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justprompts Farrah Gray Quote
Jul. 8th, 2009 01:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
malcolmeffectIn life we don’t get what we want, we get in life what we are. If we want more we have to be able to be more, in order to be more you have to face rejection. -Farrah Gray
Ian wouldn’t have been here but he wanted visitation rights with his daughter. This wasn’t a matter of swallowing his pride. Maya wasn’t going to get that kind of satisfaction from him after she refused to talk this through. He’d skipped out of classes to be here though his professor had understood the situation.
Maya was already in the office with some guy Ian didn’t recognize. The idea she had moved on so soon after their divorce disgusted Ian but he kept as neutral as possible. Ian shook hands with the lawyer and the man who turned out to be a professor. Ian didn’t know the man personally but made a mental note to never end up in one of his classes.
Sitting there across from Maya and the guy holding her hand so obviously it seemed to be a spectacle Ian wondered where Kelly was. He signed the papers stating he wished to file for joint custody and visitation rights. That done the lawyer asked about employment status, income, living arrangements and other topics Ian felt were fair to assess the safety for Kelly. It didn’t bother him much. He was an employed PhD student but he did have his weekends and that was what he was trying for.
“Mr. Malcolm, what is your current status?” The lawyer was writing down all the answers they gave.
“Uh... status?” Ian had been zoning out. His mind was on his work because it had to be.
“Yes, your relationship.”
“Single... uh... divorced obviously.” Ian was a little terse because the answer should have been obvious.
“Mrs. Curtis, your status.”
“Engaged.” Maya responded with a smug smile.
Her response floored Ian. Engaged! He took a breath remembering he wasn’t giving her the satisfaction of seeing him break.
“How long have you been engaged?”
“5 months.” Maya added with a serene expression and a little squeeze to her partner’s hand.
Ian started counting. His jaw dropped uncontrollably. “You got engaged while we were still married?”
He couldn’t put into words anything he was thinking. Shock and stunned silence followed the question.
“We were separated with plans to divorce.” Maya told the lawyer.
“We were never separated.” Ian felt like she had him by the throat, choking him.
“Forgive my ex.” Maya seemed to be sugaring up for something. “He’s an alcoholic and probably doesn’t remember the argument or when he left.”
Ian was totally flabbergasted by the accusation. He had trouble with alcohol on occasion but he always cleaned up when he caught himself going too far. How could Maya even say this about him? He never left her. He passed up research so he would at least be working at home.
“It is in his records.” The lawyer nodded.
Ian hadn’t said anything more. It hurt too much. This was the worst pain he could imagine. Not only had she left, divorced him and took his daughter, now she was lying too.
“I’m afraid I will have to suggest the family court suspend visitation rights until you have been admitted to a rehab facility Mr. Malcolm.”
Ian gave the lawyer a look of disbelief. “Oh, I’ll get right on admitting myself for not drinking.”
It was the truth too. Ian hadn’t drank much at all since Kelly was born. He hadn’t had time to drink for the past few months even if he had wanted to. Maya sat there with a feigned, horrified look and her new man had the smug look of a viper. Ian closed his eyes and blinked trying to imagine this was a nightmare.
“Denial is a normal reaction to an alcohol problem.” The lawyer was treating him like a child.
“You lying bitch.” Ian spat the words out at Maya because he couldn’t take the pressure of this situation on top of the pressure from school and work. It was too much and something had to give.
“You never wanted her anyway.” Ian felt his control slipping away. He had convinced Maya not to terminate her pregnancy. It had been weeks of arguments and begging. He knew Maya didn’t want Kelly. Maya loathed having a child as far as he could tell.
“Mr. Malcolm, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. There will be a hearing in 6 weeks to finalize the court decision. I suggest you enroll in rehab before then if you want visitation rights.”
Ian didn’t fight anymore. He got up and walked out. He didn’t stop walking until he got in his car. Inside he fumbled with the keys at the ignition. He gave up quickly and pulled off his glasses. Both he tossed in the passenger seat before he started crying. He never cried even when stress threatened to consume him or work threatened to ruin everything he’d been working for. None of that even compared to what he just heard. After a moment he pulled himself together and sat there breathing heavily. He couldn’t drive so he sat there watching Maya and her new husband walking to their car across the lot.
