Chapter 7
Chapter seven
“You’re doing it all wrong. It says to put the corner in there.”
Addy threw her hands up in frustration. We’d been at this since she got home from school, and I was no closer to folding an origami star than I was when we started. She’d grown obsessed with origami but still needed help. Unfortunately, it turned out I had no talent whatsoever.
I simply couldn’t understand how it all folded together. And now I was frustrated, and my daughter was exasperated with my inability to fold a piece of paper.
A knock on the door offered a much-needed end to our crafting session. I was due to be at the small courthouse in town in an hour to meet Vance and Cockalorum for our mediation meeting.
Since my husband intended to get married again as soon as possible, he’d been quite accommodating in setting up the meeting. Which worked for me since I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.
Keely greeted me on the other side of my door with a wide smile and at least four shopping bags hanging off each arm. “Hello, beautiful.” She kissed my cheek, then looked around me. “Where are my queens?”
I pointed over my shoulder, and she brushed past me to click-clack her way into the living room. Excited shrieks filled the air, and Orange even heaved himself up from his mat to join in on the hugs. Winston watched from his perch on top of the bookshelf.
Sticking my head into the room, I watched the girls and Orange surround Keely, going through the bags she’d brought. After giving Orange a small bone, she pulled out junk food, face masks, and manicure sets.
“I’m going to get ready. You guys good?”
They all ignored me, and I disappeared into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, I was ready to go. Well, as ready as I’d ever get. Lately, I’d been running on empty with my Check Engine light flashing.
A glance in the mirror confirmed that I at least looked better than I felt. I looked almost confident, as if I actually had my shit together.
Tugging on my white blouse, I cursed when the move exposed more of my cleavage. I might have lost some of my volume, but what I had left didn’t like to be contained.
Pulling the material back up, I ran my damp hands over my fitted skirt. When I couldn’t hide out any longer, I left the bathroom, clutching my handbag tightly in front of me.
Keely whistled when I walked into the living room. “Hot momma alert. You look amazing.”
Tugging on my blouse again, I grimaced. “You sure? Should I have worn jeans?”
Keely untangled herself from the girls, who were draped all over her, and stood up from where she’d been sitting on the floor.
“Absolutely not. You look amazing. How you lost so much weight but somehow kept your beautiful curves is a mystery. But don’t question it, embrace it.
Now go so you won’t be late. Call if you need anything. ”
“That should be my line.”
She gently turned me around to face the hallway, then gave my butt a tap. “You’ll be gone for two hours at most. Not enough time to rob a bank.”
The girls giggled, but her words had the desired effect. I relaxed enough to not risk falling over on my way to the car because my legs wobbled so much.
I spent the drive to the courthouse gripping the wheel until my knuckles turned white and my fingers ached.
After circling the courthouse for the fifth time, I finally found a spot. Since parallel parking was not one of my skills, it took me a few tries until I was somewhat in the spot.
Hurrying to the entrance, I stumbled up the steps leading to the open front door. A giant who could only be my lawyer was pacing back and forth, checking his watch every two seconds.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I couldn’t find a parking spot.”
His head shot up, and I stumbled again. He was even more handsome in person. He was all muscles and sharp angles, his suit perfectly hugging his body.
“First impressions count.” His gaze caught on mine, and his eyes flashed with something I couldn’t read. “And you only get one chance to make them.”
His lips thinned, and he turned and walked down the hall.
My heels clacked loudly on the pristine white tiles, the sound made even worse by the fact that I had to walk-run to catch up. We took the elevator up in uncomfortable silence while I studied my shoes.
I speed-walked out of the elevator and down to the conference room, following Vance’s wide back toward the open door.
I took a deep breath and choked on my saliva in the process. Coughing, I stopped outside the door. Vance had disappeared inside, clearly not noticing his client wasn’t with him.
Once I could take a breath without sounding like I’d been smoking a pack of cigarettes every day since I was ten, I went inside. All eyes turned to me, and my knees went weak. Vance was on one side of the long glass table, my husband and his lawyer on the other, and the mediator was at the head.
