Chapter 25
Tara opened the envelope, inwardly preparing herself. She’d been expecting to hear from the court with a hearing date. Claire had warned her it was imminent. Even while knowing what lay ahead, Tara still stared at the letter a little daunted. It was all there, in black and white, the procedure she herself had instigated. Her and Richard’s finances were about to be assessed by a District Judge, who would decide on the full and final settlement of the divorce. Long overdue in Tara’s eyes – and Claire’s.
‘Honestly, I don’t know what took you so long,’ Claire said when she’d rung to tell her the letter had arrived.
‘I know,’ sighed Tara, ‘but he’d worn me down so much, I just didn’t have the energy to fight him.’
‘Or the confidence. Never forget how he made you feel,’ retorted Claire with bitterness in her voice. She had witnessed first-hand the decline and low self-esteem of her friend. It sickened her. Itenragedher to think how Richard had slowly but surely sapped Tara of the spark and spirit she used to have. It was such a waste. Tara had been popular at university, sought after, until that manipulating ex-husband of hers had staked his claim.
Claire had always been suspicious of Richard. It amazed her how she seemed to be the only one who could see straight through him. While the rest of their housemates had revered the handsome, charming, soon-to-be dentist, Claire had immediately seen how he’d controlled Tara. The way he had ‘helped’ with her studies and cooked her meals just meant she never saw her friends. He managed to keep Tara to himself, instead of letting her live a normal, sociable student life. WhenClaire had learned of Tara’s pregnancy, she hadn’t been shocked. In fact, if anything, she’d seen it coming. Knowing that Richard had discouraged Tara from going on the pill, assuring her he’d ‘take care of things’, meant he’d had overall control of matters. Claire, rightly or wrongly, had suspected he’d been careless deliberately, in order to get Tara pregnant. He wanted Tara, and having his child meant he’d get her. And it had worked. Instead of her friend enjoying university years, she’d been pregnant, tired, stressed and most definitely Richard’s.
‘You’ll be there, at court, won’t you?’ asked Tara.
‘Of course. I’m representing you,’ replied Claire. Then asked, ‘Does Richard intend to get a solicitor?’
‘I’ve no idea. I suspect he may want to represent himself. I think he still wants us to settle out of court, that he can win me round.’
Claire gave a harsh laugh. Those days were over. Then she paused, a slight dread seeped inside her.
‘You won’t let him persuade you into anything, will you?’ she asked with trepidation.
‘No, definitely not,’ answered Tara firmly. She was doing this for Calum as much as herself. She was still smarting at how he was using their son as a pawn. Visions of an upset Calum sitting on his bedroom balcony flashed into her mind and her resolve strengthened. ‘Absolutely no way.’
Claire nodded. ‘Good.’
‘So, will we meet before the hearing date?’
‘No, I’ve got everything in order.’ Too right. Claire had made it her personal mission to go through each document with a fine-tooth comb. She had studied every fact and figure meticulously. Doing so had only increased her hatred of Richard. The evidence before her had spelled out just how much he had got away with – up until now. Claire was about to uncover the injustices dealt to her friend. It was payback time. Richard was about toencounter her wrath. Claire was notorious for her thoroughness and persistence, as she liked to describe it. Her opponents in court had dubbed her ‘The Rottweiler’.
‘OK, thanks, Claire.’
‘We’ll just need to have a chat before the hearing starts, so get there an hour before,’ she advised.
‘Will do, and thanks again, Claire, for everything,’ replied Tara with genuine gratitude.
‘My pleasure,’ replied Claire, totally meaning it.
Tara marked the calendar with the court date and made a mental note to check her hospital shifts. Not wanting Calum to know of the impending hearing, she simply drew a black star on the day. Then she wondered if Richard would tell him. How would he spin it? That Mum was dragging him to court in the hope of ripping him off? She wouldn’t put it past him. But Calum was getting older and wiser. Tara doubted he’d swallow Richard’s version of events now. Actions spoke louder than words, and Calum had seen Richard in action. He’d seen how his dad had left them, made his mum sell the family home, married the woman he’d had an affair with, and was about to start another family. They’d been cast aside.
Tara was also starting to doubt how happy Calum was staying at his dad’s big new house, with his new young wife; his new, young,pregnantwife. Richard himself had told her Calum hadn’t taken the pregnancy news well. How was he going to be when the baby was born? The more Tara considered it, the more convinced she was that Calum would gradually distance himself from Richard. Not that she particularly wanted it that way, but she could see the effect Richard’s actions were having on their son.
On a brighter note, Tara was pleased that Calum’s time with Jack had gone well. The two had gelled, much to her relief. Jack was the first man she’d introduced Calum to, and so hadbeen slightly apprehensive. In a way, Richard had actually done them a favour. By refusing to have Calum, it meant that they had all gone to the launch party together, which had proved a natural, low-pressure way for the two to get to know each other. Calum had been totally awestruck with it all, especially meeting Felix Paschal. The fact Jack had connections to such celebrities had more than impressed him. Of course, all this would have been fed back to his dad. Now it washisturn to listen to how ‘cool’ mum’s boyfriend was, instead of Tara having to stomach how wonderful Melissa was. Yes, the tables were well and truly turning.
Her thoughts were broken by a mobile call. It was Calum.
‘Mum, can I stay at Ben’s tonight?’
‘Sure, if that’s OK with Ben’s mum?’
‘Yeah, she’s picking us up from school.’
‘OK, what about tomorrow? Dad’s supposed to be coming for you in the morning,’ asked Tara, knowing it was Richard’s weekend to have Calum. There was a pause.
‘I don’t want to go to Dad’s. Can you pick me up from Ben’s early evening tomorrow?’
Tara inwardly sighed. Her prediction was coming true.
‘I will, but you need to contact Dad and let him know.’ She certainly wasn’t making the call.
‘Yeah, I’ll tell him,’ he replied indifferently.
Well, why should he mind letting his dad down? thought Tara. It was only what Richard had done to him.
‘OK love, see you tomorrow.’
‘Bye, Mum!’
