AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Perhaps we should have a brief confab,” I said. “And you two can tell us what to expect so we are on the same page before we go in.”
“It will just be us and the summary sheriff,” Alan explained. “The sheriff will ask questions regarding your reasons for divorce. At this point, like I said earlier, you don’t qualify unless-”
“I won’t lie under oath,” Evie interrupted.
“We wouldn’t expect you to lie,” John said.
I shook my head. “No one is lying.”
There were twenty-five courts in the building, and we were in Court Six. As was customary, a constable sat in the back to maintain law and order in case things were to spiral out of control. We sat at the semi-circular table in the well of court in front of the clerk’s station with Alan and myself on one side and John and Evie on the other. When the sheriff entered, we all stood, and the clerk swore us in.
Patricia Mays, our judge, and jury, sat down at the bench and adjusted her wig. “So, we are here to discuss the divorce of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. Let’s keep this informal today.”
“Yes, your Ladyship,” Alan said. “I am Alan Mundell, Mr. Wilson’s solicitor.
She looked over at John and Evie. “And I’m John Roberts, Mrs. Wilson’s solicitor, your Ladyship.
“Well, now that we have that over with, let’s get down to business. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, is it true that after only a little more than two weeks of marriage, you seek to divorce each other.”
“Yes, your Ladyship. That is the case,” Alan said.
“I would like to hear from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.”
“Yes, your Ladyship,” I spoke up. “We are hoping to divorce as soon as possible.”
“Yet, you meet none of the requirements according to the writs you submitted.”
“No, your Ladyship, but it is our hope that can be overlooked, and the divorce expedited.”
“Please do not make a mockery of my courtroom and Scottish law. I know who you are, Mr. Wilson and you won’t be able to buy yourself out of this one. So, may I ask, why did you get married?” The sheriff asked.
“The circumstances seemed right at the time,” I said vaguely.
“And now?”
“I realized that I was too hasty with my decision. I could never give Evie what she deserves.”
“And what does she deserve, Mr. Wilson?”
“She deserves a man that can give a hundred percent of himself to her, your Ladyship.”
The judge had the audacity to roll her eyes. “And you can’t do that?”
“No, your Ladyship.” I looked across at Evie, but she kept her face blank.
“And what are your thoughts, Mrs. Wilson?” the sheriff asked.
“I agree that the only way forward is to divorce,” she said softly, then hastily added. “Your Ladyship.”
“You and Mr. Wilson exchanged vows, did you not?”
“Yes, we did.”
“And do vows mean so little to you?”
“N-n-no, your Ladyship. On the contrary, they mean everything to me,” Evie stammered.
“But not enough to give your marriage a shot. This is not America, Mrs. Wilson,” the judge said the last part under her breath. “Mr. Wilson, do you have anything to add?”
