After two more visits, Don went to see Bri at her school. They talked during recess just outside the school.
"I want to take him to temple" he told her.
"Temple?" she repeated incredulously. "Since when do you go to temple?"
"Since recently" Don replied vaguely. "Does he have any suits?"
"Yeah, but he outgrew it. I don't even know if I want him going to temple"
"It's part of his heritage" Don didn't want to get into details about his search for God. "It can't hurt, right?"
"Fine."
"Here's money for the suit" Don got out his wallet.
"It's fine, I can afford to get a suit for my son"
"Bri, he's our son. I want to step up to the plate, do my share. Please take it."
"No!"
"Come on!" Don held out the money.
"I said no. I've managed fine for ten years."
Annoyed, Don put back the money in his wallet, and changed the subject. "I want to have him over at my place"
"I don't know, Don." She wasn't sure she was ready to let Doug away from her.
"All I'm asking is for two weekends a month, and maybe a couple of weeks during the summer. I've got a second room, that I'm fixing up for him."
"Recess is almost over" she said sullenly.
"If he goes to my place, you don't have to deal with me" Don argued, and threatened. "You know, most family judges would find my request to be reasonable. "
"I gotta go" she said.
"Think about what I said" Don warned, leaving the school.
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At seven thirty sharp on Saturday, Don, wearing a good suit and yamaka, went Bri's apartment to pick Doug up, who was already in a dark navy suit.
"You look great!" Don complimented the boy, knowing how most kids hated dressing up. "Let me put on your Yamaka." He took it out, along with some hairpins.
"Mom says you're gonna take me to a synagogue?"
"Yeah."
"I went to a synagogue once when my friend Aaron's big brother had his bar mizfar."
"Bar Miztva" Don gently corrected, placing the yamaka, on Doug's head and trying to secure it.
Doug continued "In the party, there were carnival rides, an ice cream truck, and a band and everything!"
"Sounds fun" Don said, finally finished. "Let's go"
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During the service, Don pointed out and explained a few things about what was going on, though the boy squirmed. When the service ended, the two left the building, and Don asked, "Ready to meet Grandpa and Uncle?"
"Yeah!" Doug had heard so much about them from Don. He couldn't wait to meet his new family.
"I'll take you home so you can change your clothes" Don said, driving out of the parking lot.
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Eventually, they arrived at the Eppes home. Don parked behind Charlie's car and parked. He and Doug got out of the car and walked up to the front door.
"Dad?" Don called, when he and Doug came in. "We're here."
"Coming," Alan yelled from the kitchen, quickly put something in the oven, and excitedly went to the living room.
"Hello!" Alan smiled at the boy, unable to believe that he had a grandson. "You must be Doug"
"Yeah."
"I've been looking forward to meeting you." Alan said. "Your Uncle Charlie is coming soon."
"Let's sit down" Don suggested, and the three did so.
"Your father tells me that you're in the fifth grade. Do you like school?"
"I like reading" the boy said.
"He's quite the bookworm" Don added.
"I heard that you like baseball?"
"I'm in little league"
"Your father was in little league too" Alan remarked. "In fact, he even made it to the minors"
"Cool!" Doug asked, "Why did you quit and not go into the majors?"
" I decided to pursue other things" Don answered. "Like chasing bad guys"
"Sorry I'm late" Charlie came into the house, and stopped upon seeing the little boy. "Hey! I'm your Uncle Charlie!"
"Hi"
"Your father has told us all about you!" the mathematician smiled.
"I'm gonna go check on lunch" Alan got up, and went into the kitchen.
"Why don't I show you around?" Charlie offered. The boy agreed. Charlie took him and Don around the house, and showed off his koi pond.
"You've got a big yard!" Doug said.
"You are welcome to it anytime!" Charlie promised.
"Lunch is ready!" Alan interrupted the tour.
After a pleasant meal, the four watched a game of baseball. Don returned the boy in the early evening.
"Hey guys!" Bri greeted upon opening the door.
"I got to meet my Granpa Alan and Uncle Charlie!" Doug said.
