1.8 Glamorous Cubicle Life

Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for reading and commenting over the last few chapters. It makes writing so great to have your feedback and know you're enjoying the story so far. I had a little trouble writing this chapter, because I am anxious to get Gavin and Annelise's life (and next generation) started, so this chapter may seem kind of boring with mundane details, but its important to set the stage for the coming chapters! I hope you like it!

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Once Clara started school, Annelise decided to go back to work. She had always loved working, and her days had started to get pretty lonely now that Clara was in school all day. Annelise interviewed for a Corporate Business job, and was quickly offered a job. The salary was nothing to get too excited about, but Annelise was looking forward to working again and focusing on her career.

Annelise's first day of work was tougher than she expected. She had big dreams and ideas about starting her professional job, doing important work, and climbing a career ladder. Her cubicle was small, in a dark grey office and she felt so alone. "This is not as glamorous as I expected" she thought to herself as she manually entered data from one report to a Excel Spreadsheet.  She missed Clara, and wondered what how school was going . Since Clara was just in Kindergarten, they had hired their babysitter to pick her up and spend the afternoon with her.

"Am I making a mistake?" Annelise wondered, thinking that maybe she should be at home with her, helping her with her homework, making cookies, and doing the "mom" thing.

"Hey, no sleeping on your first day!" 

Annelise jumped, startled by the voice behind her. "Oh,  I wasn't I promise! Just thinking!"

The girl laughed. "I'm just messing with you! I am Harper, I sit in the cube next door. Whats wrong? Why do you seem so down?"

Annelise tried to smile, "Nothing, nothings wrong. Just trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing, and do it quicker than at a snails pace. I hate being new, I feel so incompetent!"

Harper laughed again. "Don't worry about it, you're doing fine. This place is kind of a sink or swim place, no one is going to hold your hand. No one held mine, but you seem sharp. If you can navigate the computer programs and churn out our quota of reports, you'll do fine. Anyway, lets go grab some coffee. Its break time!"

The girls went to the courtyard, where there was an outdoor coffee bar and break area. "Wow, this is so nice!" Annelise said. She had never worked somewhere she could order a real latte on campus.

"Yeah, its not bad. Its the least they can do for us, I always say!" Harper said. "So, what's your story? Where did you work before here?"

"Well, I graduated from University about four years ago, but this is my first real job since college. I did some internships during college, but for the past couple of years, I've just stayed home with my daughter, well, step-daughter. Almost step-daughter...I don't know what you would call her. My fiancé's daughter. "

"Wow, that sounds complicated" Harper said.

"It is, kind of. I moved here from Bridgepoint, and fell in love with my next door neighbor. He had a two year old daughter, and since I didn't have a job, I started taking care of her while he worked temporarily. But then I fell in love with her too, her name is Clara, and decided I'd just stay home with her until she started school. She's in Kindergarten now...so here I am."

"I bet you miss her now that she is in school, huh?" Harper asked.

"I do, actually. Do you have any kids?" Annelise asked.

"No...I hear you need to have a husband before kids. And, well, no prospects for one of those either."

Annelise laughed. "You're gorgeous, and really funny. You will not find a hard time finding a husband, trust me."

"I just keep picking the bad guys. You know, the ones that are all wrong for you, not marriage material but fun to look at and even better in bed? Someday, I'll learn!"

"I dated my fair share of bad guys too, and trust me, they're bad guys for a reason. But I never imagined the guy I'd end up with would be a single dad. Its funny how our lives don't always go according to our own plans. Its like God has a better idea for us or something..." Annelise said.

"So, when is your wedding?" Harper asked. She was a romantic at heart, and loved the idea of weddings, love and babies. She was kind of wild, and still was too busy having fun to settle down, but she still dreamed of that perfect guy that would sweep her off her feet and make the idea of settling down sound dreamy.

"We don't really have a date! I was thinking next summer? Gosh, I don't know. The idea of planning a wedding seems so overwhelming to me!"

