to keep his job, he somehow talked Natasha’s lawyer into mediation. No judge. No lawyers. Just the two of us with a middleman, trying to compromise and come to an agreement that would make everyone happy. But when Natasha made it clear at the meeting that she wouldn’t settle for anything less than full custody—and that she wanted to take my child home with her in the meantime—mediation fell apart very quickly.
So here we sit, two weeks later, awaiting a judge’s decision regarding my son’s future.
Looking across the aisle, I take a long, hard look at my wife, with her flawless makeup and not a hair out of place. She’s dressed conservatively but elegantly. She seems apologetic. Sympathetic. She’d even cried a little.
Her lawyer had coached her well.
I can’t help but notice that Natasha is here alone, with just her attorney by her side. The new boyfriend’s nowhere to be found. Of course, I’m alone, as well, but only because Marcus and I agreed that it would probably be detrimental to the proceedings to have the mother and the nanny in the same room, considering the nanny wants to scratch the mom’s eyes out of their sockets.
David Nichols is a no-show because he doesn’t care.
Olivia isn’t here because she cares too much.
Big difference.
Important difference.
At least, I hope the judge thinks so.
I reach for the glass of water on the table and glare at my attorney.
“What’s taking so long?”
“He’s examining all the evidence, Jackson. You know this.”
“She’s lucky that I’m offering supervised visits.”
“I agree.”
“She can see him every day if she wants, but those visits will be supervised by me.”
“Right.”
“Or Hazel.”
“Yes.”
“Or Olivia.”
Marcus winces. We’d already argued about this, but I’m standing firm. Olivia is Ryder’s nanny. Dr. Jane and Ryder’s teacher had both written letters of support, detailing how instrumental Olivia has been in Ryder’s progress. If Olivia wants to be there during the supervised visits, then I believe she should be.
I just hope the judge agrees.
Suddenly, the chamber doors open, and the judge makes his way back into the courtroom. We rise and take our seats again as he begins to speak.
“I’m deeply saddened that the custody situation could not be resolved during mediation,” he says. “That doesn’t bode well for the divorce proceedings. However, before we can even begin to discuss the divorce, we must address the well-being of the child.”
The judge looks at Natasha. And then at me.
“I have a mother who walked out on her son. Now, suddenly, she’s requesting full custody. The same woman who chose to leave her husband and child behind. The same woman who didn’t bother to call or visit her son for months. I agree with Mr. Healey’s attorney. It seems suspicious that this renewed desire to be a mother happens to coincide with the fact that Mr. Healey has hired a nanny for his son—a nanny who has obviously been a godsend during Ryder’s adjustment to life without a mother in the home.”
Marcus hummed happily in his seat.
“Whether Mr. Healey has a romantic interest in his son’s nanny—as Mrs. Healey’s attorney claims—is of no relevance to me at this juncture. My focus is on the child. I have statements from both the child psychologist and classroom teacher, both stipulating that Miss Stuart is a nurturing and loving presence, and with the combined efforts of the father, the nanny, and Mrs. Hazel Alvarez, the family’s housekeeper, it is obvious to me that disrupting Ryder’s regular routine would be detrimental to his progress. Therefore, Mrs. Healey, your request for full custody is denied.”
I exhale a deep sigh of relief. A satisfied Marcus pats me on the shoulder.
“Mrs. Healey, your husband has been gracious enough to offer supervised visits, but I must admit, I’m hesitant to allow that considering the amount of stress your brief phone call caused the child. But you are here today, which gives me hope that perhaps your son is important to you. You have tearfully asked me to offer you a second chance to prove that you can be a good mother, so I’m going to give you that opportunity. I am permitting supervised visits, two hours per week. After looking at Ryder’s schedule, I believe Wednesday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 will be the best option. Is that agreeable with you, Mr. Healey?”
I clear my throat. “Yes, your honor.”
He nods. “Visits must be in Mr. Healey’s home, and Mr. Healey, Miss Stuart, or Mrs. Alvarez may be present during these visits.”
Natasha jumps to her feet. “What? She can’t