The unpaid support.
The abandoned debts.
The promises he’d broken.
The stories he’d used to keep us from asking questions.
Vanessa admitted he’d claimed I refused to let him see Joel.
I shook my head.
“He had my phone number, my address, and apparently someone living three houses away who reported everything I did.”
Vanessa covered her face.
“My mother actually became his spy.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“And he paid her rent while telling me he couldn’t afford child support.”
She let out a bitter laugh.
“That’s unbelievable.”
“Apparently, he had a budget for surveillance. Just not fatherhood.”
For the first time, we both laughed.
Then Vanessa leaned closer.
“Sarah, what if we stopped letting him control everything?”
I looked at her.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
By the time we left the coffee shop, we had a plan.
We would consult our attorneys.