"Let me help! I love weddings!" Harper squealed.

"Okay. You're hired." 

The girls finished their coffee, and headed back into the office. Annelise was relieved to have a friend at work. Somehow having someone she could talk to made the whole idea seem so much more bearable.

As Annelise got back in the swing of things with being at work, the family quickly developed a routine. They spent the evenings together, eating dinner, and then Annelise spent the rest of their evenings helping Clara with her homework. As Clara entered into the first grade, they noticed that she seemed to be falling behind in her school word. She didn't seem to be at the same reading level as her classmates, so Annelise and Gavin both worked hard to help her practice and develop her study habits.

Clara was much more interested in playing outside than she was reading or doing homework. Every day after school, she raced outside to play in her tree house that her dad had built her. She loved to swing, run, play tag and play make believe. She was full of imagination, and never wanted to come inside.

It was a fine line for Annelise, because she wanted to let Clara just be a kid. She had been forced to grow up too fast herself, and she didn't want to do that to Clara. But she also wanted Clara to do well in school and learn that sometimes, work did have to come before play time. Annelise felt frustrated that Clara's babysitter didn't make her start her homework right after school. If she would just get it done and over with, she could have the rest of the evening to play!

"Clara, its time to come down now. You have homework to do, and I need to talk to you."

"Aww mom, come on! I'll do my homework after dinner. " Clara whined.

"Clara, now." Annelise said, trying not to get frustrated with her. 

"Clara, your teacher sent me an email today. Do you want to tell me anything about your grades in school?" Annelise asked after Clara reluctantly came down.

"I don't know Mom, school is hard!" Clara whined. "I hate reading, and I hate math and I get so bored just sitting in my classroom. I wish I could have recess all day!"

"I know sweetie, but you have to study. Your homework is important, and so is what your teacher is trying to teach you. From now on, I am going to tell your babysitter that there is no playing outside until all your homework is done and checked."

"Thats not FAIRRRRR!!" Clara cried.

"Clara, thats enough. You are getting ready to go into second grade, and I don't want you falling behind. If you need extra help, we can help you. I know you are smart enough to get good grades, its just a matter of being disciplined to get your work done before you play. Now, go inside and wash up. Its almost time for dinner."

"Clara, is there something you want to tell your Dad?" Annelise asked while the three of them ate dinner. 

"Ummm...." Clara stalled, dreading what her Dad would say. "I have a bad grade in school Dad."

"What do you mean Clara? What's going on?"

"Dad, I already know okay? Mom already said no more playing until I do my homework everyday. I am sorry!"

"Well, Clara, I am disappointed you aren't doing well, but you don't have to be sorry. You just need to tell us how we can help you. If something isn't making sense, or you need extra help, you just have to tell us."

"Okay Daddy."

As they finished their dinner as a family, the doorbell rang. "I wonder who that could be," Gavin said as he stood up quickly to answer the door. 

"MAX? What are you doing here?" Gavin said, stunned to see his brother at his door. Gavin and Max hadn't seen each other since Max graduated high school. He quickly left for University, and besides a few phone calls around holidays, they had lost touch. Max was Gavin's younger brother who loved to party and had no intentions of settling down, at least the last time Gavin had talked to him.

"Hey big brother! I've missed you! I actually am in town for a job interview, and Mom said you were here...she said it had been a long time since she'd heard from you but last she knew, you were here. So, I started asking around town. Riverview isn't very big, and here I am! I couldn't pass through town without stopping to see my brother, and my little niece. How is she?! Four or five now?"

"Wow...I am shocked to see you man. Clara is great, she's actually seven now. Why don't you come in? I live here with my fiancé, Annelise. We're getting married next summer. We're just finishing dinner, we'll make you a plate."

