47 - Out of Court Settlement

RJ's POV

We were not able to stop Patrick in proceeding with his claim of custody of Celestine. Obviously, it was triggered after his talk with Charmaine.

Charm has been uneasy while we are waiting for Patrick and his legal counsel. We decided to talk about a possible settlement of the custody claim outside the court. We admit that this case will favor Patrick having the fact that Charm and him has been into a relationship the time Celestine was conceived.

It only took a few minutes of waiting when Patrick and his legal team arrives. After the exchanges of greetings, the legal counsel of both parties started the discussion.

"As we all know, the purpose of this talk is about my client's claim of custody for Celestine Mendoza, daughter of Mrs. Charmaine Dei Mendoza-Faulkerson. As Celestine's father, he is requesting a full custody of his daughter since her mother is already married and has her own family. My client want to make sure his daughter will be more protected if she stays with him since they are blood related." Atty. Sandro Velez explained.

"Panyero, our law clearly states that the child under seven years old stays with the mother regardless if the mother as her own family. We understand your client's concern and we respect his claim of being the child's father, which is not yet proven. If the mother is proven to be unfit to perform her responsibilities as the mother only then that the court may side in favor of your client. Celestine is living comfortable, she is studying in a good private school, all her basic needs are provided by Mrs. Faulkerson." Atty. Gonzales, our family's legal counsel said.

"We acknowledge the law panyero, what my client is pointing out here is to spare the child for a possible mis-treated by her mother's husband and his family." Atty. Sandro explained.

"Again, we appreciate the concern of your client Panyero but we would like to show you this document." Atty. Gonzales said and hand in to Atty Sandro the document that he was talking about. "Please check on it Panyero. My client, Mr. Richard Faulkerson, Jr. has filed an adoption request for the child Celestine Mendoza, daughter of his wife Mrs. Charmaine Faulkerson. Please take a look at the date when it was filed, it shows the filling took place days before their wedding. Therefore, it clearly shows that Mr. Richard Faulkerson, Jr. have shown his interest to treat the child as his own by giving her his family name." Atty. Gonzales further said.

"Adopting a child does not guarantee that she will be treated fairly, specially if your client will have their own child." Atty. Sandro said.

"There is also no guarantee that your client is the child's father." Atty Gonzales straightly said.

"We are willing to do a DNA test to prove that my client is the child's biological father." Atty Sandro firmly replied.

"We can consider that option but what's the use of going that far if we all know that the court will not side on your client even if you provide a proof of being the child's biological father? Aren't we wasting our precious time here? My client is open to grant the visitation rights." Atty. Gonzales said.

"We also did not know if your client is the biological mother of the child, Atty. Gonzales." Atty Sandro abruptly said and I saw Charm suddenly looses the confidence she has at the beginning of the discussion. I discreetly held her hand to at least ensure her that everything will be fine.

"Pardon me Panyero, but my client's name is in all documents pertaining to the child's parental." Atty. Gonzales insisted.

"But I know that you'll agree that those documents will not guarantee that Mrs. Charmaine Faulkerson is the biological mother of Celestine. Only a DNA testing can prove that." Atty Sandro further said.

"May we please know what my colleagues is insinuating?" Atty. Gonzales asked.

"You are doubting that my client is not the biologiocal father of the child. We are also doubting that your client is the biological mother of the child. Maybe the best remedy to end this doubt is to determine the legitimacy of both party's claim." Atty. Sandro explained.

"Forgive me panyero but I find it absurd to doubt my client's blood relation to the child. Your client is the one claiming the custody, isn't it just right that we demand for proof about his claim?" Atty. Gonzales said.

"But you cannot say that our doubt is not valid." Atty. Sandro insisted.

"Atty Gonzales, Atty Velez we are willing to undergo a DNA test, provided Patrick Ledesma will undergo the same test." I abruptly butts in and Charm throw a confused stare at me. I held her hand more tightly signaling her that I know what I am doing.

"Richard, what are you talking about?" Atty. Gonzales surprisely asked.

"I'm sorry Atty. Gonzales, but you and Atty Veles has been exchanging facts and opinions for quite a while already and I realized that this problem will never be resolve if we skip the basic and that is for Patrick and Charm to prove that they are the biological parents of Celestine." I said.

"Are you sure about this Richard?" Atty. Sandro asked beaming.

"I am sure, I think that is the best thing to do right now." I replied.

"I don't mind at all, I am confident I am Celestine's father and I can prove that in court or outside the court." Patrick began bragging.

