“Glad I brought you down here, now?”
“Thanks,” Ash took Michael’s hand and squeezed it.
“You think it’ll reach our floor?”
“Probably not. It’s still nice not to be trapped inside, wondering if anybody will find me.” The sun was fast sinking, darkness sweeping over the scene. Ash started to shiver and Michael took off his jacket, spreading it over Ash.
“Hey, don’t freeze on my account.”
“I won’t,” Michael snuggled up close to Ash. “I can share your body heat.”
Ash watched the scene until the fire company declared it was safe to go back inside for most residents. Michael was sleeping, his head resting on Ash’s shoulder. Ash woke him gently.
“Hey, it’s time to go back up. Ready to make the fatal climb?” Michael could have sworn there was a smile on his lips.
“Hell no. You tell those assholes to get the elevator back online, or you can sleep out here.” He smiled and kissed Ash on the lips, standing up and kneeling down to scoop Ash up in his arms. “Come on, you. Let’s go home.”
“Michael...”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks,” Ash said. “For everything. We’re gonna be okay, Michael.” A look of love had replaced Ash’s bitter gaze and it eased Michael’s heart to see it.
“Told you so.” The elevator door opened and Michael let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “It’s no good. You’re just going to have to lose weight. Instead of skin and bone, you can just be bone.”
“Who’s the smart-ass now?” Ash smiled. The elevator rose, stopping at a dozen floors on the way. People filed in and out. Floor thirty opened to let in a dozen firefighters.
“You think they would let me have their dirty calendar if I asked?” Ash whispered in Michael’s ear as Michael carried him.
Michael laughed. “I dunno, why don’t you ask?”
“Why don’t you? I’d love to see that.”
“Not a chance.”
They reached their floor and the elevator door opened. Michael put Ash back in his wheelchair and they returned to their apartment.
“I figured I’d smell smoke or something,” Ash said. “It’s almost like nothing happened. See, you could have left me here.”
Michael turned on the news. Tower Heights was on the screen, the news helicopter circling the building, smoke and flames rising out of the window.
“You think I could have stayed down there with that going on?As soon as I saw those flames, I would have been running up forty-eight flights of steps, and then carrying you back down.”
Ash smiled. “The fire would have been out by the time we got down there.”
“Early reports suggest the fire was started by an elderly man falling asleep while smoking,” the reporter said. “Tower Heights officials have commented, saying that they do not plan to change the building’s smoking policy.”
“Thank God,” Ash said. “Without my legs and my smokes, the only pleasure left is sex, and even that is temperamental with me at the moment.”
Michael laughed. “It’s good to have you back to your old self, Ash. You had me worried for a little while there.”
“I had me worried, too. Guess I’m good at that.”
“Way too good. You need to relax.” Michael massaged Ash’s shoulders.
“Mm, that feels nice. You know, I think I’m starting to get used to being waited on. Maybe I won’t bother with therapy.” Michael caught the twinkle in his eye as he said it.
“Don’t even think about it,” Michael said with a grin. “Or next time there’s a fire, I’m totally leaving you here.” They laughed, the day’s tension gone in an instant, and Michael felt a warmth inside. Everything’s going to be okay. I believe it now.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Incriminating Evidence
Michael wheeled Ash’s wheelchair into the small lawyer’s office and sat down. His dad followed them in and they sat in silence. Michael twiddled his fingers nervously, his dad dozed, and Ash was only half-concentrating on a novel he’d brought along. He shot Michael what he hoped was a comforting look as Michael looked to him with fear in his eyes.
Of course you’re scared. The lawyer could tell you that you have no chance of getting custody of Taryn, Ash thought. Then what will we do?
The receptionist called them back and Michael pushed Ash into the formal-looking office. The green leather reminded Michael of the marriage counselor’s office. Of all the stupid things I’ve done, that was the worst. He squeezed Ash’s shoulder, wanting to know he was close. That’s all in the past, now. I’m going to win Taryn back and have the life I want. He sat down in the green leather chair and the lawyer looked over his details.
