CHAPTER 9 How terrible of me! This chapter has been sitting here for weeks as I thought I already posted it, I feel terrible. Please accept not one but two chapters as an apology. SORRY.
" Under no circumstance, are you to make contact with Hanna Marin or your son. Is that clear Mr Rivers? " Caleb's lawyer Mr Gore, looked over his glasses at him. " Its a precautionary measure I make all my clients take, when there is no contact, there is little room left for disputes. Even the smallest of things can effect either side of a case. I've seen it a million times over especially with custody battles " he closed the manilla folder and stood up buttoning his jacket.
" I understand, I haven't made contact since nor do I intend to " Caleb stood tall & held out his hand, his lawyer reached across & shook his hand.
" You've gone above & beyond what some men would do Mr Rivers ". Caleb wasn't letting a single thing halt the process of him getting access to his son, he had numerous references from friends, family & business colleagues, he'd had a psychological assessment to prove he wasn't mentally unstable, he gathered all his financial statements & had reports from children's services to prove his home was a safe, clean & healthy environment.
" I just want my son, I'm doing what any other father would do " Caleb gave a smile that barely touched the sides of his face.
" Alright then, mediation starts in two weeks " Mr Gore opened his door as Caleb walked past. Moments later while sifting through own folder Caleb shook his head, so much paperwork for one simple thing. He shouldn't have had to do this, Hanna should have told him. Or better yet he should have listened to Jamie & returned to Hanna saying he hit his head but he was all better now - even though he clearly wasn't.
Two simple words could have saved both of them a whole lot of heartache.
Two weeks later Caleb arrived at the Courthouse ready to discuss a custody agreement for Thomas, he had no idea what to expect from Hanna, whether she would agree to his terms or fight him all the way & deny access to his only son, just the thought of arguing over their son made him sick to his stomach. He always thought if he decided to have children they'd be bought into a safe & loving environment with two parents who loved him as much as they loved each other, never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd ever have to put them through this process.
Staring off into the distance Caleb hadn't noticed Hanna walking toward the front steps, she was dressed rather sharp in a ivory knee length skirt, black strappy heels, a tight black business shirt & her hair was straightened & shined ever so bright like a goddess in the sun. She didn't turn his way or even give him a glance, or maybe she didn't see him under the dark sunglasses covering her eyes, she kept her head straight & continued down the corridor where more people sat waiting for mediation.
Caleb sat two benches away from Hanna his foot nervously tapping a rhythm against the marbled floor, he rolled up the sleeves on his dress shirt & stared at the door where their meeting was to be held, he looked to his left and watched as Hanna spoke with someone on her cell.
" Mr Rivers, are you ready? " his appointed mediator stood before him.
" Yes " Caleb stood tall straightening his vest, Hanna quickly put her phone in her bag & walked toward the room, ever still the gentleman Caleb let Hanna enter first, even then Hanna still didn't look at him. Sitting on opposite sides of the table Caleb watched her closely, but not once did she look up at him, at least not until it was time to discuss his terms and conditions.
" Mr Caleb Rivers, could you please state your intentions and or requests regarding custody of Master Thomas Marin, the child you share with Miss Hanna Marin ".
" Yes " he cleared his throat & straightened himself. " Primary physical custody of our son, I wish to remain with his mother, I don't want to interfere with the life he already has here in Philadelphia but... " Hanna looked up & dead-panned Caleb, she couldn't believe he wasn't asking for joint physical custody. She thought it was too good to be true and it was, when he said "but" Hanna's head dropped like she was already defeated. " I request legal custody. I want exclusive time with our son every second weekend, alternating major holidays & summer vacations. I want to be able to attend academic & sporting events & be part of the decision making process for all things regarding our son, like medical, schooling, holidays etcetera ".
" Miss Marin, do you object to Mr Rivers requests? " the mediator looked to her.
" I do " she said loud enough for the entire room to hear. " Object that is ". Hanna looked at the mediator on Caleb's side of the table instead of at him.
" Of course you do " Caleb said under his breath as he rubbed his temple.
" Shh, let her speak Mr Rivers " the mediator cautioned Caleb. " Can you elaborate please? In what way do you object? " he asked.
" I don't object to Mr Rivers seeing our son, more like an alternate arrangement leading up to his request. Due to the strain in the relationship between father & son I request a six month trial period with supervised visitation, therefore allowing time for Thomas to get to know his father before he can have weekend visitation and overnight stays ". Hanna finally lifted her head & saw the look on Caleb's face, he was not happy with her conditions.
" Six months? No. I'm not wasting any more time. I've lost enough already " he spoke directly to her.
" I'm just looking out for my son " she spoke back to him.
