Chapter 3 - WHAT AVA HAD BEEN TOLD
Ava’s biological mother was named Elise Carter.
I met Daniel when Ava was seven.
The story came early.
Elise had problems with alcohol and prescription pills after Ava’s birth.
She went to treatment twice.
Relapsed.
Got a DUI.
Missed visitation.
Then, according to Daniel:
“She chose drugs over Ava.”
I believed him.
Why wouldn’t I?
Daniel had full custody.
Ava lived with him.
Elise was absent.
There were no mysterious phone calls.
No birthday cards.
No surprise visits.
A clean story supported by visible facts.
Daniel never said Elise died.
Never said she was dangerous in a dramatic way.
He said something more believable:
“She gave up.”
When Ava asked why her mother did not call, Daniel said:
“She knows contact is confusing for you.”
When Ava was nine and cried after another girl brought her mother to school, he said:
“Some people aren’t built to be parents.”
I sat beside Ava that night.
Held her.
Told her:
“Daniel and I are here.”
I became part of the story.
Not intentionally.
Still.
At eleven, Ava asked if she could call me Mom.
I cried.
Then she changed her mind a week later.
I told her:
“You can call me Kate forever.”
She smiled.
We were good.
Not perfect.
Good.
Then six months ago, a certified letter arrived while Daniel was traveling.
Addressed to him.
Return address:
CARTER & BLAKE FAMILY LAW.
I did not open it.
I placed it on his desk.
Two days later I saw it in the trash.
Still sealed.
That bothered me.
I asked:
“What was that?”
“Spam from Elise’s lawyer.”
“What does she want?”
“Money.”
“After all this time?”
“Yes.”
He threw the letter into the outside bin.
That night I retrieved it.
My first deception.
I steamed nothing open.
Did not tamper with mail.
I read only the attorney’s name and used public court search.
There was a custody case.
Not closed seven years earlier as I believed.
Modified repeatedly.
Elise had completed treatment.
Requested supervised visits.
Received them.
Then Daniel moved from Colorado Springs to Lakewood.
The court ordered him to facilitate video calls and monthly supervised parenting time.
Records showed:
Missed contacts.
Disputes over scheduling.
A motion alleging Daniel failed to provide updated address information.
Another alleging he blocked Elise’s number.
Daniel responded that Ava experienced distress after contact.
A therapist reportedly recommended a pause.
Then I found the therapist’s actual filed letter.
She recommended shorter, structured contact.
Not cessation.
Daniel had told me:
“The therapist said seeing her mother was harmful.”
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Not the same thing.
That was the first crack.