"Are you sure Bro? I'd hate to interrupt family time..." Max said, but his eyes were full of hope. Max hadn't seen any of his family for over five years because he had been too busy sowing his wild oats in Bridgepoint. Riverview was a quiet, almost boring town, but he liked the idea of being close to his brother and even thought the idea of settling down himself didn't sound so bad.

"Of course I am sure! Come on!" Gavin said, throwing his arms around his brother. He'd forgotten how much he missed him, and just like that, it was like no time had passed at all and they were laughing and comfortable around each other in no time.

1.7 New Beginnings

 Not long after the custody hearing, Gavin and Annelise decided it was time to move. They bought a house on the edge of town, surrounded only by hills and trees. They were so excited to have a bigger space, and a home to grow into when their family expanded. They didn't have many close neighbors, and were about 20 minutes away from town. Being somewhat isolated made them feel safe, and it was a new beginning for them.

On one of their first nights in the new house, Gavin decided to put Clara down to sleep a little early, so he could be alone with Annelise. He cooked dinner, and lit the tiki torches and candles on their new patio in the backyard. Their backyard was gorgeous, with mature trees and beautiful landscaping. What sold Gavin on the house was the hot tub the previous owners left, and he was hoping tonight would be the night they would get to break it in for the first time. Of course, Gavin had other plans for the night as well.

"Thanks for dinner, babe. This is great!" Annelise said as she enjoyed her pasta. She usually cooked, but loved the rare nights Gavin took over in the kitchen. "I'm so happy here, I feel so relaxed and just at home." She said happily. "I can just see the memories we are going to make in the house, the hours Clara will spend climbing that tree house and swinging on the swings. I can't wait to sit in that hot tub with you after a long day, and curl up by the fire this winter." she said dreamily.

"Me neither baby. I can't wait to watch our family grow in this house, and fill up those rooms with more babies. This is our home now. And its more than just about the house. You being here with us, with me and Clara is what makes this home. Annelise, life never felt complete for me until you walked into our life. Being with a woman as gorgeous, kind hearted and loving as you feels like a dream come true." He stood up, and took her hand, pulling her up out of her chair. "Come here baby. I want to kiss you."

They stood on the patio in the backyard of their first home together. Gavin felt so happy, he had his daughter and the woman of his dreams that he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with. Holding her hands, he softly kissed her, and felt her melt into him. "You are a dream come true, Annelise." He murmured. 

Before Annelise knew it, he stopped the kiss and pulled away from her with a smile on his face. As he reached into his pocket he dropped down to one knee.

"OH MY GOSH!" She squealed before he even said anything.
"Annelise, will you make me the happiest man on earth and be my wife?"

 He held open a perfect round cut diamond that sparkled in the candle light. Annelise felt her eyes well up with tears. "Is this really happening?! Oh my gosh! Yes! Yes Gavin!"

Gavin placed the ring on her finger, and laughed as she continued to repeat "Oh my gosh!" and stared at her new shiny finger. "This is gorgeous. This is perfect. I can't believe this is happening! Gavin!!" 

Gavin stood up and they wrapped their arms around each other, both of them filled with joy. Annelise had thought at one point that she'd never love again, and that she had lost her chance of true love. She never could've imagined falling in love with a single dad, and raising his young daughter was in her life plans, and she closed her eyes and thought to herself "Someone upstairs had far better plans for me than I could've ever had for myself." 

"What do you think baby, you want to give our hot tub a test run?" Gavin said with a smirk.

"You bed I do, handsome."

The two of them sat in the hot tub, talking, laughing, kissing and dreaming ideas about their wedding and honeymoon. Before too long, Gavin's playful kisses were more intense and both of their suits were off, laying in a pile next to the hottub. They made love in the hot tub underneath the stars, showing each other with only kisses and their bodies how much they loved each other.

They settled quickly in their new home, with the excitement about their engagement in the air all around them. Annelise and Clara quickly developed a routine during the week, and Annelise felt so fulfilled by just being a "mom". Every morning Gavin left for work while both of the girls slept in. Annelise's favorite part of the day was waking Clara up in the morning, as she was so giggly and full of life when she first woke up. She was beginning to have little conversations now that she was almost out of her toddler years, and called Annelise mommy.

