Chapter 1.26

A/N: You knew things were too good to last.

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—Camille—

“I don’t fucking believe it.” I stared at the paper in my hands, not quite comprehending the words on the page.

Shirley came around from the kitchen, a frown on her face. “Camille? What’s wrong?”

I threw the paper down, unable to stand touching it anymore. “Huy is suing me for full custody.”

“You have got to be joking. He hasn’t even seen her in almost a year. What is he thinking?”

I threw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know! He’s absolutely insane if he thinks he can actually win.”

Shirley sat down beside me and pulled me under her arm. “He can’t possibly win.”

I sighed in exasperation. “I’m going to have to get a lawyer.”

“We’re going to get a lawyer. We’re in this together. Loralee is my daughter too.”

I smiled weakly and wrapped my arms around Shirley. What would I do without her? I huffed a soft laugh. “What a time to have purple hair.”

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Julia Bellows was a somewhat severe-looking woman in her late forties. By all accounts, she was one of the toughest lawyers around when it came to custody battles. Of course, she was the one for Shirley and I. We met at her office a few days after I first spoke to her on the phone.

“Well,” she said as she sat down behind her desk, “I’ve got some good news and some not so good news. I’ve reviewed the information you provided, Ms. Thoreau, as well as the material sent by Mr. Casillas’ lawyer. The truth his, he could potentially win at least joint custody.”

“What? How? He’s hardly even seen Loralee since we divorced.”

“Honey, let her talk,” Shirley said softly. “She said there was good news, too.”

Julia looked at us from behind thick glasses. “To put it simply, Mr. Casillas’ circumstances have changed and that puts him in a better light. His new wife is prepared to be a stay-at-home mom to take care of Loralee. He recently purchased a house. And, though I don’t agree with this at all, his lawyer is willing to push the fact that you are in an ‘unconventional’ relationship.”

Shirley growled, “That bastard.” She blinked, looking surprised that those words had come out of her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

Julia smiled thinly. “I’ve heard much worse. Now, there are a number of things in your favor. Most notably is that you, Ms. Thoreau, are Loralee’s mother. Unless a mother is seriously unfit, the court almost always sides with mothers. Aside from that, you have been her custodial parent from the time of your divorce; it is of import to note – and I will stress this to the judge – that your ex-husband did not contest your request for full custody. You and Ms. Hines have been in a committed relationship for over four years now, and you both have exceptionally high-paying jobs that afford you a great deal of time at home. There is also the matter of the restraining order that you took out against your ex-husband, although I’ve noticed you’ve let it lapse in the last year.”

I sighed, regretting that. “He hit me when I told him I had been unfaithful. It was the first time he’d ever physically hurt me.”

“But he was abusive in other ways?”

I nodded. “He was verbally and mentally abusive towards me for the duration of our marriage.”

“But you never pressed charges.”

“And do I regret that. At the time, it just seemed better to get him out of my life. I didn’t want a court case.”

“I’m not here to judge your decisions, Ms. Thoreau. At worst, I think Mr. Casillas could win joint custody, but I strongly doubt any judge in his right mind would award him sole custody.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose and sighed. “Watcher, I wish I could just cut him out of my life.”

Julia laughed softly. “I think we’ve all felt that way about someone. I don’t want you to worry, Ms. Thoreau. I’m going to make sure your daughter stays with her two loving mothers.”