Alyssa took a deep breath before walking into the lawyers office. Alex and Celeste were at home with Megan, Faroke, Owen, Teddy, Leo and Allison. Owen and Teddy had been approved to foster to adopt again and would meet their new daughter in two weeks, her name was Hannah there were a few more paperwork things to be done before the one year old could be moved into their home. Hannah would be moving into what was once Alyssa's room. It was time that room belonged to another little girl. Owen had found it hard to box up Alyssa's mementos from the room, remembering the child that had moved in there and their years together learning to trust and be happy as a family again. Teddy had moved some of the photos to the hallway where she had hung photos of their kids while others Alyssa wanted. Alyssa's things were in boxes for her to decide what to do with once she moved. She had purged the things she didn't want the previous year while Faroke was in the hospital and she was making space for her girls in her room. What was left were the things Alyssa wanted and the lego sets her and Owen had decided together to save. They would save the lego collection for the next kid who wanted to play with it.
Alyssa tucked her keys in her purse and walked into the building. She was in control, she knew she could take the upper hand here. She had the evidence of him cheating going back to before she got pregnant. Her cousin Sarah had unknowingly befriended Jayce and the girl had spilled everything to Sarah. When Sarah saw the pictures of Matt she explained everything, that Matt had been with Alyssa for about three years before she found out and kicked him out that Alyssa had their daughters because Matt didn't care and hadn't helped with them. Jayce gave Sarah all the pictures she could and allowed Sarah to take copies of the texts between Jayce and Matt. Jayce hadn't known Matt was in a relationship or had children let alone infant twins. She had never wanted to be the other woman, she had seen her dad cheat on her mom and wouldn't be prt of it so once they had gotten copies of everything to Alyssa and her lawyer Jayce broke up with Matt. He was now alone.
"You came alone," Matt commented seeing Alyssa walk in, "you look good. Thin. "
"You're going there," Alyssa asked incredulously, "not how are Celeste and Alex."
"I'll see them tonight," Matt said.
"At my house when you pick up the last of your tools," Alyssa replied, "my uncles will help you load."
"Have you always been so calculating," Matt asked.
"I'm an engineer I plan for failures then stop them," Alyssa said, "too bad I couldn't plan on you cheating that really caught me off guard."
"Alyssa," Matt tried, "we can still work it out."
"No that's why we're here," alyssa replied, she picked up her pace and walked into the building to meet her lawyer. They quickly took a seat in his office to go over her requirements and where she was willing to be flexible. When they were ready they joined Matt and his lawyer in the conference room, she was a young woman fresh out of law school and who introduced herself as Ava.
"My client is willing to be flexible," Ava started, "he's asking for one day a week parenting time, a portion of the house when it is sold up to 20% of the profits, a share of joint assets, Ms Hunt and the children to stay in British Columbia and child support not to exceed 10% of his income."
"Ms Hunt has not agreed to any of those terms," Ben started, "as per the document presented last week she is willing to accept the reduced child support to 15% of your clients income along with medical expenses for both children, her job has been moved to Seattle Washington, she is agreeing to be within 300 300km of the border, we are proposing every second weekend parenting time and Ms Hunt will bring the children to Burnaby at her own expense for half of the visits. There is to be no division of assets purchased prior to cohabitation."
"Mr Wolff is also requesting that the children's contact with Ms Hunt's mother Meghan Hunt, uncle Owen Hunt and aunt Teddy Hunt be restricted and pre-approved by him," Ava replied.
"What is the grounds for that," Ben asked, that had never been made clear and without a clear reason could not be negotiated.
"Their military service," Ava replied, "my client does not feel that his children should be exposed to a pro war pro military stance at such a young age."
"Then the children will also not have contact with Mr Wolff's parents," Ben replied, "and siblings. His sister's husband John Redik has a record for possession and distributing narcotics. This had been resolved in previous conversations why the sudden back tracking?"
"My client would like to see his children," Ava replied, "Ms Hunt has had them in California for the last eight weeks."
