Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much
Over the next couple weeks just like every football season Roman and I are like strangers. It's a lot of late practices with the team, then him traveling for some away games as the season has finally started. This season is no different with our lack of seeing each other, especially since I am busy working on my book while Roman is doing what he loves. The 49ers are off to a great start this season after the first 3 games of the season they remain undefeated. Roman has really whipped them into shape which I was hoping after a few bad preseason games and all the late night practices he has been having but they are doing so well to start things off if it continues like this then there is a pretty good chance the 49ers could end up in the super bowl just around the time that the boys are due.
The last couple weeks I have also been busy with the girls as they are both in school and that keeps us pretty busy with homework every night with Nova, 3rd grade is pretty hard these days but she does well it's just a lot of school work in the evening time that keeps us busy. Along with being busy with school fall sports have started as well and both girls are playing soccer and there isn't an evening I am not running to a game or to a practice. On top of all that I am waiting for word on the case against Mack and Jordan. I know they are being indicted on rape charges, neither of them are talking again like years earlier but this is different. The evidence is there and the case is moving forward despite the attempts of Mack trying to throw his money around and his dad trying to put money in the fire to extinguish it so that Mack doesn't lose his football career which he pretty much has already. That karma hits hard especially when he made fun of Roman years ago for risking everything to be with me and losing it all so we could be together, life happens that way sometimes. I miss Roman the most during football season and a lot of our conversations are short and sweet, a lot of time on zoom and facetime when he's away.
Today we are meeting with Shea, Dean and our lawyers for a sit down in mediation to try to come up with an agreement for the girls so that we don't have to go to court, that's the last thing we want to do. We managed to keep this out of court before hopefully we can do it again now. "Hey, Beautiful," says Roman with a smile as he greets me with a soft kiss on the lips as we meet in New Orleans, he had a game in New Orleans a few days ago and instead of flying back to California he just stayed in New Orleans for the sit down.
"Hey, Baby," I say with a smile, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," he says with a soft smile, placing his hand on my baby bump. "Are you showing more?" he asks.
"Yeah, I have grown a little bit more," I say with a soft smile, "and you'll be happy to know that the doctor has confirmed that Roman and Luca are still both boys and everything is looking good, he is still saying February 1st for the due date, no genetic markers so they are not at risk for any genetic disorders, hearts are looking good, they are both very healthy boys."
"It's so great to hear that news," he smiles, "I am so sorry I missed that appointment."
"It's okay, I completely understand," I smile. "But I am really starting to think they are both going to look like you, they do have your mouth as that was clear on the ultrasound."
"Maybe," he says with a smile. "So how are Ky and Nova doing?"
"Wonderful, they miss you too and can't wait for you to come home. Ky is getting so awesome at soccer. She's really good, you'll be proud of her, I know I am and she's proud of herself. She scored 3 goals at the game on Sunday and she's like Speedy Gonzales out there on the soccer field it's like no one can touch her. Nova is doing just as well, she's excited to be the goalie this season."
"What can I say, they get their athletic ability from me," he says proudly. "I hate missing their games."
"I know but they understand," I say as Shea and Dean come to join us. "Good morning, Dean and Shea."
"Good morning," says Dean.
"Morning, Man," says Roman as they shake hands. "Shea."
"Roman, Hayden," she says. I honestly don't know what happened between us. We were good friends for the last few years but then before we left New Orleans that seemed to slip away and now it's like we are enemies something Roman and I don't want and never wanted. We just want to work together to continue to do the best for both Ky and Nova.
"How are you doing, Shea?" I ask.
"Fine," she says less than thrilled. "Well, you can tell you're pregnant now, how's that going for you?"
"Pretty good," I say with a smile, "I'm excited and can't wait to meet the boys."
"That's great," she says, "I know how much Roman has wanted sons to carry on his football legacy."
"Yeah," I say, "but it's up to them on what they want to do with their time and their lives," I say.
"Okay," she says, "and how are the girls doing? Are they excited for their brothers? How is Kylynn doing with kindergarten?"
"The girls are doing great," I say, "they are both really excited for their brothers and they both seem to be enjoying San Francisco. Kylynn is doing fabulous with kindergarten. She really enjoys it."
"That's great to know, I hope we can get the girls back, I miss them."
