Free The Truth About Love by Emma Nichols Page A

wasn’t normal.  Most women would jump at the chance to take what they could get.  I had this strong sense of right and wrong.  Even though he had hurt me, forced me to leave, manipulated me into calling the police, and destroyed the house, it would be wrong to render him homeless.  I wasn’t weak.  I was just doing the right thing.
    “Do you have everything, or are you going to need to get back in the house?”  She was all business.
    I perked up.  “Can we do that?  I left so much as the police rushed me out last night.”
    “Of course!  Those same police might even be the ones who have to stay with you until you are done to ensure your safety.”  She winked at me.
    Pictures were taken of me and my injury.  What had started off as a scratch had overnight morphed into an impressive looking bruise that covered the entire back and side of my calf.  It hurt too.  A fact I was made aware of any time I grazed it on anything.  Oh, and I’m clumsy.  I’m reminded of this frequently.
    “Did you want the pictures I took of the damage to the house?”   It felt like I was playing dirty, but if Shane was going to threaten charges for kidnapping, then I needed to defend myself.  I needed custody, not that I was worried.  There wasn’t a court on earth that would leave Kylie in his care.
    “Absolutely.  Email them here.”  She handed me her business card.  I stuck it in my purse next to the pretty purple card the officers had given me.   “ Now go to the Clerk and file these papers.  Do you want to go to court in the morning or the afternoon?”
    Mornings were suddenly a challenge now that we had three adults sharing one bathroom.  Plus, I would need to find childcare for Kylie.  She wasn’t going to the day care in the court building.  Ever.   “ Afternoon, please.”
    She passed me a packet of papers to sign, one to take with me, one for my records.  Then I was given a slip with instructions to show up at courtroom 4110 the next day at 1:30pm for the hearing.  I signed, collected everything, and then pulled Kylie into my arms so we could leave.
    Our next stop was next door at the courthouse.  It was huge and intimidating with its security measures.  I hated walking through the metal detector, and now I had to do it while holding Kylie.  Given the flip-flops, I knew I wouldn’t have to remove the shoes.  Somehow, that was little comfort.  We made it through with no effort, no lines, no waiting, and most importantly, no beeps.  Pressing forward, I made my way across the vast open area, straight to the elevator.  My little one was silent in my arms, looking about some, soaking everything in.  We exited the elevator, and marched straight for the huge double wooden doors to the far right as we stepped out.  It didn’t take but a moment for it to be our turn.  
    Passing in the paperwork, I swore on a Bible to the woman behind the glass that everything contained within was true.  Then it was over.  I had to return the next day, without Kylie.  It troubled me some, until I remembered my sister, Brynn, was on maternity leave.  She loved Kylie; no doubt she wouldn’t object to spending some time with her.  
    As soon as I reached the vehicle in the parking garage, I strapped Kylie into her seat and prepared to call.  Somehow, having those papers, even though they weren’t decided upon by a judge, made me feel safer, more secure.  I didn’t feel like I had to hold my daughter as tightly, or worry about being pulled over while driving.  I had the protection of proof.  
    Brynn answered my call almost immediately.  She sounded so happy to hear from me, even after I explained I was calling because I needed a babysitter the very next day.   “ Wanna come visit?  That way Kylie will be comfortable.  She’s never been here before.”
    I sighed almost happily.  “That sounds great, just let me run a few errands first.”  
    There was still the charger for the phone and the plug