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“Right now, Charlie is in the custody of the state of Virginia.”
“Why?”
“It’s a big mess, Frank. All I know is I was about to leave for the day when a CPS agent from Richmond showed up with court orders to pick up Charlie. Someone is contesting the adoption.”
“Who?” King asked.
“A man claiming to be Charlie’s biological father.”
“Wait a minute,” Claudia interrupted. “I found Charlie abandoned in an alley. Doesn’t that negate all parental rights?”
“Not if the biological father didn’t know,” Diana replied. “Look, Lidi, I’m working on this. Right now, I’m running into the courthouse to petition the judge to let me keep Charlie in Rosewood. It’s his home, after all. Plus, I have someone who has volunteered to care for Charlie until the courts can settle this matter.”
“Who?” King asked.
“I’m sorry, guys, but I can’t tell you that. Let me speak with the judge and see what he says.”
Before anyone could ask another question, Diana disconnected the call. Claudia stood frozen, looking at her phone when a tear splashed on her screen. “He’s going to be alone and scared. She didn’t take any of his things. His blankie is still at my house. Oh God. He can’t sleep without that blanket.”
I didn’t know what to say to her.
For the first time in my life, I had no words.
All I could do was hold her while she cried against my chest.
Looking over her head, my granny narrowed her eyes before marching out of the sheriff’s station.
“Where is Martha going?” Bailey asked no one in particular.
“My guess. To start World War III.”
We all left the station after King and I promised not to skip town. Apparently, the douchebag insisted on pressing charges, which meant Bailey had to post bond for the both of us before we could get out of there.
After everything that happened, Claudia refused to go home without Charlie, so I took her to the clubhouse, where everyone was waiting for any news.
The longer we waited, the more withdrawn Claudia became. Nothing I said seemed to help. In the end, she cried herself to sleep on the couch in the main room next to Bailey, who was giddy as a schoolgirl when Scribe handed her a bowl of her favorite ice cream. Apparently, Scribe ordered his bestie several gallons of the sweet treat a few days ago when the owner of the local grocery store told him that he was no longer going to stock it.
Sitting in church with the others, all I could think about was Charlie. He was so little. I wondered if anyone was holding him. Had he been fed, changed, bathed? Was he crying? Did they know he liked to be rocked after eating?
“Frank?”
Looking up at King, I muttered, “Yeah?”
“You okay over there, brother?”
“No.”
“Diana will call when she knows something. Give her time to do her job.”
Leaning forward, I looked at my hands and whispered, “Scribe?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“How bad did I mess this up for her?”
“What do you mean?”
“That guy who showed up. The one who worked for CPS. He said he was there to do Lidi’s final home inspection, but I wouldn’t let him in the house. Did I do this? Did I cost Lidi Charlie?”