"We'll see how today goes," says Roman. I know Roman is not thrilled with Shea especially after the things she said in front of Nova. I don't think it was right because no child should know the grievances between their parents, if anything were to happen between Roman and I, I know that I would do everything to work with Roman to keep the boys successful and no matter what happened between Roman and me or how I felt about them Roman and Luca would NEVER know about it.
"Yeah, we'll see how it goes today," she snaps before walking away.
"Obviously you're not her favorite person," I say with a soft smile.
"Yeah, well she's not mine either, I thought we had this all worked out and now here we are."
"Well, I am sure the move from New Orleans to San Francisco didn't help matters. I can see where she's coming from. I don't think she should have to relocate but at the end of the day Nova and Ky are her children and if it were me I would relocate no matter what for my children."
"That's why I love you, Hayden, you're different than she is, she only thinks of herself and no one else, this whole thing is about the money for her, it always has been about the money for her."
"I know, Baby," I say rubbing his arm softly.
It isn't long before we are called into the mediation room. Roman and I walk in first followed by Dean and Shea. Roman and I take a seat across from them with our lawyers on each side next to us with a mediator present to notarize anything we come up with. "I just want this to be as peaceful as possible," I say. "I don't think there's any need to be ugly with one another, I think we are all adults that love two little girls and want the best for them. It's not about any of us but them."
"Hayden," says Shea, "honestly you have no business involved."
"Shea, I have been in their lives since they were 5 years old and a year old, I have been helping Roman raise them for the last 5 years. I love them like they are my own just like Dean does, I just want the best for them like everyone else."
"Oh when you were sleeping with my husband?" she asks.
"You're still holding that against her, Shea?" asks Roman, "that was years ago we have all grown up from that, Hayden is my wife now and we are having kids together not to mention she has been amazing with Nova and Ky. They both love her a lot."
"Whatever," she says, "so I think that Dean and I should get primary custody of the girls," she suggests. "I mean after all I am their mother."
"And I am their father," says Roman. "What makes you think you deserve primary custody of the girls?"
"I just told you because I am their mother," she says, "they belong with their mother."
"And why not their father?" he asks. "I have just as much right to raise them as you do and they are happy in San Francisco. They have adjusted well, they are both involved in sports and they both like their school. They are doing very well in San Francisco not to mention they both have said they do not want to live with you and prefer to live with Hayden and me. They claim that you're mean to them and honestly I don't like the behavior I see from Nova when she returns back from your house."
"I don't believe that, they love me and they love it at my house," she says.
"Believe what you want, Shea, but both of them have said they don't want to live with you."
"Good thing we are the adults and they are the children, they don't make the decisions here we do. You took them from everything they know here in New Orleans and sent them to a new place, took them to a new place not to mention you're not even home half the time because you're working or out traveling."
"It's my job," he says, "it has been my job since they were born it's no different. In all fairness the girls are happy where they are and they are happy living with us."
"And they are just as happy living with us," she argues. "I just feel better with them being with me."
"Let's be honest," says Roman, "you don't care where they are, you want them with you so that you can get the money. You said that my past is going to fuck me over and that you're going to get the money. And you know where I heard those words? Our 8 year old daughter, she told me that you said that in front of her."
"I never said that," she says.
"So you're calling our daughter a liar?" he asks, "because I don't think she's lying in fact I know she's telling the truth. This has always been about the money for you, Shea."
"That's not true and I never said anything like that."
"Sure you didn't," says Roman. "Anyway, I think the girls need to be with me and with Hayden. I think it's a more positive and healthy environment for them than here in New Orleans with you."
"A more positive environment and a healthy environment? Yeah okay, your lives have become a media circus with you first going to coach in Pittsburgh but then it being brought up that Mack the man that raped Hayden was on the team brought speculation to you and spotlighted you and NOW Hayden is going against Mack again for rape. You think that's a positive environment for them?"
"Well, Nova and Kylynn are kids. They don't have a clue to what's happening and what's going on. I know people are going to talk, they always have and always will but Nova and Kylynn are both comfortable enough to come to us with any questions which is how I knew you said that because Nova asked me about it. I don't think it's a positive environment when you're tearing me down in front of our kids. We have NEVER said anything bad about you in front of Nova and Ky because they are children, they will generate their own opinion and feelings to you, that's their right not mine to tell them what I think about you. I am with Hayden, I just want this to be civilized, I want us to continue to work together to take care of Nova and Ky without the drama. We have been doing it for years and I want to continue to do it. I'm sorry I moved to California but I had to do what was best for my family and that was making more money and that involved moving to coach another team."
