Chapter 8 - DENISE FINALLY ADMITTED WHAT SHE WANTED
Denise requested a mediated meeting after receiving legal notice that all direct contact with Eli needed to stop.
I agreed once.
Attorneys present.
She looked furious.
“You’re making us sound like kidnappers.”
“I didn’t use that word.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, Denise. I know what the documents say.”
She crossed her arms.
“Eli would have a better life with me.”
There it was.
Not temporary.
Better.
“Because?”
“I have space.”
“So do we.”
“You rent.”
“Yes.”
“Harper’s school district is excellent.”
“Eli likes his school.”
“You’re behind on bills.”
“Not on taking care of my son.”
She leaned forward.
“You’re always one emergency away from disaster.”
I stared at her.
Then:
“Was this ever about helping me?”
She hesitated.
That was enough.
But then she said something unexpected.
“Mom said Mark left Eli almost half a million dollars.”
“Eli.”
“What?”
“Mark left Eli money.”
“That’s what I said.”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“You said it like the money was sitting there waiting for the most competent adult to claim management over it.”
Her face changed.
She looked toward her lawyer.
Then back at me.
“I would have protected it.”
“For him?”
“Of course.”
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me it existed?”
Silence.
There was the question nobody could answer cleanly.
If this had been about protecting Eli, the first call should have been to his mother.
May you like
Instead, they built a custody file.
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