" Our son " Caleb corrected her. This was the first time in months they had spoke directly to one another & within minutes they were arguing, clearly they needed permanent mediators.
" I remind you both, this mediation is to discuss the best possible outcome for the child involved, please refrain from all verbally attacking one another " both mediators reminded them.
" Supervised visitation? Really? " Caleb snapped slamming his hand down on the table making Hanna jump in her seat. " Like I'm a criminal or something, can you not trust me to be a good parent because my own did such a poor job? " Caleb spoke to her again only this time she didn't respond.
" Mr Rivers, I wont tell you again " his mediator placed her hand on his arm trying to reign him back in.
" Miss Marin, are you absolutely certain this is what you want and there is no room for negotiation? " the mediator questioned her.
" I want the best for our son, " Hanna emphasized on the word our. " Any emotional suffering he may endure because of this process is one hundred percent on me. My son does not know his father, he may know of him but he doesn't know him, personally. There is a difference, one I would like to explore before handing Thomas over so easily ".
" This is bullshit " Caleb said through gritted teeth. The mediator sitting beside Hanna turned to Caleb & asked if he would agree to Hanna's conditions based on her reasons.
" No, I do not. I've lost six years of time with my son because of her decisions " he pointed at her. " I will not be watched like a monkey in a glass house & wait another six months to be with my son. Its not about who will be the better parent or who gets him the most, I helped create Thomas & I want, no! I deserve quality time with my son. I've seen how nasty proceedings can be, I've seen people at their worst and I do not want that for our son. I want to be the father he should have " Caleb poured his heart out. He wanted to spend the rest of his days getting to know him & make up for the time they'd lost. " Three months. That's it. That's all the supervised visits I'll do. No more " he crossed his arms over his chest & stared at her, she didn't dare look at him again.
" Miss Marin do you agree? " Caleb's mediator asked. Hanna hesitated & turned her back, whispering to the mediator beside her. When she was done she turned back & nodded to the mediator.
" I agree ". Both mediators breathed a sigh of relief, for once they had two people agreeing on custody. They hated when parents couldn't be civil for the sake of their children. For the next hour they discussed weekends, major holidays, & vacation time spent with either parent.
When they finished, everyone in the room stood & shook hands. Caleb reached out & shook Hanna's hand, she looked down at their joined hands & back up at him again. Her heart skipped a beat & he squeezed her hand gently, lingering a second longer than he should have. Hanna quickly retracted her hand, said her goodbye & rushed out the door.
It had been years since she'd felt his touch but nothing had changed, the same spark she felt years ago was the same one she felt just now & it scared the hell out of her. She had to get as far away from him as possible, the click of her heels echoed loudly down the marbled hall. She quickly walked through the lobby & out onto the front steps, the sun was bright but she didn't have time to find her sunglasses, she had to get away. She ran down the stairs and blended into the crowd waiting to cross the road. It wasn't until she was half way across the street that she heard her name being called. She knew whose voice it was but kept walking anyways.
" Hanna! For the love of god stop! " he called out. She was two spaces away from her car when he caught her by the arm & stepped in front of her.
" Didn't you hear me? " he said trying to catch his breath.
" I heard you but please, let me go " she tried wriggling from his grasp.
" No I've done that too many times. Just hear me out " Caleb ignored everything his lawyer said about making contact, he just couldn't let her leave thinking the worst of him. He held her arms tight making it impossible for her to move.
" What else is there to say? You get to see Thomas, its what you wanted. Everyone is happy " she tried to step around him but Caleb moved with her.
" You're not " he said.
" What I want doesn't matter " Hanna looked anywhere but at him.
" Yes it does, you're his mother " Caleb ducked his head trying to get her to look at him but she turned away every time.
" And now he has you as his father " Hanna mumbled.
" Hanna, I need you to believe me, I never wanted it to go down this way. You kept him a secret, from me. My son, Jesus...I mean our son! " Her betrayal cut him deeply. " The whole process just makes me so damn angry, you have to understand you left me no choice ". Hanna acknowledged his statement with a simple nod.
" I know, but you didn't really give me a chance though did you? "she stepped around him & walked toward her car. There was nothing she could say or do that would make their situation any better. She lied to him & she kept their son a secret for six years.
" You had six years to tell me Hanna " Caleb said as she walked away. " I need to see him, I can't just forget he exists ". Hanna turned around wiping her hand across her cheek. She hadn't looked at him much during today's proceedings, if looks could kill she was afraid she wouldn't leave the proceedings alive, the first time she looked at him he he was blank - she couldn't read him like she used to - which was quickly followed by anger.
This time though she saw remorse, a look that should be hers, not his. It was her fault they were here not his, there was only one thing she could say.
" I wouldn't want you to ".
