The Love Handles Club (Love in the City Short) (9 page)

“That is correct,
” Jensen replied. “We came prepared today to offer a settlement. We have laid out the terms and conditions. I’ll pass around the papers.”

Jensen stood up, took out a folder from his briefcase and shuffled through some papers. He passed out the settlement agreement he hoped Joe would agree on. My hands started to perspire as my eyes found Kelly’s. She gave me a halfhearted smile and I returned it as best I c
ould. So much was at stake here, her future, the baby’s, and ours together.

Once everyone had the papers in front of them, the seconds turned into minutes as Joe’s legal team absorbed the offer
in front them. It was straightforward and to the point. A set dollar amount. No maintenance or alimony for Kelly. No long term pay-offs from Joe.

All he had to do was sign the documents and write a check, but I knew nothing would ever be that simple when dealing with this man and his ego. I’d known plenty of jerks like him in my life. They like
d to make people pay when they felt wronged. Then add all the zeros behind the number one… I was certain Joe would make Kelly sweat before he signed

“Before we discuss the financial part of this settlement, I’d like clarification on Mr. Jeffries giving up any parental rights to his unborn child. In the State of Georgia, the juvenile court will not allow this type of separation if the mother is planning on raising the child by herself.” Byers’ eyes shifted to me. “Another man would have to be seeking to adopt the child with the mother. The State doesn’t want to be burdened down the road for the child in the event the mother can’t provide financially for the child.”

“An understandable concern,” Jensen replied. “We have legal documents prepared by my offices here in Atlanta that petition the court for Bradley Dawson’s adoption of the unborn child. He intends to raise the child as his own in partnership with Kelly Parker Jeffries.”

The room went quiet again. Joe’s hands clenched into fists.  His knuckles were white and jaunting out toward the ceiling. He looked ready to come undone and I prepared myself for the announcement of another break being needed to calm him down. And I was right.

“We will need some time to with our client to discuss this. Perhaps we can meet again in a few days?”

“Unfortunately, this offer is for today only. The financial settlement outlined in the offer will double if there isn’t an agreement today.” Smartly, Jensen foresaw the potential delay and had a document ready to prove his point if needed.

“Fair enough. It says the juvenile proceedings for Mr. Jeffries’ revocation of parental rights will be sealed. Is this correct?”

“That is correct. All the proceedings and documents supporting our legal actions will be sealed where the child is involved. We will also petition the court to seal the records of the divorce settlement since they reference the unborn child.”

“If you all wouldn’t mind waiting in the lounge again?” Byers asked. “You might want to make yourself comfortable as this discussion may take some time.”

“No problems,” Jensen replied.

And off we went to the lounge again. Kelly and I followed behind Jensen and this time my hands reached for her as we walked down the hall. At this point, the cat was out of the bag. They all knew my intentions. I wanted the baby as my own, and even though it wasn’t discussed, they had to know that I felt the same way about Kelly.

“What do you think Bradley?” Kelly asked me, her eyes looking up into mine. “Joe seemed fit to be tied?”

“He doesn’t want the baby. We know that for a fact. But he probably doesn’t like the thought of another man, me, especially me, taking his place. It’s crazy and doesn’t make any sense. But his pride and reputation as a man has been called on the carpet.”

“True,” Kelly agreed. “His attorneys are getting to see the real Joe. And it’s a pretty damn ugly show. Thanks for being here for me and the baby.”

“I’m just a man hopelessly in love with you.” I placed my hands on her stomach. “And this little one too. You can count on me, darling.”

We sat next to each other on the couch, pretty much ignoring the fact that Jensen was in the room with us. Kelly’s head rested on my shoulder. I felt her exhale a deep breath, and her body relaxed against me as she did. I leaned my head against the top of hers
.

A little over an hour after we made the trip into the lounge, Mindy appeared and said we were wanted back in the conference room. Finally. I wanted to get this whole thing over with.
Now.

