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Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
Jude said, “This isn’t our mystery to solve, Nik. I’m sorry. Kate and I have other obligations to consider.”
“Sophie,” Kate murmured.
Nikki sat back in her chair and let out a long breath. “Of course. I wasn’t thinking…”
“It’s a different paradigm for us all,” Kate reasonably said. “But Jude’s right. And I’m sorry, too, Nik. I can’t fathom pursuing something that might put her in jeopardy.”
“Even if it’s not mortal jeopardy,” Jude said, “we have to be cognizant of getting involved with anything that might hinder our chances of gaining custody of her.”
“Absolutely,” Nikki said, contrite.
Jude quietly told her, “When someone vanishes the way Nico did and then people who surrounded him vanish, too…” He set aside his menu and added, “It can get very dangerous for anyone asking too many questions. Do you understand?”
“I do,” Nikki avowed. “And I appreciate that you’re going to elevate this issue. I also greatly respect your stance, Jude. Your family comes first.”
“You’re also a part of this family, Nik,” he asserted. “I feel compelled to protect you as much as I do Kate and Sophie.”
Kate’s heart swelled.
Nikki smiled and tipped her glass toward Jude. “You’re a hell of a man, Jude McMillan. And I fully support your approach. Let the people who truly know how to deal with this type of situation search for Nico…or not. This sort of missing-persons scenario isn’t in our wheelhouse.”
“Not when an entire hospital seems to be in on the conspiracy,” Jude reasonably commented. “Which is why I’m going to request Sophie be placed with an adoption service immediately, and removed from the facility she currently resides in.”
Kate gasped. “She’ll be moved to a group home, Jude.”
“Yes. We were fortunate the hospital took in the children to begin with. But now it’s time to get her the hell out of there. I’d prefer neither of you return, either.”
33
Kate and Jude had dinner the next evening with the attorney they’d hired to facilitate the adoption process.
“Mexico is under the Hague Adoption Convention, as you know,” Daniel Marín said over wine at the fine-dining restaurant at the hotel where Kate and Jude were now staying in Mexico City. “I have all the necessary forms, starting with citizenship and immigration eligibility. You’ll both be on the forms, now that you’re married. Congratulations, by the way. It wasn’t necessary, but—”
“It was for us,” Kate softly said with a smile. “And thank you.”
Daniel proceeded. “I’ve discussed preliminary details of the case with a judge I work with routinely. I’ve explained that Sophie’s father willingly surrendered all rights to the child on Friday, under counsel from his attorney. He wants no financial, legal or other obligation in this matter. He’s never even met Sophie.”
“That’s all a huge relief,” Kate said.
“Yes, it certainly helps to expedite matters,” Daniel concurred. “However, while you two are certainly eligible and will no doubt meet all the requirements for adopting Sophie, there is a lot of paperwork to process, residency to establish and a trial pre-adoption period that takes place here in Mexico.”
“We’re prepared to do what we have to,” Jude assured him.
“Sophie will be assigned to an adoption agency, as we discussed last night on the phone, Jude. All the documents will be executed accordingly and a U.S. consular officer will issue an Article 5 Letter—you cannot adopt without this,” Daniel stressed. “And you must be prepared to spend at least three months in Mexico City during this time.”
Kate sucked in a breath. That was not something she’d anticipated. She didn’t view it as a personal roadblock, but she had no idea how Jude would feel.
He neither balked nor hesitated. “We won’t require visas since that’s less than one-hundred-and-eighty days in the country.”
“Correct. Your passports are sufficient documentation for your stay,” Daniel confirmed.
There were other details to discuss, and he succinctly laid them out. When Kate and Jude finally made it back to their room, Kate thought she ought to be overwhelmed and stressed out. Instead, she was wildly optimistic the adoption would go through.
Daniel assured them they’d be allowed visitation with Sophie dur
ing each stage. Though the timeframe was daunting and she knew she’d be anxious throughout the term, Kate accepted the legalities for what they were.
