The Cost Of Winning

FIANNA'S POV :

"You be a good girl for Aunt Pauline , Smidge . I'll be back soon !" , I say to Brenna , giving her a kiss on the forehead .

"Why I can'ts go wif you , Mommy ? I wills be good girl !" , she asks

"I know you will , sweetie , but we have to go do grown - up stuff , and you wouldn't have any fun ."

Pauline puts her hand on Bren's head , and says , "I was going to make some cookies today . Maybe you can help me ."

"Cans we makes the ones wif the nummy paints on top ?" , she asks .

"I think we can do that , hon ."

With Brenna preoccupied with the idea of cookies , we're able to leave without any more protests . I climb into the passenger seat of Bill's car , and we head downtown to the courthouse .

Things have been nuts for the past month , with work , taking care of Bren , and all the stuff that goes along with the legal proceedings . I've had Child Services people inspecting my apartment , people asking me all sorts of questions , and Ashley and I both had to submit to a DNA test , along with them taking a swab from Brenna . I was a little upset at first , but Bill said it was standard procedure , and that he and Ashley's lawyer had both agreed to it . The only thing that made it tolerable was that Bill said that Ash was having to deal with the same thing .

"So what happens here ?" , I question Bill . "What do you think the judge is going to do ?"

"I've given the judge my recommendations for what we believe he should have , and I'm sure that Gillian Reed has done the same thing . The thing is , Judge Hooper can decide in our favor , or in his favor , or something between the two , so we won't really know until we get into the courtroom . From past experience , though , I'm inclined to believe that she'll lean more in your direction . There may be some changes , but probably nothing dramatic ."

We finally get to the courthouse , and Bill parks in his slot . We get out and walk across the parking lot to where Miki and Ryan are waiting for us at the entrance .

"Relax , Fi ! Everything's gonna be fine ." , Ryan tells me , as he gives me a squeeze .

"Bullshit ! If everything was fine , we wouldn't be here !" , Miki grumbled . "The fucker's only doing this to cause trouble ."

"Mikaela , please don't do that in front of the judge ." , Bill says . "That isn't going to help the situation ."

"Sorry , I can't help what I think , Uncle Bill ."

"Well , if that's true , it shouldn't take long for him to slip up ." , he replies .

We go inside and make our way to the courtroom , and Bill and I take our seats at the front , while Miki and Ryan sit behind us .

A couple of minutes later , Ashley walks in , with a tall African - American woman , who I assume is his lawyer , along with Andy and Juliet . He looks over at me , and I can see the muscles in his jaw tighten up , but he doesn't say anything . They sit down on the opposite side of the room , and we all wait .

Finally , a police officer steps through a door and says , "All rise ! Court is now in session , the Honorable Judge Lucinda Hooper presiding ."

A short woman , probably in her late fifties , comes through the door and goes to the bench . She bangs the gavel , and says "You may be seated ."

We sit down , and she says , "We're here today in the matter of the minor child , Brenna Colleen Chandler , to discuss custody of said child . Are both parties present ?"

"Yes , Your Honor ." , both Bill and Ashley's lawyer say .

"From reading the documents submitted by both Ms . Reed and Mr . Bradshaw , I see that an agreement has been reached where Ms . Chandler will retain custody of the child , while Mr . Purdy will have visitation rights , is this correct , Ms . Chandler ?"

"Yes , Your Honor ." , I answer .

"And is this what you agreed to , Mr . Purdy ?"

"It is , Your Honor ." , he says .

"Well then , let's proceed . Since all parties are in accord , the only thing to be decided are the terms . Each party has submitted documents outlining the arrangement they prefer , but I don't find either of them entirely satisfactory , so the terms that I've decided are as follows ."

"Mr . Purdy , you will have twice weekly visits with the child , for starters . An officer of the court will check in after a period of three months , and if your relationship with the child appears satisfactory , you will be granted alternate weekends as well ."

"In addition to this , you will be required to pay support for the child , in the amount of twelve hundred dollars monthly . Refusal to make these payments most likely will result in loss of visitation privileges . Is this clear ?"

He says that it is , and then she turns to me , and says , "Ms . Chandler , do you agree with these terms ?"

I don't seem to have much choice , so I say , "Yes , I do , Your Honor ."

"And in regards to Mr . Purdy's support payments , the court may ask you to provide receipts to document that the funds are actually being used to the benefit of the child . Do you understand that , Ms . Chandler ?"

"Yes , I do . I have no problem with that , Your Honor ."

"Also , let me make myself very clear . If I find out that either of you are attempting to circumvent these terms , I will have you charged with contempt , and it could quite possibly nullify the agreement , and could result in changes in your access to the child . Do you both understand this ?"

