was at all possible. “Then she’s obviously getting good advice on how to fight for this. She’s proving her willingness to provide Katie with a proper home. A stable environment—”
“She already has that! With me!” I had bunched my hands into fists wanting to punch something. Anything. Adam seemed to be steeling himself to be on the receiving end of it.
I tried to settle down. How do you settle down when you’ve just been told there’s a chance your baby could be taken away from you?
“I know, Web. You’ve given her security and stability when her mother couldn’t. That will matter too.”
“But it might not be enough. And there’s a chance Josie could take her,” I surmised, my voice cracking.
Adam pressed his mouth into a thin line and nodded. “At worst, she could get full custody, and you would get visitation. At best it could be joint custody, with physical custody split 50/50—”
“But how is that possible when she lives in fucking Florida?” I demanded, my voice rising again.
“Well, either you or Josie would be awarded physical custody during the majority of the year, with the other having physical custody during summer months and long holidays. And depending on who has physical custody, the other parent would be allowed visitation whenever it suited their schedule and is in the best interests of Katie,” Adam explained.
The words had flowed in and out of my head. Physical custody. Visitation. Primary residency. It was a bunch of gibberish.
Adam also told me—in no uncertain terms—not to contact Josie myself. That I should leave communication between our attorneys. Well, screw that. I needed answers. And I needed them now.
I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out my phone, calling the person who was responsible for messing up my whole world.
Josie picked up on the third ring. “Now’s not a good time, Web. I’m about to go on an interview—”
“How could you do this? To Katie? To me!” I shouted into the phone, not caring that Adam would have my head for going against his instructions.
I was answered with silence. I could hear her breathing, but she didn’t say a word.
“You left, Jos. You snuck out of the house in the middle of the night and left. You left Katie when she was six months old!” I couldn’t stop myself. I had never been so furious. So frightened.
That’s what this was. One hundred percent terror.
“I’ve raised her every day since then. By. My. Self. Do you get that? You’ve never paid a cent toward Katie’s care. I’ve never asked you to either because I knew you were going through stuff. And I love her more than anything. I would burn this world down for her, you included. Don’t forget that.” My chest was heaving as I tried to breathe through the pain. Through the anguish. I wouldn’t let anyone take my little girl. It wasn’t going to happen.
“Web, I know, and I’m so appreciative of everything you’ve done,” Josie finally said softly.
“I don’t need your appreciation, Josie! I’m her fucking father!”
“And I'm her mother, and I know I haven’t been there for her—for either of you—but I’m ready to change that. I want my baby.” I could tell by the way her voice trembled that she was crying. Josie could always put on the waterworks at the drop of a hat. I wondered, not for the first time, if there wasn’t a bit of manipulation in it. I could be really naive when it came to my trust in people, unfortunately.
“What about what’s best for Katie? Have you even thought about that? You’re talking about moving her to a state she’s never been to. To live with people she doesn’t know! Her family is here, Josie!” I wiped tears away with my hand. I wouldn’t cry. That wouldn’t solve shit.
“Her family is here too, Web. Her mother is here! Doesn’t she need me?” Josie was full-on crying now, and at one time, I would have felt bad, but not anymore. She lost that right when she filed paperwork to take Katie.
“If you wanted to be in her life, Jos, you only had to talk to me. We’d work something out. I could fly her down in the summer, or you could come up here and stay for a week or two.” I changed tactics. Going for nice rather than aggressive, knowing you could attract more flies with honey than vinegar.
“It’s not enough, Web,” Josie whispered. “I don’t want a week here and