Then he pointed toward the hallway where Tommy was waiting with my sister.

“You get to take him and walk away while I pay for the mess?”

The courtroom grew still.

Judge Bellamy reminded Mark that Tommy was not property to be divided and that his parental responsibilities existed independently of the house or the loans.

Our proposed plan provided primary residence with me, regular contact with Mark, and child support calculated under the applicable guidelines, subject to approval.

The judge had reviewed it for Tommy’s welfare, not because Mark could trade parenting for a vehicle.