The House He Wanted
The house was another reason Derek suddenly seemed so interested in proving I could not manage my life.
My grandmother had left it to me years earlier. It was not a mansion, but property values in our neighborhood had increased significantly. The house was worth far more than it had been when Derek and I married.
During our separation, Derek repeatedly suggested selling it. I always refused. It was the one place that felt permanently connected to my family. Callie had taken her first steps in that living room. My grandmother’s rose bushes still grew along the back fence. I was not selling it.
That was when Derek’s behavior toward me changed dramatically.
Now, sitting inside the courtroom, I understood that the custody case was tied to something larger. Derek was not simply trying to become the better parent. He wanted control.
