The rest of the weekend was spent with all 4 of us staying in. After Friday night I was nervous to be out with the kids in fear of seeing someone we might know, I wasn't sure how many of our/his friends were aware of the divorce and after his recent behavior I wasn't sure how any of them would respond to me. Chris understood my general anxiety surrounding the whole thing and of course was accommodating. Never missing an opportunity to help with his version of 'distract and relax' me all over the house, which was essentially him bringing me to orgasm by any means necessary. The baby hormones are coursing through me and I wasn't this horney with the other two pregnancies combined. I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly and easily we slipped into this dynamic. The boys are responding well to being here and to Chris, he's not someone new to them. Ms Racheal has been calling daily to check on me and talk to the kids, I know she would like to be here all the time and I appreciate her restraint on the matter as well as the fact that she loves me enough to want to do both. 

Late Sunday morning Chloe called me. Surprised to see her working on the weekend I answered. "You work on Sundays?" I said before even hello. 

"Honey there's no rest for the wicked," she chuckles back. 

"Who hurt you?" I asked, laughing slightly.

"My own father actually," she answers "he left me and my mom penniless when he walked out, swore I'd be an attorney one day just to protect future women from men like him, but that's a story for another day. I'm calling because Eric's side is demanding a meeting tomorrow. Usually this sort of move is meant to rattle you but he won't get away with that with us." 

"Did they say what they wanted to talk about so suddenly? What should I bring with me?" I ask her. 

"They didn't mention specifics so don't worry about bringing anything, I have anything they may need already and if they make demands for specific info they are required by law to give you time to collect it so don't worry about any of that. I'm setting up the meeting with a mediator so there will be someone else in the room. It's common an unbiased party will sit in on meetings in case a compromise can't be reached until the divorce is finalized. It’s the first step in getting the ball rolling. We may have you out of this quickly if this is the attitude they want to have." 

"Ok I trust you, thank you Chloe I'll see you tomorrow." 

The next morning I'm sitting in my car in the parking lot of Eric's attorneys office waiting for Chloe to arrive. I have no plans of walking in there alone. Seeing her pull in she gets out and meets me halfway to the door. 

"Are you feeling ok? You don't have anything to worry about." She tells me.

"Yeah I'm just anxious" I reply as we walk into the room the receptionist showed us to. They aren't here yet which I'm thankful for. We have just a moment to breathe and settle in before the door opens again and Eric walks in smugly with an older gentleman. After exchanging polite greetings we get right into it. 

"Ok lets get started," Eric's lawyer, Mr. Smith says. "We called this mediation to discuss the emergency placement of the children involved." 

I look over to Chloe as the color drains from my face. Emergency placement? What is he talking about? 

"And what in this case do you deem an emergency Mr Smith?" Chloe returns completely cool, calm and collected. 

"Well the fact that their mother wrongfully removed them from their legal residence and has had them at her boyfriend's house, hardly an acceptable environment given the stressful nature of what's going on between their parents." I think I'm going to be sick. 

"Mr Anders wants his children returned and he can provide them with the security and structure they need at this time. He is even willing to let Mrs Anders return with them if she pleases, but given the nature of their relationship now we ask that she stay in the guest room. Surely you can't believe that being out of their normal environment during something like this is healthy for them. Your client acted rashly removing them and letting them shack up at her boyfriend's house and Mr Anders can provide them with a stable home while their mother figures out what she is doing after ending their marriage." 

"Mr Anders ended the marriage when he chose infidelity for the last four months. With your client unwilling to vacate the property during the proceedings Mrs Anders had no choice but to take the children with her." Chloe responds. 

"If she can't provide them with a home that is suitable and comparable to the home she ripped them from then they must be returned." Ahhh now it makes sense, Eric doesn't think I can afford to leave Chris's and he's trying to pull us back. He works all day and he can't take care of the kids. He knows that I know his schedule and if I don't come with them then the kids will be with someone else all day, possibly Hope. Remembering that I actually have the funds to do this without him, I tap Chloe on the shoulder. I have to get a place of my own at some point, we were never going to stay forever at Chris' house. Eric is forcing my hand a bit here with timing but it's a hand I was always going to have to play. I can't bring a newborn to Chris's house either since there's no room. Nodding at Chloe she understands what I'm agreeing to. 

"Sir, what is the timeline my client would have if she agrees to move out of the home in question and have her own property for the children?" She turns and asks the mediator who I forgot was even here, they really do just step in if you need. 

"Given they don't face any immediate danger or neglect by being with their mother in a friend's home I would give her a month, I agree it's not the best situation long term and if the father has a suitable home then they should be returned." 

"And what constitutes a suitable home so there's no misunderstandings later" Chloe continues. The mediator sets guidelines for a property that Eric agrees to, clearly thinking there's no way I'll be able to pull this off. Jokes on you Eric.

"We accept the terms, let the record show we will meet again in one month. Is there anything you gentlemen would like to add?"

Eric starts laughing right in my face and talks to me directly now. "How far are you going to take this Larkin? You really think you can afford a place like the one required now in a month? Your pride is going to be your worst enemy," he says as he clicks the side of his mouth. Staring back at him I don't reply at first, then I address him formally wiping the smile from his face. 

"Mr Anders I don't think this will be as big a problem as you think it is." 

"And why is that?" He questions laughing again. 

"It's true I don't have much to take away from this relationship and that should mean that I have nothing to start this next chapter with but I think you're forgetting something." I said keeping my voice steady. He rolls his eyes at me. "I didn't come into this marriage with nothing..." 

I can see the moment he remembers I have my moms inheritance, he shoots his attorney a sideways glance and they start looking at the information that we handed over when I filed, the same information they have had for weeks. He flips through papers in a packet until he finds what he was looking for. Obviously thinking he knew there was nothing to my name he never bothered to check. Taking in all the contents in front of him, rage takes over his face as his head snaps up to look at me, eyes seething. 

"You have millions of dollars and you never shared that with your husband??!" He yells at me rising from his seat. "What the fuck Larkin!" He screams at me. 

"Mr Anders you will lower your voice." The mediator calls from his corner. Eric shoots him a glare then turns back to me. 

"You planned this all along didn't you?" 

"How could I plan on you cheating on me Eric!" 

"You slid into a relationship with Chris way too easily, does he know about the account? If I find out you two set this whole ‘come save me' act up I'll ruin you both. I can make sure all of the construction jobs from my new builds never cross his desk!" He threatens me. "I bet that's the only reason he's doing this with you, who would honestly be interested in someone pregnant with another man's baby! You're huge right now!" He snarls at my in disgust. Chloe is on her feet now helping me stand. 

"Mr Anders!" The mediator shouts. 

"Let's go, I don't think this is going to get any better. We will see you both in a month." Chloe says as we exit the room. Waiting until we get to the parking lot to stop she finally turns to me. "You did great in there, good job not losing your cool." She says smiling and patting my shoulder. 

"Thank you" I said wiping a tear. 

"It’s going to be ok, you'll get a house, we'll get this finished and then focus on your new start." 

I nodded with her then moved over to my car. I didn't want to be anywhere near here when Eric came out. Taking a deep breath I blast the cool air on my wet face and set my bluetooth to call Chris. He answers on the second ring.

"Hey love how did it go?" 

"Well me and the boys have to move."