I sank into the seat next to Vance. There was water on the table in front of each person. I grabbed the one that was closest to the seat I’d taken, emptying it.
The room was so quiet, my loud gulps broke through the silence like gunshots.
Cockalorum gave me a cocky grin, knowing he already had the upper hand. I bit my lip hard, then pasted a wobbly smile on my face. “I’m sorry for being late.”
Thankfully, the mediator cut in before Cockalorum had a chance to say anything.
“Thanks for coming, everyone. My name is Sienna. As I’m certain your lawyers have already told you, this is a mediation meeting.
This is not a court. I can’t make any decision for you.
This is a way for you to work things out among yourselves without going to court. ”
Vance had indeed told me what to expect today.
That didn’t mean I was prepared. Because nothing could prepare me for the possibility of only seeing my kids every other weekend.
My body felt like I’d touched a live wire, my hands shaking so much that I had to press them into fists and rest them on my lap.
Sienna turned to our side of the table. “Mrs. Porter. Why don’t you start and let us know what you’re hoping to get out of the divorce.”
That was an easy question to answer. One I’d gone over and over again.
And I thought I might have finally come up with something that might make Cockalorum give up on pursuing full custody.
“I would like full custody of Elana and Adelaine, the photo albums, and my mom’s baking dish.
I would also like to keep the profits from anything I sell that’s currently in the house.
In return, I will refrain from asking for any financial support. ”
A quick glance at Vance showed his brows creased in confusion. He’d briefed me on what to say. And I’d completely gone off script. But there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep my kids. And if it meant working two jobs and living in a dump, then so be it.
Sienna looked equally as stunned. “So, you’re saying you don’t want half of all assets? Or alimony? Or for your husband to pay the kids’ school fees if you were to have full custody?”
“If it means he’ll let me have the kids, I don’t want any of it.”
I’d make it work. No matter what.
She still looked confused. “You’re saying you’d be happy to walk away with nothing?”
I was guessing she didn’t have kids since she didn’t understand that my children were all that mattered in the end. “I wouldn’t walk away with nothing. If I get the kids, I’d walk away with everything.”
Cockalorum and his lawyer were whispering furiously, their heads bent together.
Vance did the same, leaning so close I could smell his delicious cologne and feel his warm breath ghost across my cheek.
“Are you out of your mind? I told you what to say, which was nothing. Yet you went ahead and fucked this up so royally that there’s no way I’ll get you more than school fees at this stage. ”
I didn’t know where I found the courage to look him straight in the eyes, ignore his stupid sexy face and husky voice, and respond without letting out a squeak.
“If you’d paid any attention to what I’ve been telling you during our meetings, it should come as no surprise to you that I don’t care about the money. I only care about my kids.”
I straightened my spine and turned back to the table.
Cockalorum and his lawyer were done with their whispered conversation, and my husband’s attention was on me.
When I saw his smile, I almost sagged in relief.
Because that was when I knew I’d offered him the one thing he’d never turn down. Not even for Tammy.
His lawyer, a woman who looked to be in her fifties, her hair pulled back into a tight chignon and her suit fitting around her slim frame as if it was painted on, turned to Sienna.
“My client is willing to consider the proposal. He wants the kids every other weekend and alternating holidays. And he wants to ensure it’s documented that he’s not paying anything to Mrs. Porter.
Should she go after him for even a cent in the future, then he’ll reconsider the custody arrangement. ”
I wanted to let out a breath so mighty it could be heard at the North Pole. But what I did instead was paste another smile on my face. “That won’t happen.”
Vance’s hand on my arm cut off any other response I might have had. “I need a moment with my client.”
Sienna nodded at us, and Vance stood up. When I didn’t make a move to do the same fast enough, he turned my chair to face him, then lightly took my elbow. His hand was so big it reached around my whole arm. I had no choice but to stand up.
He led me out of the room, closing the door behind him.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The words exploded out of him as soon as we’d stepped to the side. “You hired me for a reason. And now you’re blowing this all up so wide, there’s no way I’ll ever be able to pull it back together. Not once in my career has anyone acted so carelessly.”