Josh's Story

He was squeezing me so tight, I was afraid I’d burst. “Josh is everything ok?” I wanted to moved back to look up at him but every time I tried, he would pull me back against him. “Josh what happened?”

He let his arms loosen around my waist, “Is there somewhere we can go to talk?” He asked without looking at me.

I lead him back through the ‘employees only’ doors and the second the door closed behind us, he picked me off the floor and spun me around. “How are you doing beautiful?”

“I’m great,” I giggled. “How are you? You seem happy? It went well?”

He lowered me to the floor again, kissing me softly on the lips. “Guess what she wanted.”

“Ummm,” I gave a little shrug, “She realized that she’s a complete bitch and decided that you deserve to have full custody without a court battle?” I smiled up at him hopefully.

“No,” Josh frowned. “I wish but that’s not what she wanted.”

“Oh,” I sighed. “Then what did she want? You seem happy so it must’ve been something good.” I grabbed hold of his arm, “Please tell me Josh, what did she want?”

“It seems that the powers that be are smiling down on me, even if it’s just a little.” Josh smiled again, “I was just given extra time with Jesse.”

I waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t. “Josh!” I poked him in the ribs, “Details! I need details, what do you mean ‘extra time’?”

“Well,” he pulled me into his arms and gazed down at me. “I hope you don’t mind spending more time with Jesse because he’s going to be with me every weekend!”

“What?” I gasped, “Every weekend?”

Josh nodded excitedly, “From 4 on Fridays until 7 on Sundays; every single week!”

“Wow,” I admit I was shocked. I never expected Carol to give him more time with Jesse; in fact I was expecting her to want to take time away from him. I was excited for him but at the same time, I was a little concerned. I love Jesse and I’m glad that Josh gets to see him more, but what does that mean for us? I wondered.

“You don’t seem too excited Anna,” Josh released me. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be just as happy as I am about this.”

I didn’t want to tell him I was only thinking of myself at this moment, so I didn’t. “I’m just shocked Josh, I wasn’t expecting it. But honey,” I threw my arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. “I’m so excited for you. And Jesse!” My eyes went wide. “Oh my god, I bet he was just ecstatic when he heard!”

“He doesn’t know yet, we were just pounding out the details when we met today. I’m not sure where Jesse was though; both Carol and Phil were there.”

“Really? Hmmm,” I wondered where Jess could possibly have been. “So what exactly did she say? Word for word, can you tell me?”

Josh laughed, “I probably can!”

I made him hold on a moment so that I could go and clock out for my break, “I should probably take it before they tell me it’s too late.” I was joking of course; I’ve never been told I couldn’t take my break.

I led Josh back to the staffroom, I knew we weren’t supposed to have anyone back here but I didn’t care, I didn’t have long for my break so I didn’t want to waste any time going elsewhere to talk to him.

He bought both of us a Pepsi from the vending machine, a bag of ‘Miss Vickie’s Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar’ chips for me and ‘French Onion’ Sunchips for himself. He waited until he had everything open before he started to tell me about his meeting.

“We were meeting at Tim Horton’s,” he told him. “I’m not sure why Carol decided to meet there instead of her lawyer’s office. I think it was because she was craving some TimBits; I think she ate at least 20 chocolate glazed ones as we were sitting there!” Josh laughed.

I gave him a smile, but I really didn’t care what she ate or why.

He took a sip of his Pepsi before he continued to tell me what happen. This is pretty much what he said.

“I arrived at Tim Horton’s about ten minutes before I was supposed to be there. Walter was already there waiting for me. We spoke for a while trying to figure out what it was that Carol wanted….

“All I know is what Don told me; he said he advised Carol not to do what ever she was planning.”

“That could be anything Walter!” Josh groaned. “She can’t take away the visitation I already have, can she?”

Walter shook his head, “No Josh, she doesn’t have any reason to do that. The court would take it away from you unless you were doing something to endanger Jesse’s wellbeing. Let’s just wait and see what she has to say before we get worked up.”

Josh laughed, “That sounds like something Anna would say to me.”

I stopped him, “You didn’t tell him that!”

“Yes, I did!” Josh exclaimed. “I do think about you when you aren’t around, you know.” I blushed, I don’t know why but I did. “Can I continue?” He asked. I told him to go ahead. “So where was I?” He paused, “Oh yeah….”

“Speaking of Anna, what are your intentions with her?” Walter asked. “Are you just dating or is it getting serious? Are you thinking about marriage?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Josh asked.

“Well if it comes down to Carol wanting to take time away from you, I hope that there’s nothing in Anna’s past that could work against you.”

“I don’t think we have to worry about Anna, Walter.” Josh glanced towards the door and saw Carol approaching. “They are here,” he told Walter.

It took about ten minutes for Carol to sit down with them; she had to use the bathroom and then wanted to order. When she was finally seated, Josh asked her how Jesse was. “He’s fine Josh,” that’s all she said about it.

“Ok,” Josh looked around the table. “What’s going on? Why are we meeting here today?”

Carol leaned forward, “We need to discuss the custody arrangement.”

Josh bit his tongue so that he wouldn’t tell her he wasn’t giving up his time. “Ok, what do we need to talk about?” He asked slowly.

Carol glanced at Phil, who nodded at her. She didn’t turn back to Josh right away though she seemed to be unhappy with what was going on.

“What do you mean ‘unhappy’?” I interrupted to ask him.

“I think this whole thing was Phil’s idea. I got the impression that he was making Carol do this, although I don’t know why.”

“Oh,” I frowned then told him to continue.

Finally Carol turned back to Josh, “I think we need to change the time he spends with you.”

Josh jumped in his chair. “I’m not giving up any time I have with him, so if that’s what you are thinking. Think again!”

“Would you shut up and listen for once?” Carol snapped at him. “I didn’t say anything about you giving up any time!”

“Then what is it you want?”

At this point Phil folded his arms over his cheat and leaned in over the table. “What Carol is trying to say Josh, is that we think that it would be good for both you and Jesse if you two spend more time together.”

“More time?” Josh questioned. “Why would you do that?” He looked at Carol, “You made my life hell for the last three years or so, fighting me every step of the way when I tried to get some time with Jess. Why are you suddenly giving me time?”

“Well if you don’t want it Josh,” Carol went to stand up. “I just thought you’d be happy with this!”

“I am!” Josh stood up and reached out to stop her from moving away from the table. “You know I want more time with Jess, it’s all I ever wanted. I just don’t understand why you are giving me that now.”

Carol shrugged, “Call it an early birthday gift for Jess.” She glanced down at her lawyer, “Let’s just get this over with.”

“We spent the next half hour or so going over the legal side of this change in custody. I signed my name so many times, I think I the pen was doing it on it’s own at the end,” he joked and sighed. “Damn, that was horrible!”

I laughed, “Yes it was, but I still love you!”

“Good,” he grinned. “But there is one thing I don’t get though Anna.”

“What’s that?”

“Why did they do it? Why after all these years have they given me something without me having to take them to court?” Josh ran a hand through his hair and smiled. “For the first time since Jess was born, things seem to be working in my favor.”