“Miss Calder, are you there?”
“Yes, sorry. I’m at work, Mrs. Patterson, and have a client coming in soon. Can I call you back in about an hour?”
“Sorry, yes, of course you can, but really this conversation will only take a moment of your time. I’ve tried to reach you on your house phone on numerous occasions, but you’ve been unavailable and haven’t returned any of my calls.”
“I’m sorry, you must have the wrong number. I haven’t received any messages,” I say, taking deep breaths trying to get my heart under control, as it pounds so hard that I feel it in my stomach.
“I’ve left multiple messages with your son, Hunter.” Dropping my head, I squeeze my eyes closed. Hunter. I knew something was going on with him. He seemed jumpy every time the phone rang, and when he talks to his dad, he seemed on edge… so on edge that it takes an hour, if not more, for him to unwind after their calls.
“How can I help you?” I give in, knowing there is nothing I can do about that now.
“I just need to confirm some information and find out from you the name and phone number of your attorney. Your ex-husband and I agree that it would be best if I work through them from here on out.”
“I don’t have an attorney at this time.”
“Hmm,” she hums, and my fists clench. “I’m working for your husband, so I really shouldn’t tell you what I’m going to tell you, Miss Calder, but I suggest you get an attorney as soon as possible.” I don’t know what Max had planned, but I know he hasn’t given up the idea of getting custody of Hunter, and this call proves just that.
“I’ll work on finding someone to represent me,” I tell her softly.
“That would be good.” Her reply is just as soft, and if I didn’t know any better, I would swear she felt sorry for me.
“Can I ask what kind of custody arrangement Max is seeking?”
“He’s asking for full custody at this time.”
Pulling in a deep breath, I let it out slowly, whispering, “Of course he is.” I close my eyes, wondering how much a good attorney costs. I have some money saved, but not a lot, since I spent most of my savings on my divorce then a huge chunk moving us to Alaska. “What other information do you need?” I question, wanting this call done.
“I need to verify your physical address, along with the name, address, and phone number of the person who is in charge of taking care of Hunter while you’re at work.”
“There is no one taking care of him at this time. He’s at swim or fishing camp during the day until four, and then he goes home and waits for me to get off at five.”
“Hmm,” she hums again, and the sound causes my teeth to clench, because it sounds disapproving.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Patterson, but my client just walked in. Do you have an e-mail address where I can have my attorney contact you once I get one?”
“Of course.” She reads off her e-mail address, which I jot down quickly before saying good buy and hanging up with her. The urge to go get Hunter and run away is almost overwhelming as I sit back in my chair and stare blankly at the wall in front of me. I’ll fight with everything I have to keep my son, but I also know that Max will make sure he gets to watch as I take my last breath while taking Hunter away from me.
Not even bothering with getting myself a glass, I take my opened bottle of white wine with me to my room, head right outside to the patio, and sit in one of the chairs, resting my feet still incased in high heels up on the rail. Putting the bottle to my lips I tip it back. Normally, I wouldn’t drink—or rather, I wouldn’t drink with the idea of getting drunk—but since Hunter is spending the night with a friend from camp, I’m free to drink my cares and worries away without feeling like a horrible mom.
Swallowing down the cool liquid, I let out a sigh. When I got home from work, Hunter was already at the house, and like he’s done since the first day I started work and he started camp, he told me excitedly about his day. He told me about the salmon he caught, and how tomorrow they were learning how to smoke the meat for jerky that he would get to bring home when it was done. Then he asked if he could spend the night with Fin and go to camp with him in the morning. Fin and his family were having a cookout at the river, and he wanted to go along.
After I said yes, I could see how happy he was, so it sucked that I had to confront him about keeping important messages from me. When I sat him down and asked him about why he didn’t tell me about the calls, I didn’t expect him to get as upset as he got. He was visibly shaken as he told me he missed his friends and his dad, but wanted to stay with me. He explained that his dad told him about getting a lawyer and that Hunter would soon be moving back to Seattle to live with him. He thought that if I didn’t know what was going on, that it wouldn’t happen and he could stay where he wanted to be. It killed me to know that the choice wouldn’t be his or mine. That some person with no real understanding of the situation would get to decide what would happen to us.
Taking another chug from the wine bottle, I lean my head back and look up at the sky that is slowly turning dusky, and wish that Gramps was still alive. He would tell me everything is going to be okay or find a way to make it all right for me. Even now, I can’t believe he’s gone. In my mind, I really thought he would be alive forever. I built him up in my head as some kind of superhero who defied time. I wish I hadn’t thought like that. I wish I would’ve remembered he was just a man and that his time on earth was limited, just like everyone else’s.