Chapter 7 #2
Axel pointed towards the living room, and addressed the girls, “I’ve got a big screen and a couple of bean bags for you to sit in.
” They followed him out without hesitation.
He picked up the remote control, let them pick their favorite cartoons, and adjusted the volume and they both got comfortable.
We retreated to the kitchen. The door was open, so I could keep an eye on the girls from where I sat—though from what I could see they were already making themselves at home.
I glanced over at Axel, his eyes were focused on his coffee, and I took in his handsome face.
Back at college, I’d always thought he was nice, more than nice.
Part of me had hoped that it was mutual, but he never made a move.
Suddenly the doorbell chimed, pulling me out of my thoughts.
The sound traveled through my chest before it reached my ears.
Axel went to the door. I heard their voices speaking quietly and then Axel walked in with a man in a suit.
He was frowning. Axel ushered us back into the kitchen, where the girls were less likely to overhear our conversation.
The man immediately complained. “Since when do prospects pat down visitors like we’re common criminals?” The man was impeccably dressed, wearing an expensive bespoke suit. He had a coat folded neatly over one arm and was carrying a briefcase in the other hand.
“Sorry about that. They get a little enthusiastic when women and children’s lives are at stake.”
“I am a lawyer, not a threat,” he shot back, clearly exasperated.
He gestured towards the kitchen table. “This is Roderick Engelhardt. He’s the best divorce attorney in the tri-state area,” he said to me.
I reached out to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Engelhardt.”
Turning to Roderick, Axel murmured, “Roderick, this is Tracey Sterling. She needs advice on getting a divorce. I already told you some of the details, but I’ll leave Tracey to explain everything.”
The moment we sat down, Roderick said, “You might want to consider a legal separation rather than going directly for a divorce. You know, to give yourself time to consider if you want to go for reconciliation.”
I felt my anger spark, fast and hot at that suggestion. “Look at my face. Do I look like a woman interested in reconciliation?”
“You could make participation in therapy a condition of reconciliation.”
“He hurt our daughter. Broke her arm,” I told him indignantly. “Even if I had been inclined to overlook him striking out at me, I’d never be able to live with myself if I didn’t protect my children.”
His eyes roamed over my face, catching the swollen cheek, bruises around my hairline, and the dark mark against the side of my neck. He finally nodded, “Of course. You sound like a woman who knows what she wants.”
He opened the briefcase and pulled out a folder. “First, let’s talk about what happened to your husband.”
“Bryce has been texting me nonstop. I already know he was arrested and his father bailed him out.”
Roderick nodded, and said, “The officer who took your statement found enough evidence to support an arrest for domestic violence. He attached the hospital’s documentation, photographs, and his own notes to the report.
I can verify that Bryce was arrested outside his office building, a couple of hours after you left in the ambulance for the emergency room with the girls.
He was booked on the DV charge. Like you said, he was bailed out shortly thereafter by his father’s attorney.
I filed for a restraining order and it’s in effect now.
He was notified and given a copy of the order, so he’s clearly violating it by texting you.
My partner, Sofia Frazer, is an expert in criminal law and will handle reporting violations of the restraining order to the judge. ”
“Thank God, all these nonstop messages feel like harassment.”
Axel ground out, “Those shitty messages are more than harassment, they’re downright abuse.”
Roderick nodded, “It is, which is why we are going to put a stop to it. Richard Sterling, Bryce’s father, retained a defense attorney out of Los Angeles.
Mr. Parker pushed for a quick dismissal, tried to sell the prosecutor on a family misunderstanding and unresolved grief.
The prosecutor’s office was entertaining the idea until Sofia called and reminded them that if they dropped charges on a case involving an injured child and it went viral, heads would likely roll. They decided not to drop the charges.”
“I wouldn’t have been very happy if they just let Bryce hurt my daughter and walk away without consequences.”
The attorney took a deep breath and moved on to the next issue at hand, “If you’re sure you want to file for divorce, we need to talk strategy.”
Looking intently into his eyes, I told him, “I want a divorce and I’m willing to do whatever gets this over with the fastest. My biggest fear is Bryce dragging this out for years and using my daughters for bargaining chips.”
Roderick studied my face, possibly trying to gauge if I was serious or just letting my anger over the situation get the better of me.
Finally, he brought a legal pad out and rested his pen on the kitchen table.
“We need a plan to split marital assets,” he said.
“You need to fund living arrangements for you and your daughters moving forward. We can work out a budget together to see what that looks like.”
Axel stepped forward before I answered. “She doesn’t need the divorce to stall out over greenbacks,” he said without drama. “I’m a wealthy man and I’m willing to provide housing for Tracey and her girls for however long they need and help her get back on her feet.”
Roderick’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you sure about that, Axel? Asking a woman to give up her right to communal property upon divorce is not a very smart move. Also, you might be underestimating how expensive it is to take care of a family when you’re only used to being financially responsible for yourself. ”
Axel turned to the lawyer, “I thought we had an understanding, Roderick. I gave you twenty grand of my hard-earned money to start this process. You promised to support whatever decisions my friend made throughout this process. Did you understand the plan or are you just going rogue on me?”
Glancing from Axel to me and back again, Roderick swallowed thickly. “No, I understand the arrangement. But I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t point out what a bad idea it is for Mrs. Sterling to forgo proper financial support for her and her children. I’ll do whatever she wants.”
“The problem with Bryce is he uses money as a form of control. As long as he’s paying me child support or alimony, he’ll try to control how I use it.
I’ve had enough of that in the years we’ve been married.
