Chapter 13 - DUNCAN’S FIRST VISIT
The paternity test confirmed what everyone already knew.
Duncan was the father.
He requested contact.
Family court ordered an initial supervised visit at a neutral center.
I hated it.
Not because I wanted to deny biology.
Because I remembered:
As long as the baby is gone.
Could a man say something monstrous during an affair and still have parental rights?
Yes.
Could domestic violence affect those rights?
Absolutely.
The court ordered a risk evaluation.
No unsupervised contact.
No taking the baby from the center.
No contact with me.
The supervisor remained present.
I did not watch through glass.
I wanted to.
Instead I sat in another room with my attorney.
After forty minutes, the supervisor returned.
“How was it?”
“Quiet.”
“Did he hold the baby?”
“Yes.”
“Anything concerning?”
“He became emotional. Followed instructions. No threats.”
That irritated me.
I wanted evidence simple enough to match my feelings.
Reality refused.
Duncan could hit me and still hold his child carefully during a supervised visit.
Both facts could exist.
The supervisor added:
“He asked whether you were okay.”
I said nothing.
Then:
“He asked if you hated him.”
“That is not relevant to the baby.”
“I told him that.”
Good.
Visits continued once a week pending criminal case.
Duncan attended.
Never missed.
That mattered.
It did not erase the assault.
Family law is uncomfortable because children can benefit from a parent who harmed the other parent, if safety can be managed.
Sometimes they cannot.
The court had to decide over time.
Then one visit changed things.
Duncan whispered to the baby:
“Daddy’s going to get us our home back.”
The supervisor documented it.
Not a threat.
A boundary problem.
He was instructed:
No litigation talk.
No adult conflict framed through child.
Next violation could suspend visits.
Duncan complied afterward.
Again.
Not monster every second.
May you like
Not safe because of that.
Nuance.
