Supervillian Series... Court Day 1...

To read the first of the series... click here.


She sits quietly in the court room, admiring the woodwork, the clean lines, the newness of the building.  It's nothing like the old courthouse she spent so much time in all those years ago.  Back when the wounds were still fresh, and visiting the courthouse became a monthly, sometimes weekly occurrence. 

The bailiffs all still remember her.  Less now from her predictable "appointments" and more now for her calm demeanor against his irate abusive behavior.  All too often, while trying to get a rise from her, or trying to assert himself to get his way, he has been asked to leave the court house.  The bailiff this day is like an old friend, and they revel in conversations regarding weather and vacations.  He has not seen the other party this morning yet.  A good sign she thinks.

Truthfully, this is not the appearance she dreads.  This is a minor technicality, a safety net of judicial proportions.  A renewal of an existing restraining order.  He's already petitioned for it's modification, so today's hearing could go many different ways.  If he shows up.

She sits in the court room as proceedings start.  She has always sat alone.  She has many people who'd gladly come with her, support her, and offer up testimony if necessary.  But she prefers to go alone.  She is strong.  He usualy shows with an entourage, and the court officials see this.  They see the harem of women he has swooning about him, shaking their head from the benches, sizing her up, calming him when he's clearly out of control.  She is not phased by this anymore.

It appears as though he will not show this day.  She sits and listens to another woman unfold before the judge and bystanders, her current fate and tales of love gone badly.  Oddly, after listening to her story, she sighs, as it is similar to where she has been.  She feels a bit comforted in knowing that that piece of it, the piece still engulfed in emotion, is behind her.

When it is her turn to approach the stand, she stands quietly as the judge reviews the case.  It is not her regular judge, but she has been before him in the past.  He issued the first order, 3 years ago.  With a bit of reservation, he continues the order, unmodified, for another year.  This was to be expected, as his disappearance act leaves no counter argument.

She leaves the courthouse and is off to issue his re-service of the continuation at his reported place of residence.  She files all her paperwork together, and makes the long drive to the Police Station that will serve him at his supposed new residence.  Pulling over to check her GPS, she encounters a police offer parked doing detail reports from his car.  After a bit of discussion, he takes the orders and serves them himself.  He calls her within minutes to tell her the results. She finds it comforting to know that he took an interest in her situation, and that he personally was looking after this for her.  It is a comfort she has not often had with officers of the law in the past.

The real challenge would be in two days.  His next visit.  He would most likely be angered by the new order, and that would effect the boy's time with him.  The hope is always that it won't, but she knows it will. 

Deep down she knows.

And it did.  Upon returning to his residence, he gets mad at the dog.  He throws his keys and breaks a window.  Expletives fly, yelling ensues.  The boys stare quietly.  The new woman and her little girl are used to his behavior, and sadly so are his boys.  After regrouping, they play games.  The oldest son doesn't want to play, and a battle ensues between them about what to do and how to behave.  Devastated, he calls her on her cell phone, hysterically crying that he wants her to come get him.  She can not.  His refusal to bring him to the meeting place is infuriating.  She talks with her youngest, who wants to stay, and convinces her oldest to just try and get through the next 30 minutes.  She abruptly leaves her appointment, and races to the rendezvous point as if that will make it better.  It doesn't.  She sits and waits, sick that she couldn't go get him.

Sick, that she had no idea where he was.

They returned to her twenty minutes early.  She was glad she was there waiting.  Her youngest son bounds into the car, unfazed by the night's events. 

Her oldest is broken.

He never wants to see him again.

He is now a stranger.

The state is requesting her appearance at another court appearance in 13 days.

Nine days before their next visit with him.

Court will not go well for him, and she is sickened by how their visit will go...

If he is not otherwise detained......

....to be continued.