Michael
Ivy walks into the room. She's followed not-too-closely by Darrin.
"You decorated a room for him already."
I don't look at her as I answer, "I started doing it the same day I filed the suit." Because no way would a judge not award me parental rights.
She looks at Brent. "What are you doing to him?"
Confused, I look at her now. "What are you talking about?"
Darrin walks in the room as well as she asks, "Playing dolls?"
That triggered Darrin, which is what I suspect what she wanted to happen. "You're not seriously going to go down the 'boys shouldn't play with dolls' road, are you?"
I sigh. If I still know Ivy, she doesn't have a problem with this. She has a problem with Darrin. She's had too much practice getting under people's skin, I guess.
"Darrin, I'd like to talk to Ivy for a bit. Could you keep an eye on Brent?"
He responds with a look like he'd rather not. Not that he doesn't want to watch Brent, but he doesn't want me to talk to Ivy. But he doesn't say that. "Sure." He goes and has a seat on the toddler bed.
We don't leave the room. "Are you going to make this difficult for me?" I keep my tone light so as not to worry Brent.
"What do you mean?" She actually smiles. Strange.
"I mean are you going to toss us all into a custody battle?" I hope I'm using words our son doesn't understand.
"Could I speak with you about that in the hallway?" She points a glare in the direction of Darrin.
He doesn't miss it, but he speaks to me in a calm voice. "Go ahead. We'll be fine in here."
This just further proves how much I love Darrin. I guess it also proves that he knows how furious I am with Ivy right now and how he has nothing to worry about.
I look at Ivy. "Okay."
She leaves the room, walks down towards the master bedroom, and then turns. I walk a little farther than that. It's like she doesn't want to get too far from Brent yet wants to get far enough away from Darrin.
"Darrin, Michael? Really?"
I fold my arms across my chest. "Yeah? What of it?"
"Whatever happened to, and I quote, 'I'm never getting back together with that asshole'?"
I shrug. "People change. For example, I would hope that in the beginning of our relationship, you wouldn't have been the kind of person to lie about a miscarriage and then hide a child from his father, but maybe I was wrong there." I uncross my arms.
"How many times must I apologize for that? I'm eternally sorry, Michael. I came here today to make amends."
"Fine. The way to do that is to give me partial custody."
She looks down and bites her lip. Then she releases it to speak. "I don't think that'll be much of a problem once we come to an agreement, but..." She takes a breath. "But I need... some money."
"You've gotta be kidding me." She hides my precious son from me then has the gall to ask for money?!
"Everything I have is back in Willow Creek! I have moving expenses, not to mention relocating means I have to find another job. If you're wanting partial custody, how would we handle that if I don't move back to Eden?"
"You had a job?" I guess she really did murder her SimTube fame.
She stands straighter. "I'm an actress, and..." She looks to the side. "...a waitress when I need to fill in the gaps."
I smile. "Well, I'd imagine there's more acting work here than in Willow Creek." The thought of Ivy as a waitress cracks me up, and I can't quite figure out why.
"So will you help me pay for my move or not?"
My good humor evaporates. "Let me get this straight: you lie to me, you hide my son from me, and now you're asking for my help?
"Plumballs, Ivy, you really have lost your mind. We're splitting the parenting fifty/fifty. I'm not paying you so much as a wooden nickel."
"Then how do you propose I do this? I've spent my savings on those damn lawyers that, thanks to you, I had to go hire."
"Thanks to ME? Let's get this perfectly clear, Ivy. This whole mess is YOUR fault."
"MY fault?" she argues back a little too loudly. "How is it MY fault that you decided to use me like a plumbing pincushion? I got to the point where I couldn't bear the thought of a child growing up with a father like YOU."
All the air leaves my lungs. "What are you talking about?" I gasp out, even though I'm afraid I know.
"I found out I was having a boy, and the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want him around you, watching and learning about what he might consider 'normal' behavior. I couldn't have him thinking that's how you treat women!"
I feel my ears turn red. That hurt. "I asked you to tell me if you needed me to dial it back some."
"And any time I would, I'd feel so incredibly guilty that I couldn't stand it. I kept thinking there was something wrong with me."
I'm transported back to the 'me' I was a few years ago, with Ivy and all that time up to the incident, and heavy guilt slams down on top of me. "I'm sorry. There was something wrong with me."
