgiveness.” Dianna surprised everyone by asking Martha for a hug before she left.
After she left, everyone also began to drift off, now that the current emergency was over. For the first time in a long time, I felt like things were going to be ok. It was perhaps seven in the evening when the next surprise was brought before us. Being wheeled in by three nurses and Dr Hill, they brought in a premature humidity crib, inside was our daughter. one of the nurses helped me out of bed and brought my drip over to the crib, while another nurse did the same for Dianna. And then they left us alone for a few minutes. It was hard to hug, but physical contact with each other made me feel a million times better. I could feel it was the same for Dianna.
“Charlotte”, Dianna said as we watched our daughter sleep. It was the second most popular name that we had chosen. Beth was our favourite, but looking at our little girl sleep, sensors hooked up to her and a breathing tube inserted to ensure her health. Charlotte was the correct name, and Charlotte she became. As we held each other’s hand, we knew she was ours, not just as parents, but genetically, had not yet even been able to touch her, but I knew that she was neither Rogers nor Greg’s child. She was mine.
The following month was hard. Both Dianna and I had a lot of recovery to do, there were many loose ends to tie up, and we had a tiny child to keep an eye on. Charlotte, or ‘Charlie’ as we nicknamed her, would be in the special crib for up to three months before her lungs had developed enough that she could breathe on her own. It could be another two months before she could be released from the hospital to come home with us. We were both giddy with excitement after she was taken off the ventilator, and both Dianna and I got to hold our little girl for the first time. Norman and I authorized a massive donation to the premature babies’ ward to appreciate what they had done. We also received the office DNA results confirming what Dianna and I both knew in our hearts: I was Charlies’ biological father.
While we were recovering in hospital, Jack also brought George by to introduce us. Both Dianna and I were blown away by the similar features that we shared, and on the comparison, we also saw the family resemblance between Jack and me. George had a wise air about him, had a cool head on his shoulders and told us how he had followed my career from afar, not wanting to get involved. He was widowed, his wife having died three years ago from cancer, but he had a son and a daughter, and he promised to introduce us when we were released. But, of course, his kids knew about me, so there wouldn’t be any surprises from their side. I admit that I was a little warry to meet them because my last two siblings had pretty much tried their best to destroy me. Still, once I did meet them, we did become fast friends. Indeed my half-sister, Meghan, came to work for Norman and me within the year doing public relations and today is the head of our public image. My half-brother George Jr. was an academic researcher at a university, and he loved to hand out a glass of wine and chat about any theory that was being discussed.
The last thing that happened right before we were released was the court date for my family. Both Dianna and I were escorted by hospital staff, including Dr Hill. Norman, Jack, George, June and Cindy also came along, and of course, the security detail was now ever-present and always within earshot. As our party was escorted in, we sat towards the back of the courtroom. One of the reasons that we were here was that it was possible that we may have been called to provide evidence. While we were recovering, my arm was now in a sling, and my back itched like crazy, but otherwise, I was doing ok; Dianna also had a consistent sore back. However, it was also healing.
Each of the three on trial was brought in separately; Roger and Joan had public defenders. However, I had retained one of my legal team to support my mother.
The judged banged his gavel and started the proceedings
“I would like to thank everyone here for their time today. Please note that this is a closed court today. This is due to the sensitive nature of the discussion and the spectacular nature in which events proceed. I note that each of the three defendants has retained a separate legal council and requested that they be tried separately. Does the prosecution agree?”
An elderly man with many aides stood and addressed the judge, “We do you honour.” The trial was a criminal case due to everything and a matter of the state instead of a civil suit. So it was the ‘State verses’ of each of the defendants.
First up was Joan. She looked a little better than when I had seen her, but not much. She wore a simple suit that you might pick up at a thrift shop and no makeup. She looked at me a couple of times. The first time was a shock seeing me there; the second time was with anger as she understood that I would not do anything to help her. The last time was much later as the judge read his verdict, and she stared at me, but I couldn’t read her. The lawyers went through the list of charges, what they meant and how they played out in both the prosecution and defensive manner. Dianna was called as a witness. However, there was already a statement prepared by our legal team and submitted for this case which the judge was happy to accept.
“With all the evidence presented, how does the accused plea?” asked the judge.
Joan’s public defender stood with her, “On behalf of my client, I have been instructed to plead no guilty”.
“So, noted”.
Next was my mother, and again everything was presented, and this time the prosecution went back to her affair of which I was the result. Her defence pointed out the abuse that she undertook from Roger, Greg and Joan along the way; however, my mother’s presentation of the facts never tried to hide her involvement in the matters surrounding my wifes’ assault. Several times she looked over at us but never said anything.
“With all the evidence presented, how does the accused plea?” asked the judge.
Mum and her lawyer stood, “On behalf of my client, I have been instructed to plead guilty.”
