Youve worn my patience down to the bone! Charlotte snapped, her voice slicing through the air. Will you ever sign these documents?
Thats exactly why I walked out! Thomas retorted, his tone bristling. You never understood me! Your constant anxiety means nothing. Im thinking about the childrens futures!
The children will be perfectly alright, Charlotte replied, her voice steady. My mothers coming, no matter what.
Thats just for show, Thomas muttered.
Not this again? Charlottes words curled with frustration. Im travelling for work! Theres a position waiting! Can you even grasp that?
I get it, Thomas said, nodding. But youll find some bloke, marry him, and disappear overseas forever!
Im not earning a kings ransom, so I cant just jet off to see the kids whenever I please!
Im not settling anywhere, Charlottes calm began to crack.
I dont believe a word! Thomass voice rose. Youre dragging your mum along, and theres no one else. So youre uprooting everyone!
Dont twist thingsif you get the chance, youll stay! I wont lose my children to your whims!
Thomas, unlike you, the children stayed with me after the split! And if youve forgotten, there are three of them!
Few men want a woman with three children, Charlotte remarked. Im strictly going for work!
But I cant ignore the children! While Im working, my mum will take them to theme parks, the coast, and all sorts of fun!
Your mum could do all that here! Youre free to wander! Thomas forced a smile.
Thomas, dont be more stubborn than you are, Charlotte said. The kids are on holiday, Ive got work abroad, and its peak season! Let them have a proper break and enjoy themselves!
Theyve nothing to recover from, and they can have fun right here! Thomas insisted. I wont lose my say in their upbringing because of your foreign ventures!
I hand over half my wages for their care! So I have every right!
If its about money Charlotte started.
No! Thomas interrupted. Its not about money! I refuse to lose my children!
So thats your stance? Charlottes voice taut.
Exactly! No other way! Thomas confirmed. I wont let the children leave England!
Good thing I brought this up early, Charlotte sighed. I knew it wouldnt be simple. No point trying to change your mind, is there?
Not at all! Thomas nodded, self-satisfied.
One thingare you seeing anyone? Charlotte asked.
Whats that got to do with anything? Thomas recoiled.
Just answer, as your ex-wife.
Im not, Thomas replied. Hard to date when half your pays gone
Well sort the money, Charlotte nodded. Ill even help your finances!
Whats that supposed to mean? Thomas eyed her suspiciously.
Nothing! Were off to court! Youll apply for the children to live with you while Im working abroad!
That means you wont pay child support, and youll get half my wages!
So the children, just as you want, will stay homewith you!
Are you mad? Thomas was stunned.
Otherwise, Ill apply to remove your parental rights! Paying support isnt enoughyour absence is reason enough! You havent visited the children once in three years since the split!
Thomas stood, defeated.
Or you could just sign the travel forms, Charlotte smiled sweetly, sending a chill through Thomas.
The children stay with me, Thomas said, voice flat.
Perfect! Ive got three months before I leave. Plenty of time to sort it all. And Ill send my mum to help you manage!
***
Everyone saw Charlotte and Thomass marriage was doomed from the start. Their differences were glaring, their connection tangled. Everything about them was over the topshouted arguments, empty promises, grand plans.
Maybe they clung to youthful hopes.
When they married, likely against everyones advice, some even placed bets on how long it would last.
They said it to their faces: How do you even get by together?
But the newlyweds shrugged it off. Rows erupted, but peace always followed. Sometimes Charlotte gave in, sometimes Thomas did.
There was hope theyd mellow. Their parents hoped so, fretting over every quarrel, baffled by the couples indifference.
The young pair had their own troubles.
Charlottes parents gave them a flat. It needed a complete overhaul, furniture, and endless tweaks. Yet passionate reconciliations slowed progress to a crawl.
Living in a half-finished home was ridiculous, but far from comfortable. Plaster dust lingered, no matter how much you cleaned.
But the renovations had to be rushedCharlotte was expecting.
Thomas stepped up, showing his best side.
Unlike Charlotte, Thomas was practical. He finished the work two weeks before their daughter arrived.
Charlotte wasnt thrilled. Her creative spirit wanted something else. But the baby forced her to accept what was done.
Disappointment shadowed the initial joy. Thomas handled the renovations, but left all other chores to Charlotte.
He could sweep up cement and sawdust, and did it well. But ask him to sweep the kitchen? Not a chance.