She sighs in an exasperated way and looks down.
"I'm not asking for an apology."
I take a little step backwards. I don't need to remember how I used to love running my fingers through her hair.
"We can talk later about how I want you to behave around Brent. Right now, I'm trying to fix my mistakes. You're right in that I should've communicated with you more." She tries to reach for my hand, but I pull it down. "I never should've hidden our son from you. I'm trying to make this right, Michael. I just can't afford what needs to be done."
She pretends to be adjusting my hoodie, but I'm not fooled.
"You'll have to figure out a way, Ivy. Not one red cent."
Her head turns as she looks at all the doors coming from the upstairs hallway. "Not everyone has a rich uncle. Perhaps I could stay here until I land on my feet? It looks like you have room. That way, we wouldn't need to pass Brent back and forth."
"Or perhaps Brent could just stay here and you could visit while you 'land on your feet.'" No plumbing way would Darrin tolerate Ivy living here, not that I could stand it much myself. She almost acts like she's coming on to me, trying to get me to think with my d*ck. She's crazy.
She backs up. "Like hell. He's not staying here if I can't supervise."
I do my best to keep my voice down, but she needs to get off thinking I'm an unfit father. "Supervise?
"How dare you. You've got another thing coming if you think you can mandate something like that." She's nuts! Maybe she needs to spend time in an asylum while I have sole custody.
"I was hoping we could work something out, maybe live together and co-parent, but I didn't expect to find you had moved in with him."
"And don't start in on Darrin. I heard what you said downstairs, so let me respond to that: I don't like how you're teaching my son that bigotry! Darrin and I love each other; that's what a family is about. You can't even comprehend all he's done for me."
She lashes back. "You mean like stalk you?"
I can't remember the last time I was this mad. I want to throw her out of my house, but I hate to admit knowing that that would mean Brent would have to leave as well. Instead, I walk up to her and growl right in her face, "I'll see you in court."
"Could I speak with you about that in the hallway?" She points a glare in the direction of Darrin.
He doesn't miss it, but he speaks to me in a calm voice. "Go ahead. We'll be fine in here."
This just further proves how much I love Darrin. I guess it also proves that he knows how furious I am with Ivy right now and how he has nothing to worry about.
I look at Ivy. "Okay."
She leaves the room, walks down towards the master bedroom, and then turns. I walk a little farther than that. It's like she doesn't want to get too far from Brent yet wants to get far enough away from Darrin.
I fold my arms across my chest. "Yeah? What of it?"
"Whatever happened to, and I quote, 'I'm never getting back together with that asshole'?"
I shrug. "People change. For example, I would hope that in the beginning of our relationship, you wouldn't have been the kind of person to lie about a miscarriage and then hide a child from his father, but maybe I was wrong there." I uncross my arms.
"How many times must I apologize for that? I'm eternally sorry, Michael. I came here today to make amends."
She looks down and bites her lip. Then she releases it to speak. "I don't think that'll be much of a problem once we come to an agreement, but..." She takes a breath. "But I need... some money."
"You've gotta be kidding me." She hides my precious son from me then has the gall to ask for money?!
"You had a job?" I guess she really did murder her SimTube fame.
She stands straighter. "I'm an actress, and..." She looks to the side. "...a waitress when I need to fill in the gaps."
I smile. "Well, I'd imagine there's more acting work here than in Willow Creek." The thought of Ivy as a waitress cracks me up, and I can't quite figure out why.
"So will you help me pay for my move or not?"
My good humor evaporates. "Let me get this straight: you lie to me, you hide my son from me, and now you're asking for my help?
"Then how do you propose I do this? I've spent my savings on those damn lawyers that, thanks to you, I had to go hire."
"Thanks to ME? Let's get this perfectly clear, Ivy. This whole mess is YOUR fault."
All the air leaves my lungs. "What are you talking about?" I gasp out, even though I'm afraid I know.
"I found out I was having a boy, and the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want him around you, watching and learning about what he might consider 'normal' behavior. I couldn't have him thinking that's how you treat women!"
"And any time I would, I'd feel so incredibly guilty that I couldn't stand it. I kept thinking there was something wrong with me."
