You And I: Sequel

Chapter Twenty Five

(Keep in mind that I have never had to go through court for custody because all of my siblings are blood and my parents are not divorced. So it will not be exact but bear with me. Also keep in mind that I had a lot better written but for some reason my computer decided to take a crap on my so I had to rewrite it, leaving you all with this. I truly apologize for the re edited chapter. Thank you for understanding!)

"I swear that the evidence that I shall give, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." I repeat, holding my hand to the Bible. And everything I say will be the truth, the whole truth, unlike Mackenzie.

"You may have a seat." I am told, sitting down. Mackenzie has once again proven how evil she is but because I know the truth, I'm the only one who can possibly shed some light into the dark room she has created. Using her story about not being able to have kids was an emotional touch for the jury, but to say I refused to let her meet Libbie and threatened her, while under oath, was just plain wrong.

"Begin when you are ready, Mr. Mellark." the judge tells me. I lose my words, not knowing how to begin. The looks from a hostile jury tell me that Mackenzie did a good job at convincing them. Now I have to convince them of the truth. I stay lost for words until I look over at Libbie, starring at me with a cold look. She doesn't honestly believe Mackenzie does she? They did meet, I left that up to her. She can't forget that.

Knowing what I have to do, I take a deep breath. the only way to keep Libbie is to reveal to this entire court room what I've been keeping all these years. Since the day Mackenzie left I have shared this information with only a few people, Libbie knowing the very minimum of her life story.

"I too would like to take you all on a journey back in time, 14 years actually." I say. "19 years old, made a mistake that ended with the biggest blessing of my life, my daughter. I, unlike Mrs. Varno, decided to accept the responsibilities of my actions and I stayed with my newborn baby. She took the easy way out." Mackenzie looks everywhere except at me, slumping in her chair.

"Money is even tighter now that there is only one income, my student loans seem to be piling up, my education seems out of reach and can you guess where I worked? That's right, McDonalds. Making $8 an hour, 40 hours a week, and still trying to take online classes while raising my daughter." I look at my parents. They know this story, they know I wouldn't come back home because of the shame I thought it would bring, and the problems with my mother weren't exactly fixed at this point.

"I made it work somehow. She had food, clothes, and a place to live. She didn't have every little extra and she didn't need it." I glare at Mackenzie who has become interested with the wall behind me. "I stayed. There were nights where I wasn't sure where our meal would come from but somehow, God supplied. I finished school it just took me a little more time. So ever since she was 4 years old I've been teaching." I again sit up in my chair.

"I raised her. I raised her for 7 years by myself and the past 7 with the motherly influence she needed in her life. Yes, Mackenzie did ask me multiple times if they could meet and you know who I left that up to? Libbie. And they met, talking and getting to know each other a little before Mackenzie overstepped her boundaries, not that she wasn't warned, and that's when we left. She took legal action which have lead me to where we are now." I'm not done, even if it may sound that way.

"She was not afraid to call me, she just didn't want to raise a child. She wanted to live her life because if she wanted to meet Libbie earlier she had many opportunities to do so. But by doing that it meant giving up her old life and accepting the new one. She wasn't ready to do so which is why I made a decision for my daughters protection and happiness, that they would not meet under my authority. And sadly, Mackenzie made more poor, conscious choices that lead me to do that." I say, leaning back and crossing my arms. "That's everything."