Chapter 61 – So much closer

GABRIEL.

I was so pissed off. Enraged.

I had been thinking about this for a while now, and I had concluded that it was finally time to take action. It was time to sue Kira for full custody of my little girl, Maddie.

It had been a constant source of frustration for me that Kira had hidden Maddie’s identity from me for so long. I couldn’t help but feel like she’s been intentionally keeping Maddie away from me. It was not right, and it was not fair to Maddie.

I tried to be understanding of Kira’s situation. I knew that being a single parent was hard, and I tried to be there for Maddie as much as possible since I met her. But I realized now that Kira was not willing to cooperate. Mostly because of her misplaced reaction to our last meeting. She was not interested in co-parenting or sharing custody. She was not willing to compromise.

It was time for me to take matters into my own hands. I couldn’t just sit back and let Kira call all the shots. Maddie deserved to have a relationship with her father. She deserved to know who I was and to spend time with me.

I knew that suing for full custody was a big step, but I believed it’s the right one. Neither spite nor anger motivated me to do this. I was doing this for Maddie’s sake. It was important to me to be a part of her life and to be there when she needed me.

This would not be a peaceful process. It would be difficult and emotionally taxing, but I was prepared for that. I was ready to fight for my daughter, and I wouldn’t give up until I had full custody.

“John, I can’t believe it! Kira hid my own daughter from me for five years! How could she do this to me?” I blurted in a fit of rage.

“Gabriel, calm down. I’m sure Kira had her reasons. Maybe she was scared or didn’t know how to tell you.” John said, pouring two glasses of whisky.

I went to his place as I couldn’t stand my house anymore.

“Reasons? There’s no excuse for keeping me away from my own child! I have the DNA test results, I have the money, I have the connections. I can fight this in court and get full custody of Maddie. No matter what the consequences are or how Kira will react.” I retorted.

“Gabriel, have you thought about how Maddie will feel? She’s only five years old, and a custody battle can be traumatic for a child.”

“Of course I have! I only want what’s best for Maddie, and that means separating her from Kira. She’s a terrible mother for keeping me away from my own child.” I said, and I hardly believed it myself. But I was so hurt I barely see beyond my rage.

“Gabriel, you’re not thinking straight. Do you hear yourself? How can you say Kira is a terrible mother? You’re letting your anger get the best of you. You need to calm down and think about this rationally.” John scolded me.

“Rationally? How can I be rational when my own flesh and blood were kept away from me for five years? Kira is going to pay for what she did, and I won’t stop until I have Maddie in my custody.” I let my anger out again.

“Gabriel, listen to yourself! You’re talking like a madman. You need to take a step back and think about this. Maddie is not a prize to be won in a custody battle. She’s a human being, and she deserves to have both her parents in her life.”

“I don’t want Kira in my daughter’s life! She’s a liar and a manipulator. She doesn’t deserve to be a mother.”

I knew that I had gone too far with the discussion and the accusations against Kira, but looking back on it all, it was now Maddie who was most important.

Still, if I said I didn’t love Kira anymore, I’d be lying. She has never left my mind and heart and never would.

But she left me no choice.

“Gabriel, stop! You’re not thinking clearly. You need to calm down and talk to Kira. Maybe there’s a way you can work this out without going to court.” John said.

“I don’t want to talk to her! I want to take Maddie away from her and give her the life she deserves.”

“And what about Kira? What kind of life will she have without her daughter?” John made it clear.

“That’s not my problem. She should have thought about that before she kept my daughter away from me.” I responded without emotion. Weakness had no place here.

“Gabriel, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re not acting like my best friend right now. You’re being selfish and vindictive. Consider Maddie’s wellbeing, not just your own.”

I was shocked by what John was saying and although somewhere subconsciously I knew he was right; I wasn’t allowed to be weak.

“I am thinking about Maddie! I’m the only one who’s thinking about Maddie. Kira doesn’t care about her. She only cares about herself.” I accused her again.

“This has gone too far! And you are so damn wrong. Kira loves Maddie just as much as you do, and you damn know that very well. She’s not perfect, but she’s a wonderful mother. You need to give her a chance.”

“No, I won’t give her a chance. She betrayed me, and she doesn’t deserve to be a mother.” I said it once more.

Maybe saying it more than once would make me believe it. Then I wouldn’t feel this guilt about denigrating Kira.

“Gabriel, please, listen to me. You’re making a mistake. You’re going to regret this. Don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.” John tried one more time.

“I won’t regret this. I’m doing what’s best for my daughter. And if you can’t support me in this, then maybe we’re not really friends after all.”

The next day, I went straight to the best lawyer who, from what I had heard, didn’t have many scruples. He was perfect.

He welcomed me with enthusiasm and skill and listened to me and promised me that during tomorrow we would build the best case.

Our meeting lasted only half an hour with a promise to see each other first thing tomorrow. I immediately left for the company hoping that Kira would be out of the office.

The office area was quiet. Neither was Alana, her friend. Maybe it was for the best.

I never thought I’d be in this position. Filing a custody suit against Kira, the mother of my daughter Maddie, went against everything I believed in. I never wanted to be the kind of person who dragged their child through court battles. But what other choice did I have?

Kira had denied me my parental rights from the beginning. She clarified she didn’t want me to be a part of Maddie’s life from her last statement, and she’s done everything in her power to keep me away.

I knew that filing this suit would hurt Kira. I knew she loved Maddie just as much as I do, and that the thought of losing her would devastate her. And yet, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the only way. Maddie deserved to have both of her parents in her life, and I would not let Kira deny her that right.

Even so, the guilt gnawed at me. Was I doing the right thing? Shouldn’t I just keep trying to talk to Kira, to work things out? But then I remembered all the times I’ve tried to reach out, only to be met with hostility and anger. I couldn’t keep banging my head against that wall. She had the chance to tell me so many freaking times, but she didn’t.

I knew that filing this suit would be difficult for all of us. Maddie would be caught in the middle, and Kira and I would be at odds with each other. But I couldn’t stand by and watch as she denied my daughter the chance to have a relationship with her father.

So here I was, sitting at my desk, with the papers in front of me. I was about to file this suit, and it filled me with guilt and sadness. But I knew that, ultimately, this was the right thing to do. I was doing this for Maddie, and I hoped that one day Kira would understand that.