Before we went into the court room, my lawyer met with me inside of one of the meeting areas next to our assigned court room.
"So how are you feeling this morning?" My lawyer asked me as we both sat down at the square wooden table in the mini conference room.
"I'm feeling okay Lane. But you know me and you know I can't wait for all of this to be over. If I have to sleep on that steel cot one more time I'm gonna go crazy."
"I'm confident that this will be over in no time. I have just what we need to end this hearing fast and in a hurry. Just sit back and relax once we get in there and let me handle everything. It doesn't matter how crazy it gets in there just do your best to ignore her. Any questions?"
"Nope. I'm ready and I know you're gonna handle business so I'm not worried." I got up from my seat and followed him in the court room and sat down. Charmaine had already been sitting on the opposite side of the room by herself when we came in. For a few minutes I thought her lawyer might be late until the judge announced that she would be representing herself.
Lane leaned in to me and whispered, "Mistake number one."
I glanced over at Charmaine who made every attempt to roll her eyes at me. She rolled them so hard that I thought her extremely long eyelashes would fall off. The judge actually gave Charmaine the opportunity to speak first. So she stood to her feet, gave me another piercing look and then turned to face the judge.
"All I want to say is I'm here your honor. I'm here to get what's rightfully mine and what belongs to my son KJ. Kwame hasn't paid a dollar in child support since he was born and now that he has called himself moving on he thinks he can escape his responsibilities all together. Well I'm not about to let that happen. I'm here today so that doesn't happen." Charmaine stated and then confidently sat back down in her seat. I looked over at Lane who couldn't help but snicker and watching Charmaine's poor presentation made me laugh a little too.
"Is that all you have to say?" The judge asked.
"Yes, your honor."
"Okay. Attorney Lane please take the floor and present your case."
"Thank you, your honor." Lane said as he stood up from his seat and opened the manila folder that rested on top of the table.
"Your honor we are here because my client has been summoned by the plaintiff for back child support for their son Kwame Jr. . So I began searching records and couldn't find where she has ever filed to receive child support or had a legally binding contract in which it would hold my client responsible for paying child support. I dug even further and saw that although my client has signed the birth certificate there hasn't been an official paternity test done so I had them complete the test at an official testing facility. I've had several conversations with my client and he is more than willing to pay whatever he owes however he will not do that without an establishment of paternity and with that being said my client and his son has both provided samples and I have the official results which are still sealed. I'll let you open them." Lane approached the bench and handed the envelope to the judge who broke the seal and then paused so that he could read the document.
"So Ms. Waters you stated in your paperwork that the defendant was the father of your son but I'm holding the results in my hand and there is no way that he is his father."
My mouth dropped to the floor.
"What the fuck? What are you saying?" I directly asked the judge.
"I'm saying Mr. Patterson there is no way you can be Kwame Jr.'s father. I'm sorry"
Charmaine jumped to her feet in an outrage at the test results.
"Judge that's a goddamn lie. There is no way that the test is true! Kwame is KJ's father." She screamed in between tears. I don't know if she said it to convince herself but the truth had been laid out and the proof was definitely in the pudding.
"Char, that's how you gon' do me after all this time? Got me thinking K.J. is mines when in reality he was never mine in the first place? You have done some low down shit in the past but I never thought you would do this to me."
"Kwame, this is a bunch of bullshit. He is yours."
"Regardless of how you feel … Ms. Waters you can take this test to the bank. This is an official test and the results hold up in court. So with that being said this case is dismissed and the defendant is exempt from paying you anything. And word of advice the next time you step foot in my court room trying to drum up some large, ridiculous amount for child support at least make sure you know who your child's father is. This case is officially dismissed." The judge hit his gavel down and although I was relieved to now be a free man, I still seemed to be in shock from the news that had just been revealed in court. I knew my lawyer had this case in the bag I just never imagined that this is what he planned on pulling out of it.
Charmaine's sobbing ass tried to approach me as soon as the judge made his ruling. I put an end to her trip over to me by holding out my hand.
"Save that shit Charmaine and stay the fuck away from me." She obviously felt horrible about everything but how did she think I felt? I'd just found out that my son is not really my son. After I rejected her, Charmaine hurried out of the court room in a flash and practically disappeared which was good for her because I really didn't need to see her right now.
The first person that I saw was my mother Deidra and from the look on my face she knew something was wrong.
"What's wrong baby? Is everything okay?" She asked as she reached out and hugged me.
"Mommy KJ isn't mine. We took a test and he isn't mines." I whispered in her ear. I still didn't know how to feel about what I'd just learned and I wanted to keep it under wraps until I could process everything.
"Oh son. I'm so sorry you had to find this out. I know you're upset but look at it this way. Blood don't make you and KJ any closer. That boy is still your son and I know after time you'll be able to move past your hurt and still be in his life. Just take time baby. It will happen." It was like my mother's words were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. I had managed to walk out of the courthouse and meet the rest of my family and friends with a simple smile on my face. Even though a smile was far from how I had been feeling I had been determined to live in and enjoy this moment. It felt amazing to look through the crowd and still have Kyhanna by my side. Even though we weren't on the best of terms I knew that she possessed the qualities of a ride or die and she was the very person I needed by my side. Kyhanna approached me and I immediately grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. My brother Khamani slipped me something in my hand and I nodded my head in approval.
"My God Kyhanna, give this nigga some air … damn." Tameeka joked as the attention shifted to her and I could easily slip what my brother had given me in my pocket.
"Bro, we so glad you made it out." Khyree said as he hugged me.
"I'm glad I did too. This whole thing was a bunch of bullshit but I'm just glad it's over."
"Yeah and we saw Charmaine left out of here so fast I think that bitch left on her broom." Khamani said as everyone broke out in laughter.
"I wouldn't be surprised." I added.
"I'm so glad you're free baby. I missed you." Kyhanna said as she leaned up on her tippy toes and gave me a quick kiss.
"I'm glad I'm free but most of all I'm glad that you're here with me. This is all I could've ever asked for."
"I know we haven't been on the best of terms but Kwame you mean everything to me." Kyhanna confessed as she looked into my eyes with the love that existed from the beginning of our relationship.
"Kyhanna, I know that I've hurt you but I want to apologize for everything and not being totally up front with you. The day I met you it felt like God gave me a piece of my soul back. I know that things aren't perfect and we have work to do but I'm willing to love you past your pain. And I have something to show you just how serious I am about our relationship." I pulled out a small box from my pocket and then dropped down to my one knee.
"Kyhanna, you are the one that I simply can't live without and I know that we're young but I'm willing to spend a lifetime showing you just how special you are to me. Will you marry me?" I looked up to Kyhanna being completely speechless as tears rolled down her cheeks.
I waited for her response not knowing what she was going to say and then it was as if time stood still. I didn't think she would ever answer me and then I looked at her and she nodded her head, "Yes I'll marry you Kwame." I got up and Kyhanna jumped up and down and then directly into my arms.