Levi put on an audiobook as we headed out to his mom's. His love of reading was something we had in common, and he'd been devouring books since he learned how to read. We were currently making our way through the Percy Jackson series. As the book played, we both fell into the story enjoying our ride out to Kenilworth—where Chicago's wealthiest lived. Brittni remarried last year, and even though we'd been in the upper tax bracket, she'd still managed to marry up. Now, she was Mrs. Brittni Kimpton, married to Larry Kimpton, hotel mogul.
Driving up to the two million dollar, red brick house, I felt a tension enter my chest at having to let Levi go. This was always the hardest part. I placed the car in park and waited until we came to a good place in the book to stop. When the chapter finished, I paused, saving our place. I think Levi and I both dreaded saying goodbye, drawing it out as much as possible.
"Alright, buddy. I'll see you on Wednesday after school."
Leaning over, I kissed his forehead as he gathered his things. His phone beeped, and he checked it as he got out.
"Bye, Dad." He waved, taking off for the house before he stopped and turned around. "Mom wants to talk to you." And then took off again.
Sighing loudly, I turned off the engine and sat for a moment. I'd planned to talk with her, but now that it was her idea, dread filled me. I had to prepare myself for interacting with her. Brittni was a woman wrought with deceit and manipulation. She never did anything unless it benefited her. Finding the truth in what she spouted was a hard-won battle. It always felt like I needed battle armor when facing her. I'd been married to her for six years, yet it felt like a lifetime.
Levi had left the door open, so I strode in, knowing she would either be in the kitchen or study. Brittni liked to pick her room based on the conversation she was having. Not seeing her in the study, I headed to the kitchen, a feeling of doom and foreboding. This wasn't going to be good.
"Brit." I nodded, purposefully shortening her name. Now that she was married to a hotel mogul, she tried to put on airs of being high class. Rubbing in her middle-class upbringing as much as I could was, well, a bonus. It was petty, but the delight it brought me canceled out any guilt I felt.
"Monroe."
The ice in her words froze me to the spot, the chill tangible in the air. She placed her teacup on the saucer and turned around from the kitchen island. She'd dressed in tan slacks, a white silk button blouse, and a Hermes scarf around her neck for the day. Brittni looked the epitome of a bored housewife, and I wondered if she already had a fling on the side. Commitment had never been her strong suit.
"What do you need?" I crossed my arms, sighing as I waited for her to degrade me. "I have plans I need to get to."
"Fine. I'll cut to the chase." She rolled her eyes, acting as if I were the one inconveniencing her. "It's come to my attention that the company you're keeping isn't very savory. So, I'm going to request full custody."
The world stopped for a minute as I processed her words. Some of the things Levi said this morning started to connect. She'd been planning this despite her attempt to make it sound like it was new.
"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to be more clear on what you mean by unsavory."
"Humph." Brittni crossed her arms, not liking I'd questioned her. "Well, I have it on good authority you were floundering around with some floozy with Levi at a school function."
Brittni had stretched the truth and would have a difficult time getting any judge to believe her shenanigans. It amused me how often she seemed to forget I was a lawyer just because I didn't work in a courtroom every day.
"I don't know who you're getting your information from, but the only woman I've been out with is Loren Carter, and she isn't a ‘floozy'. In fact, she's a trauma therapist. I think it will be hard to convince a judge of her unsavoriness," I challenged, a feeling of smugness coming over me. For once, I felt like I was ahead of her manipulative bullshit.
Panic flashed in her eyes for a brief second before replacing it with a condescending look of her own. I wanted to slap myself for walking right into her trap. It seemed I was the one needing to remember this time how good she was at this.
"That might be the case, but we both know that can't be said about all the company you keep."
Sighing, I planted my hands on my hips, dropping my head as I gathered myself. She was still using this shtick. Lifting my head back up, I hoped my eyes held the fire I felt within.
"Brittni, just stop. You already tried this once, and it didn't work. No one, except you, cares that I'm bisexual. And now that we're divorced, it isn't any of your business. You'll never prove to any judge I'm not a good father, and you know it. So just stop. I'm tired of playing this game."
Turning, I walked out, dismissing her as I did. I could hear her making sounds of frustration, but I didn't stop. It was the first time I'd ever had the last word, and it felt empowering. Larry was leaving his office as I passed, a glass tumbler in his hand and a cigar hanging from his mouth. Nodding, I kept heading to the front door, ready to escape this hell hole. I'd mistakenly assumed divorce meant I never had to deal with her manipulative bullshit again. They forget to tell you co-parenting was a new level of Hell of its own.
* * *
Humming along to the music,I found myself swaying to the rhythm at the stove. Sprinkling seasoning into the sauce as I stirred, I jumped when there was a knock at the door. I'd been zoned into the music, and I'd lost focus. The hours I'd been home had flown by as I prepared for the date. Shopping had calmed my nerves as I meticulously picked out ingredients for the meal I wanted to make. I even had a bottle of wine and candles, pulling out all the stops for Loren.
Brushing my hands off on the apron, I headed to the door, a noticeable skip in my step. Loren had arrived early, bringing a smile to my face. Of course when she lived across the hall, she didn't have far to travel, but I was glad she was here. Spending time with her was enjoyable, and after the morning dealing with the villainous ex, I was ready to be around a woman who made me feel giddy. And Loren made me feel that and a whole slew of emotions.
Checking my appearance, I blushed when I realized what I'd done. Opening the door, I found a beaming Loren standing in front of me. She looked breathtaking, and I stood and stared at her for a minute, soaking her in. I realized I'd never seen her smile so big before. Loren had always been beautiful, but as she stood smiling at me in my doorway, the Earth stopped moving. Regaining my composure, I pulled my door open the rest of the way, allowing her to enter.
"Lo! Welcome! Come in, come in. I'm so glad you could make it." I beamed, teasing her as I ushered her into the main room. "Would you like the official tour?"
"I'm good for now, thanks. I think I have a good idea what it looks like, after all."
"True, but you never know, my crown molding might be better than yours."
"Wait, you have crown molding?" she teased.