Falling Stars [h.s]

Chapter 2

Odyssey took another look at the file case once more before getting out of the car. She walked into the building, finding her way around until she reached the office where her meeting was set to be with her clients. Being a lawyer and a social worker was stressful. Odyssey realized that a year ago. Her job wasn't easy, nonetheless she never complained. This is what she spent thousands of dollars on school for. This was the dream.

She and Aurora went through a lot through out the course of the years. It has been hard raising five kids, but they got through it together. After the third child they knew how to handle things properly. Odysseys stress couldn't compare to Aurora's though. Aurora took it pretty hard when Harry left her the day of their wedding. Especially with the unexpected pregnancy. He hurt her more than she realized, even though she continued to deny he did any damage for years.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Styles, My name is Odyssey Taylor Dixon, I will be your social worker and lawyer starting today. Should we get started?"

Harry looked up at the mention of Odyssey's name. He stared at her in disbelief. What was she doing in Napa he thought. He never imagined seeing her again after six years. Let alone having her as his social worker.

Priscilla was first to speak "Yes can we please." Odyssey spread her papers out on the desk, getting ready her pen and forms.

"I read through your files so I got a pretty good overview of what we will be discussing today. Mrs. Styles would you like to start by explaining to me what the issue is?"

"Harry and I hav-" Harry grabbed his wife's hand, stopping her from speaking any further. He stood up from the chair getting ready to leave, "We are not doing this here. Let's go Priscilla." Harry didn't want Odyssey knowing about his marriage troubles. If she knew, there was no doubt Aurora would know as well. Harry did not want Aurora knowing he has in California, let alone about his marriage issues.

"Harry what are you doing? Sit down so we can get this over with"

"We can go see someone else." Priscilla didn't budge. She stayed seated, crossing her hands over her chest. Odyssey watched uncomfortably between the couple. "Harry, sit down. What is your issue? You were the one who started all of this and now you don't want to finish it? Sit down and let the woman help fix this." It was obvious to Odyssey that Priscilla did not remember who she was. It has been six years after all and they only ever encountered each other twice.

Harry stared at his wife for a long period of time before sitting back down. He let out a deep breath of air, making eye contact with Odyssey for the first time since they got here. Odyssey looked down at her papers, "I see here that the two of you have seen a mediator as well as another divorce lawyer. How is that going?"

"I refuse to sign divorce papers." Priscilla spoke.

Odyssey nodded, taking down notes,"Why is that?"

"What is the need? We are in a perfectly healthy marriage, why put stress on it?"

"You really think our marriage is healthy Priscilla? You have already put my kids through enough, they do not need to be dealing with your issues any longer. If only you'd sign the papers we wouldn't be here right now."

"Our kids Harry. They are our kids!"

Odyssey spoke up, cutting the bickering between the couple short, "Mr. Styles what do you suppose a reasonable solution to the problem would be?"

"I want her to sign the divorce papers so we can get past this already. We have been at it for two years now, nothing has changed. I want full custody of my kids and I want her to move out of my house. I don't want my kids around her, she has traumatized them enough."

Priscilla started shouting once more before Odyssey had the chance to respond to Harry, "You really want to throw away our marriage like this after all we have been through?"

"Our marriage ended the minute you decided you're so called job was more important than your family. You need help Priscilla, once you get the help you need maybe then things can go back to the way they were, but for now I'm taking the kids to live with me."

Priscilla was not the same person Harry fell in love with every single day for twelve years. He knew she was changing. For a long time he didn't know why, until he found her drugs that was. She was addicted. Harry didn't know how or why she started using, but she was too far in for him to try and fix it. Everyday she spent her nights partying with her friends, not showing up home until four in the morning and her days locked up in the bedroom using or selling.

There were times she would go off on their kids and blame them for ruining her life. She called them burdens. Harry didn't want that around his kids. He never wanted them to feel like burdens. He didn't want them to go through what he did growing up. He wanted his kids to know they were loved unconditionally because he did. He loved them with all his life, he could never ever see them as burdens. If anything they made his life better. He wanted them to know they were never alone in this world. Harry never understood why Priscilla would get herself into such a thing. He gave her everything she has ever wanted.

"I'll be damned if I let you take my kids away from me."

"You didn't seem to care about them when you were out every day and night working."

The room grew silent, Odyssey took that as her chance to finally say something. "Mrs. Styles, I understand what you are going through is difficult, I can't image how you must be feeling. Can you explain to me why you got into addiction? The way you both described here, you seem to have a normal life with your two kids and your husband. You live in a luxury house, your kids are in a good private school, you and your husband have been married for five years, in love for twelve. Is there something that trigged it?"

"No."

Harry pursed his lips and shook his head at his wife's response. "there is."

"No there isn't Harry, how could you possibly know this?"

"I've been watching you."

Odyssey say up in her chair, "What do you think the reasoning is?"

"She's depressed."