"That's great sweetie!" Bri kissed the top of his head. "Go shower, and you can tell me all about it."
"Okay..." the boy dutifully went.
"Let's talk" Bri let Don in.
"You've thought about what I've said?"
"Yes, and You can have him two weekends a month, just let me know which ones ahead of time." Bri said. "And, if you gotta go to work in the middle of the night of something, send me a text, so I know he's at your Dad's."
"Fair enough." Don nodded.
She handed him a piece of paper "Here are a couple of baby sitters that I use when I need to. They're very reliable. Use them if your Dad or brother aren't available."
"Sure. Can he come over next week?"
"You can pick him up after school on Friday."
"Okay"
"One other thing, please don't introduce him to any girlfriend unless it's serious!" She warned. "He could get attached to her, making the breakup more complicated, and hurting him."
"I'm in a very serious relationship right now" Don said "I'm thinking of introducing her to Doug"
"Fine." she relented.
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The following Friday, Don snuck out of work, and picked up his son from school.
"How was school?" Don asked when Doug, carrying a small overnight bag and his back pack got into the car.
"Good.I'm glad its Friday"
"So am I" Don said, "Today we're gonna have dinner with my girlfriend, Robin. She can't wait to meet you."
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For dinner, the three went to Round table Pizza.
"Robin is prosecutor" Don mentioned while they waited for the pizza.
"I'm a lawyer, but for the government" Robin tried to explain in terms the boy would understand.
"After the bad guys are caught, they need to go to trial." Don continued. "Prosecutors like Robin try to convince the jury that the bad guy is guilty, while defense attorneys do the opposite"
"My friend Aaron's dad is lawyer, but he helps people who were hurt by bad doctors"
"Ambulance chaser," Robin thought.
After dinner, they went to see a kid's movie that Doug wanted to see.
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After tucking Doug in, Don and Robin talked in the living room.
"He's a sweet kid."
"I know." Don smiled. "He's adjusted pretty well, ya know?"
"Yeah..."
"Could you ask your friend about getting more days? I feel more like a big brother than Dad, ya know?" Don remarked.
"You've only known him a few weeks, Don." Robin pointed out.
"But he's my son!"
"I'll talk to her" she promised. "But give it more time. In some cases, the child's preference is taken into account."
"I don't want him to choose between me and his mother" Don said.
"Well, you could try using a mediator to resolve the custody issue" Robin said "He or she would serve as a type of intermediary to help you and Bri settle the issue without involving lawyers and judges."
"I could do that" Don nodded.
"But not right away. Let him bond with you"
"Right"
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One year later
Don, and Bri met with a mediator to discuss custody. The three sat on an oval table at a windowless room. After greetings and an introduction, they got down to business.
"I want more time with Doug" Don said. "It's hard to be a parent when I only see him two weekends a month"
"You work all the time" Bri protested "On the other hand, I've got a fixed schedule, with summers off."
"I'm doing the best that I can to balance work and Doug" Don countered. "I rejected a promotion, some time ago so that I could be there for him. There are plenty of FBI agents who manage to raise their kids well"
"Don..."
"I'm not trying to take him away from you" Don said gently "I was thinking maybe he could come over three days a week."
"No.."
"Bri, come on!" Don used his only Ace in the hole, "Do you wanna go to court?"
"My schedule and the fact that I'm the mom will give me an edge." she sniffed. " Besides, you only met him a year ago"
"Who's fault is that?" Don said sardonically
"Why don't we try to compromise?" the mediator, a woman in her sixties suggested to Bri. "Maybe Don could get priority if you need a babysitter?"
"Sure..." Bri didn't see anything wrong with that.
"Perhaps, Don could have him for more time in the Summer?"
"Sure" Don nodded. "But I still want half the week with him."
"It might be too much" Bri protested "Moving from one place to another every few days"
"Look, he's got enough clothes and books so that he only has to take his backpack when he goes back and forth" Don said, "And he's pretty good about not forgetting stuff"
"No."
After a few more sessions that went on in a similar way, Don decided to go to court.
TBC