“So, noted”
Next was my former father. He was still looking quite beaten up, the stump of his arm was bandaged, and he had a bit of a limp when he came in. He was dressed in the prison overalls; no suit had been provided for him. He glared up at us and sat down. Again, the lawyers went to town; however, I could tell that his public defended was just going through the motions. His public defender blushed when the charges were read out; he had heard of assault and attempted murder before. However, incestuous relations and rape with the intent to cuckold his son were things that he was not likely to hear again. One unique one that surprised him was that mum had managed to work in that she would like the divorce settled as part of this hearing. The logic was that they were not ever going to be living in the same house again, and it was likely that they were both to be in prison for the foreseeable future, so she would like to get it out of the way. After hearing the case against my mother and then the evidence against Roger, the judge allowed it.
There was not much in the way of defence, A number of pre-prepared statements were read, and it didn’t look good for my former father. Even when the reasons for divorce were presented, they made Roger look like a monster.
“With all the evidence presented, how does the accused plea?” asked the judge.
Roger and his lawyer stood, “On behalf of my client, I have been instructed to plead not guilty.”
“So, noted. The court will now be in recess until three this afternoon when I will pronounce judgement and sentencing.” He banged his gavel and left.
George was waiting outside for us. Norman and George took us to a little café that looked like it had seen better days; however, they told us they had the best-toasted sandwiches and milkshakes. Apparently, George took Norman out a few times as a kid and his nephew to have a great lunch. With everyone, including our hospital and security team, we almost packed out the place. But, the guys were right, great toasted sandwiches. Finally, at three, we all made our way back into the courtroom. The judge came back in and brought us to order.
“This case has some apparent villains and victims; however, there are also hidden heroes and under-appreciated players. Today, we have heard the stories of many people around the three accused here today, and I must admit that I have wrestled mightily in trying to figure out the right course of justice and the proper punishment for each of them.
“On one hand, we have a family potentially torn apart by a wife’s infidelity, its impact being heard down through the ages, on the other. Unfortunately, the families chosen reaction was violence and abuse rather than removal and separation like any other family would do in this situation. When this court considers the manipulation of people over a long period and often threatening of lives, including children, this court cannot help but be appalled by particular individuals behaviour. And it is noted that this behaviour has resulted in the death of at least one individual.
“Each of the accused here today has requested to be tried and sentenced separately. As such, this has occurred, and my judgements in this matter reflect that. Accordingly, I would ask that the accused and their representation rise.
“In the matter of the state vs Joan Other, this court finds the defendant guilty of all charges and sentence you to a period of incarceration of no less than twelve years. You will not be eligible for parole for at least eight years, and due to your lack of remorse for your actions, I will be placing a letter for assessment ready for the parole board to consider before reviewing you for parole.
“In the matter of the state vs. Martha Other, this court finds you guilty of all charges except for mental cruelty against Mrs Dianna Other and Mr Harry Other. This court further acknowledges the entered plea of guilty and the acceptance of your actions. I also have a sworn character statement from your son Mr Harry Other and your daughter in law, Mrs Dianna Other attesting to your outstanding moral character once things came to light. Lastly, this court also acknowledges the mental and physical abuse that you were placed under while in the household. It is the judgment of this court that Mrs Martha Other is sentenced to a period of incarceration of five years with eligibility for parole in one year.
“In the matter of the state vs. Roger Other. This court finds the defendant guilty of all charges and sentences you to life in prison. However, this court will not set a parole period as we find the crimes you committed against all parties. Including your wife, Mr Harry Other and even your deceased son are some of the most devious manipulations I have seen in this courtroom.
“In my closing statement, I would like to note the bravery of both Mr Harry Other and Mrs Dianna Other. As the evidence was read, we have heard in this court time and time again the plots and plans against them. However, with each challenge, they stood and worked till they found their way through, they found each other and, in a society, when it is often easier to separate and walk away, when things got tough, they bonded closer. We are honoured and privileged to have them in our midst.
“Bailiff, the defendants are remanded to your custody.”
The gavel was slammed for the last time, and it was finished.
EpilogUe
A couple of months later, we got to bring Charlotte home, and that afternoon we had a massive party at our place. Our friends, a number of work colleagues, and almost all of the family I had never met from Georges side were there. Charlotte was the perfect baby, and all the ladies agreed that she was the cutest baby ever.
We went to see my mother once a month and even took charlotte with us a few times. Mum was in a minimum-security prison and was so proud to hold her granddaughter, each time we visited she cried, and always ended with some of the biggest hugs and so many kisses for our daughter. It was like she was making up for lost time. Mum had also started working with some of the victim’s groups in prison to get help for what she had been through and help others in a similar situation. When she hit the year mark and was released, we had another big party for her welcome home. It was strange. Growing up, mum had always been stand-offish, however free from Rogers control. She became a different woman, kind and loving, considerate to everyone around her. She would hug me and kiss me whenever she got the chance. She stayed with Dianna and me for two years after that. And to be honest, we needed the help; Charlotte was just over a year old, and we had just found out that Dianna was pregnant again. Having grandma around was a huge help.
