Page 46 of Like Home
Sherry offers a two-thumbs-up and a wolf whistle when she catches sight of Ryan. If I could magically disappear right now,that’d be cool. I feel my cheeks flame and press my fingers to them hoping to dull the heat.
“Well, as cozy as this is, I should probably get back to work now. Thanks for keeping me company, Ryan.” I give him a quick kiss on the cheek, gather my lunch, and hop out of the truck.
Before I can shut the door, Ryan says, “Hey, before you go, have you heard anything about your car?”
“It’s supposed to be ready after work today. Emma’s grandma is going to drive me to the shop when I’m done here,” I reply.
“Oh good. We should definitely put car shopping on the agenda.” He gives me a look that brokers no argument. I roll my eyes and wave, following my coworkers back inside, fully intending to do nothing about my geriatric car.
CHAPTER 30
Summer
The mediation date approaches faster than I’m ready for. With Emma back in school, time seems to fly by with all of the end-of-school-year madness. Today is her last day of kindergarten, and it’s hard to believe she’ll be a first grader soon.
Jared and I both want to get this mediation meeting done before she’s home for the summer. We’ve stuck to our original custody plan thus far, but every time I see him, he vacillates between open hostility and cold indifference.
I can’t help but feel that the main person at fault here is me. Maybe I should have just been happy with the way things were. While I’m glad this change brought me Ryan, terror digs in its claws at the thought of losing my daughter. I’m not someone that wants a lot out of life: a happy daughter, and the ability to be a positive example for her. Ultimately, I’ve never been one for lots of material things or grand ambitions. A happy, slow life where I can savor the time with those I love is enough for me. And it feels like Jared is trying to take that away. Sitting in front of the mediator’s office in my car, I stare up at the dull rectangular building with trepidation.
I hope Jared will be reasonable. Even after all we’ve been through, it’s still hard to see he can’t move past his petty jealousy. It’s hard to believe that he’s willing to sacrifice Emma’s happiness for the sake of his pride.
I feel like I’m on the verge of an anxiety attack, my heartbeat pounding like a war drum in my chest and my body breaking into a cold sweat. I close my eyes and do some breathing exercises to calm myself. I got here fifteen minutes early for this very reason, knowing I’d need the time to talk myself off the ledge.
A light tapping on my driver’s side window startles me. My eyes fly open and I stare into the apologetic face of my lawyer, glittery acrylic nail poised above the window to tap again. “Sorry,” she mouths before stepping back to let me out of the car. She offers me a smile and adjusts her smart, blue suit jacket, which contrasts nicely with her umber skin.
When I’m free of the car and no longer in danger of a heart attack, she steps in to give me a quick hug. We’ve really gotten to know each other well over the last few weeks. We’ve had several meetings both in-person and over Zoom so we can be as prepared for mediation as possible. “How are you doing, Summer? You look great! Er, well despite the fact that it looked like you were sleeping?” Nia pulls back, eyebrows drawn in a confused line, and looks me over.
“No! I wasn’t asleep. I was doing some breathing exercises to calm down. I was feeling really anxious,” I say, a little embarrassed at being caught in the act.
“I understand completely. It’s normal to feel anxious, but I’m confident this will go your way.” She squeezes my shoulders before dropping her hands and leading me to the door. “Come on, let's get inside so we can get settled before the meeting begins.”
We step inside an office that clearly had its heyday in the ‘90s. Gray, industrial carpet softens our footsteps as we walk towards the front desk. The only thing breaking up the white walls andhoney-colored furniture are fake plants that look like they haven't been dusted in the last decade and the sun-starved succulents on the secretary's desk.
“Hey, Amy,” Nia says, greeting the secretary behind the desk.
“Oh hey, Nia. Greg is just getting things set up, but you’re welcome to go back to the main conference room to say hello,” Amy replies. She’s a middle-aged blond woman, and her vibrant pink lipstick is the brightest thing in the room. She gives me a quick smile and wave before returning her attention to her computer. I have to stop myself from asking if I can give her succulents a loving home.
Nia gestures for me to follow her through a doorway to the right of the front desk; we walk down a short hallway with a few doors lining either side before arriving at the end. She gives the closed door a few light raps with her knuckle, and we’re invited in by a muffled, “Come in!”
The giant conference table situated in the middle of the room makes the entire space feel claustrophobic. We sit on the left-hand side of the long table, which is partially lit by one thin, long window at the very top of the rear wall.
“Hello, Nia! Ms. Evans, welcome. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m Greg Harbor, your attorney and mediator extraordinaire.” He sweeps his arms out in a grand gesture from his seat at the head of the table, and I can’t help but feel myself relax a little in his presence. He’s an older man with slightly balding, gray hair. His face is open and friendly, his wide eyes made wider behind a pair of thick, wireframe glasses.
I hold out my hand to shake and reply, “The pleasure is mine. Thank you for being willing to handle our case so quickly. I’d love to get this sorted as soon as possible so Emma can get situated in whatever routine she ends up with over the summer.” He gives my hand a few firm pumps over the table.
“Of course. Her best interest is my top priority, rest assured Ms. Evans,” he says warmly before excusing himself to get somepaperwork situated. I take a moment to smooth my dark pencil skirt over my legs and cross them at the ankles under my chair.
Greg comes back leading Jared and his lawyer into the room. Jared is in a black suit I haven’t seen him in since his grandfather’s funeral a few years ago. His lawyer is a thirty-something man with a bad combover and an ill-fitting, gray suit.
“Ladies, Mr. Forrester and his lawyer, Mr. Patterson.” Greg walks to the head of the table and all three men loudly take a seat, chairs scraping over the dingy carpet.
Greg jovially smacks his palms together and says, “Alright everyone, since this is our first rodeo together, I’m going to briefly explain how the rest of the meeting will go. Sound good?” We all nod and he continues, “Perfect. So, Mr. Forrester, Ms. Evans, I will take one of you with your lawyer into a different room. I will hear both sides out, offer my best advice, and go to the other party with your prospective custody terms. We’ll probably have to go back and forth a bit to get things fully settled, but the goal is to keep you out of the courts and reach an agreement you both can live with that’s in the best interest of your child.”
Greg takes a second to arrange a stack of papers in front of him before continuing, “I’m stating now that I am a neutral party. My only goal is to help the two of you reach an agreement. Understand?”
“Yes,” I say with a nod when he turns his wide, cornflower-blue eyes on me. Jared dips his chin as well when Greg looks his way.
Greg stands, gesturing to the door. “Alright. Who wants to stretch their legs with me on a long luxurious walk down the hallway?” He smiles and nods to Nia who stands.
