Page 58 of Redeeming Melodies

He took off like a rocket, all gangly limbs and pure joy. Watching him, my chest felt too tight. Tomorrow. Always fucking tomorrow hanging over us.

Cassidy's name flashed on my screen again. Third call in ten minutes - had to be important.

"What's wrong?" No point in pleasantries. Cassidy didn't call repeatedly for good news.

"How's Tommy?" Her lawyer voice. Shit.

"Happy." I watched him organize shells by size, so focused you'd think it was rocket science. "Finally getting to just be a kid for once."

Her silence stretched too long. "Elliot."

"Just say it, Cass."

"Vanessa's lawyer filed an emergency motion." Each word hit like a body blow. "They're claiming your sudden move to Oakwood Grove shows was a sign of a midlife crisis, that you're trying to alienate Tommy from his mother."

"Bullshit." The word exploded out before I could stop it. I glanced at Tommy, but he was lost in his shell collection. "She's the one who parades him around like a prop at her fucking charity events."

"I know." Cassidy's voice softened slightly. "But the judge granted their request for temporary sole custody until the final hearing."

The world tilted sideways. "What?"

"One month. Just until we can-"

"One month?" My free hand clenched into a fist. "You're telling me I don't get to see my son for a month because I wanted to give him a real home?"

"Elliot-"

"No." Blood rushed in my ears. "No fucking way. She can't do this. She can't just-"

"She can." Cassidy cut through my rage with surgical precision. "And she did. The judge sees your sudden relocation as potentially destabilizing."

"Destabilizing?" I had to turn away from Tommy, had to hide whatever was showing on my face. "You want to talk about destabilizing? How about her new boyfriend of the week? Her endless parade of tutors and specialists and whatever the fuck else she thinks will make him perfect?"

"I know." Steel entered Cassidy's voice. "And we'll fight this. But right now, you need to focus on today. Make it count."

Tommy's laugh carried across the yard as he discovered a hermit crab. Pure, untainted joy. The kind Vanessa's structure and rules were slowly crushing out of him.

"She's punishing me." The words tasted like ash.

"Maybe." Cassidy didn't deny it. "But getting angry won't help Tommy."

"Then what will?" My voice cracked. "Tell me what to do here, Cass. Tell me how to fix this."

“There ’s nothing we can do but just wait. But like I said before, Elliot, we will fight this and you will get your son.”

Tommy waved, proudly holding up his hermit crab. I managed to wave back, to smile like my world wasn't crumbling. He was heading back, crab carefully cradled in his hands. Had to pull it together. Had to be strong for him.

"When do I tell him?"

Cassidy sighed. "Tonight. Give him today first."

"Right." My throat felt raw. "Because that won't fuck him up at all, thinking his dad's abandoning him again."

"You're not abandoning him." Sharp now, cutting through my self-pity. "You're fighting for him. There's a difference."

Tommy was closer now, excitement radiating off him. Had to end this.

"Send me everything." I kept my voice low. "The motion, the judge's order, all of it. And Cass?"

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