Chapter 9 - THE DAY BEFORE THE HEARING
The temporary custody review was scheduled for Friday.
Before that, Dr. Carr issued an interim report.
Not final.
Findings:
Crosby had a strong attachment to both parents.
No evidence I caused his behavioral distress.
Evidence supported fear associated with Veda’s discipline.
Beckett showed poor judgment by allowing Veda’s methods and using uncontextualized videos.
I showed poor judgment by ignoring earlier signs and making hostile permanent-sounding statements after discovery.
Neither finding equal.
Both true.
Recommendation:
Crosby remains with me.
Beckett supervised contact continues.
Therapeutic parenting work.
Veda no contact.
Final custody evaluation after more evidence.
Then Beckett produced a new defense.
He said he had never intended to separate permanently.
He filed the emergency petition to “stabilize” Crosby while we worked on marriage.
I asked Monica:
“Can someone ask a court to remove a child from one parent as marriage therapy?”
“People can ask courts many things.”
The judge did not enjoy it.
At hearing:
“Mr. Rowe, did you tell your wife you had filed?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I feared she would leave with Crosby.”
“Any evidence she planned to leave the jurisdiction?”
“No.”
“Any evidence she intended to hide the child?”
“No.”
“Then what was the emergency?”
He looked at his lawyer.
“Conflict.”
The judge:
“Conflict is not an emergency.”
Good.
Then Veda’s original statement:
Nonviolent behavioral support.
Beckett admitted he had approved attaching it.
“Did you know about the blue room?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about the camera?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know your mother removed comfort objects?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know she used cool-water resets?”
“No.”
“Did you know she discussed custody with Crosby?”
“No.”
“Did you verify any of these before calling her support nonviolent?”
“No.”
There.
Not mastermind.
Reckless trust.
Then my cross-examination.
Beckett’s lawyer used:
My work schedule.
Threat to stay with Paige.
“You will never be alone with him again.”
“You will never get him back.”
I admitted both.
“Were you attempting to alienate Crosby?”
“No.”
“Did you want to punish Beckett?”
“In those moments, yes.”
“Through the child?”
“I wanted distance. I used words that implied permanent exclusion. That was wrong.”
No perfection.
Then:
“Did you leave Crosby with Veda after he told you he hated going?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I believed my husband’s explanation that he was resisting limits.”
“Was that convenient?”
“Yes.”
Painful.
Useful.
The judge extended current orders.
No final custody.
Then Monica received notice of a newly discovered file from Beckett’s laptop.
Not Veda’s.
A draft email never sent.
TO: VEDA
SUBJECT: MONDAY.
Body:
Once I have temporary custody, Tamsin will finally have to negotiate instead of threatening to leave.
I read it twice.
The custody petition had not been primarily about Crosby’s safety.
May you like
It had been leverage against me.
And Chapter 10 was about to prove exactly how far that plan had gone.
