Chapter 12 – Home Invasion
I arrived at the courthouse on time, 10:45am. Emma had told me to be here 15 minutes before our case was to be called at 11am. I waited outside, keeping an eye out for her. She emerged from an office just off to the right followed by Bob Ruffe, who I recognized from college. Bob headed straight into the courtroom while Emma motioned for me to join her in Bob's office.
"What's going on with Bob," I asked her quickly.
"How do you know Bob," she countered.
"We played ball together in college," I disclosed. "Why?"
"He is representing your wife," she informed me.
Bob was a right-handed pitcher in college. He had decent stuff and got a lot of outs, which is always good. He left USC after blowing out his elbow in his senior year. Just for shits and giggles he took the LSAT exam and scored off the charts. He took a scholarship to Yale Law and was off to the east coast. I had heard he was a successful attorney and had moved back home. My wife had obviously heard too. Not good.
"Where do we stand," I inquired, now much softer.
"She wants the house, her car paid and $1200 per month in living expenses," Emma revealed.
"Wow, that is an absolute beating," I admitted. "What do you think?"
"Both Bob and I know Judge Franklin will not destroy you like that when Bob doesn't have any crippling evidence of infidelity," she educated me. "Bob is offering no alimony and no car payments if she gets the house."
"What do you think," I solicited.
"Bob's proposal is about right," she conceded. "You could chance it with the judge and be a little better or a little worse off, but it will be in the ballpark of what he is asking."
"Emma, that is a lawyer's answer," I stated. "I am not your client right now; I'm a fellow player in the game. Answer me like someone you care about. What do you think?"
She looked me dead in the eye and smile very wide.
"Fuck him," she declared. "Roll the dice, I bet you come out better than Bob's deal. I know Judge Franklin's style and it's not to stick it to the guy, especially when there are no kids involved."
I nodded and followed Emma out of Bob's office. We entered the courtroom and stood before the bench. Judge Emmitt Franklin entered and sat down. He called our case to order and began to address the attorneys.
"I have reviewed the facts of the case," Judge Franklin stated. "Mr. Ruffe, I have read your proposal for settlement. Ms. Cartwright, does your client wish to accept that proposal?"
"Your honor, my client believes Mr. Ruffe's proposal is inadequate," Emma responded in her most professional and lawyerly voice. "He is confident that Your Honor will see this and settle this more equitably."
"Very well," Franklin sighed. "Mr. Ruffe, where is your client?"
I looked over and noticed that Bob was indeed alone. I knew where she was. She was at her parents eating cookies and watching Regis and Kelly.
"Your Honor, due to her emotional distress, my client could not be here today," Bob explained.
"Her emotional distress is her own doing, Mr. Ruffe," Franklin hammered him. "She brought this action for divorce. Simply put, here is how it will go. The house will be sold. Mr. Ruffe's client's vehicle will be paid in full and then any remaining profits from the sale of the house will be split, 70-30 for the Mr. Ruffe's client. No alimony will be paid. Ms. Cartwright, as your client is still residing at the home, I expect to see a notice from a licensed realtor that the house is on the market within 48 hours. Now all of you get out."
The judge exited back into his chambers and I followed Emma out of the courtroom. Bob passed us in the hall and stopped for a moment.
"Well, that could have been worse," he said to Emma.
"We did ok," she admitted.
"Long time, no see," Bob said to me, giving me the obligatory head nod.
"How have you been Bob," I asked insincerely.
"Better than you, chum," he gloated. "We won't send you an invitation to the wedding."
Bob walked away and I looked at Emma who had her head down.
