Heaven is on the Way Heaven is on the Way
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“ And you’re seeing him today ? Lunch time ?” “Yeah, it feels a little weird. “ “I understand, you two sort of go on a date. You feel like going back 5 months from now .” “No, not at all ! I’m here to explain things. By the way, do I have to recall you he’s opposing council ? I’m against him in court.” “…Doesn’t mean he’s the enemy , Ally. Admit it, you’ve been longing for this to happen. It’s been 5 months. And now, you’ll finally have all you answers.” She paused, hesitating on what to say. ”And maybe more.” “What are you implying by that ?” “Don’t play innocent with me. I give the two of you three days before you get back together, in all terms.” “First, don’t be gross. Second, what makes you believe I’ll go right back in his arms ? I’m the one who dumped him, remember ?” “Yeah, and you’re the one who bitterly regret it.” “It doesn’t matter at the moment. Now I have to go, it’s noon and I have to be at the restaurant in less than a hour. I’ll call to let you know about the case. Bye .” After ending the phone call, Ally laid down on her bed. Thinking about Larry, inevitably memories came back…
** “When I first met you, you struck me as a person who had maybe……forgotten how to love. And beloved. I mean, just spend six months with a guy, not even knowing why you were with him. Do you even remember what it’s like……to be with somebody ?”
** “You think I'm just gonna sit back and wait for you to get with the program? You might be afraid of all this Ally, but I'm... I'm not.”
** "I‘m sorry I missed most of your birthday." “…And now here I am, a year later, scared to death.” She sat up on her bed. “ Get yourself together Ally McBeal, and get out of that hotel room !!” As if thinking about Larry wasn’t enough, an oh-so known song began playing in her head.
“What name ?” “McB- …Paul.” “Paul……table 7, right over there.” When she saw him, her heart raced. He got up and instinctively kissed her on the cheek. “Oh my God……he has to stop this or I won’t be able to keep control of myself.” She backed off a little. Feeling he had embarrassed her made him even more uncomfortable : “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” “I know, I know.” “Ally, you can sit down.” “What ? Oh, yeah.” She blushed, clearly uneasy. “Do you want something to drink ?” “No thanks. I’m fine.” “So, where do you want to begin ?” “How about an explanation ?” she put her purse on the table and crossed her arms. “And don’t give me that ‘I’m a failure’ crap. It can’t be the only reason.” Larry took off his glasses and began cleaning them. She obviously wasn’t going to make it easier for him. “Ally, can I ask you something ?” “I’d prefer you to answer my question first, but go ahead.” “What are you doing in Detroit ?” “Isn’t that obvious ?” she was incredulous. “… I mean ‘with him’ : Raymond Millbury.” “I’m second chair on this case. He needed help, so…” Ally didn’t know what to say. If she didn’t lie, she would have to admit she took charge of this case to see him. “I saw you with him in the park on Sunday. The two of you looked awfully coz-“ “You saw me and didn’t even come up to say hello ?” Ally was perplexed. “First I thought I had taken another person for you, but when I realized it was really you, you were gone. “ He was now nervously squeezing his napkin. “Is it serious with Raymond ?” Ally was thunderstruck : “ What did you say ? Me and Raymond ? I can’t believe that you actually deduced that we were…dating.” She suddenly came to a realization. “Is that why you called me : you’re jealous ? ‘God, she’s moving on, I want her back.’ What kind of reaction is that ?” her voice rose. “I couldn’t expect more from a teenager, Larry. And that’s what you are. I actually thought you’d have grown up ! But no, silly me. Things haven’t changed.” She stood up and began to walk away. This time Larry took hold of her arm : “Ally don’t run away, please. I’m sorry if I jumped to conclusions, but when it comes to you…I-I can’t think straight.” Ally’s expression softened and for a second she pictured throwing herself at him. But she roughly replied : “ I am not running away, that’s your thing. Now let go off my arm! I’ll see you in court.” That’s what he did, he let her go no matter how painful it was. He thought for a moment about what happened. “What did I say ?”
