HadleyWe've been sitting in this mediation room for almost an hour, waiting for Phillip and his attorney to appear. The magistrate checks his watch. "We'll give them a few more minutes."I don't want to give them a few more minutes. They knew as well as we did, the time they were supposed to be here. This is completely typical of him. Expecting everyone to wait while he takes his time, doing whatever it is he feels is more important than what's right in front of him. I know without out a doubt, this is how he'll treat Riley if he gets custody of her. I hope it makes an impression on everyone sitting in the room.Just as we're about to get up to leave, the door opens and in walks my ex-husband. He's aged years since the last time I saw him, he looks weak and maybe a little frail. For a few seconds I wonder if he's sick, and the reason he wants to have contact with Riley now is because he's dying. Then I realize men like him don't die slowly. They go out in a blaze of glory, shock

TrickFive Months LaterNervous doesn't even begin to cover how I'm feeling right now. I've never checked Riley out of school, but today I'm doing it. "Just sign here, Mr. Tennyson," the secretary tells me, after they've checked my license against the sign out sheet for Riley. "She'll be here in a few minutes, if you wanna have a seat."It's been a long time since I've been in a school office. I glance around, layout still looks the same, even if everything else is a bit more technologically advanced. These chairs aren't made for someone with my height, and I check my cell phone, seeing how much longer I'm going to have to wait for Sprite. I adjust in the chair, right as the door opens, and in she walks."Trick!" She runs over to me, as I stand and grab her in my arms. We just saw each other this morning before Hadley took her to school, but Sprite and I, we have a bond. "Hey Sprite," I set her down, grabbing her hand. "You ready to blow this popsicle stand?"She giggle

HadleyAlmost Three Years LaterI glance down at my phone, shifting in my seat as I cross my legs, and take a deep breath. Trick should have been here twenty minutes ago, and would have been if I wasn't so damn forgetful. He'll never forgive himself if he misses this, and it will be completely my fault. There's ten more minutes before the lights go down and the rest of the recital starts. Pursing my lips, I wonder if I should text him, but if he's driving, he won't answer the phone anyway. Not to mention for the past six months, I've already been a hell of a distraction. People are milling about, and I happen to be looking at the auditorium doors when they open and in steps my husband. I lift my hand up so he can see where I'm sitting, waving him over. "You made it," I smile over at him as he slides into the seat next to me, carrying the flowers I'd forgotten. "I was worried I wouldn't, traffic is crazy out there with it being close to Christmas and all. Did I miss her?"