I’d drifted off a couple of times as I wedged myself into Bradley’s side as we cuddled on the couch. His warmth and protection made me feel safe enough to succumb to a quick snooze. My body was exhausted from the travel and emotions of the day, but I felt refreshed, ready to see what Joe’s attorneys thought of our offer.

This time Bradley and I walked in the conference room together, hand in hand. There was no need to hide what we felt for each other. He was willing to adopt my baby. Only someone in love with me would be willing to do that, right? I knew when he agreed to be the father if Joe gave up his rights that it meant love on his part. He lifted and buoyed me above my fears when he declared his love for me on the plane ride here. And the love I felt for this man was overwhelming. Mere words couldn’t express what I felt. I guess I’d have to show him later.  There goes my horny brain again. I needed to make it heel as my energies needed to be dedicated to the task at hand—Joe’s signature on the damn divorce offer.

We settled into our seats again. It was clear that our opponents had something on their mind to share. It was as if they couldn’t wait for us to sit down. Byers began before I had thoroughly scooted my chair to the table.

“After reading over your offer and discussing it thoroughly with our client, we have a few points to discuss and clarify.” Byers waited for our response.

“I’d be surprised if you didn’t,” Jensen answered.

“Firstly, my client will agree to the financial figure as long as he will have nothing pending in the future to pay Mrs. Jeffries. Correct?”

“That is correct. If he agrees to the settlement, pending the court’s approval of course, he will have no further monies due to my client. There will be no recourse available for changes either.”  Jensen summed up what I knew to be correct.

“We have advised our client to agree to the financial settlement offer. However, there is a concern about the unborn child.” Byers paused and glanced sideways at Joe perhaps needing an okay to continue on. “Mr. Jeffries will give up his rights to the unborn child on one account. Mrs. Jeffries needs to make a public statement concerning the reason she left Joe.”

“A public statement?” Jensen asked interrupting Byers.

“Yes, Mr. Jeffries is concerned about the political fallout of his divorce and the speculation some might have about the unborn child Mrs. Jeffries is carrying.” Byer stopped and swallowed. It looked as if whatever he was about to say required effort on his part. Likewise, I prepared myself for what was coming from him too. “He has requested Mrs. Jeffries release a public statement, a press release would suffice, in which she admits to leaving him for Bradley Dawson and that Mr. Dawson is the child’s father.”

“What?” Jensen practically yelled. “You’re asking my client to publicly humiliate herself and admit to adultery. Which, by the way, is one thing your client just might be guilty of himself.”

“Yes, we have advised our client against this course of action, but Mr. Jeffries remains steadfast in his request, or should I say demand.” Byers couldn’t hide the disgust he felt for Joe.

Jensen had reared back in his chair and Bradley was standing up ready to take on Joe, but I had a secret weapon that neither of them knew about, one that would turn Joe’s world upside down if I chose to use it. The time to lay down my cards had arrived.

I stood next to Bradley and placed my hand on his shoulder. He looked at me surprised, I think, that I was standing next to him. But it was my turn to play hardball now.

“Bradley and Jensen,” I spoke to them. My voice steady as I did which shocked me. “I have something to say to Joe that will likely clear this whole mess up. Please sit down and let me talk.”

“Kelly, are you sure?” Bradley asked with a confused look on his face.

“Yes, I’m sure. Trust me,” I replied.

Both Bradley and Jensen hesitantly took their seats for me. They both sat on the edge of their chairs ready to take my defense on a moment’s notice. I smiled reassuring at them. I didn’t relish in what I was about to do, but Joe, being the pig that he was, had left me no other choice.

“What I’m about to say to you, Joe, is difficult for me to utter. It’s hard to admit that a man I married would behave the way you did toward your own child knowing I wanted to keep it.” I took a deep breath. Joe was now sitting on the edge of his chair too. I had his undivided attention now.

