“At the time I had too much pride to allow or even ask you to do that. And your father…” he pauses and gathers himself. “After we eloped, he told me I better take care of you, that you were his princess and deserved to be treated as such. He said you had dreams and that I was to make sure they came true.”
My mouth drops open as I listen to Ajay, realizing my father is likely the catalyst for him leaving me.
“And then after you lost the baby, he all but blamed me and my ‘stupid music career’ for causing you stress.”
I choke back a sob. “Your career wasn’t stupid and it’s not the reason I lost the baby, I just—”
Ajay stands and walks to my side, pulling me into his arms. My head rests perfectly against his chest while his hand cups my head. I can feel his lips press into my hair as he tries to soothe me.
“I’m so sorry for everything, Jamie. I really, truly am. You’ll always be the last person I ever want to hurt, and you’ll always be the one woman I’ll ever love.”
I step away from him and brush the tears away. “I’m sure you’ve loved others.”
Ajay leans against the bars, his lips purse as he shakes his head. “Never.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend?”
“Not since you. I’ve gone on a few dates recently, but that’s all they are, dates.”
I don’t know if I want to believe him or not, but the old me says Ajay would never lie to me. The new me, though, is about to say something sarcastic but when I open my mouth to do so, the bailiff walks in.
“Judge Harvey is ready to make his ruling.”
“On what?” I ask as he unlocks the cell door.
“How would I know, I’m only told what to say and do around here. Now, do I need to cuff you both or will you walk to the courtroom without incident?”
I look back at Ajay and wink. “I don’t know, Ballard, what do you think?”
He laughs. “I have a tour bus waiting, it probably won’t get us far but it’s worth the try.”
“Very funny you two.” The bailiff motions for us to walk in front of him. When I feel Ajay’s hand on the lower part of my back, I automatically lean into him and even though I want to put as much distance between us as possible, I can’t.
In the courtroom, Fletcher is sitting at his table and Ajay’s lawyer is at his. I really don’t know where I’m supposed to go so I go back to sitting behind Fletcher.
When Harvey comes in, he tells us to stay seated before calling Ajay and I up to stand in front of him.
“After due diligence by our esteemed clerk, it has been determined that Ajay Ballard and Jameson Foster are indeed still married.”
“Great, I’d like to file the petition to have our divorce finalized,” I say to Harvey.
He huffs and continues speaking, “After a meeting with a lawyer in our family division, it’s also been determined that due to the circumstances surrounding your current situation, Ms. Foster, in conjunction with Mr. Ballard’s financial status, the law precludes me from granting a divorce without filing new paperwork.”
“What situation are you in?” Ajay whispers to me. I shake my head, hoping he understands that I’ll tell him later, even though I won’t.
“Your Honor, my client is prepared to file the necessary paperwork today for dissolution of marriage, however it should be noted that he will not agree to pay alimony nor spousal support due to the length that they were separated before his career started, as well as the fact that they are only currently still married due to the negligence of Ms. Foster,” Ajay’s lawyer blurts out. Ajay turns and mumbles something under his breath.
“Shark, huh?”
“He’s paid a lot to protect us.”
Harvey clears his throat and clasps his hands together. “As much as I’d love to see the both of you pay for your crimes behind bars, I feel this is going to be punishment enough: For the next ninety-days you will stay married and spend at least three days together each week. Mr. Ballard, you’re allowed to travel with your group, however, I suggest you make your schedule amenable to this sentencing. Ms. Foster, you will accept the terms of Mr. Ballard’s schedule, provided it falls in line with my sentencing, and see to it that yours does as well. You will both appear before me at the end of your sentence and at your request I will sign off on your divorce. Until then, you’re a married couple and your lawyers can figure out the rest.”
“Your Honor, you can’t demand that they spend time together,” Fletcher says.
“But I just did. It’s either this or I sentence them both for vandalism.”
“This will be fine, your Honor,” Ajay says, much to my dismay. Before I can object, Harvey adjourns court and slams his gavel down.