"Seven weeks they have been in BC for a week already," Ben replied, "as you are aware both children have American citizenship, they have not yet been granted Canadian citizenship as they were born in Seattle Washington. As such they are entitled to reside in the United States and are considered visitors to Canada."
The negotiations continued through the morning with a lot of give and take on both sides. Alyssa wasn't totally happy with the agreement but it could be reworked later. Alyssa had the girls most of the time with every second weekend being decided as the most reasonable schedule for Matt to have parenting time, they would have a phone call or facetime conversation twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Child support had been negotiated to a middle point as well as medical care costs. Alyssa had needed to use the photos of Matt and Jayce over a year before the girls were born to convince them to leave her house alone. They would have to split the furniture but that didn't bug Alyssa as much, he wanted their bed and the items he had owned before he moved in. She didn't want their bed, she wanted a new one for a fresh start.
Alyssa walked out of the meeting still processing her thoughts. She had majority custody, she would have to bring them up once a month but that was doable. She knew she could renegotiate later when their own pride was less of a concern. He had tried to low ball her and be as manipulative as he could to put her in her place. She saw through him now the control and manipulation she had fallen for, the false promises and lies, how he gas lit her during today's meeting. He was threatening court action but she knew she could beat him and take full custody. She knew she settled for less than what her and the girls deserved financially but she wasn't willing to give up her time with them and her contact with her family. She would go after him for more money later. Matt had shown his true toxic colours in the meeting they would battle for years the lawyer warned her, it wasn't actually about the girls it was about controlling Alyssa and her future.
"How was it," Owen asked when Alyssa walked into the house.
"Not great," Alyssa admitted, 'he's coming for the last of his stuff tonight and I don't have a bed. He wants the mattress and bed frame. I bought and airmateress on my way home to use for the next week or so while I box everything up, then we go to Haikai and I'll send stuff down and store it in Grandma's basement."
"The bed,' Owen asked.
"I don't want it," Alyssa replied, "I want something new and a fresh start. I wasn't going to ship it anyway. Shipping it all cross border is going to be harder than I thought."
"We'll help," Owen assured.
"I know but when we come back you guys bring Hannah home and I can't wait to meet her," Alyssa said.
"Lyss are you sure it's okay,' Owen asked.
"I am," Alyssa replied, "I'll set up playdates with my girls and they can all play and have fun."
"Lyss," Owen asked.
"I'm good," Alyssa said, "it's you and Auntie Teddy and what you always wanted. You wanted a big family and lots of kids."
"Four," Owen said, "the grand kids might be a little closer in age to my other kids than I thought but."
"You didn't expect to have Leo and Allison when you did," Alyssa replied.
"I just wish we could bring you home," Owen replied.
"I get it," Alyssa replied, "Uncle Owen I'm almost 31. Mom's 50 tomorrow."
"I know," Owen said, "she just wants to go for dinner and RIggs is coming up for it?"
"They're good friends," Alyssa said, "I saw it in LA. he still came over once or twice a week to see Faroke and I guess me and the girls. He always brought treats for my girls."
"What is he," Owen asked.
"We talked that he's still Nathan," Alyssa replied, "we're going with Uncle Nathan to be polite for the girls. He never stopped being in my life and I'd miss him if he was totally gone. I don't know what he is or ever was to me but I like him and he's family. He's more consistent in my life then Derek has ever been. I would call Nathan before I called Derek in an emergency. He's babysat with mom."
"I only got to baby sit once," Owen pouted.
"I'm sure we can all trade when I move," Alyssa said, "I don't know if you wanted it for Leo and Allison but I want to grab my lego for when the girls are older to build with them."
"I boxed it up," Owen assured, "Teddy and I talked that it's yours. We won't take your toys. Matt really wants your bed?"
"It's trying to manipulate and control," alyssa said, "why didn't you tell me?"
