Page 45 of Retribution

Surprisingly, Harrison was there for me during my college days. We were thick as thieves.

We would take turns being each other’s wing-man, until I met Allie of course. He hadn’t realized I had a problem with alcohol until later.

It was Allie who had been there for me, who supported me through going to rehab and the extensive AA meetings, the relapses, the doctor’s visits and more rehab.

I was only three months clean before Willow came along, knowing I was going to become a father was the final push I needed to remain sober.

But it became apparent, me and Harrison were leading two completely different lives after that point, one choosing to continuously side with dear dad and one of us clearly not.

I hadn’t realized what Harrison and Charlotte had been doing behind my back, the meet ups, and the financial aid from my father. It’s not that I’d have resented them for it, at first, but the continuous lies and deception just led me to believe they were exactly the same as him.

I explained to Harrison about the custody order, if there was anything at the beginning that I could do to get it completely struck aside. I am on Willow’s birth certificate so I’m granted my automatic rights with that but apparently anyone within the family is able to challenge you for those rights if they believe they would be the better choice.

Harrison went through the terms of the law and the way that things can be bent towards my favor, my luxurious salary plays in my favor and shows that I can support Willow financially as well as pay for her college funds. I set up a trust fund for her when she was born and I’ve added to it over the years, it being a sizable amount.

Willow of course loves me so that is not any sort of issue, her opinion is also taken into account. She will stand up and say she wants to live with me and they have to consider her wishes, as long as I am presented as a fit parent.

Allie’s parents really don’t have a clue about what Willow wants, they only see her when we visit them in the summer in their Florida residence. Well, I haven’t been for the last three summers as I’ve been swamped with work, but Allie and Willow have still visited.

They have numerous properties all over the states and have their finances on their side. As far as I’m aware, they’re both retired and have a lot of time on their hands, but that doesn’t prove they have a relationship with Willow.

I don’t know enough about them to form an actual argument in my defense, but that is the purpose of having a lawyer. They fish around and try and find any sort of useful information that can weaken the opposing side. And luckily for me, I have the best family lawyer in Atlanta on my side.

“I know this might be a sensitive topic and still too fresh to know this sort of information, but did you consider that Allie may have a will?” Our third phone call about the case.

The question catches me off guard, it wasn’t something I’ve considered prior, I haven’t exactly had much of a rationalized approach to this entire situation.

I furrow my brows, genuine wonder plaguing my mind.

“Well, um, she doesn’t have one that I’m aware of. Should I be chasing this up, or do they reach out to me? I don’t know, I didn’t think so, but I suppose she could have had one.” The last of my words are more of a discussion to myself.

“Look, Reed. I know that things were rocky with Allie in the upcoming to her de–”

My guard skyrockets. “How the hell would you have any idea about how my relationship with Allie was?” the bitterness drips off my tongue.

His silence awakens a rage in me, a rage that I’ve became all too familiar with in the past week.

“Are you going to answer me?” I tut impatiently.

“Reed…” he trails off. The silence is taunting me, haunting me.

I practically growl, waiting for him to continue.

“Allie called us a few weeks before she, you know…” he trails off.

My eyes practically bulge out of their sockets, Allie called… them?

What does he mean by them? Him? Charlotte? My father? All of them together? What the fuck is going on?

“Harrison you better start fucking spewing words before I sue you for withholding information.”

He lets out a deep sigh in response to my snarl.

“She… God. Reed, you don’t understand how hard this is.”

My heart is racing, my blood pressure rising every second that I know he knows something about my late wife that I don’t.

I wait.

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