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“Sorry I’m late!” She hurried out of the elevator, trying to straighten her black skirt. “There was a crash on the Brooklyn Bridge, so I had to be rerouted.”
I cut her off, touching her shoulders. “It’s alright, you’re here now.”
Cara took a deep breath and smiled at me.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
This was just the first step in a long line of things I had planned to do to prove myself to Cara. I could be a good partner. A good father to her child.Ourchild. But I had to let her in when times were tough.
And things could not have been tougher than right now.
“Okay, lovebirds, let’s get started then. Look alive.” Nelson hustled us into the conference room where Lisbeth was whispering angrily with her lawyer.
She immediately snapped her attention to me. “You’ve kept us waiting a half hour.”
“That’s my fault. I’m so sorry. But I appreciate you waiting for me.” Cara sat in the chair I pulled out for her carefully. I couldn’t help but think about the precious cargo she was carrying. “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for anything.”
Lisbeth’s lips twisted into a scowl, but she said nothing.
“Alright, then let’s get started on the mediation, shall we?” Nelson shuffled some papers and gave me a look.You ready?
I took a deep breath. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready.
Under the table, I felt Cara’s hand brush against mine. I glanced at her, immediately calmed by her smile.
I had this.
Wehad this.
I looked back to Nelson and then to Tina, giving her a curt nod. “Whenever you’re ready.”
And so the mediation began. It started and was stopped quickly. Lisbeth’s first point of contention was, no surprise, Cara.
“I’m just fascinated that a woman who has been in our daughter’s life for three months is somehow a much better option for her than me.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that Cara is better for Lucy than you. It’s that I’m better for Lucy than you.”
Nelson held up his hand. “Easy, Wes.”
Cutting comment like this were just a part of the territory when it came to the two of us. Our divorce had been so contentious we couldn’t even be in the same room, with our lawyers running back and forth to the mediator until we finally reached an agreement.
“It’s curious you’ve decided now to make a bid for custody.” Tina raised an eyebrow at Lisbeth. “What do you think has changed about your living circumstances that make it suitable for a child?”
Lisbeth shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked to Yves. “Well, Lucy has always been one of my biggest regrets.”
I couldn’t help but respond. “That much is clear.”
If kicking me wasn’t immature, I’m sure Lisbeth would have done just that. “What I mean is, the way I’ve handled it was regrettable. I don’t regret having Lucy.”
“I’m afraid I don’t believe you.”
Cara’s hand which had not left mine from the beginning of the session, squeezed mine hard.Stay calm.
I could do that. For her.
“You don’t have to. You’ve never believed anything I’ve said. Why start now?”