“We talked on the phone, yes? You’re looking for a divorce.” The lawyer sat back in his chair and twiddled a pen in his hands.
“Yeah,” Michael said. “Let me lay it out for you. It’s all my fault. I cheated. I don’t care about any personal belongings, I don’t want the house, I just want out of my marriage and the ability to see my daughter on the weekends.”
“Has your wife already filed for divorce?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Nobody’s contacted me.”
“Why didn’t you come to see me before now?”
Michael sighed, acutely aware of Ash behind him and his dad sitting across the room. “Money. I can barely afford your fees. I’ve also been looking after my partner full-time after his recent accident.”
“Michael, could we speak alone for a few moments? There are some matters I’d like to discuss.” The lawyer leaned back in his chair.
“Okay,” Michael said. “Sorry, Ash, Dad... Could you wait outside?”
“Sure thing,” Michael’s dad said, standing and moving Ash. “See you soon.” He wheeled Ash outside and closed the door behind him.
“Getting a court to be sympathetic to your problems is not going to be easy,” the lawyer said. “You cheated with and left your wife for a man. She’s probably already consulted with a lawyer and gotten the divorce process started. You left your daughter with your wife and have had little to no attempted contact, suggesting abandonment, and you’re a full-time carer, suggesting little in the way of time and resources to spend on your daughter. We might be able to secure supervised visitation, but that’s about all.”
“She’s my daughter!” Michael said. “I didn’t want to leave her! I just couldn’t stay any more. I couldn’t live not being honest with myself. Ash nearly died on me! Of course I had to leave Michelle after that. I didn’t try to contact Taryn because I knew Michelle wouldn’t allow it. Hell, she wouldn’t even let me talk to Taryn for five minutes at the gas station yesterday!” He closed his eyes. “I stayed for so long in a loveless, sexless marriage because of Taryn. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“Not a whole lot,” the lawyer said. “Look, I’m not unsympathetic. I’m just saying that rushing to court for a long custody battle is not a great idea. It would be a much better idea to contact Michelle’s lawyers and see if we can’t mediate a solution that would be best for everybody.”
“Michelle’s not going to listen to reason. I hurt her badly, and am in a relationship she considers perverted. She doesn’t want Taryn around me now. I know it.”
“Yes, this whole thing would probably be a little easier without the relationship issue, but it is what it is. If you authorize it, I’ll try to find out who Michelle’s lawyers are and set something up.”
“Okay. Do what you think is best. I want to spend time with my daughter. I know I’ve been irresponsible, I know I’ve hurt Michelle and Taryn and maybe this is what I deserve, but I don’t want to her grow up thinking I don’t love her. I want to be a father. A good father, one who’s ready to give her support now that I’m in a stable relationship. Ash wants to be there for her too.”
“Well, we’ll do what we can. If you get served with papers in the next few days, contact me right away. In the meantime, I’ll see what I can do over here. Micha
el, I’ll do what I can, but there are no guarantees. You may have to accept less than you’re asking.”
I knew it would end like this. I had to make a choice - Ash or Taryn. I made my choice and now Taryn is gone from my life forever. Michael stood up. “Thanks. Make sure to contact me when you have news.” He fought back against the rage and sorrow that threatened to escape him and headed out into the hallway, where Ash and Michael’s dad were waiting with baited breath.
“So? How did it go?” Ash asked, a hopeful expression on his face.
“Okay,” Michael tried to feign enthusiasm. “He’s got some good ideas. He’s going to look into things and get back to me.”
“That’s good,” Michael’s dad said. “Any thoughts on custody?”
“He said he’s not sure of our chances. A case like mine doesn’t come along too often.”
“Well, then I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” Michael’s dad said.
