Chapter 13 - Laura moves Derek out
Laura did not wait for a court to order it.
The night after police released the house back to her for limited access, she told Derek through counsel he could not return.
Because he had residency rights, she handled it lawfully.
Temporary protective order.
Scheduled retrieval.
Police standby.
No clothes thrown onto lawn.
No dramatic bonfire.
Derek’s attorney argued he had been unlawfully excluded.
The court maintained the order based on:
Child confinement.
Threat allegations.
Financial evidence.
Laura changed security after authorization.
Then she sat in my driveway and cried.
“I brought him into her house.”
I leaned against my car.
“Yes.”
“I thought he was strict.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t think—”
“I know.”
She looked at me.
“You hate me.”
At that moment?
Partly.
But:
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t trust your judgment.”
That hurt her more.
It was also more useful than hatred.
She nodded.
“You shouldn’t.”
Not forever.
May you like
Right then.
That honesty became the beginning of her repair.