"We saw it but we didn't spend enough time with him to know," Owen said, "I started getting worried at our wedding but you seemed happy and I wasn't going to do that to you. Then when Faroke got sick and he wasn't around I worried but again we didn't know the whole picture. You told us he was working and it added up. I wasn't impressed when the four of you stayed with us. He wasn't a good dad or partner but it wasn't my place alyssa no one could have told you. Teddy tried to question you about it and you got really upset and were crying."
"Let's blame hormones for that," Alyssa said.
"Are you sure about this with Matt," Owen asked.
"I've been boxing things up and sorting out his stuff from mine," Alyssa replied, "but I need you to help me take apart the bed. I'm glad mom and auntie Teddy took all 5 kids out. I just need to process it all."
"I can help,' Owen said, "Lyss I know this hurts and you've got kids in the equation."
"How did you," Alyssa asked.
"Beth you didn't know and weren't having much contact with her so it was hard on me but you never clicked with her and I wasn't too worried about you," Owen said, "I did really worry with Christina."
"But her and I still talk and have a relationship," Alyssa replied.
"She asked when we divorced if I wanted her to stay in your life," Owen said, "and I told her that it was up to you and I wouldn't stop people from caring about you. I still want the best for her Alyssa, I want Christina to be happy and Amelia."
"I hate him," Alyssa said, 'I hate him. I never want to see him again but I have to."
"You do," Owen said, "Lyss this anger is going to hurt you more than it hurts him. And it's going to hurt your girls. Alyssa, you have to let him love the girls. He does not need to be in your personal life but your daughters need their father."
"I know," Alyssa said, 'but he humiliated me in there today. He was cheating before I got pregnant and he tried to blame in on me. That I wasn't enough, that I wasn't attractive enough."
"He said that," Owen gasped.
"He commented on my weight twice," Alyssa began to cry, "he pointed out that I've almost lost the baby weight. I had twins! I made two humans and he commented on my weight before he even asked about Alex and Celeste."
"Lyss I don't even know what to say here," Owen said.
"I just want it to stop hurting," Alyssa whined.
"I know," Owen said, "this will hurt for a while and it will gradually get better. It's not overnight and it's going to be rubbed in your face every time he sees the girls. But little by little it will get better."
"I can't face him alone tonight," Alyssa said.
"We'll be here," Owen promised.
"My girls do not leave house," Alyssa said.
"He's there dad legally he can," Owen replied.
"Not until Saturday," Alyssa replied.
"How is it working," Owen asked.
"He picks up at 8am, I send their diaper bag and bottles with them and he'll bring them home at 7pm," Alyssa replied, "then the same on Sunday. When they stop nursing we will renegotiate but they need to be with me over night for now."
"They do," Owen replied, "how long are you going to?"
"I'm aiming for 2 years but will go at least 18 months," Alyssa replied, "I talked to mom and auntie Teddy. Mom said she did until I was about 18 months."
"I did not need to see that much of my sister," Owen replied.
"Girls still are and I'm going to as long as they want to," Alyssa replied.
"You go to another room half the time though," Owen said.
"With Celeste because she gets distracted by people around Alex I can just about anywhere but I cover up if people are around," Alyssa replied.
"They have such different personalities," Owen smiled.
"They do and I love it," Alyssa replied.
That night Matt appeared with his parents to get the last of his stuff out of the house.
"It's in the garage," Alyssa said.
"We're going to take the girls for a couple hours," Dianne said.
"Matt has his time on Saturday and Sunday," ALyssa replied, "you can take them then. Right now it's almost bedtime."
"So you two can get organised, I'll take them,' Dianne said.
"In the house for sure," Alyssa replied, "you are not taking them out of my house and I will be following their routines and doing their baths at 7:00 and tucked in at 7:30."
"Can I help," Dianne asked.
"With baths and their story but I'll tuck them in," Alyssa replied, "they're both still feeding to sleep."
"Are you sure that's wise with Matt having them on the weekends," Dianne asked.
"For now he's going to pick them up once they're awake and bring them back to me for bedtime," Alyssa replied, "Alex hasn't slept through yet and needs to be fed and Celeste does once in a while."