They drove home, dropping Michael’s dad off at his home and then returning to Tower Heights. Michael was quiet all the way home, but Ash didn’t probe his reasoning. They reached their apartment and Michael tossed his keys on the counter, lifting Ash out of his wheelchair and putting him on the sofa.
“Now, tell me what the lawyer actually said,” Ash demanded.
Michael was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, I know you well enough to know when you’re lying. I can tell by the look in your eyes that something’s wrong. Tell me the truth.” Ash took Michael’s hand as he sat down on the sofa.
“He... He said that my chances aren’t very good. That I need to negotiate with Michelle, that I might have to settle for less than I’m asking.” He beat his fist on the arm of the sofa, biting his lip. “I don’t want to settle for less. Why should Michelle win everything? I’m giving her the house, all of our stuff that I paid for. All I want is Taryn for two measly days a week and that’s too much?” He stood up and paced. “Sure, it’s my fault. I cheated. I’m not going to deny that. But she was the reason I strayed! Sometimes I didn’t know if she loved me or the hair and nail salon. The money that should have been Taryn’s was always spent on her appearance! Yet I’m the bad guy. It’s not fair.”
“You’re right,” Ash said. “It’s not fair. Michelle will complain about how she’s the aggrieved party and they’ll listen. They’ll judge us for our relationship. Nobody on the outside can ever see in. They can’t see inside hearts and understand all the pain and suffering we’ve been through to get here, the impossible choices you’ve had to make to reach this place. Maybe it is best to negotiate with Michelle. She knows you best. If she can see through her hurt feelings and remember the great father you’ve been to Taryn, then maybe we’ll make some headway.”
“You don’t know Michelle. She’s stubborn. She holds grudges. She’s not going to care that Taryn needs her father, it’s all going to be about her and her hurt feelings.”
“Then we go to court and we fight. Maybe we’ll lose, but at least Taryn will know that we fought for her. Perhaps we’ll have to surrender, but not without a war.”
“We can’t afford a war,” Michael said. “You know how lawyers are. Michelle knows I have no money. She’ll use every tactic she has to delay the trial and starve me out. It’s cute to say we’ll fight, but Mom and Dad’s house is on the line. Their life savings. Your therapy money. I refuse to rob the people I love just to make a point.”
“You’re not robbing anybody. Your mom and dad want to see Taryn as much as you do. They know that if Michelle keeps full custody, they’ll never see their granddaughter again. As for me, you’re not robbing my therapy money. Whatever’s not covered by insurance can be paid off over time. This is way more important than paying back a bunch of wealthy medical companies. This is Taryn we’re talking about. I love her too, Michael. She’s a charming little girl and I want her to be my step-daughter.”
“Thanks.” Michael stopped pacing and slumped down on the sofa. “What am I gonna do, Ash? What if I never get to spend any more time with Taryn?” His anger diffused, only sorrow remained and it filled him up. Ash wrapped his arm around him awkwardly, pulling him close.
“Oh, Michael,” Ash said. “You can’t give up yet. I won’t let you. We’ll find a way, I don’t care what I have to do. We’re gonna get to see Taryn somehow.”
“Thanks,” Michael said.
Michael arrived back at work for his first day, tired from looking up at the ceiling all night and thinking about Taryn. He clocked in and ignored the gossiping coworkers gathered around in hunched conversation. Let them talk. I don’t give a damn about it any more. There’s more important things to think about.
He worked all day, Taryn and Ash on his mind. I hope the home nurse took care of Ash. I worry about leaving him. He clocked out and headed out into the parking lot, where a black vehicle was parked next to his. A man in a suit got out and waited by his car.
“Are you Michael Williams?” The man asked as Michael approached his car.
“Yeah.”
The man pressed an envelope in your hand. “Consider yourself served.” He got into his car and drove away, leaving Michael with the envelope and a dozen giggling coworkers behind him. He got into his car and drove away. I don’t need to open the envelope right now. I know what’s inside. She filed for divorce before me. No shock there. He pulled into the Tower Heights parking garage and hurried into the elevator, pressing the button to go up. He pulled out his cellphone and called the lawyer.
