Junior Year Box Set

“This is an outline of what we’re seeking in terms of a settlement. We are willing to negotiate the fine points, but we would like to reach a point where we can agree on the basic terms and put together a letter outlining an agreement in principle to that effect by the end of the day. Our other requirement is we want a chance to talk to Pam and make sure she agrees. Let’s reconvene in one hour. You can then tell me how you want to proceed,” Ms. Dixon said.

◊◊◊

We went to the office Ms. Dixon had to wait for the meeting to resume. Ms. Dixon left us alone to go out and get a breath of fresh air.

“I’ve been in contact with Lacy,” Mom said. “She was unaware that all this was going on. She and Cora were busy getting wedding plans firmed up. Devin and Sandy Range assumed Lacy knew what was happening here. Lacy said that when she confronted them about it, they were embarrassed. Cora was being Cora and focused on only herself.

“It looks like Lacy will divorce Cal over this. When I called her, and he’d told her the meeting had been switched to tomorrow, that was one more nail in his coffin,” Mom explained.

“With Lacy back, will Pam be safe? She seems scared.” I said.

“Yes. Lacy made Cal move out when she got home. Once he was gone, she and Pam had a long heart-to-heart. Pam feels awful that she went along with what her dad made her do. Lacy is embarrassed as well, and hopes you don’t hold it against her,” Mom said.

“Did Pam explain how she got the split lip and black eye?” I asked.

Mom gave me a hard look. I think she had kept this part from me because she worried about what I might do.

“Pam told her mother that Cal had made her make all the charges against you against her will. While Pam didn’t say so, Lacy suspects Cal hit her. That was the main reason he had to move out,” Mom said, and then looked somber. “Trust Lacy or me to deal with this. You have too much at stake to add physical harm to Cal on top of everything else we have to resolve today.”

I thought about what Mom had just said. I would reserve judgment on whether or not I would track down Cal and give him a beatdown. There were some things you just didn’t do. Punching your daughter, your pregnant daughter, was one of the big ones. I gave my mom a tight-lipped nod.

“I talked to Ms. Dixon while you and your mom were at church,” Dad said. “When she gets back, we need to go over what I asked her to put together. Most of it you’re aware of, but we added one little wrinkle I hope you’re okay with.”

Before I could ask, Ms. Dixon came back in. Mom and Dad caught her up with what they’d told me.

“Take a moment to read the different agreements, and then we’ll talk,” Ms. Dixon said.

As I read through the agreements, several points jumped out at me. The first was that my mom and dad planned to take custody of my child until I either graduated from college or reached the age of 22. I guess my dad had read my fears of becoming a father at such a young age. I was relieved they would support me like this.

Second was that none of the three parties was allowed to disparage any of the others in any way, nor to file charges or lawsuit against them related to this debacle. So we didn’t have to worry about that, as much as it might feel good for me to go after Cal. Another was that I would be moving on to a new firm for legal representation, and Rigby, Thompson had to assist in that move. Yet another point was that Cal and Rigby, Thompson would be paying all my legal and PR fees.

My final takeaway was I didn’t understand why Rigby, Thompson and Associates would be forced to keep Cal on. So I asked about that part.

“Cal will have to make house payments and pay Lacy maintenance for Pam. This way he has an income that will enable him to do that, and he has insurance to help pay for Pam’s medical bills through childbirth,” Ms. Dixon explained. “More importantly, he’ll need the breathing space and the temporary financial security this gives him to find another job. Given a decent reference, and given the way Cal has shown he can spin anything, I don’t doubt he’ll be okay.”

She gave me a smile and continued.

“Stated another way, a cornered rat will always fight. A rat with a bolt-hole handy will always run. Your purposes are best served by this particular rat running, and not fighting.”