There’s good reason I guess
Someone tell me why
Later in the afternoon, at the courthouse. Emma’s testimony has began and Larry directs the examination : “Miss Matthews, how long you and the defendant have been together ?” “Two years.” “Engaged ?” “For six months.” “Could you tell us what happened a week from now.” “Julian, my fiancé, burnt my Jaguar.” “Did you do anything that could have triggered that kind of reaction ?” “Four days before the wedding, I left.” “What do you mean by that ?” “Oh, I didn’t break up with him ! I just needed some space, so I called a friend and asked If I could come over for a few days. “What resulted from that ?” “Two days later, I got back home and found my car burnt in front of the alley. It was exposed there like a trophy.” “Where was Julian ?” “Waiting for me. When I came over him, he grabbed my arm and began shaking me while repeating “why, why ?” He was scaring me. That’s when he became verbally abusive, using demeaning terms.” “Do you think he could have hit you ?” “OBJECTION !!” Ally jumped off her hear, almost causing it to fall. “The plaintiff statement is a pure conjecture, irrelevant in that case.” Satisfied, Ally gave him a ‘watch out, Mr. Paul. I’m gonna get you’ look. “Sustained. You may change your question, Mr. Paul.” “So, Miss Matthews what passed through your mind at the moment ?” “I was terrified. I tried to talk to him, cam him down but he kept yelling at me, accusing me of cheating on him. I asked about the car and he said that I deserved it, that it was all my fault.” “What did you decide for the wedding ?” “I called it off. Julian was clearly violent and I couldn’t marry someone who’s paranoid !” “Objection ! The witness can’t possibly value the defendant’s health. I don’t seem to recall that she has a medical grade for that.” She looked at the judge intently, searching for her approval. “Sustained : Miss Matthews, don’t use medical terms.” Larry was getting annoyed, Ally was visibly trying to break his rhythm, something she was very good at these times. “May I resume ,your honor ?” “You may, Mr. Paul “ “ Thank you, so you called it off ? What about the ceremony ?” “Everything was ready , so I had to pay for it. I was emotionally devastated but I had to take care of it because Julian told me he didn’t wanna hear a single word about it.” “No more questions, your honor.” Ally walked over the witness stand where Emma was sitting. “ What happened four days before the wedding ?” “I’ve already said it : I left for a few days.” “You left. Did you even tell Julian you were leaving ?” “…no.” “You just …disappeared ?” “Objection, your honor ! The defense is making up the answer and doesn’t leave a chance to the witness to reply.” “Sustained. Rephrase Miss Mcbeal.” “Could we say that you left Julian with no indices about where you were ?” “Yes.” “Did he had a way to contact you ?” “No, I didn’t take my cell with me.” “So, for two whole days he didn’t know where his fiancée was ?” “Yes.” She reluctantly admitted. “Do you think that he could have considered any possibility, such you being hurt somewhere and alone ?” “It could be possible.” “You said you visited a friend. Could you tell us your relationship with him ? “He is……an ex-boyfriend.” “So, four days before the ceremony, Mr. Dawn finds out you’re missing, then learns that you’re staying at an ex-boyfriend’s. Two days later, you finally come back and tell him you were having doubts. Tell us now, how did you expect him to react ? Larry knew where Ally was going : “Objection ! Accumulating facts no-“ “The defense’s finished. No more questions.” And without expecting an answer from Emma, she got back to her place and didn’t even look at Larry. “Are there other witnesses ?” Raymond stood up :”The defense was expecting to call Mr. Pireman who hosted Miss Matthews for two days.” Larry raised an eyebrow : this was something he wasn’t prepared for. The judge nonetheless agreed to hear the witness. Sensing that Ally was equipped for it, he motioned for her to go on. “Mr. Pireman,” she began “you’re acquainted with the plaintiff, right ?” “Yes.” “What kind of relationship did you use to have?” “We’d been involved for over a year, four years from now. She’s a close friend.” “What happened on the day Emma came to your house ?” “she was extremely agitated. She was on the edge of calling it off. We talked about it and a few days later, she was serene. She had forgotten about her insecurities.” “Did you do something to emphasize Mr. Dawn’s anxiety ?” “No.” “ I mean, like calling him ?” “Yes, I did actually, but-“ Larry didn’t like the turn of the examination : Ally knew something he didn’t and was about to break it in front of the jury. “Could you tell us exactly what did you say ?” “I told him Emma was with me to reassure him, and that she was quite upset. But then, Emma came in the room and I hung up abruptly. I was doing this behind her back and I didn’t want her to believe that I betrayed her.” “That’s all you said : ‘She’s with me, looking upset’ ?” “Yes, it mostly sounded like that.” “So it was possible for Mr. Dawn to get the wrong idea and think that his fiancée was getting back with you, knowing the two of you were alone for two whole days.” “Maybe, I’m not sure.” “That would be all.” She turned round and while walking back to her table, she flashed Larry a mocking sneer. What was her surprise when he stood up and totally unprepared, cross-examined the witness. “You said she’s a close friend.” “Yes.” “One of your best friends ?” Yes.” Knowing Larry was onto something, Ally didn’t think twice and objected with no basis. Seeing the frustrated look that Larry sent her persuade her to stay quiet. “Overruled, you may pursue Mr. Paul.” “Assuming that she’s one of your best friends, wasn’t it in a natural way that she came to you to talk about a rough time she was going through ?” “Entirely.” “Did she had something else in mind, other than her cold feet case ?” “No, she was having second thoughts and I was a good ear.” “That’s all ?” “That’s all.” “Thank you, Mr. Pireman.” “Any redirect ?” the judge asked. “The defense rests, your honor.” Raymond replied. The judge declared court adjourned and scheduled Julian’s testimony for the next day at 4p.m.
