Chapter 9 - What did custody tomorrow mean?
Reid called me from our house.
“You need to let me explain tomorrow.”
“No. Today.”
He was silent.
Then:
“I’ve been talking to a family lawyer.”
“How long?”
“Six weeks.”
My stomach turned.
“About divorce?”
“Not exactly.”
That is never a comforting phrase.
“We’ve been struggling.”
“Yes.”
“I thought we needed structure.”
“So you secretly hired a custody lawyer?”
“Family lawyer.”
“What was I supposed to sign tomorrow?”
“A temporary agreement.”
My hand tightened around phone.
“What temporary agreement?”
“Just ninety days.”
“What ninety days?”
Then he finally said it.
A proposed temporary parenting stipulation.
Primary school-week residence:
With Reid.
Alternate weekends plus two weekday evenings:
With me.
Constance:
Authorized backup caregiver for school pickup and emergencies.
Marital home:
Reid remains.
I would temporarily stay in an apartment near my office.
My heart began pounding.
“Why would I sign that?”
He answered:
“Because I thought we could work on the marriage with less conflict.”
May you like
I almost could not speak.
“You planned my separation before telling me we were separating.”
