Chapter 8 - The Affidavit
My attorney was Evelyn Cho.
She had handled military-family relocation cases before.
She opened a file on her screen.
“Claire, I need you not to react until I finish.”
“That sentence guarantees reaction.”
“Try.”
The document:
AFFIDAVIT OF GRANT HARROW? No. We need consistent Grant not Bennett? User says Grant only; Claire Bennett reveal suggests last name Bennett maybe her prior/service surname. We can keep Grant Mercer? But character consistency lacks surnames. Use Grant Bennett? Yet neighbor says Claire Bennett. Fine: married surname Bennett. Logan Bennett, Noah Bennett. Keep.
Draft created Wednesday.
Block party Saturday.
Paragraph:
At a neighborhood gathering, Claire Bennett became physically aggressive toward my adult son Logan after he confronted her regarding her treatment of Noah.
Future tense facts written as past.
Then:
Claire used specialized military combat techniques to overpower Logan in front of Noah.
That happened.
But Grant wrote it first.
Then:
This incident confirmed my longstanding concern that Claire’s combat-conditioned reactions create an emotionally unsafe home.
I stared.
“Confirmed something that hadn’t happened yet.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I request temporary restriction of Claire’s parenting time pending evaluation.”
My pulse slowed.
Not because calm.
Because anger became precise.
“He planned to file.”
“Monday.”
“When is Dallas acceptance deadline?”
Evelyn looked at another document.
“Monday afternoon.”
There.
Saturday incident.
Monday emergency motion.
Monday job acceptance.
Move fast.
Then a proposed Dallas school enrollment for Noah.
Already filled out except signatures.
Deposit due Tuesday.
He had not told me.
Noah was seven.
Grant intended to use an emergency safety order to take him to Texas before the fall semester.
Would court automatically grant?
No.
But if he showed video of me assaulting Logan?
Maybe emergency restrictions.
Maybe supervised time temporarily.
Enough to relocate first and argue status quo later.
Not guaranteed.
Strategic.
Then Evelyn said:
“One thing still matters.”
“What?”
“We need to distinguish between Grant anticipating Logan would confront you and Grant orchestrating physical violence.”
“Yes.”
The draft was ugly.
Not enough alone.
Then:
“Discovery.”
May you like
Fine.
Let documents talk.
