Chapter 6 #3
Theo made muscle arms. “I’m strong.”
“Wow,” Julian said, “look at those biceps! There’s a basket of toys over there, too.”
Hearing that, Theo perked up even more. “Let’s look at the toys, Mila!”
She squiggled out of Isla’s arms to follow her favorite person wherever he chose to lead her.
“They’re beautiful kids,” Julian said.
“Thank you. I got lucky with them.”
“Yesterday was a rough day for you guys.”
“Yes.” Understanding that he was easing her into the point of this meeting, she glanced down at a gorgeous area rug in shades of blue. “The latest in a series of tough days.”
“Denny told me about your hiding place in the apartment. I’m truly impressed with your ingenuity.”
She gave him a small smile. “I was hoping I’d never need it.”
“Do you want to tell me about what led to you setting it up?”
Isla took a second to organize her thoughts and began with the thing she most wanted him to know—that she wasn’t a fool for love.
“I… I used to wonder why women didn’t just leave when their domestic partners turned out to be dangerous or unstable or unkind or whatever it was.
I’ll admit to having judged friends who put up with awful crap for so long.
” She accepted a tissue from the box Julian offered her.
“I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not as simple as deciding to leave, especially when you haven’t worked outside the home in years and have two kids to think about. ”
“Nothing about this situation is simple,” Julian said in a kind, gentle tone that made her want to curl up to him and let him make it all better.
She shook off that thought almost the second she had it. The only one who could fix this was her, and she needed to remember that.
“After what happened yesterday, I’d advise that we immediately request a restraining order that’ll keep your husband away from you and the children while we figure out our next steps. Would you be okay with that?”
“How does that work?”
“Basically, it’s a court order that requires him to stay at least a thousand feet from you and the kids.”
Isla had been determined to get through this without becoming overly emotional. That was turning out to be easier said than done. She wiped away more tears. “How long would the order be in effect?”
“For as long as it’s needed. I’d suggest we start with a year and reassess later.”
“A year?” That would officially make her a single mother. She glanced at her kids, who were engrossed in the trucks and blocks they’d found in the basket—for the moment, anyway. “Will he have to help financially?”
“We’ll request spousal and child support.”
“That doesn’t mean we’ll get it, though, does it?”
“You should be awarded reasonable support. The question is whether he’s able to pay it. What does he do?”
“He… Well, he was working for a design company, but he got laid off a while ago. He’s been collecting unemployment that barely covers the basics. I can pick up some hours at a bar where my friend is a manager. My neighbor will watch the kids for me.”
“I don’t want her doing that,” Denny said.
Isla turned on him. “I don’t want to do it, Denny, but I have to do something. The bar is easy money, and my friend from the doctor’s office will look out for me. It’s the only prayer I have of hanging on to the apartment. I… I don’t know where we’d go if we can’t stay there.”
“Would it be possible for you to move to a smaller place for now?” Julian asked.
“I suppose that’s an option. I need less room since most of what I own is wrecked.”
“When you’re able to, it would help if you could make an inventory of everything he destroyed so we can seek restitution.”
“I’ll make a list. None of it was worth much.”
“It was to you.”
The statement went straight to her broken heart. “Yes, it was.”
“I ask all my clients the same questions: What’s your ultimate goal for the future, and how does your spouse fit into that?”
It’d been so long since Isla had allowed herself to have goals that she took half a minute to think about it before she replied.
“I suppose the most important goal is a safe, peaceful, happy childhood for my kids. They deserve that.” She pressed the wadded-up tissue to her eyes again.
“As far as how Gabriel fits into that… He doesn’t.
He’s clearly got a medical problem of some sort, whether it’s addiction, mental health or something else.
He's refused to seek help, and I’ve learned that it’s almost impossible to force an adult into treatment if they don’t want it.
I hoped he’d work out whatever he’s been going through, but after yesterday, I can’t hope for that anymore. ”
“That’s understandable. Is it your intention to end the marriage and request custody of your children?”
Isla’s chin wobbled as she nodded. In that moment, all she could remember was how much she’d once loved Gabriel and planned to spend the rest of her life with him and their children.
A long time ago, she’d realized that wasn’t to be.
She’d begun to bide her time until she could make a break from him.
In order for that to happen, however, he’d needed to come back from wherever he’d been for weeks—and when he finally had turned up, he’d taken the bat to their home.
“I hate to talk about business at such a difficult time, but there’s paperwork I need you to complete so I can represent you. I’d also like your permission to ask our investigators to look into what he’s been up to during the times he goes missing. Would that be all right?”
“I… I can’t pay for any of this.”
“I understand. We take a number of pro bono cases each year, and yours will be one of mine.”
“How can you do that?”
“It’s an important part of my practice. It allows me to help people who can’t otherwise afford quality representation. Is that a yes on the investigators?”
“Yes, please.”
“We’ll also need to talk assets and liabilities and other such details. We’ll set yesterday as the official date of separation, which is a critical benchmark in a divorce case.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“Me, too,” Denny said gruffly.
“Anything for you, pal,” Julian said with a smile that encompassed both of them.