21. Chapter 21
What a change in the last few weeks. All my stuff has been moved over to Carlee”s. Well, actually to her sister”s house, since we decided our next move would be there. We had the conversation as a family, and I was honored to be a part of the discussion. We talked and decided the best choice was to rent out Carlee”s house, which would give us some extra income. At least for now, it was the best course of action. Though we decided to watch the market and see when would be a good time to sell. That way if we could make some money on the sale of her house, we could put it in savings or use it to buy something else.
Another major plus is that her sister”s house is paid off. Kaylee and Brian were really smart with their money and left Liz well taken care of.
Won”t be many more days I have to drive you over here, Noah says as we pull into Carlee”s sister”s driveway.
I guess I could start thinking of it as my house, but I”m not quite there yet. My transitioning out of Oakside is going well and my doctors have signed off on everything. The biggest hold-up is I still don”t know what I want to do, whether to go to school or get a job. It”s great I have everything I need to live here, but after that, I”m not so sure.
They have set me up with translators when necessary, and I”m exploring my options.
Listen, now isn”t the time to talk, but I”d like you to be with me in a meeting. There is someone coming to Oakside to tour the place. Her husband was military and killed in action, and I want to run some ideas by both of you,Noah says.
Okay, let me know when.When I get to the door, I knock, but then walk in. While I know there is no need to wait for her to answer the door, I still like to let her know I”m here. She normally greets me, but today she doesn”t, so I go toward the back of the house and find her on the floor of the family room crying.
I rush over, thinking she hurt herself, but she keeps shaking her head.
I”m okay.She hands me the piece of paper in her hand.
I sit on the couch, pulling her up next to me, and tuck her into my side before reading the paper.
In short, her mom is suing her for custody of Liz and contesting the will her sister and Brian left. I didn”t think this was possible, but the paper in front of me says otherwise. Because I know this could get tricky, Carlee is going to have to lawyer up.
Okay, we need to talk to Noah. He will have a good lawyer for you, is the first thing I say as I comfort her.
Grabbing my phone, I hope Noah will answer quickly. The sooner I can get a plan in place, the faster I can make her feel better.
Me: Hey, do you have a good lawyer you can recommend? Carlee”s mom is suing for custody of her niece.
Thankfully, Noah replies right away.
Noah: Fuck. Yes, I know some good one. I”ll send the info over in a few. Let us know what else you guys need, no matter how small.
I take a moment to soak in how easily he said anything we needed, they’d help us. How he knows this fight is mine as well as Carlee’s and that we are fighting this together is all it takes to know I”m right where I need to be.
Baby, Noah is on it, and he”s getting you the best lawyer. You aren”t alone in this, I say.
I know. I just can”t understand why she is doing this. Then she rests her head on my shoulder, as if to absorb my strength.
We sit like that for a while before she tenses and sits straight up.
What is it? I ask.
I”m going to go confront my mom. I need to know why she is doing this, and she is going to tell me to my face.
I don”t think that”s a good idea. I think we should wait and talk to the lawyer.
I know. That”s why I need to do it before we get a lawyer. Once we do, there is no talking to her on my own. She is my mother, and she owes me at least this.
I can”t object because I agree. Her mother does owe her this. Plus, I”m a might curious about what her parents are thinking.
Okay, let”s go then. She looks at me, and I know what she is going to say before she says anything.
Me not going is not an option. I want to know what she says because I have a good idea it has to do with me. I will ask Noah to come translate. You know, having support is the best thing, and Noah needs to know what is going on.
She stops and thinks for a minute, nods and picks up her phone, calling Noah. They talk for a minute before she hangs up.
He is on his way over. He also agrees it is not a good idea but is coming anyway.
Good. Go get cleaned up. Your mother doesn”t need to know you were crying and how much this has already affected you. Don”t give her the upper hand.
She smiles, kisses my cheek, and runs upstairs. While she is gone, I text Noah.
Me: I don”t like the idea of her going over to her mother”s.
Noah:Me either, but with me there, I can at least make sure we have the details and form the best plan going forward. All of Oakside will be behind you two.
Me:Thanks. See you soon.
