Past Transgressions And Court Orders

Posted on Mon Mar 8th, 2021 @ 6:40pm by

948 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Guilty By Association
Location: Quinn Quarters.
Timeline: Immediately after departure.

Owen had waited until the ship was moving away from Earth, before he made the call he didn't want to make. He'd paused to enjoy the beauty of the solar system, before sitting down at his desk. He knew, eventually the conversation would suck the joy out of whatever he was doing, so he figured unpacking a desk box was easy enough a task to do whilst he spoke to Ella. Every conversation with his soon to be ex wife started out innocuous. Innocent even. She didn't let him talk, and so never really listened to what he had to say until he had said it at least three times. He wasn't even listening to her rant at this point. He'd learned since wedding her that if he let her get the vitriol out, she'd eventually run out of poison. Strictly containing a sigh he allowed his eyes to close so he wouldn't speak in response to anything he happened to actually hear. Truly- he was numb to it by now, and it wasn't specifically directed at him so he didn't have to really listen closely. He clued back into the conversation when she said something that actually drew his attention away from unpacking the small box on his desk. "What did you say?"

An exasperated sigh escaped her and she repeated herself in a tone that said he should be grateful for her continued attention. "I Said...Your son would like to see you."

"He's not my son." Owen said flatly glaring at the woman he'd once found beautiful. She was too beautiful, in fact. The problem arose in that she knew it, and felt herself too good to stay true to the vows they'd sworn to each other. "Just because you delivered him when we were still married, doesn't make him mine."

"He is yours you bastard, you just don't want to support him!" the woman said viciously a glint of steely silver in her stormy gaze. Legally she was in the right, as because the child was born while they were still married, he was the legal father to the child. He was not however, young Elias's biological father. He'd been away on business at the time of conception, and the child had some DNA that was not even of human origin. Owen had been shrewd enough to have the boy tested, just to make sure. He wouldn't abandon a child that was actually his, but part of him was ecstatic that Elias wasn't his. It wouldn't complicate the divorce in that case. Her pregnancy had been the last straw in a long list of grievances that he had, and the moment he'd found out he'd gone to the courts citing infidelity and betrayal. Perhaps a 20th century thing to leave one's wife over, but he'd finally found a line that she couldn't recover in his eyes from crossing. Ella had often said that his travels had been the reason she'd been unfaithful, always blaming him for her transgressions. But only ever in her cups, and had denied any such admissions in the morning. Recording devices were lovely things, and he'd invested in several after the first go around with that. Funnily enough- he'd never been paranoid until after they'd been wedded.

"Yes, well DNA doesn't lie Ella. We're not even the same species, so don't even try that line of horse sh-"

Ella interrupted rudely "I keep telling you I didn't cheat on you! How can you be so paranoid?"

"I have proof!"

"You have nothing but your own suspicions, you..."

"I can and I will record this call." he reminded her in a tone of such long suffering exasperation that it was clear even he tired of saying it. "I am telling you how to contact me and where I am, only because the judge said I had to keep my whereabouts known to you. I already notified the court so you can't try to claim marital abandonment or desertion again." his voice was firm as he spoke to her, rage burning in his eyes at her antics when she ever appeared sweet and innocent.

"Can't you bring us with you? You're so selfish to exclude your wife and son from your adventures." her rage was palpable through the screen and Owen winced dispite the distance. This was the reason he'd waited till the ship had departed. To deny her the ability to insist on accompanying him because she was still legally his wife.

"You ceased being my wife the moment that you..."

She waved a diamond ring in his face in the COMM station. "I am still your wife. We're not divorced, and if you think i'm going to let go of you without a fight, you are sorely mistaken. "

"We're done talking." He stated flatly, simultaneously pressing the end button, ignoring and cutting off her shrieked protests. She hadn't been like that when they got married. How had she changed so much so quickly...Unless she'd been hiding it? Owen had a sinking suspicion that she'd put on an act to catch him, but why? He wasn't a catch, not even in his prime. He'd been a tolerable dancer, enough to get a few contracts with performing arts troupes...And he was a decent businessman, now that he had been forced to retire from performing due to injury. She'd been enamored of the life, the spotlight certainly...perhaps never of him personally.

Owen's sigh this time was sad, as he contemplated a bottle of spirits, wondering if he needed a drink to soothe himself. He should never have married the witch. Not a mistake he'd soon repeat.

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