"It's selfish that you expect Dean and I to relocate because you have a new job," she says, "it's always been about you and what you want, Roman. I'm not even married to you and you're still trying to control me."
"I'm not trying to control you, I don't care if you stay here in New Orleans or move to San Francisco but no matter where you live I want to continue to work together to raise our daughters. I want it to be a positive co-parenting relationship. And a positive co-parenting relationship means NO slandering of the other parent in front of the children by ourselves, our significant others or anyone else in the family or our friends. It's not fair for them to hear negative things about their parents from their parents, they deserve more. They shouldn't know how I feel about you or how you feel about me. That's the number one thing. I want positivity in front of our kids no slandering of the other in front of them."
"All right," says Shea, "I can handle that but I still want custody of them and then you get them over the summer and one or two weekends a month."
"I'm not giving you custody," he says, "I'm sorry but I'm not, not when my kids are begging me to stay with me, I will fight for them. I think it would be better if they stayed with us, we continue to celebrate holidays together like we have been doing and I don't know how two weekends a month is going to work out if you're here and we're there."
"Dean and I are in the process of moving to Las Vegas so we can be closer to San Francisco. We don't want to live in California and Dean has always wanted to live in Vegas so we have bought property in Vegas and are in the process of moving to Vegas so we could do two weekends a month or one weekend a month, holidays together and they stay with us."
"No," Roman shakes his head, "I'm not budging on this, Shea. Hayden and I want primary custody of the girls, we will give you one weekend a month, meeting halfway so we are driving the same distance to hand the kids off to the other and we will continue to celebrate holidays together but why uproot them after they started school, made new friends and are involved in sports, I don't think that's fair to them," he says, "I don't think it's fair they have to readjust to a new city and a new school."
"I have to say," says Shea's lawyer, "Roman is right, they are already adjusted to California, in school and playing sports it's not a good idea to take them from the life they have just adjusted to just to have them adjust to another life and another place."
"No one asked you," she says, "he didn't mind taking them to California and uprooted their lives, why is it different for them to come to Vegas with us?"
"Because they are already adjusted," says Roman, "I told you I am not budging on this. I'm not sending my kids to you."
"They are our kids," she says, "and I deserve the right to have them."
"Then no child support if they go to you, I don't get child support from you so it's only fair if you get custody I don't have to pay child support for them," he says and I look at him. It's not that easy, he can't make it that easy. "That works right, you get primary custody, we get two weekends a month and holidays together but no child support."
"What? How is that fair?" she asks. "You make millions a year, far more than I make a year you should have to pay child support especially if I have full custody, kids aren't cheap, Roman."
"It doesn't matter how much I make," he says, "I don't require you to pay child support so it's only fair that you don't require me to pay child support. If you want custody and it's only about the kids then it shouldn't matter if I am paying child support or not," he says and I know exactly what he did, he just proved that it's more about the money for her then it is about the girls. "So no child support."
"No, child support," she argues, "you make so much money it's only fair that you need to pay me child support to raise the girls."
"Or you could get a job," he says. "That can help you pay for your children's needs."
"Oh like Hayden works," she says, "she's not working, just living off your money right now."
"First of all," says Hayden, "I don't care about Roman's money, that's never matter to me. My father is a CEO I have my own money, I never needed Roman's money. I am not working because I am pregnant and we recently moved. I am focusing on something else before I get back to work but I do plan to get back to work as a victim advocate after the boys are born."
"But you're still not working and yes I know you're focused on your trial with Mack," she says.
"Actually, no I have plans but this isn't about me or what I do, it's about you."
"Whatever, Hayden," she says, "Roman, if I get custody I want child support each week."
"No," says Roman, "I am not agreeing to that, what do you need child support for?"
"To get the basic needs for our children," she says.
"Well, you don't work so you don't need child care, surely I am sure you can buy them clothes and food, you're doing well with your son."
"Because Dean is taking care of his son, Nova and Ky aren't his kids to take care of they are YOUR kids to take care of therefore it is your responsibility to pay child support to me."
"Child support and only seeing them one weekend a month and on holidays, that doesn't seem fair. I can't agree to that, Shea."
"Then what do you want, Roman, because obviously like everything else in this life I am not getting my way and you're getting your way so what do you want?"
