He Said It Was Just Paper. I Left. novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Shield

The lawyer's conference room was on the fourteenth floor, with a long glass table and a view of the river.

Elliot had found her at seven that morning.

By nine she had read my petition, my wire receipt and the deed, and she had not smiled once.

"She's the best family lawyer in Columbus," Elliot had said in the elevator. "She also charges like it."

"I'll pay you back."

"I know. I'll let you."

Now he sat on my left with a legal pad he did not write on.

The lawyer sat at the head of the table, a gray bob and a gray suit and reading glasses on a chain.

Across from us sat Dalton's attorney, a young man with very white teeth and a leather folder.

Dalton sat beside him in the navy suit.

He had shaved.

He did not look at me.

"My client wants to be reasonable," the attorney began. "He's the father of Ms. Hartnett's child. He wants to be in that child's life."

"He wants full custody at birth," the lawyer said.

"That's an opening position."

"It's a bluff on paper."

"It's a petition a judge will read." He turned a page. "Here is the offer. Mr. Lowell withdraws the custody request. Ms. Hartnett signs a statement that the fifty-two thousand dollars was a gift toward the household. She also consents to the sale of 418 Maple Run Road."

I laughed.

I could not help it.

"A gift," I said.

"A contribution freely made."

"I made it with a wire transfer and a note that said Down payment, our home."

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