“I have already prepared a press release related to the child.” I swear I heard a couple of gasps, but I kept on speaking, not deterred. “A dear friend in Dallas owns a PR firm and has a press release prepared for me. All I have to do is text her, ‘GO,’ and she will release it to all strategic media in Georgia and around the country for that matter.”

Boy, did I have their attention now. No one, especially Joe, moved a muscle. It was like my words put them in a trance and made them spellbound.

“I’d like to read you the statement that will be released if you don’t agree to what my attorney has stipulated in my divorce offer.”

I cleared my throat and pulled a paper out of my purse. It was folded over a couple of times, so perhaps it didn’t appear too scary and definitely not professional.
But the punch from what I was about to read would flatten Joe to the floor. I’m pretty sure he didn’t think I had it in me. Well, he was about to learn otherwise.

“Kelly Parker Jeffries, wife of Joseph Jeffries, the current Deputy District Attorney for Cook County in Atlanta, has chosen to end her fourteen-year marriage to Mr. Jeffries. Mrs. Jeffries left her husband after he found out she was carrying their child and insisted that she terminate the pregnancy. The previous statement can be substantiated by an email conversation from Joe Jeffries to Kelly Jeffries.”

I let the paper drop from my fingers as I finished reading it. The paper landed softly but the words hit like a bomb. My head rose from watching the white paper fall to see Joe’s white face. He was a ghost or looked as if he’d seen one. Spooked.

One of his attorney’s lips quirked into almost a smile. He nodded his head at me as if he was my ally and with Joe as a client he likely was one.

“Well, this makes things a little different now, doesn’t it Joe?” I heard the sarcasm in Bradley’s voice. His distain for Joe sounded out strong.

“Unfortunately for my client, I’ll have to agree.” Byers spoke and leaned into Joe, whispering in his ear. Joe remained pale, and I almost became worried about him… almost.

“Kelly, I wish you would have disclosed this little PR move to me,” Jensen said but his smile gave away his true feelings. I think he might have been a little impressed. It definitely wasn’t what he had seen in me prior to today. Thank God Tina owned a PR firm. She’d helped me concoct this whole plan. She was the genius behind it all really. I just had to have the gumption to use it if needed.

“Sorry, but I thought I’d keep it secret. I really hoped I wouldn’t need to bring it out into the open. It’s hard to admit I was married to such a man,” I half-whispered to Jensen not wanting the other side of the table to hear me.

“Either way, you’ve got him by the balls, Kelly.” Bradley held my hand tight. “Look at them all over there. Joe’s getting a come to Jesus talk from his attorneys right now. Guy looks like he’s about to puke too.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” I said and turned back to look at my beautiful man. “I think it’s over, Bradley. He’ll do anything he can to cover himself publicly. He has an image to uphold after all.”

My side of the table sat silently watching Joe implode in front of us. It didn’t take long for him to come around, though. They knew I was in my perfect right to disclose the truth behind Joe’s reaction to my pregnancy. And since he was a pro-life, family values political figure, his days were over in politics if the press release was circulated.

“All right, Jensen. My client will sign the settlement today. As soon as it’s filed with the courts and approved, we will transfer funds into Mrs. Jeffries’, I should say Ms. Parker’s account as the agreement also restores her maiden name.”

I watched Joe sign a paper and then his attorneys signed too. It was over. The feeling of being free was almost euphoric, heady. Bradley pulled me to my feet and wrapped his big arms around me and for some strange reason I began to cry, sob really. I think it was relief. All the feelings and fears over what I’d been through came together and were released like a break in a dam. Tears of sweet relief.

“Oh, babe. It’s all right and it’s over.” Bradley’s words soothed my soul and helped me quit crying. My life was set on a different course now. Love and commitment. It was ours.

“You’re right.” I was smiling up at him and my tears blurred his face a bit. He wiped them from my cheek gently. We were in our own little bubble. It was if no one else was around us. No attorneys a few feet away. No crazy ex-husband either. Until we heard Joe from across the room.