Owen showed Matt where his boxes were in the garage.
"You were never good enough for her," Owen told Matt, "you never cared about Alyssa. She was a prize for you to win, a wild animal to tame. You never loved her if you loved her you would have been with us last fall and winter when Faroke was sick, when I was injured. If you loved her you would have been there. You just wanted to control and manipulate and you're pissed she saw though it. You're going to do everything you can to use those girls to control Alyssa, to manipulate her, to win but we all see it. I knew the first time I met you you weren't good enough for her, that you would hurt her."
"Woah," Matt said, "where did this come from?"
"You hurt my child,' Owen said, 'you're hurting her, you've been hurting her for years. You don't get to hurt her and isolate her from her family anymore."
"My children," Matt hissed.
"Don't need to see you consistently hurting their mom," Owen replied, "dragging Alyssa down. Your daughters do not need to learn that that is how they should be treated."
"But I would never," Matt said.
"They learn what you and Alyssa show them," Owen said, "they learn how men treat women by how you treat Alyssa, Alex and Celeste."
'Were you always perfect," Matt asked, "you've been married three times."
"Christina and I made a choice as a couple and were respecting ourselves," Owen said, "Ameila and I were also respecting ourselves. We didn't always handle it well, but we always tried to respect each other and protected Alyssa. You're using your children as pawns. I won't stand by and watch it."
"What about her," Jack asked, "she took the kids and took off to California. She hid in another country. I'm not defending the cheating that was the worst thing he could have done, if he wasn't happy he should have ended it but she can't hide their kids."
"You don't know the whole story," Owen replied, "Alyssa felt threatened. She was close to calling the police because he was intimidating her. And she will protect those girls she will make sure they are safe and cared for and loved."
"When will we see them," Jack asked.
"When Matt has parenting time," Owen replied, "I know it's not what any of us wanted. I did want them to work it out and find a balance that worked for them."
"Why is she so stubborn," Jack asked.
"She's her mother's daughter," Owen replied, 'and I taught her to use her voice. Jack I had custody of her from the time she was 12 but her and Megan lived with me. I was in the room when she was born to support Megan. I was the first person in the family to see Alyssa, I told Megan she had a baby girl. Alyssa's first steps I was holding her up and she let go of my fingers and walked to Megan."
"You sound like her dad," Jack said.
"I am in every way that matters," Owen said, "I had custody and guardianship. I wanted to adopt her but Alyssa wasn't ready and we left it because what we had worked."
Inside Alyssa got the girls ready for bed, when they were in jammies she took them out to the garage, "lets say good night to daddy."
"Good night," Matt asked.
"It's bed time," Alyssa said, "milk and song then in their beds.'
"Can I help," Matt asked.
"Not with milk," Alyssa said, "but in about 15 you can come up and tuck them in."
"I can do a bottle," Matt said.
"It's not a bottle right now they already had a couple while we were at the lawyer," Alyssa said, "I always do bed time and have from the day they were born. Matt we have routines."
"Okay," Matt sighed.
Alyssa turned and went inside. 15 minutes later Matt came up and tucked both girls in with Alyssa.
Once Matt and his parents left Alyssa went into her room and closed the door, she couldn't handle people right now. She just needed time and space.
"She's going to shut down again," Megan predicted in the kitchen.
"No," Teddy replied, "I think she's coming around. She's hurting but she'll be okay. Today was the first step in healing. She got closure today her unknowns are dealt with."
"They are," Megan agreed, "just seeing him."
"She has to," Teddy replied, "it'll get easier for her."
"I hope so," Megan replied, 'seeing her so hurt.'
"I know," Teddy agreed, "but we're here. She's coming home and will be okay. Coming home is the best thing for her."
"It is," Megan replied, 'I'm going to with Faroke. It's time I came back to seattle my daughter needs me. My granddaughters need me."
"They do,' Teddy agreed, 'and it will be good to have you home."
