Toby took a deep breath and looked at the judge.
That’s when he asked the question about the $20.
Toby took a deep breath.
***
The courtroom became so silent that I could hear papers rustling behind me.
Judge Sloan maintained a calm voice.
« Toby, why does your dad give you money? »
My son looked perplexed.
« When I say what needs to be said. »
My heart sank.
My son looked perplexed.
Jason whispered something to his lawyer.
Judge Sloan noticed and gave him a sideways glance.
My ex-husband settled back into his seat.
The judge turned to Toby.
« What things? »
My son started counting on his fingers.
Judge Sloan noticed it.
« I love my room. I feel safe with Margaret. Dad helps me with my homework. I wish I could live there more often. »
I looked at Rachel. She was already writing.
The judge asked, « Is it your father who tells you to say these things? »
» Yeah. «
« And what happens if you say them? »
« I receive $20. »
I looked at Rachel.
The courtroom erupted in murmurs!
The judge paused to let the noise subside.
« Every time? »
Toby nodded.
« Most of the time. Sometimes ten. »
Someone in the audience coughed in a way that sounded strangely like laughter.
The courtroom erupted in murmurs.
« Objection! » Jason exclaimed, standing up.
The judge merely glanced at him, then turned his attention to Toby. My ex sat down slowly, and his lawyer seemed to be reprimanding him.
« What are you doing with that money? » asked Judge Sloan.
Toby finally smiled.
« I’m saving up for the LEGO set of the giant space station. »
It almost made me break down.
The judge simply looked at him.
Toby had somehow managed to turn Jason’s ridiculous plan into a savings account.
« How much have you saved? » asked Judge Sloan.
« Two hundred and forty dollars! »
Jason’s lawyer turned a blind eye.
Then Toby added, « Dad says I’m getting really good in court. »
Even Rachel has stopped writing!
Jason’s lawyer turned a blind eye.
***
Toby was allowed out a few minutes later, and Rachel’s assistant took him into the hallway.
Jason’s lawyer requested a recess. The judge refused.
Then Rachel stood up.
« Your Honor, we would like to call Margaret to the stand. »
My ex-husband suddenly raised his head.
Margaret looked surprised, too.
The judge refused.
Jason’s lawyer objected.
But Rachel explained that Margaret had been present during many of Toby’s visits to her new husband and could testify to what had happened at her home.
The judge gave his approval.
Margaret walked towards the witness stand.
At first, she seemed calm.
Jason’s lawyer objected.
My ex’s new wife confirmed that Toby stayed at her house during Jason’s custody weekends.
She confirmed that she had paid her husband’s legal fees, bought furniture for Toby’s room, and helped organize activities for him.
Then Rachel asked, « Did you know that Jason was paying Toby to keep saying he wanted to live with you? »
Margaret froze.
» No. «
« Did you know that Jason was paying Toby? »
« Did you know that he rehearsed his answers with him? »
» No. «
« Have you ever heard him train with Toby? »
Margaret frowned.
« I overheard conversations. »
« What kind? »
She looked at Jason.
For the first time that day, I saw anger on his face.
« I overheard conversations. »
« He would ask Toby things like, ‘Who helps you with your homework?’ Or, ‘Where do you have the most fun?’ »
« Did that remind you of anything? »
« I thought he was trying to bond with his son. » Then Margaret’s voice hardened. « I didn’t realize he was preparing him for a role. »
Jason whispered, « Margaret. »
Judge Sloan looked at him.
He fell silent.
« Did that remind you of anything? »
Rachel continued.
« Why did you agree to finance this custody case? »
Margaret took a breath.
« Because Jason told me that Emma was preventing him from seeing his son. »
I felt my heart tighten.
Rachel looked at me, then turned her gaze back to Margaret.
« Did you believe him? »
» Yes. «
Rachel looked at me.
» For what ? «
« Because he repeatedly told me that he wanted to be a father, but that he had never been given the chance. »
Jason stared at the table.
Margaret continued.
« He said Emma was cancelling visits and refusing to give him extra time. »
Rachel took a file.
« Would it surprise you to learn that Jason willingly accepted the initial visit schedule? »
Margaret clenched her jaw.
» Yes. «
Jason stared at the table.
« Would it surprise you to learn that Emma has documented several occasions where Jason canceled his planned weekends? »
Margaret looked Jason straight in the eyes.
» Yes. «
My lawyer paused.
« Given what you know now, do you still think Jason asked for sole custody because he wanted to be closer to Toby? »
Jason’s lawyer objected.
Margaret looked Jason straight in the eyes.
The judge allowed Margaret to respond based on her observations.
Margaret lowered her eyes to her hands.
» No. «
Then she raised her head.
« I think Jason used my money to present himself as the father he thought the court wanted to see. »
My ex muttered, « That’s not fair. »
Margaret turned towards him.
She raised her head.