I have to admit I”m choked up, knowing this man who I’ve known for such a small amount of time, is on my side and that so many people are rooting for me and ready to help. It’s such a foreign, yet welcome feeling for me.
As soon as Noah shows up, I can tell he is concerned, but Carlee hugs him, and as much as I want to yank his hands off her, I know she needs comfort. The smirk on his face tells me he knows what I”m thinking.
I”m driving, let”s go, he says.
We don”t argue as I climb into the backseat with Carlee, pulling her back into my side once again. I hold her the entire way there, and I can tell she is inside her head, so I just let her think it all over. Because if I know her, and I do, she is rehearsing what she is planning to say.
As we pull into a house smaller than the one Carlee”s sister left her, I start to wonder if this is more about money than Liz.
When we walk up to the door, her mom answers. The moment she sees us, her face dramatically changes. The warm and friendly face she had is gone, and the one left is cold and unwelcoming.
I have nothing to say. You can talk to my lawyer, Noah translates.
When her mother tries to shut the door, Carlee slams it back open. The shock is clear on her mom”s face before she schools her features. Then, a side of my girl comes out I have never seen before.
She has nothing to say to me? Like hell she doesn”t. If she isn”t going to talk, I have plenty to say.
Making sure Noah is ready to translate, I lit into my mother.
“The least you can do is look at me, your only living child left, in the eye and tell me why you are doing this.”
“Look at the poor choices you are making. A part-time job. Some old deaf guy? Really, Carlee?” Mom says.
“What is going on with all this noise?” Dad asks, coming to the door.
“Are you aware she is suing me for custody of Liz?” I ask. The look on his face says he wasn”t, but I know he won”t admit it.
“While you go through this rebellious time in your life, it”s just better Liz lives with us. You can have your own kids one day,” Mom says.
“Actually, I can”t. To save my life, when I had the accident, they had to do a hysterectomy. I can”t ever have children. And I was just hired full time at Oakside. I’ll be doing art therapy, and they are paying for me to get some extra certifications. A nice bonus is the State will pay me even more money.
You have been so lost in your grief that your favorite child is gone, but you haven”t given two shits about the one you have left. Now you have lost her too,” I say.
Without giving her time to respond, I turn and march to Noah”s car. Right behind me, having my back are Noah and Zane.
No one tries to say anything as Noah drives us back to my house. I”m grateful, but I know they will want to talk once we get there. The problem is, I don”t know what to say. Other than I guess I need to talk to a lawyer.
My phone is going off like crazy. Since it”s only texts, and if it was Liz”s school, they would call if they needed me, I ignore it.
When we get home, Zane leads me back to the family room and pulls me into his lap, while Noah sits at the other end of the couch.
“I guess I will need the lawyer”s info.” I break the ice.
When my phone goes off again, I pull it out and find several texts from my mom.
Mom:We just don”t want you to be saddled with the responsibility of a child so young. What if the right guy is turned off by it?
Mom:Liz needs a stable home, and having someone like Zane in it isn”t stable.
Mom:Besides, you have never raised a child. I could do it better.
I show the texts to Zane and then Noah.
Maybe I should leave if I”m the problem. Zane says, looking defeated.
Don”t you dare. This is a time for you to stick together, not let her mom pull you apart,Noah says, glaring at Zane, but also driving a point home to me.
We are stronger together. Liz likes having you here, and she is used to you. There is no point in changing things up now and throwing her off. I tell him.
The last thing I need is for him to leave. Right now, he”s the only thing keeping me together.
Sorry, I didn”t tell you about the job. I just got the email today from Noah right before I got that letter.I tell Zane, not wanting him to think I”m keeping things from him.
It”s great. I can tell you how much you like working there,he says, smiling.
Well, I should get going. I need to get that info for you, and the last thing you need is me here when Liz gets home to make her start asking questions,Noah says.
Let me walk you out,Zane says, standing after setting me gently on the couch.
Let me know if you need anything,Noah says.
I promise to keep him updated.
What a day. I knew my parents were distraught, but I thought as their grief faded, they would come around and be here for Liz and me. Boy, was I wrong.