Page 75 of Next Time Will Be Our Turn
“I said, there are no records of domestic violence. Did Ibu Iris file a formal report?”
“No. She didn’t want things to get ugly. She just wanted to get away from him.”
There was a pause. “Then there are no records, like I said. And Bapak Erik is well within his rights to claim guardianship of his child.”
“She’s not athing!” I hissed. “She’s a child who just lost her mother. He can’t just take her away from everything she’s known and claim her.”
“I understand this is a very tough situation for all of you, but the legalities of the matter are quite clear. And since Ibu Iris and Bapak Erik never filed for divorce, they were technically married up until she died. Hazel is very much Bapak Erik’s responsibility in every sense of the word.”
“He was an abusive husband who beat my sister up while she was pregnant. Please, please don’t do this.”
The lawyer sounded genuinely empathetic when he said, “I am so sorry to hear that. But this is a matter of law.”
“I’m not taking her to Indonesia. We’re staying here, in LA.”
“I would highly advise against doing that. If you refuse to comply, this could turn into a criminal case. You could be charged with kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping?” It was so utterly ridiculous that I laughed. A mirthless, shrill sound I barely recognized.
“Yes. I highly advise you against doing anything brash. Please, Ibu Magnolia, let us do things peacefully. Bapak Erik is being generous; he has purchased airplane tickets for both you and Hazel to return to Jakarta, and he is prepared to reimburse you for all of the costs of looking after Hazel since her mother’s passing,” he said.
“I don’t need his money!” How stupid and petty I sounded then, even to my own ears. “I’m going to fight this. I’m going to take him to court. He can’t do this.”
“When you do find legal counsel, please have them contact me. This is an urgent matter, Ibu Magnolia. I suggest you find a lawyer within the next twenty-four hours.” With that, he ended the call.
I stared at the phone until Ellery knocked on the glass door, making me jump. I went inside and told her what just happened, and her face turned pale. We both looked at Hazel, who was done with her oatmeal and was now on to blueberries.
“What can I do?” I said. I could feel the edges of a panic attack starting, but I reminded myself to keep breathing. I didn’thave the luxury of falling apart right now, not when there was a real possibility that Hazel could be taken away from us.
Ellery took my hand. Her face was so tight with fear, but her voice somehow remained even. “Call your parents. They run a business back in Jakarta, so they’ll have contacts for good lawyers. You need an Indonesian lawyer, I think, since Iris and Erik were married in Jakarta and had Hazel in Jakarta.”
I nodded. “Right. Okay.” I went outside again and dialed Mama’s number. I had no idea if she would even pick up. Ever since Parker and I moved here, my relationship with my parents had withered into nearly nothing. The last time I spoke to them was when Iris passed away, and what they had said was, “Oh god,” before hanging up the phone. I wasn’t sure if they’d had to go and process their own grief; truth be told, I was too wrapped up in my own grief to reach back out to them. And now I was realizing what a selfish thing it was for me to leave them to their own devices.
“Hello?” Mama said, picking up after the fourth ring.
“Mama.” My voice came out high and tight, so close to breaking.
“Magnolia.” She sounded tired. “When are you coming home?” There was zero hope in her voice, only resignation, and my heart twisted. Had she been waiting for me and Parker to go back all this time?
“I don’t know. Listen, I need your help.” I quickly filled her in on the situation. “I need a good lawyer, Ma. The best one you know of.”
“I’ll ask the other doctors.” Mama paused, and I could sense her hesitation. “I…have always wanted to apologize to you. And Iris. For the way I reacted when she left Erik.”
A tear slipped out of my eyes. “It’s okay, Mama.”
“I should’ve been there for her. For both of you. I shouldn’t have cared about anything else other than her well-being. I failed you both as a mother.” She started crying then. “Please, Magnolia, will you come home?”
“I…I don’t know. I need to do what’s best for Hazel.”
Mama sniffed, swallowing her sobs. Finally, she said, “I understand that. She’s your baby now. I’ll call up the other doctors now. One of them will know of a good lawyer.”
“Thank you.”
“Magnolia?”
“Yes?”
“Give Hazel a kiss for me.”
