How sad is it that, until she went thatonestep too far, Ididactually give the briefest of thoughts to caving in to her just to make her go away?
No, I fucking wasnotabout to move to California with her.Fuckthat.
But, for one breath, I pro-conned in my head letting Katie go, meaning no more hiding my relationship with Arlo and Zoey.
Only one breath, though, before the stunned shock wore off and protective rage washed in, demanding I fight to the death, if necessary, to keep Katie here.
Zoey’s right. I really do need to learn how to fight for myself better. What kind of example am I setting for Katie if I don’t?
Worse, what kind of father would I be to allow Katie to move with Jerilyn to the other side of the country, where I couldn’t be there to be Katie’s safe refuge the way we were for Lucas?
Jerilyn was raised by shitty, awful people who did horrible things to her emotional well-being.
But she has a choice, as an adult, to not be shitty.
I’m breaking that cycle now. Before today, I thought Jerilyn would treat her daughter better than she’d been treated.
I was wrong.
Soooo wrong.
Hopefully, I can undo any emotional damage she’s done to Katie. Hopefully it’s not too late for my little girl.
“Just to let you know,” Mike adds. “If we’re forced to file a motion to fight for full custody, we’re also going for full child support. He’s being too nice to you. I wanted him to go for the jugular. As you see in there, as long as you sign the papers, and don’t file false allegations against him or anyone else, he’s waiving child support, he’ll pay for her health insurance—everything. You won’t be required to spend one penny.”
She finally signs the papers, all three copies, and slaps the pen onto the desk. “There. Take it down.Now.”
I pull out my phone. “Hold up, Lucas. I want overlap on this video so if we need to use it in court, she can’t claim there was a gap in coverage where stuff happened.” I start taping. “Mike?”
“That should be good enough,” he says after a few seconds.
“Okay, Lucas,” I tell him. “Go ahead and take the video down, please.”
He stops filming. A minute later, he nods. “All right. The posts are deleted from Twitter and Facebook.” He glares at her. “IloveKatie. She’s my little sister. I wouldneverhurt her. I’d put a beating onanyonewho’d try to hurt her. So would Caine. Howdareyou use her like that. You’re a monster, lady. A real monster. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Jerilyn glares at him. “Well, then,” she says in a syrupy-calm voice I know masks unadulterated contempt and hatred. “I guess you all get to be a happy little ‘family.’”
Bitch actually uses finger quotes.
Then she turns back to Mike. “Where’s my copy of the paperwork?”
I’ve already signed them.
“I need to see a copy of your ID, ma’am,” the AA says. “To notarize them.”
Jerilyn haughtily pulls out her wallet and waves it under her nose. “There.”
I’ll give the AA credit, she keeps her calm. “I need the ID number off your license, ma’am.”
Jerilyn drops her wallet on the desk. “There.”
Once the papers are notarized, Mike gives Jerilyn a copy. “When can my client have Katie’s things removed from your place?” he asks. “I would prefer today. In case you missed it, there is a stipulation in the papers you just signed stating you’ll allow removal of the items within forty-eight hours.”
I get yet another glare from her. “Better come get them tonight, if you want them at all. I’ll be moving next week. Seven to eight. Not a second later, or you won’t get a damn thing.”
She storms out before I can even ask if she wants to see Katie before she moves.
Fuck.
