Chapter 3

Jasmine

It’s late by the time I get back upstairs to my apartment. I called the lawyers, and apparently, my shit-for-brains in-laws have frozen the joint account illegally. I can’t get that sorted until Thursday.

Mrs Geller is dosing on the armchair. I smile, bless her. It’s probably past her bedtime as well.

I gently touch her hand.

“Mrs Geller. I’m back. Thanks for keeping an eye on her for me.”

She jolts awake.

“Bella didn’t make a sound. She was out cold. It’s no problem. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have discovered their plans to kick us all out.”

“He has a lot of money behind him. I’m not sure if we can win.” I say with a sigh as my shoulders slump down.

“We got on TV, so there is some exposure towards the situation now.”

“That’s true,” I say with a small smile. I wish I could see his face when he sees his building on the news. He was so uptight when I went to see him. I have not felt invigorated like this for such a long time.

I walk Mrs Geller to the door.

“You will be okay getting home?”

“Yes, dear. I live across from you. I’m not that far gone,” she says dryly.

I chuckle at my grumpy neighbour. She was my rock when Reese left us. No. When he died. I close my door when I see Mrs Geller inside her apartment.

I check in on Bella before getting ready for bed. I need to get my shit together. Bella only has me to rely on.

After dropping Bella off at the nursery, I go to the solicitor's office. Mr Wilson ushers me into his office. I take a seat, watching him sit down at his desk. He is an older man in his fifties. So far, he has been amazing at fighting off Reese’s parents.

“It’s not good news, Jasmine. Mr and Mrs Calder have petitioned custody of Bella through the family courts. They knew their move to freeze you out would go nowhere. So they are using your daughter to get the insurance money. Reese made you both and Bella beneficiaries.”

My mouth dries up as I take in what he has just said.

Custody? Of a girl they have never cared about before. I feel my stomach sink as I search Mr Wilson’s face for him to give me any good news. He is silent. Bella is the last piece of Reece I have left.

“T-They can’t do that, surely? They only saw her once when she was born. The courts can’t award them custody, can they?”

“They have cited you as an unfit mother who withheld their only grandchild from them. I…err… won’t show you exactly what they put in the paperwork. They are only doing this because Bella is a named beneficiary. Through her, they can access the inheritance.”

“I don’t give a fuck about the money. I know what sort of rubbish they will have written up about me. I don’t want my daughter anywhere near the people who slammed their door in their son’s face. They would ruin my daughter. Reese didn’t want them anywhere near Bella.”

“Look, I will try my best. They are going to drag your past into this.”

“What past?!” I exclaim.

“Your father being in prison, you being raised by a single mother, and they said some rather unsavoury things about you I won’t entertain for a single moment in court.” He says, as his face takes on a more determined look.

I lean over onto the desk, putting my hands over my face. My dad being in jail for fraud shouldn’t be held against me. I was only a young child when they convicted him. First the eviction, and now this. I wish Reese was here. He was my strength. How am I going to manage without him? I feel the tears wet my hands before I wipe my face. I sit up straight again.

“Do whatever you have to do, but do not let them anywhere near Bella. I am begging you, Mr Wilson. If you have to give them everything, do it. We will manage.”

He stands up and passes me a box of tissues that I hadn’t noticed on his desk, making me wonder how many people must have a variety of issues. I take a few tissues out of the box and politely try to blow my nose.

“It won’t come to that, Mrs Calder.”

I flinch at the reminder.

“Please, call me Jasmine.”

“I’m sorry, my dear. Do you need a moment?” He looks at me sympathetically.

“No,” I say as I take a deep sigh. “I will need to deal with this. Thank you for letting me know.”

“I will keep you informed. They have put an injunction on the insurance funds with this new paperwork. You have access to the joint account again. ”

“Mr Wilson, I don’t care about the money. They are doing this out of spite and greed. I can guarantee it. They do not care about my daughter.”

He gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Sadly, these kinds of things happen far more than what people realise.”

I stand up. My head is pounding now. I need to find a job. No more moping around.

Shit just got real.