I'm transported back to the 'me' I was a few years ago, with Ivy and all that time up to the incident, and heavy guilt slams down on top of me. "I'm sorry. There was something wrong with me."
She sighs in an exasperated way and looks down.
I take a little step backwards. I don't need to remember how I used to love running my fingers through her hair.
"We can talk later about how I want you to behave around Brent. Right now, I'm trying to fix my mistakes. You're right in that I should've communicated with you more." She tries to reach for my hand, but I pull it down. "I never should've hidden our son from you. I'm trying to make this right, Michael. I just can't afford what needs to be done."
"You'll have to figure out a way, Ivy. Not one red cent."
Her head turns as she looks at all the doors coming from the upstairs hallway. "Not everyone has a rich uncle. Perhaps I could stay here until I land on my feet? It looks like you have room. That way, we wouldn't need to pass Brent back and forth."
"Or perhaps Brent could just stay here and you could visit while you 'land on your feet.'" No plumbing way would Darrin tolerate Ivy living here, not that I could stand it much myself. She almost acts like she's coming on to me, trying to get me to think with my d*ck. She's crazy.
She backs up. "Like hell. He's not staying here if I can't supervise."
I do my best to keep my voice down, but she needs to get off thinking I'm an unfit father. "Supervise?
"I was hoping we could work something out, maybe live together and co-parent, but I didn't expect to find you had moved in with him."
"And don't start in on Darrin. I heard what you said downstairs, so let me respond to that: I don't like how you're teaching my son that bigotry! Darrin and I love each other; that's what a family is about. You can't even comprehend all he's done for me."
She lashes back. "You mean like stalk you?"
I can't remember the last time I was this mad. I want to throw her out of my house, but I hate to admit knowing that that would mean Brent would have to leave as well. Instead, I walk up to her and growl right in her face, "I'll see you in court."
---------------------
Meanwhile, at the Love household...
Isabella
I knew when I married him that Kade worked nights, so him being gone almost every night shouldn't come as a surprise. Unfortunately, knowing that he's working the piano at a bar makes my imagination run wild as to what else he's doing.
I got Benjamin sweetly tucked into bed. Kade said he would be home at nine tonight, four hours earlier than normal. Apparently, they're changing his hours on Fridays so that they can also hire a comedian. I know this upsets him because Friday is a big night for tips, so I decided on a little surprise: I got myself all fixed up and am planning a night of romance. You know, to remind him of how it could be a good thing to be home earlier.
Then I hear his car, and I go down the stairs, wanting an explanation, the evening I had planned having a major dent in it.
I used to be quite a night owl. This used to be my morning. I used to have so much fun. I was so free. Motherhood changed that.
"I thought you said you'd be home by nine-thirty."
"Yeah. The comedian was nervous, so I covered for him for the first little bit." He walks over to me.
"You didn't have to stay up waiting for me."
"It's no big deal." I start to think of a way to begin the night of romance I had planned, but he distracts me.
"Okay." Where is he going with this?
"For instance, that dish behind you. I'm always having to come in and clean up after you. I'm sorry we can't afford to have maids like you had growing up, but you need to be better at cleaning up after yourself."
"What are you talking about? That's one plate."
"Well, yeah, one plate tonight. Other nights it's plates and toys and even bags of chips left on the couch!"
Oh no he didn't.
"Bella, whoa."
"Do you know how tiring it is day in and day out chasing after a toddler?"
"He's four!"
"Which just makes it harder. Now he's constantly wanting to go out and play on the playground. Then he tracks mud in on his shoes. But you don't see that. Why? Because I clean it up!"
"You're going to wake him up."
"What are you talking about?"
"All you do is sleep and work! For years, the only time you'd be at home would be so that you could pass out on the bed or couch."
"Because I'm trying to give you the life you were used to!"
"What I'm 'used to?' I grew up with my parents, both my parents, being sure to make time with me. What's happening here is that you're out doing plum knows what while I'm stuck at home!" I pause. "Well, not tonight. I'M going out!" I turn to leave.
"Isabella..." He grabs my arm, but I twist out of it, making him wince.
"No. If Ben wakes up, you're just going to have to figure it out."
He never even said a word about how I'd fixed myself up!
I'm so pathetic. I used to be quite the party girl. Now, I'm sitting at the bar just wondering if I should go home.
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