The office of my lawyer was situated not very far away from the hospital and I walked there with time to spare before my appointment. The waiting room outside the office was very comfortable, I was directed to go inside by the secretary as I walked inside the office.
I was forced to admit that managing without a car nowadays was difficult sometimes . At least I would not have that problem if I decided to return to Milan with Marc.
If only I were the type of person he imagined, how much easier life would be. I could just accept the money offered and go my own way. If I had been willing to swallow my pride, I would have accepted Marcs help during Tio's birth and saved myself a hard struggle.
My lawyer's secretary interrupted my musings and soon I was comfortably sitting in the comfortable armchair in a rather shabby office.
"What problem are you facing now, Mrs. Garcia?" He said coming and sitting near me.
"It's about Tio my son." I began.
"Yes, just a moment let me refresh my memory. Some years ago we handled a certain correspondence between yourself and your husband concerning the boy. And he had refused to enter into any other further communication regarding the child I believe? So what happened now?"
"Yes," I noted." "He chose to believe that he was not Tio's father but now he discovered that this was not, so any intends to take Tio back to Milan with him."
"I see!" The lawyer spoke softly. " I see, perhaps you had better start at the beginning from where it started and brief me and put me completely in the picture. Then I shall know exactly where we stand." He shot me a look. " I am assuming that if you want to keep the boy with you? "
I raised my hands in a helpless gesture. "If there's any chance whatsoever, I will try my best not to let him go to Milan .."
"Well, for that first you tell me the complete story and then I can fill you in, on the legal position ."
when I had finished my story, he lay back for a moment and started playing with the pen.
"Do I have any legal right to Tio after denying him to his father for all these years?"
"Mrs. Garcia," The lawyer said frowning irritably at the pen and flung it on the table. "The question is does your husband have any right to the boy?"
"But his name is on Tio's birth certificate and I am still legally married to him ..." I said helplessly as I was the one who entered his father's name.
"You assured me that you have kept all the communications, which you received from your husband at the time of your separation? As I nodded, he continued, "you kept a copy of the letter which you sent informing him of the birth of the child and the one he sent in reply disclaiming any further interest "
"Yes but what has it... ?"
"You're about to tell me that you deliberately intended to mislead your husband about the paternity of the child, in the hope that he would leave the boy with you? Perfect natural action in the circumstances and not one that you need to worry about at this stage. Legally in this case, it's the action that you look at rather than any double motive that would concern the court. I think we can safely say that you would be allowed to keep the boy. However, your husband would likely be granted access, although I doubt whether he would be allowed to take the boy out of the country."
"I wouldn't mind that," I said and then . "Did you mention court proceedings ?"
"Yes but there again don't worry about the cost.. ..." The lawyer tried to get to the point but......
"It wasn't that", I interrupted quickly. "In the circumstances why are court proceedings necessary at all?"
He shrugged his shoulders expressively. "From everything that you have told me about your husband it seems unlikely that he will give in without a fight. And I think you should have strong grounds for the divorce in this case if you wish to pursue it. Your position would be much stronger if you were divorced."
"Yes, I think about it." I pushed the subject to one side and said intently,
"And don't worry Mrs. Garcia." said the lawyer as he saw my expression. The sympathy would be totally in your favor. And the husband would undoubtedly be the bad man !"
"I see, well thank you for giving me your time and thank you for explaining everything so carefully to me." I rose to my feet pushing back the chair.
"Would you like me to contact your husband's lawyer, Mrs. Garcia?" he rose to his feet politely and walked around the desk to shake hands with me.
"Can you leave it for now? I'll ring you probably tomorrow . When I've finally decided what action to take, " I said. I was confused with the situation and needed to think before I took any action.
"very well, I look forward to hearing from you," he said politely opening the door into the waiting room and escorting me to the street.
After I left the lawyer's office, I walked thoughtfully down the street. Absently going into the small coffee house I ordered a sandwich and a Cup of rather tasteless tea. By the time I had consumed my snack and began to walk back towards the hospital, I was still confused as I was looking for a solution to my problems but found none.
I know that if I took Marc to the court it would be unforgivable and yet I knew I would never face the alternative solution of seeing Tio only occasionally, perhaps never. I was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the only way out of the difficulty was to disappear out of Marc's life for good . How I will accomplish what I was thinking was a big question.