« Right? You told me you were fighting to get your son back. »
« That’s what I do. »
« You paid a kid to advertise our house. »
« I don’t have… »
« Yes, you did it. »
Jason stopped.
Margaret blushed.
« And you dragged me into this. »
Jason stopped.
« Margaret, we can talk about that later. »
» No. «
She leaned towards the microphone.
« We’ll talk about it right away. »
Even Rachel looked surprised.
Margaret appointed Jason’s legal team.
« I’m the one paying these people, is that it? »
No one responded.
« We’ll talk about it right away. »
« So I’ll stop there. »
Jason stared at her.
» What ? «
« I am no longer funding this venture. »
My ex-husband opened his mouth.
Margaret continued:
« I’m not going to spend a single dollar more to turn Toby into a small-time salesman. »
Someone behind me laughed.
Judge Sloan gave the audience a warning look.
« So I’ll stop there. »
I had to lower my eyes to avoid smiling.
***
The hearing did not end with a spectacular announcement.
After a recess, Judge Sloan explained that money and big houses did not determine who was the better parent.
Consistency, honesty, the ability to support Toby’s relationship with both of his parents, and trying to influence the child’s statements—all of that mattered.
I had to lower my eyes to avoid smiling.
The existing custody agreement has been maintained.
Jason was ordered to undergo co-parenting therapy before he could request significant changes to the schedule.
***
Outside the courtroom, I found Toby sitting with Rachel’s assistant, building something out of paper clips on a bench.
He looked up.
« I’m in trouble? For having spoken? »
My heart sank.
« Am I in trouble? »
I crouched down.
» No. «
« And what about the money? »
I tried not to smile.
« What’s wrong with him? »
He whispered, « Do I have to return it? »
I laughed so hard I covered my face!
« What’s wrong with him? »
« No, my boy. »
His eyes widened.
« So I can have the LEGO set?! »
« We’ll talk about the ethics of your LEGO empire later. »
He had no idea what I meant, but he laughed anyway.
***
Margaret caught up with me near the elevators.
Jason wasn’t with her.
« We will talk about ethics. »
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she said, « I owe you an apology. »
I wasn’t ready to make peace, so I answered, « Yes. »
« I believed him. I should have asked more questions. »
« You should have. »
She looked at Toby.
« I care about him. He never stops talking about you. »
That surprised me.
Neither of us spoke.
Margaret smiled.
“Every story begins with ‘My mother says’ or ‘My mother does’ or ‘My mother knows.’ I should have understood what that meant.”
My eyes were stinging.
« I don’t expect you to trust me, » she said. « But if it’s okay with you, I’d still like Toby to get to know me. Not in connection with Jason’s case. Just as Margaret. »
I’ve thought about it.
My eyes were stinging.
Toby liked him.
Whatever Jason had done, Margaret had been kind to him.
« We’ll find a solution. »
Then Toby glanced over my shoulder.
« Mrs. Margaret? »
» Yes ? «
« Are you angry with Dad? »
She considered her answer.
Toby liked him.
« I’m disappointed by some of the choices he’s made. »
Toby nodded wisely.
« My teacher says that ‘disappointed’ is worse. »
Margaret laughed.
« My mother too. »
He thought for a moment.
« Are you still rich? »
I almost choked!
« My mother too. »
Margaret blinked, then smiled.
« Yes, Toby. »
» All right. «
He shrugged.
« I just wanted to make sure. »
***
Jason and Margaret separated a month later.
I didn’t go to the party.
I didn’t need it.
« I just wanted to make sure. »
***
My ex-husband started his co-parenting classes, and something unexpected happened.
Without Margaret’s money, without expensive lawyers, and without that huge house to hide behind, he really had to assume his role as a parent.
He found a job. Then he started going to pick up Toby himself, learned the name of his teacher and started coming to the football matches.
One evening, he even called me to ask, « What shoe size does he wear? »
Something unexpected happened.
I almost replied sarcastically.
But instead, I replied to him.
Because Toby didn’t need me to win forever; he needed us to grow up.
As for the $240, Toby bought the LEGO space station.
I sat Jason down on the floor so he could help me get it up.
I replied to him.
***
A few hours later, Jason brandished two almost identical grey coins.
« Why are there so many of them? »
Toby didn’t even look up.
« Because space is complicated. »
I burst out laughing!
Toby didn’t even look up.
His father was staring at him.
« Did your mother teach you that? »
» No. «
Toby pointed to the instruction manual.
« There are images. »
Jason sighed and continued assembling the toy.
« There are images. »
Watching them, I understood what my ex hadn’t grasped from the beginning.
Toby had never needed the biggest room or a mansion with a swimming pool.
He needed people who would be there for him, who would listen to him and love him without asking him to play a role.
He needed people.
Jason had spent months trying to prove that money could make him a better father.
In the end, exactly the opposite turned out to be true.
And somehow, our son turned all this mess into a lesson we’ll never forget.
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