Annelise set Clara down in her highchair while she made oatmeal for the two of them. She loved starting her mornings slowly with her, and already wondered what she'd do once Clara went to school in just a little over a year.

"Here you are princess! Cinnamon Oatmeal" Annelise said. "What do you say, Clara?"

"Tank you mommy!" Clara said sweetly.

"Good girl. You have such good manners, sweetie!"

Annelise made her coffee while Clara ate, thinking about what was on their agenda for the day. She knew she had to do some grocery shopping. "What do you think Clara, should we stop at the park after we finish shopping? Or maybe the bookstore? Do you want to call your friend Hallie and see if her and her mommy want to meet us for a playdate?"

Clara clapped her hands and giggled. She had met Hallie at the park, and Annelise enjoyed the times she got to sit and talk to Hallie's mom at the park while the girls played. Annelise really didn't have many friends in town, and sometimes it felt lonely. "Maybe I'll go back to work when Clara goes to school next fall," she thought.

Part of her really liked the idea of getting back into a career, but there was also a part of her heart that desired to have a baby of her own, and just be a mom. "Oh, no use worrying about it now," she thought to herself. "Lets just get this wedding planned, and cross that bridge when we get to it."

Before they knew it, it was time for Clara's birthday. She turned five that summer, and that fall, she'd be going to kindgeraten! Gavin and Annelise threw her a little party, inviting some of their neighbors and his coworkers, and their children.

Little Clara blew out her birthday candles, signifying the end of her toddler years. She aged up into a gorgeous child, who was a spitting image of her dad, but also resembled her birth mother in many ways.

Clara was full of life just as much as she was as a toddler, who loved to play and laugh. Gavin and Annelise couldn't wait to see what life had in store for their family as they embarked on this new season of life. Clara was much more independent as a child, and it was going to be quite and adjustment for both Annelise and Gavin as they had spent the first few years of Clara's life babying her and protecting her. They knew they were in for some fun, but also trying times as Clara grew up, and hoped that someday soon they could give Clara a couple brothers and sisters.

1.6 Fighting for Clara

 Maya sat down in Alex's office. "Tell me more about me seeing Clara. What is this all about?"
Alex gave her an evil smile. "If I remember it right, didn't Clara's father take Clara and leave town without telling you? Haven't you been looking for them the past three years?"
"Alex...tell me what is going on. You know thats not what happened. I left when Clara was a baby. I am not proud of it, and sometimes I wonder how Clara has turned out, but I am not the victim here...but how is Clara? Have you seen her? "

"Listen Maya. You were young, and irresponsible, and so you made a hasty decision to leave. But Gavin still left town with your daughter, and never told you were he was going. And now he's hooking up with a white trash blonde who grew up in  the foster care system of Bridgeport. She has no family, no job, and has conveniently stepped in your shoes as Clara's mom. Gavin has a temper, and I just don't think thats the kind of life you want Clara to grow up in."

"What if I told you you could get Clara back? Have a chance to be her mom again. To start fresh with her. What do you think Maya? Don't you want Clara to be with her real mom?"

Maya had always had a cold heart, incapable of really loving anyone but the idea of getting her daughter back after all these years tugged at what little bit of a heart she had left. "I do...how are we going to get a judge to give her back to me after me being out of her life for so long?"

Eric sneered. "Do you know who I am? I am the District Attorney here in Riverview. The judges in town are my friends, we get beers after a long day in court and play golf on Saturdays. You just do exactly what I tell you, and in no time, Clara will be back in your arms. Where she belongs."

"Eric, I have to ask. What's in this for you?"

"Lets just say I don't like being deceived. And people that do bad things should be punished. Plus, I missed you baby."

