Post 26 ~ Part 12 - While One Door Opened, Another Battle Began

If you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned Karl in a while, it’s because the phone calls stopped.

I tried reaching my ex-husband by phone and text before our wedding, but I couldn’t get hold of him.

Finally, two weeks before our wedding, he called me back.

That’s when he told me Karl couldn’t come… and that they were moving to Georgia.

I was scared. And I was crushed.

I was heartbroken that my son wouldn’t be there to celebrate such an important day with me.

But even deeper than that, I was terrified I was losing him… and I didn’t know what I could do to stop it.

Then I remembered something in our court documents.

Neither my ex nor I could move Karl out of California without the court's permission.

That gave me hope.

After our wedding, we made the decision to fight for Karl with an attorney.

I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight.

I was going to need patience.

And faith.

While we waited, life kept moving. We stayed present for our kids. For our family. For the life we were building together.

One thing recovery taught me was that life doesn’t pause while you’re waiting for answers.

You still have to show up.

And I know how hard that can be.

Especially getting clean.

Especially when, in active addiction, making money felt so easy.

Before my relapse in 2010, I had worked in a contact center for Starwood Hotels. I loved that job, and I was good at it.

So, when I got clean, I got a job working with Qualfon for CenturyLink.

I was proud to be working again.

Proud to be rebuilding.

Honestly, I wasn’t even focused on what I was making. I was just grateful to have a job.

Fast forward a few years, and I was still working for Qualfon but for T-Mobile.

By then, I’d been there four years, and I was frustrated.

I was really good at sales.

I knew I was capable of more.

But I couldn’t seem to move up.

And I wasn’t making much money.

One night we were out with the club and I met a friend of one of the brothers. Her name was Brittany.

We clicked right away and became fast friends.

At one point she said, “You should apply at . Use me as a reference.”

The next day she emailed me the job posting.

I opened it… and immediately saw Bachelor’s degree required.

I looked at Bill and said, “There’s no way I can get this job. I need a bachelor’s degree… and it’s a credit union. Do you really think I have a shot?”

He looked right at me and said,

“Yes, I do. It says bachelor’s or work experience. And you have the experience. Just apply.”

Let me tell you something…

Having a man who sees your worth even more clearly than you see it in yourself is pure gold.

Especially after going from toxic relationship after toxic relationship.

Especially after abuse.

It took two months…

Then I got an email asking me to complete a phone interview.

I was shocked.

Of course, my husband wasn’t.

The interview itself was done through an app, which felt strange at the time.

But a week later, I got invited in for an in-person interview.

I walked in and met with three supervisors from the contact center.

The conversation felt natural. Easy.

Then one of them asked me,

“What brought you from Los Angeles to Spokane?”

Without even thinking, I answered honestly.

“I came here to get clean. I have five years in recovery.”

All three of them smiled and congratulated me.

But the second I walked out of that interview, all I could think was:

Why did I say that?

I just blew it.

They’re never going to hire an addict.

I beat myself up about it all week.

But my husband kept saying,

“We don’t know that yet. Have faith.”

A week later, we were at a friend’s house with the club, getting ready to head to Thunder Thursdays.

We were just about to leave when my phone rang.

I answered.

And heard the words:

“We’d like to offer you a tentative position.”

I was literally jumping up and down.

Grinning from ear to ear.

Then they said,

“We just need to complete a background check. If everything comes back clear, we’ll send the official offer.”

So, I waited.

One more week.

And then it happened.

I got the job.

And for the first time in a long time, it felt like everything I had fought so hard for…

was finally starting to come together.

Getting the call felt like a dream come true.

But while one door was opening…

Another fight for Karl was just beginning.