Mary stood and hugged Chloe. “It’s our pleasure. Just being here makes me feel closer to my great-grandmother.” She turnedto Liam and smiled. “I hope you have a productive meeting tomorrow.”
“I hope so, too,” he said softly. “I’ll let you know if I need more information from you.”
By the time they’d helped put away the letters, Oscar was yawning.
“You go,” Penny insisted. “I’ll help sort out the rest of Clara and Eleanor’s things.”
Chloe wrapped her arm around Oscar’s shoulders. “Thanks. I’ll see everyone tomorrow morning.”
As they said their goodbyes, Chloe felt a deep sense of peace settled over her. Eleanor had left behind a family she adored to start a new life. With very little money and knowing no one, she’d built a life that made her happy. It was sad that the life she’d imagined with Samuel had never eventuated, but she hadn’t let that stop her falling in love with Thomas. She’d created a family who meant the world to her, and a legacy that lived on in Sacha.
And that, above all the other things they’d learned about Eleanor, made Chloe admire her even more.
“What are you thinking about?” Liam asked.
“I’m thinking about Eleanor. Meeting Mary and Sacha has made her seem so real. Eleanor didn’t give up when her life got tough. She carried on and created a different but equally rewarding future.” Chloe held Liam’s hand. “I don’t want to lose what we have. If you decide to work with the publishing house, I’ll be with you every step of the way. Even if that means homeschooling Oscar in Türkiye.”
Liam looked into her eyes. “That’d be amazing. But what about Paul? He might not let Oscar leave the country.”
Chloe stared at him. She hadn’t thought about Paul being able to stop her. Apart from his last visit, he hadn’t seen or calledOscar in more than a year. Would he really be that worried about Oscar living with her in Türkiye?
CHAPTER 21
The next afternoon,Chloe sat at her kitchen table, re-reading the questions for her lawyer about taking Oscar out of the country. Liam was meeting with the staff from the publishing house in San Francisco today. Depending on what they said, she might be worrying about nothing, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
Oscar was playing in the living room, happily building a castle with his Legos bricks. The timing couldn’t have been better so, taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and called Laura’s number.
After a few rings, Laura’s receptionist answered the call and put Chloe through to her lawyer. “Hi, Chloe. How are you?”
“Hi, Laura. I’m doing well, thanks. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
“Not at all. What can I do for you?”
Chloe glanced toward the living room to make sure Oscar was still engrossed in his Legos. “I wanted to discuss something important with you. My boyfriend might accept an amazing opportunity to write a travel guide on Türkiye. I’m considering moving there for a few months with Oscar. I’d like to know ifI can take Oscar with me and how it might impact the custody situation with Paul.”
Laura paused briefly before responding. “Given that Paul wants to see more of Oscar, any significant changes you make could influence the court’s decision. Moving abroad, even temporarily, could be seen as you attempting to limit Paul’s access to his son.”
Chloe sighed. “That’s what Liam thought. As long as Oscar has supervised visits with Paul, I don’t want to stop him from seeing his dad. But this opportunity is important for Liam’s career.”
“It makes it difficult when a child’s involved,” Laura replied. “While you currently have full legal and physical custody, the court will evaluate all factors to determine what’s in Oscar’s best interest. How willing you are to build a relationship between Oscar and Paul is crucial.”
“What if I think of something that allows Paul to have extended visitation during school breaks or regular video calls?” Chloe suggested.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Laura agreed. “Demonstrating that you’re considering Paul’s role in Oscar’s life can positively affect the court’s decision.”
“Do you think the court would postpone their decision until after we came back from Türkiye?” Chloe asked hesitantly.
“That doesn’t usually happen,” Laura admitted. “If your hearing happens before you want to go to Türkiye, you’ll need to follow their instructions.”
Chloe rubbed her forehead. “I need to talk to Paul, don’t I?”
“You do,” Laura told her. “Tell him what you’re thinking of doing and see if you can reach an agreement. If he consents to the temporary relocation, it could simplify everything.”
“And if he doesn’t agree?”
“Then we’ll need to go to court,” Laura said gently. “But remember, I’m here to support you through this process.”
“Thanks, Laura,” Chloe said sincerely. “I appreciate your advice.”