Ian convinced himself he didn’t care about it and shoved the keys in the ignition. Putting his glasses back on he drove away telling himself none of this mattered or was worth his time. He’d be a better man if that was what it took to see his little girl again.
Ian wouldn’t have been here but he wanted visitation rights with his daughter. This wasn’t a matter of swallowing his pride. Maya wasn’t going to get that kind of satisfaction from him after she refused to talk this through. He’d skipped out of classes to be here though his professor had understood the situation.
Maya was already in the office with some guy Ian didn’t recognize. The idea she had moved on so soon after their divorce disgusted Ian but he kept as neutral as possible. Ian shook hands with the lawyer and the man who turned out to be a professor. Ian didn’t know the man personally but made a mental note to never end up in one of his classes.
Sitting there across from Maya and the guy holding her hand so obviously it seemed to be a spectacle Ian wondered where Kelly was. He signed the papers stating he wished to file for joint custody and visitation rights. That done the lawyer asked about employment status, income, living arrangements and other topics Ian felt were fair to assess the safety for Kelly. It didn’t bother him much. He was an employed PhD student but he did have his weekends and that was what he was trying for.
“Mr. Malcolm, what is your current status?” The lawyer was writing down all the answers they gave.
“Uh... status?” Ian had been zoning out. His mind was on his work because it had to be.
“Yes, your relationship.”
“Single... uh... divorced obviously.” Ian was a little terse because the answer should have been obvious.
“Mrs. Curtis, your status.”
“Engaged.” Maya responded with a smug smile.
Her response floored Ian. Engaged! He took a breath remembering he wasn’t giving her the satisfaction of seeing him break.
“How long have you been engaged?”
“5 months.” Maya added with a serene expression and a little squeeze to her partner’s hand.
Ian started counting. His jaw dropped uncontrollably. “You got engaged while we were still married?”
He couldn’t put into words anything he was thinking. Shock and stunned silence followed the question.
“We were separated with plans to divorce.” Maya told the lawyer.
“We were never separated.” Ian felt like she had him by the throat, choking him.
“Forgive my ex.” Maya seemed to be sugaring up for something. “He’s an alcoholic and probably doesn’t remember the argument or when he left.”
Ian was totally flabbergasted by the accusation. He had trouble with alcohol on occasion but he always cleaned up when he caught himself going too far. How could Maya even say this about him? He never left her. He passed up research so he would at least be working at home.
“It is in his records.” The lawyer nodded.
Ian hadn’t said anything more. It hurt too much. This was the worst pain he could imagine. Not only had she left, divorced him and took his daughter, now she was lying too.
“I’m afraid I will have to suggest the family court suspend visitation rights until you have been admitted to a rehab facility Mr. Malcolm.”
Ian gave the lawyer a look of disbelief. “Oh, I’ll get right on admitting myself for not drinking.”
It was the truth too. Ian hadn’t drank much at all since Kelly was born. He hadn’t had time to drink for the past few months even if he had wanted to. Maya sat there with a feigned, horrified look and her new man had the smug look of a viper. Ian closed his eyes and blinked trying to imagine this was a nightmare.
“Denial is a normal reaction to an alcohol problem.” The lawyer was treating him like a child.
“You lying bitch.” Ian spat the words out at Maya because he couldn’t take the pressure of this situation on top of the pressure from school and work. It was too much and something had to give.
“You never wanted her anyway.” Ian felt his control slipping away. He had convinced Maya not to terminate her pregnancy. It had been weeks of arguments and begging. He knew Maya didn’t want Kelly. Maya loathed having a child as far as he could tell.
“Mr. Malcolm, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. There will be a hearing in 6 weeks to finalize the court decision. I suggest you enroll in rehab before then if you want visitation rights.”
Ian didn’t fight anymore. He got up and walked out. He didn’t stop walking until he got in his car. Inside he fumbled with the keys at the ignition. He gave up quickly and pulled off his glasses. Both he tossed in the passenger seat before he started crying. He never cried even when stress threatened to consume him or work threatened to ruin everything he’d been working for. None of that even compared to what he just heard. After a moment he pulled himself together and sat there breathing heavily. He couldn’t drive so he sat there watching Maya and her new husband walking to their car across the lot.
Ian convinced himself he didn’t care about it and shoved the keys in the ignition. Putting his glasses back on he drove away telling himself none of this mattered or was worth his time. He’d be a better man if that was what it took to see his little girl again.
