Chapter 12: Lawsuit

One month before Harper’s 18th birthday
Cole watched with fascination as Harper breastfed Emerald. He thought back to the one time he’d had his mouth on those full breasts and smirked. He wouldn’t be sucking them anytime soon. “What are you smirking at?” Harper asked. “Nothing sweetheart,” he said, willing his hard-on to go away. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t sleep with Harper again until after she was legal. Once was already enough to get him into trouble. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like that would happen. His phone made a noise, alerting him that he’d gotten a text message. He looked, saw it was from his dad, and sat up. His dad never texted him unless it was important.
Dad: Walter will be calling you in a few minutes
What the hell? Why would their family lawyer be calling him?
Cole: Walter would be calling me? Did u get the wrong #?
Dad: This is Cole, right?
Cole: yes
Dad: then yes, Walter will be calling you
Cole: why?
Dad: you’ll see
Cole didn’t like the sound of that at all. Harper must’ve seen the concern on his face because she tugged on his hand to get him to face her. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “My dad just said our lawyer was going to call me.” “Your lawyer? What for? Are you in trouble?” Cole shrugged, “I’m not sure what’s going on.” Ring ring. Cole answered the phone, “Walter.” “Mr.Martinson.” “What’s going on?” “I’ll get straight to the point then we can hash out the details in person later.” “Thank you.” “The Martinson family has been sued.” “...For how much?” “$500,000.” “Half a million dollars?! What for?!” “Rape compensation.” “I’m sorry, what?” “Rape com-” “I heard you. What the hell is that and who the hell is suing us?” “Mr. Paul Turner.” Cole glanced at Harper. This could not be happening right now. Her father was suing his family because of him. Did she know? Did Harvey know? “...Okay.” “I assume you know that your actions have caused this.” “...Yeah. What is the statement?” “The lawsuit says that you raped his minor daughter at a party when she was intoxicated.” “...I see.” “Turner wants compensation money to help support the resulting child.” “Bullshit! I’m right here!” “The phony lawsuit isn’t the worst part. It’s been leaked to the press. It’s all over the news.” “One sec, I’m putting you on speakerphone to look.” Cole opened Google and sure enough, the first thing was an article titled: Eldest Martinson son, Cole, sued for raping a 17-year-old girl at a rave thrown by his younger brothers. He took the phone off speakerphone, “Yeah, I saw it.” “To be frank, public opinion is not in your favor.” “As would be expected.” “I’ll be in town tomorrow morning and we can put together a statement to the press and get things in order.” “Okay. Thank you Walter.” “It’s my job. I suggest you and your girlfriend lay low for the time being, especially you.” “I will.” “Talk to you later.” “Yeah, okay.” Cole hung up and sunk onto the bed.
By then, Harper had finished feeding Emerald and was burping her. She didn’t ask what was wrong until she’d put Emerald down to nap. Then she seated herself on Cole’s lap. He’d normally pull her flush against him and wrap his arms around her, but this time he didn’t. That was the first sign that something was wrong, really wrong. The second sign was when she kissed him, he hesitated at first. He never hesitated; in fact, he was usually initiating the kisses. “Baby, what’s wrong?” she asked, “What did your lawyer say?” He ran his knuckles down her cheeks, “My family is being sued.” She gasped, “For what? What did your family do?” “You mean what did I do?” “Okay, what did you do?” “Allegedly, I raped an underage girl and her father wants compensation money.” “...You did what?!” “Harper, your dad is suing me for what happened at the party.” Harper nearly fell off his lap but he held her in place. “What?” she squeaked. “Yeah, and it’s all over the news, making me look like some rapist.” “But, I came onto you.” “....” “What are we going to do?”
Before he could answer his phone rang. He looked at the caller id; it was his commanding officer. “Well shit, now I’m really screwed,” he muttered before he answered. “Martinson.” “Jacobs.” “I assume you’ve heard of what’s going on in the news.” “Yes sir, I have.” “Well?” “Utter bullshit.” “But can you prove that? Because once people find out that you’re in the military, they’ll turn on us and say we employ rapists.” “For one, Jacobs, the so-called victim is my girlfriend. If I’d raped her, we wouldn’t be together now.” “...Okay. But is she a minor?” “...Yeah. She turns 18 in a month.” “People don’t care if she’s almost 18 now, was she almost 18 when shit went down?” “...No, sir. But to be fair-” “Was she illegally drunk when it happened?” “...Yes sir.” “Then what part of having sex with a minor while she’s drunk isn’t rape?” “What are you accusing me of?” “Nothing yet. And how did she get a hold of alcohol anyways?” “We were at a party.” “Who threw this party?” “...My brothers.” “Are any of them over 21?” “...No sir.” “So your brothers threw a party and somehow obtained alcohol which led to this.” “...” Cole clenched his jaw. “Martinson, this is looking bad for you. We’re going to have to discharge you if it isn’t cleared up soon.” “...I understand, sir.” “Good.” He hung up. Cole wanted to punch something. He wanted to blame Harper for coming onto him and being drunk, but he couldn’t. It was his fault. He was the adult and should’ve made sure she was legal since she was at a high school rave. Surprisingly, he didn’t regret a single thing though because that would mean he wouldn’t have Harper, whom he was in love with, or their beautiful daughter Emerald. “Cole…” Harper said, tentatively. He sat her beside him and stood up. Goddammit, he was going to cry. He was being made out to be a rapist and he was going to lose his job, a job that he loved.
Harper had never seen Cole like this. He looked so lost, hurt, and angry. What had that last phone call done to him? Then she thought about her dad and her anger surged. He had some nerve to accuse her boyfriend of rape then sue him. It was like he was trying to make him look bad on purpose. And why was he acting like he cared about her being a “victim” when he hadn’t supported her through her pregnancy or delivery? Was it all about the money? Did he just want the money? She picked up her phone and called him. He had the audacity to answer in a chipper voice, “Harper?” She wanted to curse at him for hurting Cole and her but Emerald was in the same room. “What are you doing dad?” “What do you mean?” “Don’t play coy with me? I know you’re suing Cole. Why?” “He took advantage of you dear-” “Don’t you dare ‘dear’ me! And he did not! I kissed him first!” “That’s beside the point.” “No dad, I took advantage of him!” “Potato, potatoe. We’re going to get $500K from them!” Harper couldn’t stop the tears running down her cheeks, “So this is all about the money.” “Of course.” “What about Cole dad?” “What about him? He’ll be fine.” Harper shook her head and hung up. Cole pulled her into a hug, “Everything’s going to be okay. I promise,” he said.