Alex and Maya had gone to high school together in Sunset Valley. They partied on the weekends, and even had ended up in each other's beds every so often in college. They had been friends with benefits, who lived a privileged life because Alex came from money. They lost touch once Maya got pregnant with Clara, but Alex remembered when she told him she was engaged to marry Gavin. He had scoffed at her for settling for a teacher who made a third of the salary he would make after law school. Once he realized what was going on with Annelise and Gavin, he knew he wasn't going to let Gavin get away with stealing another one of "his" women.

"I've missed you too. Lets get my baby back," Clara said.

"Okay, lets talk details. If we want this to work, we have to have our stories straight."

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Gavin and Annelise were finally together and not trying to suppress their feelings for one another any more. They were in love, and the life they had built together was what they both had dreamed about. But, like life seems to go, one Sunday afternoon a bomb was dropped in their life when they returned home from a family walk. 

"Gavin...who is that woman sitting on the porch?" Annelise asked.

Gavin's stomach dropped, and his mouth felt dry. "NO....it can't be."

"Hello darling..." Maya said coyly to Gavin as she got up and approached them. "And you, you must be Annelise, the woman trying to play mommy to MY daughter."

"You can't honestly consider yourself a mother, can you now?" Annelise asked in an icy tone. "You left that title behind when you left your daughter when she was a baby."

"Maybe that's what Gavin wants you to believe, but the way I see it, and the way the courts will see it is Gavin took my daughter away from me and moved across the country without notice or warning."

"What are you CRAZY Maya? You left Clara with a babysitter and skipped town, leaving nothing but  a note. You abandoned her! You need to leave Maya. You gave up your rights three years ago when you walked away from your daughter. You are selfish, a coward, and crazy if you think you will ever get her back now."

"You are so, so naive if you truly believe that. Maya is my daughter, and the courts always rule in favor of children being with their moms. Besides, once they hear the truth about you STEALING her from me and fleeing the country, you'll be lucky to have visitation once a week!" Maya said angrily.

"You are IMPOSSIBLE Maya. And a poor excuse for a mother! LEAVE and do not come back to our house, ever again!" Gavin yelled.

At this point, Annelise had taken Clara away from the fighting and arguing. She whimpered in her arms . "Ssshh baby, everything is going to be fine. This is your home. We are your family and nothing is going to happen to you."

"I'll see you in court, Gavin Hyatt. You will be hearing from my lawyer. And I'll see you soon, muffin. Mommy loves you." Maya said to Clara across the lawn.

After Maya finally left, Gavin and Annelise sat at the kitchen table, both of them quiet as they thought about what just happened. They both were fearful about the possibility of Clara, and hoped that Maya was just trying to scare them. 

"Gavin, I think we need to get a lawyer."

"I just don't understand. Why now? After all this time she's been away after willing walking away from her daughter, what made her choose to come back now? She can't possibly just want Clara, if she wanted her she wouldn't have left. I feel like she's trying to purposely hurt us."

"Maybe she is. But we can't let her win. We're going to find a lawyer, and if this goes to court, you have the upper hand. You've raised Clara alone for three years and given her a good life. Thats more than Maya can say!" Annelise was trying to build Gavin up, but inside her heart was hurting. This is what she had been so afraid of, this is why she was so hesitant to get involved with a man with a child. But even still, Annelise loved him and wanted to help get through this so they could go back to being a blissful, happy family.

That evening, they all sat on the floor and just played together. Clara babbled as she played with her stuffed bunny while Annelise and Gavin tried to put on a happy face and pretend nothing was wrong as to not scare Clara. She didn't know that the woman who showed up at her house was her birth mother, and they hoped she wouldn't have to know that until she was old enough to understand.

When it was time for Clara to go to bed, Annelise took bedtime duty and Gavin got online to start researching the best family practice lawyers. He prayed that it wouldn't come to that, that Maya would leave again and not bother them, but he knew he had to be prepared just in case. He wasn't going to lose his daughter, no matter what he had to do.