"But I thought you wanted the girls so badly?" he asks, "so when money isn't coming your way all of a sudden it's what do I want? Just admit you just want the girls for money and monetary gain," he says.
"That's not true," she says.
"But if it wasn't true you would have taken the custody I was offering but you didn't you fought me about the child support which proves to me that you just want the money and the only way you're getting the money is if you have the girls. Am I right?" I ask.
"No," she says. "I do love my girls."
"Okay, so you love them so custody and no child support? Last chance, final offer," he says.
"Not without child support," she says, "I will need support to raise them."
"Hm," he says, "but I am offering you want you want, the girls with no child support but you're not taking them without the money, so what do you think that looks like?"
"Roman, you still piss me off, just like when we were married, you really piss me off."
"I haven't done anything to piss you off except making a fair observation based on your decisions but since you asked me what I wanted I want primary custody of Nova and Kylynn, you get visitation two weekends a month, Friday through Sunday, we meet halfway, each night you get a phone call or facetime call with the girls then holidays like birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter we spend together and you get them in the summertime and we get two weeks in the summer for a family vacation," he says, "that's what I want, what do you say?"
"Whatever, Roman, you just piss me off, I'll go with that," she says. "I mean since they are doing so well with you anyway."
He shrugs and says, "I owe that to Hayden, she does pretty well with them."
"I bet," she rolls her eyes, "she's not their mother."
"I love them like I am and I have been a mother figure in their lives for 5 years now. I love them like they are my own and I just want the best for them. I want to see them grow up and be loving, successful adults and we can't get them there unless we all work together. I just want to put all the negativity aside, work together and raise them to be the best people we can."
"I'm actually kind of happy my girls do you have you, Hayden," she says, "they do truly love you and you are great with them. I know you're going to be a fabulous mom to your boys as well. Thank-you for loving my girls like you do."
"No need to thank me," I say with a smile.
"So this is what we are doing?" asks Roman, "the girls stay with us, two weekends out of the month they are with Shea and Dean, we spend major holidays together and then over the summer time they go to Vegas with Shea and Dean, two weeks with us, no child support, and nightly face times with the girls?"
"Yes," says Shea, "that's what we're doing."
"Perfect," says Roman. The lawyers have us each sign a statement, tell us that they will have everything typed up in a few days, sent to both Roman and Shea to sign before it goes to the judge to be signed. Mediation went a lot better than I thought it would. I'm happy the girls are staying with us but I am pretty disappointed that Shea didn't fight harder or at least prove that her kids mean more to her than the money but she didn't do that.
Later That Night:
"Well, that went better than I expected," says Roman.
"I at least thought that she would put up a fight," I say as we are sitting in our hotel room in New Orleans before we flight back to San Francisco tomorrow. "She didn't even argue, or accept that primary custody."
"I told you, Hay, it's always been about the money for her," he says, "I'm not surprised at all. I was offering her primary custody with no child support and she wouldn't take that without the money. They are better off with us anyway."
"I don't disagree," I say with a smile, "and how about her bringing up the fact I am not working. We literally just moved to California and I am pregnant no sense in finding a job then taking time off in a few months to have the boys."
"Whether you work or not is not her business it's yours. I don't care if you work or stay home, you can do whatever you want to do, we will get by no matter what you choose."
"I know but of course I am going to go back to work after I have the boys. I just want to take a little break especially after the Bailey and Mack situation. Plus I have some ventures I want to focus on right now before I go back to work. I love being a victim advocate, I like fighting for people, I like fighting for change. I like fighting for social justice."
"I know and I support you no matter what you choose to do. I love that you fight so hard for change and you fight so hard for the rights of others. You're amazing, Hayden. I support you 100% in anything you want to do, whatever ventures you want to try and you know what?"
"What?" I ask as I cuddle up next to him.
"I agree with one thing Shea said today," he says.
"Hmm, what's that?" I ask.
"That you're going to be a great mom to the boys," he smiles. "You're amazing with Nova and Ky, I know you're going to be just as awesome with Roman and Luca."
"Thank-you, Baby, I can't wait till we have our sons, I have seen you with daughters I can't wait to see you with sons. Even though they were a big surprise even if we weren't taking all the precautions I'm glad God has chosen to bless us with the boys. I can't wait."
"Neither can I," he says with a smile before we share a soft kiss.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.