Jul 7, 2008 6:29 pm US/Eastern
Brinkley Talks Family In Custody Phase Of Case
Former Supermodel Says She Looks Forward To Her Own 'Independence Day'
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Model Christie Brinkley And Husband Peter Cook Arrive For The Premiere Of 'The Hamptons' June 1, 2002 In Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Matthew Peyton/Getty Images
The Christie Brinkley-Peter Cook divorce saga continued Monday, entering the custody phase. The supermodel took the stand again to talk about her family, including her children and her husbands, past and present.
Brinkley hoped reporters had good holiday as she entered the court, offering her well-wishes as if she was welcoming everyone to a garden party, before translating that holiday greeting into a declaration of her very own.
"I hope you all had a happy fourth of July, I'm looking forward to my independence day," she said as she strolled through the doors.
For most of the day, with Brinkley being questioned gently by her lawyer about her kids, observers got a window into a lifestyle that even for the kids is in another universe. While on the witness stand she talked about taking her children to places like a Nobel summit in Rome to hear the Dalai Lama and Mikhail Gorbachev speak.
Christmas – before things, she said, got tense with Cook – used to be a party at their home with at least 100 people.
"I collect everything about Christmas," she said. "I know it's corny... Currier and Ives... Alexa's father comes and plays the piano.
"When Alexa was a baby I started the Christmas carol sing along tradition," she added.
Alexa's father, Billy Joel, is apparently known as "Uncle Billy" to the two younger children, according to Brinkley. She says Cook did not want them to go to a show "Uncle Billy" was doing at the exclusive Ross school.
And Brinkley got her kids excited by asking Ashley Tinsdale to go also.
"Jack really wanted to go... I found out she was the biggest Billy Joel fan so I invited her... Peter said no. Jack was so distraught," she said.
Then, about the affair with Diana Bianchi: "I had to deal with his affair with a teenager. I had to deal with his Internet pornography. It makes you question his judgment – anyone who would run the risk of ruining this beautiful life."
Meanwhile, Brinkley told reporters Monday that Joel has been "very supportive."
Most of the questioning on Brinkley has been very gentle because it's her own attorney. But when Cook's lawyer begins his line of questioning, it's expected to take quite a different tone.
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