Chapter 12 - THE TEMPORARY ORDER
The court hearing focused on safety and contact.
Judge Allison Hart reviewed:
medical records,
camera timing,
rideshare schedule,
Linda’s texts,
Mia’s specialist interview,
parent messages,
and the proposed Boston relocation.
Linda asked for supervised visitation.
Paula asked for no contact for six months.
Andrew supported Paula.
That was new.
Lauren argued:
“Complete cutoff may intensify the child’s confusion and create a loyalty conflict.”
Rachel answered:
“Safety comes before continuity.”
Judge Hart split the difference.
No direct unsupervised contact.
No pickups.
No overnights.
No private transportation.
Therapeutic contact could begin only after:
Linda completed parenting-boundary counseling,
anger-management assessment,
and the child specialist agreed.
The court did not decide Boston yet.
That would be separate.
Linda looked furious.
Then sad.
Then controlled.
Outside, she told Andrew:
“You chose her.”
Andrew answered:
“No.”
Linda looked at him.
May you like
“I chose Mia.”
For once, he meant it without using the sentence as a weapon against Paula.
