“I’m going to speak now,” Mrs. Reyes said, holding her hand up, signaling for us to be quiet. “It seems there have been some errors in judgment but, Alexis, I don’t think it warrants bringing the lawyers in and changing the custody ruling. Currently, you both have shared custody with Mr. Freeman having full custody. You see your daughter regularly, right?”
“Yes. I see her every other weekend.”
“Have you noticed any bruises, signs of neglect, or noticeable change in attitude?”
I wanted to hear what she was going to say. It wasn’t uncommon for Alexis to pull shit out of thin air and run with it.
After a few long beats, she tipped her nose in the air and folded her arms across her chest. “No,” she admitted quietly.
“Has she expressed a desire to live with you?” Right on cue, Frankie walked in. I caught a sliver of Xari’s body through the crack in the door before she was gone. Just that fast, my legs wanted to carry me to her.
I stood to hug Frankie and kiss her cheek while Alexis opted for air kisses. Frankie sat down beside me and plopped her small bag of snacks on the table before smiling. After all the pleasantries, Mrs. Reyes dug into the meat of things.
“So, can you tell me how your father being in a relationship with your nanny has affected you?” Her voice was pleasant and kind toward Frankie.
“Um…I don’t know. Once I saw Xari was still my bestie and Daddy wasn’t being weird about it I was fine. I don’t care that much.” She gave a simple shrug and peered into the target bag on the table full of candy and a bag of chips.
“Baby, you said you felt unloved.” Alexis stroked Frankie’s arm and fluttered her lashes trying to convey a quiet message.
“When I found out…yeah. I felt a lot of things but I’m okay now, Mom. I like it where I’m at. I know that’s why you made this appointment. You want me to live with you.” Frankie’s full lips twitched with a frown.
“I want to make sure you’re not being exposed to inappropriate things at your father’s house.”
“You know I’m not. I walked in on them one time and that was it. It was a mistake. I was angry at first but I’m not anymore.” She shook her head and studied the wood grain pattern on the table. “I’m fine with Daddy and Xari. I’m glad they’re together because now, Dad is so happy. I don’t want to live with you and I want you to please stop being so mean to Xari.”
Frankie finally lifted her warm brown eyes and looked at her mother. Nobody else in the room spoke because what Frankie said was poignant enough on its own. I almost felt bad for Alexis. Almost.
“Well, I think Frankie is very apt at speaking for herself,” Mrs. Reyes said with a smile. “Did you both hear what she had to say?”
“I did,” I smiled. Pride puffed my chest out. Frankie was coming into her own. I knew who she was would shift and change as she got older but right now, she was more confident than I’d ever seen her.
“Are you sure your nanny isn’t coercing you into saying these things?” Alexis smoothed Frankie’s curls back and looked into her eyes.
“No, Mom. Xari is so cool and she tries all the food I cook. You never try anything. She lets me try on her clothes and even borrow them sometimes. You never even let me touch your clothes. You should give her a chance instead of always being such a bully.” Indignation settled in the faint crease of her forehead as she spoke.
“Listen, sweetheart…it takes a while for your mother to be open to new ideas. You had to warm up to the idea of Xari and me too, remember?” I touched her cheek and she nodded.
“You don’t have to speak for me, Van. I’m a grown woman.”
“I’m trying to help. Jesus.”
“Well, Jesus doesn’t need your help and neither do I.”
“Let’s settle down and go over the takeaways from today’s meeting.” There was no doubt in my mind Mrs. Reyes was ready to get rid of us. We’d been there for over an hour.
I sat patiently and listened to the suggestions while Alexis wagged her foot back and forth and scowled the entire time. Mrs. Reyes pointed out that I could do better with communicating before things get out of hand and that Alexis needed to listen to Frankie more and not worry about my personal life.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
When we left the office and walked into the waiting area, I saw Xari sitting on one of the couches along the wall and my father sitting across the room from her. He looked stiff and tight, which let me know they weren’t just two people sitting in a room. They were in a silent standoff. Neither one of them wanted to be the first to stand and leave.
When Xari saw me, she hopped up with a bright smile. “How is everything?” She asked, tossing an arm around Frankie.
“Everything is fine. Let’s get out of here. We still have time today to hang out. Navy cleared all my appearances. They’re not necessary.”
“Not necessary?” Dad’s voice piped up over the soft chatter between Frankie and Xari. “So not only are you turning into a bleeding-heart leftist, you’re blowing off your duties?”
“I’m not blowing off anything. Everything that I needed to do is done. And honestly, it’s none of your concern what I do or don’t do, Dad.”
“I put you in that seat so it damn well is my business.” Tension expanded between us. Xari took one look at me and held Frankie’s hand.
“I’ll take her to the car.”