 "Goodnight princess. Sweet dreams, little one. " Annelise said softly as she put Clara to sleep in her new room. "I love you to the moon and back."

Clara reached her arms up to Annelise and said "night Mama."

Annelise's heart swelled and she stood there, stroking the little girls face until she fell asleep. She didn't know it was possible to love another human, especially one that wasn't biologically hers this month. She was terrified to lose her, but knew that together she and Gavin would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

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A few weeks later, Gavin was devastated to find the notice that he was to appear in court at the end of the month. Maya was suing him for full-custody of Clara. The first thing Gavin did was hire a well known and respectable lawyer, Allison Hall. She was tough as hell, and promised Gavin that they would do everything they could to make sure Clara never went back to Maya.

Their day in court was just the five of them. Jude Brown, plus Gavin and his lawyer, and Maya and her lawyer, Nicolas Render. Nicolas had a reputation for fighting dirty in civil suits, and this day was no different. 

"Your honor, we're hear today because my client has been wrongly withheld rights to her daughter for the past three years. Today we ask you to grant her full custody so the little girl doesn't have to grow up without a mother. This man over here," he said as he pointed to Gavin, "kidnapped his daughter and left town with her without telling her mother. His selfish act kept Maya from seeing their daughter, and today, we are asking you to give back Maya what she has lost."

"Thank you, Mr. Browing. Ms. Hall, please state your case now." Jude Brown said emotionless.

"Your Honor, Mr. Browning has either been deceived by his client, or is bold-face lying to the court. My client has raised his daughter alone, as a single parent because of Ms. Anderson's despicable actions. She left her daughter alone with a babysitter while my client was at work, and left nothing but a note. My client tried contacting her for over a year after she abandoned them. He sent her text messages, called her cell phone, sent letters to her parents address, and even tried contacting her friends trying to get back in touch with her. My client never wanted his daughter to grow up without a mother, and the fact that three years later Maya is suddenly wanting to claim her parental rights is both wrong and very confusing for the child."

Judge Brown looked between both parties, perplexed. "This is turning into a she-said he said incident! I will not make a ruling based upon a misrepresentation of the truth. Do either of you have proof of what transpired when the child was an infant?" he asked.

Allison smirked as she reached into her bag and pulled out the note Maya had left Gavin, along with phone records of the numerous times that Gavin had tried calling, the emails, and the text messages he sent. She delivered those to the Judge and sat down, the court room silent. "What about you and your client, Mr. Browning? Is there anything you'd like me to consider before I make my ruling?"

Nicolas whispered to Maya. "Your honor, my client does not have any records, legitimate or fabricated, on her at this time to prove her story, but Gavin did move here to town when Clara was an infant. He was trying to get away from my client and he took his daughter with him!"

"Enough. I will need a two hour recess. When we resume, I will have a ruling."

Two hours later, they were back in the court room. The judge had granted Gavin full custody of Clara, based on the evidence that he had proving that Maya had been the one to abandon him and Clara, not the other way around. He claimed Maya was an unfit mother and at this time, she was not even granted visitation.

Gavin was so excited, his eyes welled up with tears as he thanked his lawyer. Maya and her attorney both glared at Gavin out of the corners of their eyes. Gavin couldn't wait to get home to Clara and to Annelise and tell them the news. He had felt so much anxiety over the possibility of loosing Maya, he  hadn't been sleeping well and finally he felt like he could breathe again.

After everyone had cleared the courtroom, Maya screamed at her lawyer. "This is ALL YOUR FAULT! You lied to me! You told me we'd get her back. I WANT MY DAUGHTER!" She yelled.

"Maya, listen, this isn't over. Just stay in town, and try and get your life together. We will try again in six months to prove to the judge you are a fit mother. Maybe we can get you 50/50 custody."

Maya's voice dropped to barely below a whisper. "I don't want my daughter every other week. I want her every single day. And you, and Gavin are going to pay for keeping her from me." She said coldly.