Chapter 19 - HIS FIRST CUSTODY REQUEST
My husband requested:
Frequent daytime contact.
Three visits per week.
One weekend daytime block.
No overnights initially.
Interesting.
He did not demand fifty-fifty newborn overnights.
His attorney was realistic.
He also requested:
Clarissa be permitted at some visits later.
I opposed that part initially.
Then temporary hearing.
The judge reviewed:
Forgery evidence.
Hospital conduct.
No allegation of physical harm to child.
No domestic violence by husband toward me physically.
But coercive document conduct directly related to parenting.
My public overstatement.
Clarissa’s chair incident.
Dad’s retaliation.
Mess.
Temporary order:
Seren primarily resides with me.
My husband receives three supervised or professionally supported visits weekly for first month.
Why supervised?
Not because he was physically dangerous to infant.
Because trust, transition and pending document-fraud investigation justified structured observation.
After consistent compliance, supervision could step down.
No Clarissa present initially.
Parent communication through parenting app.
No discussing litigation around Seren.
No removal from county during visits without written agreement.
Standard.
Then judge said:
“This is temporary, not a punishment.”
Important.
My husband looked unhappy.
Accepted.
First visit.
Parenting center.
He changed a diaper badly.
Seren screamed.
He panicked.
Supervisor coached.
Normal.
Second visit:
Better.
Third:
She slept on his chest.
I saw through observation window.
It hurt.
Not because wrong.
Because betrayal does not erase tenderness.
Two truths.
Then Clarissa requested separate grandparent contact.
Court said:
Not now.
Her access could occur through father later only if consistent with orders and safety plan.
No independent visitation case while parents litigated absent statutory basis.
Good.
Then money.
Temporary child support based on incomes.
Spousal support modest and time-limited pending divorce.
Joint expenses allocated.
No inheritance.
No family gifts.
Law.
I was not penniless.
I was also not financially untouched.
Attorney fees.
New rent.
Reduced income on maternity leave.
Real cost.
Dad helped where appropriate.
I tracked everything.
No dependence hidden.
Then my husband’s company.
COO candidacy formally closed for current cycle.
Board selected someone else.
He remained employed.
Clarissa reportedly furious at board.
No legal relevance.
But motive consequences.
He had endangered marriage to preserve a succession path.
Still lost the promotion.
Not because I demanded.
May you like
Because board judged.
That irony did not make me happy.
