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“But she chose Lidi. That has to count for something, right?” Bailey asked, gripping my hand in support. The second Bailey saw us enter the coffee shop, she rushed across the street to join us.
“In a decent world, Bails, yes.” Scribe nodded. “But we don’t live in a decent world. The courts could say that because Fiona abandoned her baby, she gave up all rights to decide where Charlie goes. Look, everyone, this is a logistical nightmare. We have three parties to contend with. Charlie, Fiona, and the birth father, all of whom are minors.”
“So, what do we do now?” Frank asked.
“We prepare. We make damn sure we have all our ducks in a row, because in two days, everyone’s lives are about to change. And brace yourselves because these types of cases rarely go the way you think.”
“I can’t lose him,” I whispered, as tears fell down my face. “He’s my baby. My little boy.”
The bell dinged when Diana Peters walked in, looking haggard as she trudged over to our table. Pulling out a chair from the adjoining table, she sat. “Well, folks, it’s official. Billy Johnson is Charlie’s dad.”
“Shit,” King cursed softly.
“Oh, it gets better. Billy Johnson, is nineteen.”
“That’s statutory rape in the state of Virginia,” Scribe stated flatly. “No way will a judge give him custody.”
“It wasn’t him that filed. It was the grandparents. They are the ones petitioning the courts for full custody of Charlie. And it gets worse. Fiona’s foster parents have filed adoption paperwork for Fiona. They want Fiona and her baby.”
“They kicked her out,” Bailey argued.
Diana held up her hands. “I’m only telling you what I know. Don’t shoot the messenger. To make matters worse, Judge Tomlinson has moved up the court date to tomorrow. He wants this matter settled fast. And, Lidi, the judge, has ordered me to take Fiona into custody as soon as you medically clear her. I’m so sorry.”
“Take her where?” I asked, but already knew the answer.
“The county has a boarding house for displaced teens until I can find them a foster family. I’m sorry, Lidi. I have no choice.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Frank
I wanted so much to make everything better for her.
Since leaving the hospital and Beth’s coffee shop, Lidi had shut down completely, refusing to speak to anyone. The second we walked into the clubhouse, she made a beeline for Charlie and hadn’t put him down since. Everyone knew the uphill battle Lidi was about to fight, and while I was going to stand right beside her and support her in any way I could, I couldn’t help but think back to what Scribe had said... that these cases rarely go as we think.
The thought of never seeing my son again hurt more than I thought. A pain I’d never felt before gripped my heart and refused to let go.
I never thought I’d have my dream girl, let alone a ready-made family, but watching Claudia with Charlie, I knew I wanted nothing else. My every dream, wish, and desire was right before me, and come tomorrow, some judge I’d never met could take it all away from me.
The thought of that happening was too much.
I needed air.
I needed to do something, anything, because if I sat around and did nothing, I was going to snap. Jumping up from my seat, all my brothers moved, taking a step toward me.
“Obstacle course, Frankenstein. Right now,” King ordered, daring me to challenge him as my brothers moved to surround me.
Turning on a dime, I marched out back and my brothers followed.
The second I entered the obstacle course, I fell to my knees and screamed loudly as I let loose everything I’d kept bottled up.
Every fear, every doubt, every indecision since Claudia and Charlie came into my life.
“That’s it, big guy, let it all out.”
Yelling, screaming until my throat hurt, I leaned forward, my hands gripping the dirt while I hung my head, gasping for air as tears rolled down my face.
“Help me, please.”
