Chapter 2 - THE CONSENT FORM
The papers were a proposed custody stipulation.
Not signed by a judge.
Not effective.
Not mandatory.
Sarah’s attorney had drafted them.
If Ben signed, he would agree to:
temporary primary custody for Sarah,
immediate relocation of Lily to Sarah’s home,
restricted visitation pending evaluation,
and broad consent for Sarah to make educational and medical decisions.
Ben stared at Karen.
“She said Lily has to go.”
Karen answered:
“No.”
Sarah snapped:
“It’s temporary.”
Rachel arrived twelve minutes later after Ben’s neighbor called her.
She read the papers.
Then looked at Sarah.
“You tried to make him sign a custody surrender without his lawyer.”
Sarah’s face hardened.
“I tried to avoid a traumatic court battle.”
Rachel laughed once.
“You brought CPS into his living room and pulled his daughter toward the door.”
Sarah turned to Karen.
“Tell her what you observed.”
Karen did.
“I observed Mr. Carter become highly distressed when he believed his child was being removed.”
Sarah smiled slightly.
Then Karen continued:
“I also observed you physically attempting to force his hand onto a document.”
Sarah’s smile vanished.
“And pulling Lily after she said she did not want to leave.”
Sarah snapped:
“He was escalating her!”
Karen looked at Lily.
“Did your dad tell you to say you didn’t want to go?”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
“Did your mom?”
“No.”
“Who do you want to stay with tonight?”
Lily answered instantly.
“Dad.”
Sarah looked wounded.
Real or performed.
Maybe both.
Then Ben whispered:
“I thought order means judge.”
Rachel sat beside him.
“It does when it’s actually an order.”
Ben looked at Sarah.
“You lied.”
Sarah answered:
“I simplified.”
Ben’s face changed.
He hated that word.
May you like
People used simplify when they meant:
decide for him.
