I looked up at Reid overwhelmed at how amazing he was. He was perfect in every way. "How did I get so lucky?" I asked.
"I'm the lucky one. I've never felt anything like this before. You're just incredible." He led me over to the front porch and sat on the stairs watching as Will and Melody attempted to play catch. It was more like fetch with Melody's broken arm. "I could really see the four of us being a family someday." He said.
I let my head rest on his shoulder. I could see it too. Well, as long as Brian doesn't get his way. "Brian said he's going to try to get joint custody of Melody, but I have a sinking feeling that he's going to try for full custody."
"What? Why would he want to do that? He doesn't seem to want to spend time with her. He didn't even show up at the hospital when she broke her arm!" Reid was outraged. I don't think I've ever seen him so worked up before.
"Because he's an ass. He got really jealous when Melody mentioned you." I could feel myself starting to get worked up again. Reid immediately wrapped his arm around me. "I'm so scared. I can't afford to get a good lawyer and he's friends with so many. If I have to take this to court, I don't know how I'm going to win."
"Don't worry about a thing. I happen to be friends with one of the best lawyers in town." He said giving me a squeeze, "How about we order pizza and I'll give him a call?"
"Really? We can still go out to dinner if you want." I felt bad. He was so excited about going to dinner together.
"Let's get you some peace of mind first. We can go out to dinner tomorrow, or any time."
"I- um- thank you." I... I almost said I love you. Thank God I stopped myself. It is way too soon to say I love you. I'm just being overly emotional right now. That's it. Do I love him? Probably. Is it too soon? Probably. I feel like I'm all over the place today. I just need to keep my emotions under control right now.
We went inside and Will and Melody went to Melody's room to play. Reid and I went to the dining room, putting in an order for pizza before Reid dialled his lawyer friend, Andrew. "Hey Reid. How's it going?" He asked.
"It's going. I have you on speakerphone with my girlfriend Olive."
"Hi," I said.
"Hey, nice to put a voice to a name. Rebecca told me all about you, well, she told Mel and Mel told me." Andrew said.
"So Andrew, I wish this was a social call but we might need your services," Reid said.
"Alright. Hit me."
I told Andrew everything about my situation with Brian. I told him about when I found him with Blythe while Melody cried, how he has repeatedly cancelled visits, how he didn't show up when Melody broke her arm then about my visit with him today. Reid sat there tense as I spoke. When I described how Brian had grabbed my arm Reid inhaled sharply, his eyes flicking down to my arm. Bruises were starting to form where Brian's fingers dug into my arm. "Andrew, she has bruises."
"Okay, take a picture. It is important we document everything going forwards. Make sure any communication with him is done via texts or email. Then we can be sure he doesn't try anything down the line. With everything that you've told me, it seems likely he is going to go for full custody. I will make sure he doesn't." Andrew said.
"Okay. Have you done a lot of stuff like this before?" I asked.
"It is not my specialty, but I do have experts in family law that work for me. With my team on your case, we will make sure your daughter stays with you."
I felt a bit of panic build up. "I can't afford that. I can barely afford one lawyer right now."
"I'm not charging you for any of this. You just focus on your little girl."
I could barely hold back the sob that left me right then. So much of the weight from today was lifted from my shoulders. Reid's arms wrapped around me and he pulled me onto his lap. He pressed a kiss to my temple as I grabbed the phone from the table. "Thank you so much Andrew," I said.
"Pleasure's all mine." He answered, "And if Rebecca talks you into a singing career give me a call. Contract negotiations are my specialty."
"I'm not sure if that's what I want for my family," I said.
"I'd still give Rebecca a call. She's got an eye for talent." He said.
"Thank you so much man," Reid said.
"Really don't mention it." Andrew said, "As soon as you hear anything from him, call me. I'm going to send someone to be a witness for your visits with Brian going forward. Just in case he tries anything."
"Thank you so much Andrew." We said our goodbyes and hung up. I couldn't help the tears. This time they were tears of relief. I had a chance. I had a chance to keep Melody for good. She wouldn't have to be dragged to see him.
There was a knock at the door that pulled us away. I dried my eyes as I got off Reid's lap. The two of us went to the door and brought the pizzas inside. We went to the kitchen and began laying everything out when I turned to him. "What do you say to a little tv dinner tonight? Put on a movie and have a quiet night."
"Sounds good." He said. We called Melody and Will out of her room to pick out their pizza. Soon we were all in my living room watching a Disney movie. Reid and I cuddled together while Melody and Will sat at the coffee table whispering as they watched the movie. All things considered, it was a pretty good night.
*****
Later that night, I was tucking Melody into bed while Reid put Will to sleep in the guest bedroom. Melody got a serious look on her face as she looked up at me. "Mama, is Dad going to take me away from you?"
I had a bittersweet smile on my face as I sat beside her on the bed. I reached up to push a stray curl from her darling face, "He might try, but I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen. I promise."
"Can you sing to me? That song from when you were little." She asked. She looked so little then. There was no way I was going to say no to that.
(Once Upon a December from Anastasia)
Dancing bears, painted wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song, someone sings,
Once upon a December.
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully,
Across my memory.
Far away, long ago,
Growing dim as an ember,
Thinks my heart used to know,
Things it years to remember.
Melody began to sing with me the last few lines of the song. A smile quickly spread across my face as we sang together. These moments are the ones that made me love being a mom.
"Thanks Mama." She yawned.
"Anything for you Monkey." I gave her a kiss on the forehead before we both said our goodnights. I got up and stood in the doorway before I turned off the light. I watched as she rolled over onto her side to get comfortable and shut her eyes. My perfect little girl.
I stepped out of her room, shutting the door behind me. Reid stepped out of Will's room and his eyes met mine. A smile danced along my lips as he pulled me into his arms. His lips pressed to the top of my head. "I heard you singing to Melody."
"Yeah, she's worried about everything with Brian. Whenever she's worried about something she usually asks me to sing to her." I sighed as I relaxed into his arms. I don't know how I'd get through all this without him.
"Come on, let's get you into bed. You need to relax." He guided me into the bedroom. The two of us got ready for bed and curled up together. Just being in his arms made my worries start to fade. That didn't mean they dissappeared, they still made it impossible to fully relax. "Alright, tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
I sighed as I turned to look into his blue eyes. All my worries were sitting under the surface waiting to break free. "I'm scared. I just don't know I'll be able to deal if-"
"Don't even finish that sentence." Reid interrupted me. "We're not going to let that happen. Melody is going to stay here, with us. Brian is not even worth a second thought of yours."
The tears gathered in my eyes I looked up at him. "I feel like I can never quite get him out of my head. Ever since he came in my life eight years ago, he's found a way to ruin every good thing in my life. I just can't help but feel like he's going to destroy this some how. Ruin us." I hadn't ever voiced these fears to anyone before. It felt good to tell him.
Reid reached up, brushing my hair back and tucking it behind my ear. "He's not going to ruin this. Andrew is going to nail his ass to the wall. He is so good at his job and has some incredible people working for him. Brian is never going to take Melody from us." He sounded so determined. I just wished I could believe him. "He's not going to ruin us or the family we're building together. I'm never going to let him."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because... because I'm so hopelessly in love with you that I won't let anything get between us."