“What can I say ? You were remarkable in court today ! What happened at lunch ?” “Larry slightly got me on my nerves and there’s no better way than antagonizing me to turn me into a real persecutor.” Raymond laughed. He and Ally were at the bar, relaxing after the hearing of Emma. “Well, keep it that way and we may have a chance to win.” She was dubious . “What do you mean ?” “Didn’t you look at him ? He was totally taken aback ! You wanted to weaken him and you’ve succeeded. We have to use that in court. I’ll let you deal with Julian’s testimony tomorrow.” He got back into his papers, looking very absorbed in the reading of a letter. “Is that wise ?” Not looking at her, he answered :“I trust you. I’m sure you’ll do your best.” “I mean, I fear that things might become personal in front of the judge. It will certainly take away all our credibility.” Suddenly interested, he raised his head and asked :“Personal. In which way ?” “First, there are some similarities between this case and my relationship with Larry. You see, he’s representing the one who ran away, like he did. Emma’s asking for damages but she doesn’t even consider that Julian suffered as well, maybe even more.” She was now fighting against tears. “Moreover, Emma didn’t say why she left. A case of cold feet ? It must be true, but there was something else to catch from that.” She played nervously with her bottom lip. “She was reconsidering her feelings for Julian.” She couldn’t bring herself to say the other alternative, “……perhaps she had stopped loving him.” “What’s the similarity with you and Larry in that statement ?“ She played with the straw of her cocktail for a long time, then said : “I’m afraid that’s the reason why Larry walked away. He had simply stopped loving me.” Taking her hand in his, he sympathetically comforted her : “I’m sure it’s nothing like that.” “How do you know ?” “Because the guy would be the biggest ass on Earth.” It made her laugh but she replied melancholically : “Sometimes, he really is……”
The following day, it was Julian’s turn to be examined. “ Julian, what did you do when you found out Emma was missing ?” “First, I thought she was taking a walk : her car was parked in front of the house.” “She didn’t leave anything that could reveal where she went ?” “No.” “Not even a note ?” She glanced at Larry, waiting for a reaction. Nothing, he remained inexpressive. “No.” “You didn’t call any of her acquaintances ? Maybe you’d just forgotten she was sleeping at a friend’s ?” “On the morning I called her parents, her colleagues. But when I saw that at 11p.m. she wasn’t home, I got very worried.” “Did you assume that she had ran away from you, afraid of the upcoming wedding ?” “Objection !! The defense is putting ideas in the witness’ mind.” Ally knew he was right but it didn’t keep her from reacting : “Look who’s talking, Mr. ‘I’m afraid of commitment’ !” “All-, um Miss McBeal. I don’t thing it’s relevant to tal-“ “Whatever !!” she hissed and turned back to Julian. Noticing the silence that had gotten into the room, she looked up at the judge. Her arms crossed, she asked fiercely : “Are we bothering you, Miss McBeal ? You may want to continue this interesting conversation outside ?” “Oh, oh…” Ally had just became conscious she was examining a witness. She rapidly peered at Raymond : he was covering his face with his hands. “He’s gonna kill me.” she thought. “I beg your pardon, your honor. It won’t happen again. May I start over ?” “Not without rephrasing your question : objection sustained.” “What did you deduce from the situation on Monday evening ?” “I was afraid that Emma had changed her mind. She had never left before without telling me first. I even thought she had been kidnapped ! At least, until I got a call from a former lover.” “Could you tell us about it ?” “It was around ten in the morning. I hadn’t left the house, expecting a call from her. I was intrigued and worried when it turned out to be her ex.” “How did you react ?” “Well, first I was relieved in a way. In a way. Then, the relief to know she was safe quickly fade out. I was confused. Three days before my wedding, everything was leading me to believe that my fiancée was back with her ex.” “And after that you burnt her car ? “I spent more than three hours on the porch steps, thinking. The more I thought, the more it hurt. The more it hurt, the angrier I got. Seeing that she wasn’t coming back, I deduced we were over……and I burnt her jaguar.” “Why the car ?” “As I said it before, it was parked in front of the house, in the alley. While sitting on the steps, I stared at it. By 5p.m. I was going crazy, I had to do something. Next thing I knew, her car was in flames.” “Do you regret it ?” “Of course, I do !! I felt regrets from the minute I saw the result of my crisis. I collapsed