Page 50 of Catching Our Moment
Kelcie
“It just doesn’t make any sense. Why now?” Grace said.
I dropped Aaron off at school and called in to work. I was sick to my stomach.
“I don’t know. He’s a jealous asshole,” I said, rubbing my hand over my forehead in a vain attempt to stop my mind from reeling. “He just got married, and he has a happy little family. Why all of a sudden does he care?”
“I don’t know, but girl, we need to get in front of this. Did you call your lawyer?”
“I did. He’s supposed to call me back.”
She let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry you are going through this. What is Shaw doing?”
“He’s back at practice today. There isn’t anything he can do. Truthfully, having him involved just pissed James off more.”
My phone beeped with an incoming call. It was from a law firm I didn’t recognize. Great. James probably hired new attorneys. He wasn’t wasting any time.
“Grace, let me get this,” I said. “Just hold on a moment.”
“Yep. Sure,” she said.
I answered the other call. “Hello?”
“Hello, Ms. Hammer. This is Susan from the offices of Brown and Epstein. I wanted to set up a tele-appointment with Mr. Epstein for today. We were wondering if you were available around 1:00 this afternoon?”
Um, what?
“I’m sorry, I think there must be some misunderstanding. Who is this?”
“Susan from Mr. Epstein’s office. Dawson Shawfield contacted us on your behalf about your custody issue.”
I gritted my teeth. “Oh, I’m sorry, I was unaware of?—”
“Mr. Shawfield said it was a time-sensitive matter, so we made room in Mr. Epstein’s schedule for today. I was hoping to get the name of your previous representative so we could obtain the necessary documents to bring Mr. Epstein up to speed.”
I took in a deep breath. “Could you hold for one moment?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I flipped back to Grace. “Grace. Shaw hired a new law firm.”
“Good. Because it’s probably the best.”
“I told him not to get involved.”
“Hiring the best lawyer you could have is probably the best thing he could do for you. I mean, your other lawyer hasn’t called you back yet, and this one is ready to meet with you today,” Grace said.
“Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, Kelcie.
If this helps you out of the situation, who cares who is helping you?
It’s not about your pride, honey. It’s about Aaron. ”
Well, crap. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t know why I was being so obstinate. “Give me a moment.” I flipped back to the lady.
“Yes, 1:00 should be fine.” I gave her the information for my previous lawyer and said I would call and ask them to forward all files to the new firm.
I texted Shaw to thank him.
Me
Thank you for the referral.
Shaw
They are the best in the area. Please, just talk to them.
I stared at the screen for a moment.
Me
I can’t afford a big firm, Shaw.
Shaw
I can. And don’t fight with me about it. It’s not negotiable. Did you get the contract from Smitty?
Me
Yes, but I haven’t looked at it yet.
Shaw
Forward it to me. I’ll have some people look at it.
Me
Okay.
I didn’t want to deal with a contract that wouldn’t ever get approved by James. There was no point in getting everyone’s hopes up.
Shaw
Tell Aaron I said hi. He can call me this afternoon if he wants.
If that is okay with you.
Me
Okay.
The dots danced as Shaw continued to type, and my eyes burned in anticipation of what else he’d say.
Then they disappeared, and my heart sank. Dammit, I had to focus on other things. I couldn’t get wrapped up in what was happening with Shaw. I had to put all my focus on Aaron.
* * *
“So, your new boyfriend is buying you a new lawyer, huh?” James said as a greeting when he called the next day.
“I don’t see how that matters to you,” I said quietly and closed the door to my bedroom.
“It doesn’t. I want to see Aaron this weekend.”
“It’s not your weekend,” I said.
“Nonetheless, if you want to make this more amicable, you will start to be flexible. I want him here this weekend.”
“Why, what is the big deal? I couldn’t get you to adhere to the other scheduled dates.”
“My schedule is always changing. Between work, Amber, and her kids’ activities, I have to rearrange things sometimes,” he said with irritation.
“That isn’t my problem. We have an agreement. I’d like to stick with it,” I said.
His tone darkened with exasperation. “My parents are coming this weekend, and I would like my family together.”
His family.
“I see.” His parents had always liked me, and they adored Aaron. I’m sure he’d had a lot of explaining to do with the divorce and his marrying Amber so quickly. “I will talk with Aaron and see if he’d like to come visit your parents. I think he wanted some quiet time after last weekend.”
“You mean after you left him for your fling in Charlotte.”
“Again, none of your business. I told you I had plans.”
“If I’d known you were going to abandon him to?—”
“I didn’t abandon him. You know what? It doesn’t matter. I will talk to Aaron,” I said. “I will text you later.”
“Kelcie—”
I hung up on him. There wasn’t any point in arguing.
Later that evening, after dinner, I approached Aaron with the idea of going to his father’s that weekend to see his grandparents.
He dropped his spoon in his ice cream bowl and, without looking up, said, “Do I have to?”
“Technically, no. It’s not his weekend.”
He straightened. “Then I don’t want to go. I want to stay home.”
The wave of unhappiness that hit him had me prying more. “Honey, is everything okay when you go there?”
“It’s so loud, Mom,” he said, the floodgates opening. “Amber’s kids have televisions and video games in their bedrooms, and they’re always so loud.”
I put my hand over his as he continued, “And Dad gave Brent my room. He moved me out of my room and put me in the den.”
Excuse me. Was he kidding? One of the reasons I’d agreed to sell the house to James was so that Aaron could have some continuity when he went there.
“He said it was selfish of me to want to keep my room since I was only there every other weekend, and Brent needed it,” he said. “Now my room is the den, and it’s never quiet down there. They always are yelling and loud, and when I get upset, Dad gets angry at me.”
I held it in. I bit my tongue, and I watched my son shovel ice cream in his mouth, his eyes glassy.
What was James’s deal? If he made so little room for Aaron in his life, why was he insisting on custody?