I put up with it because I believed he wanted the best for me and our kids.
But after he raised his fist to me and hurt our daughter, I want him out of our lives,” I paused for a moment and glanced at Axel before continuing.
“. I’m grateful for Axel’s help and generous offer.
I also have career plans of my own, so it will be temporary in any event. ”
Roderick’s worried expression softened around the edges. “That actually removes the biggest hurdle to getting a speedy divorce.”
“I don’t want anything from him. I know what Bryce and his father are like. I’m pretty sure he’d sign away his right to joint custody in exchange for not having to pay child support or alimony,” I said.
Roderick’s eyebrows flew up. “You don’t want anything in the divorce?”
I shook my head. My mind was made up and I wasn’t going to change it. “My girls are starting school this fall. That will free me up to get a job and go back to school. I’m a hard worker. I can take care of us.”
“There’s more,” I said. “If he’s reluctant, offer a no-fault divorce. Bryce’s father hates bad publicity. He doesn’t want everyone to know their personal business if this goes to discovery.”
Roderick came to his feet and stared down at me.
“I think I have a good understanding of what you want and how to go about getting it for you. But I want you to be aware that Bryce and his father are likely to turn up the manipulation because they have their own ideas on how this should go. Any and all contact between you and the Sterlings needs to go through me from now on. The restraining order is in place. If anyone shows up here without permission, don’t open the door to them. Call 911.”
I agreed to follow his instructions, and we walked him to the front door. I turned and leaned my back against the closed door. “This is really happening, isn’t it? I’m finally getting out?”
Axel tugged me forward, wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and walked me over to the sofa.
We both sank down, side by side. He reassured me, “Yeah, if you truly want out, I’ll do everything I can to help make that happen for you.
You’re not in this by yourself. Now you have me, and all the resources at my disposal. ”
“Since my mother died when I was in college, I’ve had no one. Bryce used that to get me to come to LA with him. I wanted to stay and work my way through college, but he convinced me that I could never make it on my own.”
Axel looked at me with compassion etched on his handsome face. “What can I do to help?”
I stammered without thinking, “I need a distraction, something to take my mind off this situation.”
“Do you want some me time, a spa day, or some kind of task? What will help you calm down faster?” he asked.
He was not asking because he wanted to manage me.
He was offering me options, an opportunity to make choices for myself after years of being overly controlled by Bryce.
Axel was a clever man, and it made me immediately interested in thinking over his options.
“A task,” I replied after a thoughtful moment. “Maybe something that challenges my mind and keeps my hands busy.”
He reached into a pocket, took out his wallet, and handed me a bank card.
It was a prepaid card. I could tell because it didn’t have a name imprinted on it.
He placed it in my palm and closed my fingers around it with a touch that did not linger.
“I want you to do some shopping online,” he said.
“Buy anything you think you and the girls might need, like clothes, toiletries and toys. We’re gonna see about collecting your personal stuff from the house, but just in case that takes time—or if you want to start afresh, I want this to feel like home for you all. ”
Something in my chest twinged. It was a mixture of hope, gratitude, and a little guilt. “I don’t want to spend all your money. I know you work hard for your money, Axel.”
He reached out to cup the side of my face. His expression was filled with amusement. “I really don’t. Spend what you need and don’t think any more about it. I wouldn’t offer if I couldn’t afford it.”
I realized why I was wary of accepting this gift, especially after realizing the size of the retainer he plunked down on my divorce. It’s that I had just spent years being forced to show gratitude to a man who used money as a form of control.
I wasn’t used to someone being generous and not expecting anything back.
Axel was changing everything. Teaching me what true friendship and love were all about.
Instinctively, I knew he loved me, platonically at least. That’s when the realization slammed through my mind that I might like him more than just a friend.
Those feelings I had for him in college had never really gone.
I teared up, realizing that he would never see me as more than a friend. Our relationship was forged when we were college friends after all, and he’d never been interested in me in that way.
He reached out to lay his hand gently on my shoulder. “Hey, what’s with the waterworks? I promise you, it’s no big deal. I want you and the girls to feel comfortable while you’re staying at my place.”
I nodded, blinking back my tears. “Thank you, Axel. I will keep a list,” I said. “Even if you never ask for it.”
“Keep a list if it helps you,” he said indulgently.
“If you decide you want to shop in person, let me know. We can take the Land Rover. If I’m ever not able to come with you, just text me before you leave.
I’ll get one of the prospects to escort you until Bryce gets it through his thick head to stay away from you. ”
“I’d rather shop online for the time being. Bryce thinks he’s above the law. I learned that a long time ago. He thinks there is no problem that can’t be resolved in his favor simply by throwing money at it.”
Axel frowned. “I always thought Bryce was basically a good guy, whose only crime was growing up rich. I wish I’d known back then what an asshole he was, maybe then I wouldn’t have…” He stopped speaking and kind of shook his head like he was trying to shake a thought loose.
I stepped closer and gave him a brief, friendly hug. “It’s not your responsibility to save me. I need to do that for myself. Having said that, having your support is a real blessing in our lives right now.”
Some emotion I couldn’t quite identify flashed across his face. He stepped back and gestured to the computer sitting on a nearby desk. “The computer password is fubar2022. You can use it whenever you like.”
He stood there staring at me for a second and then did an about-face and stalked out the door.
It was the hug, a little voice whispered from the back of my mind.
I shouldn’t have done that, because it clearly rattled him.
Walking over to the computer, I realized this was one of those situations where I was being emotional and he didn’t know what to make of it.