in tears next to the car. I couldn’t understand how I could have done that. I wasn’t myself.” Ally was finished and Larry walked over Julian. He looked intently at him then began : “Mr. Dawn, do you know why we’re here ?” “Yes, becau-“ “Just answer the question by ‘yes’ or ‘no’, would you do that ?” Julian nodded. “Did you ever doubt of Emma being faithful ?” “No, not until…” “Yes or no ?” “No.” “Weren’t you terrified at the idea of forever ?” “Yes.” “Was is possible for Emma to share the same fear ?” “Yes.” “So you’re allowed to have second thoughts but not her ?” “I didn’t say that !” “Let’s talk about the car. Did you know that This car was priceless?” “Yes, like most Jaguar.” “I mean as a gift from her father who died years ago.” “Yes.” “Did you really think you two would make up after what you did ?” “Yes…no.” “Now tell me : who caused harm ?” “We’ve both been hurt, Mr. Paul. It’s not like we can compare.” “If I got everything right, you go from anxiety to madness ? Does that even make sense ?” “Perhaps not, but I wasn’t thinking straight, I loved her and I needed to know she was hurting as much as I did.” “Looks like you succeeded. You thought attacking her materially would ease your pain ?” “Not really.” “You saw the car and knew it was a way to get back at her, admit it !” “No, I-“ “You’d be ready to swear your weren’t aware of the consequences ? You’re under oath, Julian.” “I……was.” Julian conceded. “OBJECTION ! The prosecution’s badgering the witness. The jury mustn’t rely on this statement. It’s the result of Mr. Paul’s assault.” Larry had gone too far. He led Julian into admitting something he never thought of and that, she couldn’t accept it. “Sustained. The members of the jury won’t take note of it.” “Julian. Sincerely tell us what were your intentions towards Emma when she would come back.” “I wanted her to tell me why, why me ? What did I do to her ? Why didn’t she tell about her hears. We could have work things out. But apparently I wasn’t the right person.” Larry was deeply touched by Julian’s response. Ally could have blame him for the same reasons. Shaken, he took a few moments to recompose himself and pursued : “I understand your questioning, but do you burn the car of each person that upsets you ? “Of course not, it was different with Emma.” “In which way ?” “I trusted her !! She went behind my back with another man , damnit !” “It was a supposition. You presumed she had betrayed you but you guessed wrong. Nothing happened. Now, I’ll ask you again : why are we here ?” Julian remained silent. “I’ll say it : you were jealous. This case has nothing to do with anxiety. You blew a fuse because you were jealous.” “Obj-“ Larry raised an excellent point. Jealousy and despair, that’s what led tricked Julian into this. “I’m finished with the witness.” After Larry’s brilliant examination, the judge dismissed them and announced the closing arguments for Friday at a.m. so that both sides would profit from a whole day to rest. The judge banged his gavel and Ally quickly exited the courtroom, she for sure didn’t want to confront Larry another time. She had already proven in public that she was nuts, it was enough for the day. She got into the elevator her head down, searching for her cell in her purse. As you might expect it, she bumped into someone, almost knocking him on the floor. “Hey, careful !” Confounded, Ally immediately apologized :“I beg your pardon, I didn’t…..” But then she saw who she was talking to : the biggest ass on earth, Larry. “I accept your apologies, Ally. I- “ “I take them back ! You don’t deserve them……Mr. Paul !” “Seriously Ally, if we could stop playing games, it would be a hell of a lot easier. For both of us.” “You did start this stupid game !” “Ally…” He reached out to grab her hand but she backed away. “Don’t touch me ! That is just like you, Larry Paul. Representing the cowards !” Raymond wanted to remind them they were in an elevator and people were attentively listening. He cut in : “Ally, maybe now isn’t the right time.” “You, stay out it !!” Larry spit back. “ This is between her and me.” Larry was earnestly getting annoyed of Raymond’s presence. “That’s where you’re wrong, Larry !” she shouted, pointing her finger at him. “This is between you and your irrational fears. : not good at goodbyes, not better at hellos…it’s always been about you and you know that !” A sound stopped her : they’d reached the entrance hall. She stepped out of the elevator and noticed Raymond wasn’t following . She whirled around and yelled : “And what is taking you so long ?” Nonplused by this exchange, Larry watched her disappearing in the crowd. Again.
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Author: Angy
E-mail: angy.paradise@club-internet.fr
Disclaimer: The characters belong to
David E. Kelley
