Finding Sam (Featured)

Epilogue: Finding Sam

The charges of grand larceny against David were past the 6-year statute of limitations. Because of that, the police couldn't hold him for more than the domestic violence charges filed against him on my behalf, the previous charge from two years earlier gaining traction because of the most recent attack on met. It was exactly what the district attorney needed to establish a history of domestic violence, and hold him on $50,000 bail.

I tried hard not to feel sorry for David. After all, he was Michael's father. But because of such torn feelings for the man who'd abused my trust and hurt me not just emotionally but physically, I continued my counseling sessions with Jackie. I had to admit that the sessions did help diffuse much of the anger I felt over what happened to me with David and my feelings over my inability to do something about it sooner. It also helped me deal with the slow process for my hand to return to normal.

But just because David wasn't allowed to have any contact with me didn't mean that he'd lost his visitation rights with Michael. He still had them, even though they would be supervised and limited to the park for a few hours during the weekend. I was a wreck the week after my encounter with David, even though I knew I wasn't going to be seeing him. The mere thought of Michael being with him, supervised or not, made me sick. But on Thursday night, as I sat on the deck after putting Michael to bed and setting the audio monitor next to me in case he awoke, Erik sat across from me at the table and reached for my hand.

"David made bail," he said, squeezing my hand gently.

"How'd you know? No one called me."

"No one called me either. But he came by at the clinic today to see me," he said as I frowned, angry at the thought that Erik hadn't told me about his visit till now. "I called you, but you didn't answer, not that I would have talked about this over the phone."

"What did he want?" I asked. "I can't even imagine how he could face you—or anyone for that matter after everything he's done."

It had been Erik's first day back at the clinic. After twelve hours of catching up on paperwork, seeing patients and putting out whatever fires Serena had left behind after being removed from the board, he looked tired. He'd shaved off the beard he'd grown during the time off from work, but already, stubble lined his jaw.

"He wants to relinquish his parental rights over Michael," Erik said softly.

"He came up with this decision on his own?" I asked.

"Sitting in jail for the last five days and realizing no one was going to bail him out probably gave him enough time to think things over," Erik said. "He said he's given it a lot of thought and after everything he's put you and Michael through, he said it's the best thing for him to do."

"He needed no convincing?" I asked, suddenly suspicious.

Erik shook his head. "I didn't bury a body if that's what you're thinking. He came to my clinic on his own accord."

"So, what did you tell him?"

"I said it was his decision, not mine though I do want to adopt Michael. I also said that this was something best discussed with his attorney," Erik said.

"And?"

Erik took a deep breath and let go of my hands. He leaned back against the chair. "He told me that the court has allowed him to return to New Mexico to take care of his daughter. She has cerebral palsy."

"Camille," I whispered. "She's only ten."

Erik nodded. "As long as you don't contest the lack of child support from him, he said that maybe when Michael is older, if he wants to know who his real father is, you can tell him. But only then. He would like to keep Michael's sketches, though. He knows you're going to paint again, but he'll understand if you want them back."