Really messed up. My dad doesn't want to talk to me because of the custody battle, my mom walks on eggshells around me if Dad's nearby because she doesn't want him not speaking to her, either. To top things off, it's painfully obvious I lost Jay before things even heated up, and this is all entirely my fault. Since things plain old suck, the only way I can think to make things better is to allow a meeting between Daniel and James, with me present. If he's going to be around, I want to observe how they interact and get a sense of James' comfort level with him. A little over a week after the consultation with the lawyer, I tell my parents I'm taking James to the playground. I'm not lying; we truly are going, which is also his favorite place in the world. The only small thing I omit is Daniel will be present. I pack up a bag for us, including a small lunch, and say goodbye to my mom before I go. My dad left early to visit some of his buildings, no doubt in an effort to avoid me. I text Daniel we'll meet and see how things go.