“I received papers,” Michael opened the envelope. “Divorce papers. What do I do?”
“I know,” the lawyer said. “I found out who her lawyers are and set up a meeting. Michelle is willing to talk.”
“She is?”
“We can start negotiations right now if you’re ready.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Michael opened the door to the apartment where the nurse was just packing away her things to leave. Ash sat in his wheelchair and waved to him as he ended his call.
“I’ll be in tomorrow, then,” the nurse said. “Have a good one, Ash.”
“You too,” Ash said. She left, closing the door behind her.
“We have a meeting,” Michael said. “I just talked to the lawyer. Michelle wants to negotiate.”
“Wow. Maybe she wants to be reasonable after all.”
“We’ll see about that,” Michael said. He moved in for a quick kiss and then wheeled Ash’s wheelchair out of the apartment and down the hallway. His mind was racing. What if Michelle wants to reach an agreement? What if this could all be over without a trial? He thought about the encounter at the gas station and closed his eyes. No. There’s no way it could be that simple. This has to be some kind of an ambush.
Michael wheeled Ash into the lawyer’s office. Michael felt a sinking feeling in his gut as he saw Michelle sitting in one of the chairs, looking confident and well-groomed. Michael closed the door behind him and took a seat. Ash twiddled his thumbs nervously. Sorry, Ash, Michael thought. I shouldn’t have brought you here. You don’t deserve to be in the middle of this.
“Michelle.” Michael spoke his wife’s name calmly. “I’m willing to sign these papers. I want out as much as you do. I just want to see Taryn on the weekends. To spend some time with my daughter. You can have everything else. I owe you at least that much.”
Michelle made a derisive sound and shook her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You think I care that much about a ruined house and a rented trailer?”
“You’ll get the insurance money soon enough,” Michael said. “You can fix the house up better than it was before.”
Michelle laughed, “And keep it with what money? I can’t afford the upkeep on my wage!” She shook her head.
“So sell it and keep the money. I don’t care.”
“Houses aren’t moving in this economy,” Michelle said. “It’s a pile of bricks I have to pay taxes on. So stop acting like you’re doing me a favor.”
&nbs
p; “Then what do you want?”
“I want alimony, and I want you out of our lives. I want you away from Taryn.”
“That’s not going to happen!” Michael said. “She’s my daughter as well. I have the right to see her.”
“Is that so? You’re a couple of perverts, and the whole world’s going to see you’re not fit to raise a child at the trial. I have evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me,” Michelle said. “I found your dirty videos.” She gave Ash a dirty look. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. The court will roll over to my demands when they see the videos. Don’t expect to ever see Taryn again, Michael. Don’t give me that look, you did it all to yourself, getting involved with this lifestyle.”
“Ms. Williams, this isn’t the point of these negotiations,” Michael’s lawyer said, but Michelle shook her head.
“This is exactly the point. Michael, give it up and sign the damn papers, or I’ll embarrass both of you so badly you’ll have to leave this town forever.”
“Ms. Williams, you can’t blackmail your husband,” Michelle’s lawyer said. “That’s against the law.”
“Screw the law!” Michelle said. “He’s not my husband! My husband wasn’t a pervert!”
“Your husband was always like this. I’m bisexual, and I’ve known that for years. It doesn’t mean I didn’t love you when we got married. It doesn’t mean I’d ever harm Taryn, either. Ever.”
“I won’t give you the chance,” Michelle said. She stood up. “I’ll see you in court,” she said, stalking away.
“Michelle!” Michael moved to chase her out of the office but Ash reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Let her go,” Ash said. “Going after her isn't going to achieve anything. We need to come up with a plan.”
Michael pulled his arm from Ash’s grip with force and slumped down in the leather chair. “What do we do now? We’re completely fucking screwed.”
Rainy Days Page 18