Chapter 26 Daphne

"Under no circumstances should you agree to move back into that house." Howard Grimms, Dean's family law colleague, sits across from me at a glass table in his office. He's taken over my case, but Dean will stay on the team at Meredith's request.

"How can I not? If I don't, Bella will think I don't care about her. Jackson's not going to let me talk to her, and besides, she's too young to understand all the complexities of this situation. And I'm already guilty in Tallulah's mind. Every day that goes by more damage is being done to my relationship with them."

He shakes his head. "Look, I get it. But don't you see that by moving back in with him you're negating your claims that your husband was abusive and that he engineered what happened all those years ago when you were committed? How are we going to convince Family Court that he's the unfit parent, not you, if you move back into the house? And he's still married. That's not going to look good."

I sigh, not wanting to admit he's right, even though I know he is. "Have you made any headway with DCF? Where are they with the investigation?"

He purses his lips. "They've barely started. They're overworked and understaffed. Since the girls are in a stable environment, they see no need to expedite things."

My heart is pounding so hard I put a hand to my chest trying to slow it. "So you expect me to just sit back and wait while they take forever to do their jobs? I can't do that!"

"You have to think of the long—"

I spring up from my chair, pacing now. "If you say the long game, I'll scream. This is not a game. This is my life. My children's lives. You don't know what Jackson is like. The gaslighting. The psychological games. I will not subject my children to that. I have to move back in and protect them."

He throws his hands up. "It's your decision. I think it's unwise, and I'm strenuously advising against it. You'd be at his mercy. He can spin this any way he wants, and you could end up in worse shape."

"You think my chances are better if I refuse him and hope that the investigation bears out the truth, that I'm a good mother and they have no reason to keep me from the girls?"

He nods. "Exactly. By acquiescing to him now, in the long run you may lose big-time. I can't imagine how difficult this is for you, but isn't it better for your kids to be sad for a couple of months and then back with you for good, rather than risk losing them?"

Dean gives me a sympathetic look. "I have to agree with Howard. I think you need to ride this out."

I sit back down. "Realistically, when can I expect to be cleared?"

"It could take sixty days or even longer. I've got the affidavit from your therapist, and I've sent that over to them. We're working on getting character references from all the names you and Meredith gave us. I'll stay on their backs and try to get this cleared up sooner. That will help."

"I appreciate that. Okay. I'll call Jackson and tell him that I can't move in. I just hope by the time this is over my daughters don't hate me."

Both Dean and Howard stand, a signal that the meeting is over. I gather my things and walk to the door. "Please, do your best to make this go away sooner rather than later. I don't know how long I can go on like this."

Howard nods. "I promise."

Meredith is waiting for me at the beach house. She's made lunch and set a beautiful table, but I have no appetite. We sit down, and I take a sip of iced tea.

"How'd it go?"

I fill her in, and she listens, rapt.

"Oh, Daphne, I'm sorry you're going through this. It's unimaginable. I have to say, though, as much as I understand your needing to be with the girls, I have to agree with Dean and Howard. The thought of you living in that house again, being at his mercy, it terrifies me."

"I know. But I'm not the same person he married. I'm stronger now. If I didn't worry that my going there would affect my chances in the long run, I could do it for a month or so. I don't know, I guess I have to trust the lawyers. They're the experts."

Meredith shakes her head. "This is so unfair! That bastard is a criminal with a record and a judge believes him over you. I knew that Jackson had friends in high places, but I didn't realize he still had that much influence in this town." She takes a bite of her sandwich. "I'm surprised to hear that Amber's leaving. She has to be royally pissed that he wants you back."

"Apparently, she's ready to move on. She never loved him, and Jackson doesn't know how to love. We all know that."

There's a knock at the door and we both look at each other.

"Are you expecting someone?"

I shake my head and get up and go to the hallway. When I open the door, there's a man standing there.

"Daphne Parrish?"

"Yes?"

He hands something to me. "You've been served."

I look at him agape.

But he's already turned and walking away. I open the envelope and scan the document, and my body goes cold. Meredith comes into the hallway.

"Who was that?"

I turn to her, still numb with shock. "Jackson is suing me for custody."