"I think it is better to wait for the result of the DNA test first before we begin bragging about winning the claim." I said trying so hard to be calm.

"Very well, then both parties agreed to undergo DNA test , am I right?" Atty Gonzales asked.

"Yes Panyero, let us convene again maybe after two weeks once the result of the DNA testing is released." Atty Sandro said.

"Yes my office will coordinate with yours Atty Sandro on when we shall convene again" Atty. Gonzales replied.

"Meeting adjourned then." Atty Sandro said and after a series of goodbyes Patrick together with his legal team left the three of us in the room.

"Anong pumasok sa kukote mo Richard, bakit ka pumayag sa DNA testing? They are the one claiming for the custody, nasa atin ang lahat ng karapatan to demand. We both know that Charm is not Celestine's biological mother. We could have win this case even without that DNA testing, but because of what you did our chance to win this case slides down." Atty Gonzales frustratedly said.

"And you think Patrick will not request for that? Can't you see Atty. Gonzales, they are not laying all their cards now, and I know the request for Celestine and Charm's DNA test will be asked by his side, why do we have to wait and maunahan pa nila tayo?" I insisted.

"I really hope you'll realized what you just did Richard and I pray that this will not boomerang on us." Atty Gonzales said. "Anyway, I will let you know when the next meeting will be. For the meantime, iuwi mo na si Charm, it is very obvious that she is not in good shape now." He added.

On our way home, Charm never uttered a word, I know she is very upset on the sudden turn of events but I still believe that I did the right thing to stop prolonging our agony.

She gets out of the car quickly without waiting for me to open the door for her. I followed her in the room as soon as I parked the car, thank God, Celestine is in her room when we arrived because if not, I'm sure it will take me a while to talk to Charm and explain my side.

She was standing at the window looking outside when I entered the room. I gave her a back hug and said "Please tell me what's on your mind, Love."

"You should be the one to tell me what's on your mind when you agreed on that DNA testing process." She coldly replied. "Yes, we both do not know if Patrick is the biological father of Celestine but we are certain that I am not her biological mother. Tell me why did you do that, I want to understand." She said and started weeping.

I took a deep breathe and turned her around so I could face her when I explain my side, "Dun din naman pupunta yun eh, bakit papatagalin pa natin?"

"I know but because of what you did, we only have a slimmer chance to get Celestine's custody. Tell me honestly, ipinamimigay mo ba ang anak ko?" She replied.

"Of course not, if you are fighting for Celestine, so am I." I said

"Pero bakit mo talaga ginawa yun?" She asked sobbing.

"Because Patrick is not Celestine's biological father." I replied.

"We can say that only after the release of the DNA test result." She said.

"I am certain about it because I already have Patrick and Celestine's DNA test result." I confidently replied and confusion is all over her face.

"How did you do that?" She asked.

"Hindi naman mahirap kuhaan ng DNA sample si Patrick eh, tuwing nasa opisina yan, limang tasang kape yata ang nauubos nyan kaya nakakalat ang laway nya sa opisina namin." I replied.

"Kadiri ka." She said and this time her face lightens up.

"I'm offended because you doubted on me." I said

"I'm sorry." She apologized and hugged me. "Malay ko bang may pa-DNA testing ka agad, hindi mo man lang ako nainform." She said.

"I don't want to waste our effort kung wala naman pala tayong pag-asang manalo, we need to plan ahead and we could only do that if we know the truth. After the release of your DNA result we will file a restraining order on Patrick for you and Celestine." I said,

"Why did you not tell me that you filed an adoption request for Celestine?" She asked.

"That's supposed to be a surprise, sa birthday sana ni Celestine. Parang gift ko for her na magiging Faulkerson na rin sya. Mas mabuti na yung mas maaga habang hindi pa sya marunong magsulat para hindi sya malito at mahirapang mag shift from Mendoza to Faulkerson." I replied. "Are you happy? Did I make you happy?" I asked.

"Definitely my love, hmmmm ….. ang galing talaga ng asawa ko …. you always excel in everything that you do." She sweetly said then I felt her hands slowly unbuckling my belt then went underneath my shirt afterwards and travels around my torso. "Hmmmm …. you are so sexy Faulkerson, Jr." She flirtly said while she started unbuttoning my shirt.

"What are you doing Mendoza Girl?" I asked beaming.

"I am just showing you how happy I am right now, so please shut up and start doing what you are supposed to do." She replied then I quickly pull her closer to me to gain access to her lips and planted a kiss as passionate as it should be.