We both say that we do , and she says , "Good , it's settled , then . Please see the bailiff to sign the necessary forms before you leave ."

She ends the court session , and leaves , and we walk over to the bailiff . I sign the forms that he puts in front of me , and as I turn around , I almost run into Ashley .

"Where's Brenna ?" , he asks me .

"She's at Bill's house , with his wife .", I tell him .

" I want to see her !"

Before I can say anything , Bill walks up next to me and says , "Actually , that might be best . It will probably be easier to explain to her with all of us there . If you'd like to finish your forms , Mr . Purdy , you can follow us to my house ."

He nods , and walks over to the table , while we make our way out of the courthouse .


ASHLEY'S POV :

I sign the forms , then Andy , Juliet , and I go out to my car , and proceed to follow Ryan's SUV across town . We finally wind up in a neighborhood of large , older houses , and Andy says , "Apparently this guy does pretty well for himself ."

"Looks that way ." , I reply . "Gillian said he was the best , I guess that keeps the money coming in ."

I park in front of the house , and we walk up the sidewalk to join Fianna and the others . Miki's uncle opens the front door , and shouts ,"Pauline , we're back !"

"Mommy here ! Yay ! " , we hear from the next room , and Brenna comes dashing out , flinging her arms around Fianna's legs .

"I help Aunt Pawie makes cookies , and her lets me put the paint on some of them ! And me gets to have some for home ! "

Fianna picks her up , kisses her several times on both cheeks , and says , "That's very nice ,Smidge , but we need to go sit down . Mommy needs to talk to you about something ."

She gets a worried look on her face , and says , "Me was naughty , Mommy ? I's sowwy !"

Fianna takes her to the couch and says , "No , sweetie , you weren't naughty , I want you to answer a question for me . Do you remember when you came home from school and asked me why some kids have a daddy , and some of them don't ?"

"I 'members , Mommy ! You say that my daddy lives far away , and maybe me can see him when I'ms a bigger girl !"

"Well , baby , your daddy doesn't live far away anymore , he lives here now , and he wants to see you ."

"Where him is ?"

Fianna points to me , and says ,"He's right there , Bren ."

"Mr . Ashwey is my daddy ? " , she asks .

I crouch down to be closer to her level , and say , "Yes , cutie , I'm your daddy , and I'm glad that I finally get to see you ."

She seems to be slightly confused as she looks at me , and says , "But why you don't see me before ? Why you live far away ?"

The first instinct I have is to say , "Because your mommy is a selfish bitch !" , but she won't understand that , and with everybody else here , that would most likely land me either back in court , or in the ER . Possibly both .

So instead , I say , "Because I thought I needed to live there to work . But I don't have to now , so I live here , and we can spend some time together ."

"Me's going to wive at your house now ?"

"No , Bren , you're still going to live with Mommy , but you can come to my house to visit , and I'll come see you , and maybe we can go places together ."

A look crosses her face , like she's just had an a - ha moment or something .

"Oh , now me knows ! You and Mommy is vidorced ! Wike Ivy's mommy and daddy . But Ivy wives wif her daddy , 'cause her mommy is far away where the pop - booms is !"

"What are pop - booms ?" , Andy inquires .

"Them was on the TV one time , but Unca Wy push the button and maked them go 'way . People was in big boxes , not cars , and they all was wearing dreen ! And the pop - booms maked the houses fall down ."

This makes it clear to all of us that she's trying to say that her little friend's mom is deployed , most likely to Afghanistan or Syria .

"So me is right ? You is vidorced ?"

"Sort of like that , Smidge ." , Fianna answers .

"But just because I'm not here with you and Mommy , that doesn't mean I don't love you , Brenna ." , I add .

" Otay !" , she says , climbing out of Fi's lap and walking right up to me . "I's can give you hugs ?"

"I would like that very much , sweetie ." , I say , and she wraps her little arms around my neck .
I squeeze her to me as snugly as I can without hurting her , and she kisses my cheek , then says , "Daddy , yours face is squatchy !"

"Daddy didn't shave this morning , I'm sorry ! I'll make sure I do before I come see you again ."
"Otay . Aunt Pawie , cans me get a cookie for Mommy , and one for Daddy ?"

"Why don't we go get some cookies for everybody ? Then Mommy and Daddy can decide when Daddy can come see you again ."

Mrs . Bradshaw takes Brenna's hand and walks her back to the kitchen , leaving Fianna and I in here with everyone else , and we actually begin the process of setting up a schedule for me to get to know my beautiful little girl .

Notes