After she got out, mum would go and visit Joan every couple of months; however, from what I heard, Joan was still self-centered and even mum was tired of the blame and excuses. She never went to see Roger again, and I had heard that he had it pretty rough on the inside.
I got to know George quite well, we shared a love of knowledge, and while I never called him dad, we did have a strong relationship. He would spend quite a bit of time around our place, and first, I thought it was just about me. But I did have to laugh one night as Dianna was approaching term with our second child when I caught George sneaking out of my mother’s room.
Not long after the court case, Jack and Cindy got engaged and then not long after, Dianna gave birth to our son Harry Jr. Jack and Cindy got married when he was three months old. I was Jacks best man, and Dianna was Cindy’s maid of honour. Charlotte was the cutest flower girl. We also found out not long after the wedding that Cindy was already pregnant, so they would have their first child within six months of being married.
Work was good, and as life settled into a new normal, I, at last, got the new components done to improve our efficiency. It was over a year since I had set out to complete that project, and it felt good to get it done. In addition, we had expanded our operations, and more and more companies were asking for our product.
Dianna and I kept investing in each other, and sure we had the fights that all couples do. We disagreed on things that don’t matter and now and then got into big fights over leaving the kitchen in a mess or forgetting to pick up milk on the way home. But we never let getting upset stop us from communicating. We also picked up a wise tip if you are angry and fighting with each other. Strip naked before continuing the argument. We learnt that a lot of anger at your spouse leaves you if you’re looking a the one you love naked, and after a good bout of sex, you could calmly talk about the things that matter in what you’re fighting about. Thanks to everything we went through in the early years, we had a few challenges around secrets and sharing. I wouldn’t say it was really a trust issue, but a few raw nerves could send one or both of us into a mood. However, one outcome of everything was that Dianna very rarely wanted to be more than five minutes away from me. So we continued to seek help for years afterwards.
The offer from the studios was legitimate, and we had a TV studio pick up our story, and they made quite a good drama out of it. I enjoyed the actor who played batman’s portraying me; he’s a lot more buff than me but could pull off the nerd look well. But they outdid themselves on Dianna, Black widow, nope. We used the check from royalties each year and put it into domestic violence within families. We learnt through our situation it is not just men that hurt women, but it can go any which way, and we do what we can to help those who suffer.
One Saturday morning years later, we were sitting down to plan Charlotte’s tenth birthday party when mum came in looking a little gloomy. She had George on her arm, and I noticed how close they were becoming. Perhaps my mother and father could start dating. But, hey, stranger things have happened.
“What’s wrong mum, you look like someone died!”
“Someone did, and I don’t know if I care”, was her response
“It was Roger, wasn’t it?” asked Dianna
Mum just nodded
“You know what, mum, remember the good times and know that we have all moved past all the bad, he tried to break us, but he just brought us together stronger.”
“That’s the problem, Harry, I can’t remember a single good time with Roger, and that is what makes me sad. I wasted so much time. But Life is never fair”, she quoted one of Rogers old sayings.
That evening I was lying in bed waiting for my sexy wife to come into the room, and when she did, she didn’t disappoint. She was naked, her hips were a little wider after two kids, but I still worshipped that ass, she could still drown me with her orgasm, and those amazingly pert A-cup breasts with her big areola still caught my attention
She giggled, “Well, hello, sailor, “She quoted, seeing the growing mast under the bedsheet.
“You never cease to amazing me, Di!”
“How’s that?”
“Despite all we have been through, the good and the bad, you still have eyes only for me. Everyone else would have run to the hills, yet your still here!”
“Do you know why my love?”
“My money?”
She snorted, “No.”
“My charming wit and humour?”
She smiled, “Nope.”
“Then it must be my cock and my prowess in bed giving you orgasm after orgasm!”
She paused to think, “Well, that one is true, but no.”
“Ok, you tell me, why.”
“Because Harry, you never ran away when things got tough, you always ran towards me, so I will always run to you too. Never has a woman been so lucky!”
I smiled, then frowned.
“Life just keeps coming, good and bad, it just keeps coming, doesn’t it?”
Are you thinking this way because of the news about Roger?”.
“I guess, from being a kid to meeting you, starting the company, the events around charlie’s birth and everything. Roger was involved in all of that. Of course, I hated him, but there is part of me that just wanted him to want me, to show me something of fatherly love, and now he’s gone.”
“Don’t my love. Don’t think like that because he was nothing compared to you. You beat him at every game he threw at you, you not only won but you thrived, but not only that, unlike him, you got the girl!”
When your wife tells you your right, never argue, especially when she spends the next hour making sure she uses her body to show how much the girl was into you.
******
Well, everyone, that’s the end of my very first story, I have never written anything before, so I hope this entertains you. Have a great day!