He Let Me Crash on Christmas Eve, So I Took Our Daughter novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Her Terms

The judge with the gray bun looked at me over her glasses.

"Mrs. Ardrey. The social worker's report says your husband has made every visit, on time, for ninety days. The hospital says he pays his bill on Fridays. Your sister says he shovels her driveway before dawn." She put down the page. "What do you want?"

The courtroom was nearly empty.

Nate stood at the other table in his sale suit with his hands folded.

He looked at the floor.

"I want the supervision lifted," I said.

Nate's head came up.

"I want him to have Joy every Saturday night and every Sunday, and weeknights when his shift allows. I want Joy to live with me. And I want it in writing that he can't take her anywhere near the Pilkingtons."

"Done," the judge said. "And the divorce petition?"

I felt Nate stop breathing.

"It stays open," I said. "I'm not withdrawing it today. I'm not signing it either."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I haven't decided, Your Honor. I'd like the decision to be mine and not anyone else's." I looked across the room. "He understands that."

Nate nodded once.

His eyes were wet.

The judge's mouth twitched.

"Noted," she said. "Order entered. Mr. Ardrey, if you make her regret this, you'll answer to me."

"Yes, ma'am."

That evening Lorna put her hands on her hips in the kitchen.

"Right," she said. "I'm taking the baby downstairs to sleep in Peggy's room. My husband is taking me to a movie. The house is yours until ten tomorrow."

"Lorna."

"I'm not asking, Zanna. I'm a labor nurse. I know what a woman looks like when she's thought about something for three months."

← Chapter 22 · All chapters · Chapter 24 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend