Chapter 22 - Custody without a winner
Family court entered final custody orders while Michael was incarcerated.
Primary physical custody:
Me.
Sole legal authority for:
Medical.
Mental health.
School enrollment.
During Michael’s incarceration and first six months after release.
After that:
Potential review.
Michael retained parental status.
Access to school/medical records where law allowed, subject protection needs.
No direct contact with Emily during incarceration unless Emily initiated through therapist and facility rules.
No forced calls.
After release:
Therapeutic contact only if:
Emily willing.
Michael compliant with supervision.
Therapist determines process appropriate.
Could court order eventual contact later?
Possibly.
Not decided forever.
Then child support.
Based on Michael’s reduced current income/custody and later earning capacity.
During incarceration, support adjustment according to applicable law.
No fantasy financial punishment.
Then divorce.
Marriage dissolved.
Property settlement incorporated.
House already sold.
Retirement division.
Cash.
No spousal support.
My name returned to Parker? I had been Sarah Bennett. I chose Sarah Parker.
Emily asked again:
“Can I change mine?”
This time I said:
“Let’s talk.”
We met with attorney.
At fifteen, surname change required legal process, notice to father unless exception, best-interest evaluation.
Michael could object from custody.
Would he?
His lawyer responded:
Michael would not object if Emily wanted Bennett-Parker hyphenation, but preferred she keep Bennett in some form.
Emily hated that.
Then she thought.
“I don’t want to decide because he’s in jail.”
Good.
She kept Bennett.
For now.
Choice delayed.
Then phone.
Her cracked phone had been held as evidence copy? Original returned after forensic preservation.
She asked:
“Can I throw it away?”
Detective said case concluded, evidence retained through images/copy; original released.
I said:
“Yes.”
She stared at it.
Then put it in a drawer instead.
Not ready.
No need to force symbolic destruction.
Then Dr. Morris asked about therapeutic contact.
Emily:
“Not now.”
Court respected.
Then I moved our apartment furniture around.
Small thing.
Emily wanted couch against opposite wall.
Why?
She wanted to see front door.
We did.
May you like
Then gradually, months later, she moved it back.
Healing sometimes looks like furniture.
