to move out, Theo staying at the Lamberts’, the police investigations—it’s those few brief moments in the contact center that seem to hit Pete hardest. That Miles has managed to weaponize Theo himself in the battle against us seems to rip away the last shreds of hope in his mind.
And that’s why Miles has never bothered to kill us, I realize. Not because he wouldn’t, but simply because he doesn’t need to. The system is on his side, and all he needs to do is let the various processes play out to their conclusion.
* * *
—
THE DAY BEFORE THE hearing, Pete collects his suit from the dry cleaners and I iron a black linen jacket. Funeral clothes, I find myself thinking.
Pete watches me, waiting his turn to iron his shirt. “You know, I keep thinking about Solomon, and that baby he ordered cut in two,” he says glumly. “If CAFCASS had existed back then, they’d probably have taken away his children, on the basis he’d threatened violence against a child. As for the women, when the real mother said let the other one have it, they’d have written a report saying she clearly no longer wanted him and was guilty of neglect.”
“We shouldn’t blame CAFCASS,” I say gently. “It’s not their fault they’ve run up against Miles. Think how long it took us to see him for what he really is.”
“True,” he admits.
I go on ironing.
“Wait,” he says suddenly. “I’ve had an idea. Why don’t we divide the children?”
I look at him. “What do you mean?”
“We have two children between two families, yes? Why don’t we simply share them? Theo could spend two weeks at ours, say, while David spends two weeks at their house. And then we swap, so David’s here and Theo’s at theirs. That way, we each have one child at any time. We could take turns, the way we’re always telling Theo he ought to.”
He looks so excited at the idea that some kind of compromise might still be possible that I don’t have the heart to tell him Miles will never go for it. Why should he? He’s never shown the faintest interest in compromising, not genuinely. And even if he did, who would decide about schools, or holidays, or even little things like haircuts? Perhaps right at the beginning, when things were different, we could have thrashed out an agreement like this. But now, when Miles so nearly has both children within his grasp, it’s pointless.
But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I say, “Well, it’s got to be worth a try.”
97
MADDIE
“GOOD MORNING, AND PLEASE take a seat,” Marion Wakefield says pleasantly.
I still can’t get over how informal the family courts are. It’s astonishing to think that every day, in this room, parents are separated from their children.
“First, I’m going to ask you again whether you think any agreement could be reached,” the judge continues. “Mr. Kelly?”
“My clients have been open to all suggestions, madam,” the Lamberts’ barrister says. “It seems a ruling by the court is the only way to resolve this.”
The judge nods, clearly expecting that answer. “Ms. Chowdry?”
Anita says, “My clients have a proposal they would like to put forward.”
Judge Wakefield looks at her over her glasses. “Would you like to outline it?”
“In brief, to share time with both children fifty–fifty. Theo will spend half his time with the applicants and half with the respondents. David will do the same, but in the opposite rotation. Since the children have very different needs, this will allow each child to get the best care at any one time.”
“Very well. We’ll take a break for the parties to discuss that.”
We all troop out. There are no spare rooms, so we sit in the foyer. Pete and I wait with Anita, while the Lamberts go into a huddle with their barrister and solicitor. After a couple of minutes Miles comes over, smiling.
“Nice try,” he says approvingly. “You know you’re going to lose, so you thought you’d try to salvage something from the wreckage. But equally, since I know we’re going to win, there’s absolutely no chance we’ll agree. None whatsoever.” He wanders back to the others.
“I see what you mean about him,” Anita says, watching him go.
“Believe me, that’s Miles on a good day,” Pete says. He puts his head in his hands.
We return to the court. I make sure I walk in front of Pete rather than Miles.
“Well? How did you get on?” the judge asks.
“My clients don’t believe this proposal