Chapter 13 - THE DEAL
Jason didn’t want custody.
Not exactly.
He wanted guaranteed visitation.
Prosecutors couldn’t promise that.
Only family court could.
But Jason believed cooperating with the federal case would make him look better.
Caroline looked at me across her desk.
“He may get reduced charges.”
“Does that mean I have to let him see Lily?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“But eventually, the court may reconsider supervised contact.”
I hated hearing that.
“He helped them steal my identity.”
“Yes.”
“He encouraged his mother.”
“Yes.”
“He lied to CPS.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want him near her.”
Caroline nodded.
“I know.”
“But?”
“But family courts often distinguish between being a terrible husband and being a legally unfit father.”
“He was both.”
“We prove that.”
Jason testified against Robert.
Then Diane.
Then Brooke.
He admitted everything.
The fake accounts.
The loans.
The power of attorney.
The plan to frame me as unstable.
His cooperation was brutal.
Diane reportedly screamed at him from across a courtroom holding cell.
“You traitor!”
Jason didn’t look at her.
For once, he didn’t obey his mother.
Too late.
But still.
He didn’t.
Three months later, the criminal cases moved forward.
Robert faced the most serious charges.
Diane faced fraud-related charges and child-endangerment consequences.
Brooke negotiated a smaller plea.
Jason negotiated one too.
Then came the custody evaluation.
A psychologist interviewed me.
Jason.
Rachel.
Family friends.
Daycare staff.
Even Dr. Howard.
The evaluator asked me about the three slaps.
“I regret hitting Jason.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I was angry.”
“Would you do it again?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want Lily to learn that protecting yourself doesn’t mean becoming violent.”
The evaluator nodded.
“What do you want for Jason?”
I thought carefully.
“I want him to become safe.”
“Do you think he is safe now?”
“No.”
“Could he become safe?”
I hated the question.
Because the easiest answer was no.
But the truth was harder.
“Maybe.”
Jason’s interview lasted longer.
Later, I learned he admitted everything without blaming me.
That surprised me.
He admitted his mother controlled him.
He admitted he chose comfort over courage.
He admitted he had failed Lily.
For the first time, Jason stopped saying “but.”
No excuses.
No “but Mom.”
No “but Emily.”
No “but Robert.”
Just facts.
Six weeks later, we received the recommendation.
Sole physical custody to me.
Sole decision-making authority.
No contact between Lily and Diane.
No contact between Lily and Robert.
Jason could petition for supervised visitation after completing therapy, parenting classes, and other court requirements.
I should have felt victorious.
Instead, I cried.
Not because I wanted Jason back.
I didn’t.
I cried because Lily deserved a father who never needed a court order to become one.
That night, an envelope arrived.
No return address.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Jason.
May you like
And one sentence at the bottom made me stare at it for a long time.
I finally told Lily the truth about me.