Hed scrub paint from clothes, but using the washing machine and hanging laundry? Never.
Thomas could cook, but hated it.
Thats when divorce loomed. Oddly, they teetered on that edge for eleven years. Even the doubters admitted a family, even theirs, could endure.
They had two more children during their marriage. No one understood how.
The split was painful.
Thomas packed up, wished them well, and vanished. Gone for three years. No calls, no letters.
It hurt. Their eldest daughter was eleven, their son seven, the youngest three, and he disappeared overnight.
Only the child support payments proved Thomas existed.
No one would have remembered him if Charlottes job hadnt offered her a two-month stint abroad, with excellent terms.
Not only was a house provided, but she could take all three children and a companion.
Luckily, Charlotte didnt delay the paperwork. She needed the fathers consent.
Thomas refused. Decisions had to be swift. He deserved a lesson in fatherhood.
***
Like any mother, Charlotte worried about leaving the children with their father for two months. If Thomas had shown any interest after the split, it would have been easier, and thered be no need for legal drama.
But she was anxious. Her eldest daughter was now fourteen, and had become Charlottes right hand.
Her son and youngest daughter werent babiesten and six, old enough to manage. They listened to their big sister, Emily.
Thomas was told his ex-mother-in-law would be there to help. In truth, Mrs. Helen was sent as a supervisor and advisor.
She was tasked with keeping Thomas in line, making sure he did everything properly. She had the authority to threaten to call in social services if Thomas stepped out of line.
From the outside, Thomas faced two easy months, with decisions made for him and help on hand. But children are always a handful.
When Charlotte returned to town after two months, she didnt go straight to her ex-husband and kidsshe called her mum to check in.
Hes lost nearly three stone, Helen reported. Dark circles under his eyes, nerves shot. He owes me three hundred poundshe was short.
And the kids? Charlotte asked.
Theyre happy and content! her mum reassured. They whipped their dad into shape in three days! When he protested, I stepped in. I showed him the lawwhat would happen if he stepped out of line.
They didnt go wild? Charlotte worried.
Images of piles of rubbish, junk food, and endless entertainment flashed through her mind.
Emily keeps them in check! She even makes George read!
Then Im relieved!
Charlotte wanted to keep her return quiet. But it turned out Thomas had launched a city-wide search for her.
A week before Charlotte was due back, Thomas rallied friends, neighbours, and shopkeepers to report if she showed up. He even offered a reward: a hundred pounds, just to get the kids back to their mum.
Of course, Charlotte was found as quickly as empty bottles after a holiday.
Thomas rushed from work and arrived at the flat just as Charlotte returned.
Thats it! Take them back! he blurted when Charlotte opened the door.
Not a chance! Charlotte scoffed. Im not even back for good! Im here for a week, then off again! My contracts been extended for a year!
Dont lie! I went to your work! They said youre not going anywhere else! It was a one-off assignment! Thomas said.
You even went to my office? Charlotte was surprised.
I spoke to your manager myself, Thomas nodded. So, take the kids! If you need permission to travel, Ill hand it to you myself! Just take them!
Thomas, youre missing the point! Charlotte smirked. We went to court, didnt we? The kids residence was set, wasnt it? Now they live with you, and I pay child support!
To change that, Id have to go back to court! Ive got too much work, no time! Ill just keep paying support and visit every couple of weeksif you dont mind!
Thomas paled, sweating, on the verge of collapse.
Youre father of the year! Beat your ex-wife in court, just to raise the kids! So go ahead and do it! Charlottes voice thundered, her eyes flashing. Ill try to be a good weekend mum! Unlike you, who didnt visit the kids once in three years!
Charlotte, please! Take them! I cant cope! I swear, Ill visit every weekend! Just take them! Theyve drained every ounce of energy from me!
Feed them, clothe them, entertain them, dress and undress them, clean up, do laundryIm ready to run off to the woods to escape!
Exactly! Charlotte nods. Thats how I lived! And you never lifted a finger to help!
I swear, Ill help! Just spare me!
Thomas drops to his knees, crawling to Charlotte.
Please!
Court was a circus, and the family ended up on social services radar. Stop juggling the children! But the assessment showed the kids saw it all as a grand adventure.
In the end, the children had their father back. He might have been hopeless, but he was theirs. And as the years passed, not one bad memory of Thomas remained. He never won any awards, but he tried his best.
