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I pulled into the driveway next to a car I didn’t recognize and walked inside to see a strange woman I didn’t know sitting on the couch with the babysitter and my grandson. “Oh, hi, are you a friend of Dan’s?”
“No, ma’am, I’m sorry. I’m from child protective services; I have an order to remove your grandson from the premises.”
“What? What are you talking about? Get out of my house.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t do that. I only waited around because I am aware that you buried your son today, but I have a court order to take the child with me. I can call the cops if you’d like, and they will forcefully remove him from your home.”
“I don’t understand. Why are you taking him?”
“His next of kin has filed a petition with the courts, and a DNA test has been ordered. In the meantime, we think it’s best that the child be placed with someone else until everything has been decided.”
“What are you talking about? He’s my grandson. What DNA test, what next of kin?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, that’s all I’m at liberty to say at this time.”
“No, you can’t take him. You can’t take him away from me; he’s all I’ve got left of my son.”
I think I was losing my mind by the time she got out her phone and called the police. Nothing was making any sense. This was a bad dream; the last three years were nothing more than a bad dream. Once I wake up, I’ll be sure to make some changes. I just need to wake up.
CECILE
“What do you mean I don’t own my house? I’ve owned my house for more than twenty years.” Has the world gone mad? When am I going to wake up from this nightmare? My son was gone, my grandson had been taken from me, and now this.
All of the money in my investment folder was gone, poof, just nowhere to be seen. I’m in the middle of dealing with that, but since this new lawyer who was recommended to me by someone else needs a hefty retainer, I can’t just sit on my laurels while the state runs off with my grandson.
“Check your records again.”
“Ma’am, is this your signature?”
“Yes, but I never signed anything to sell my home.”
“Have you signed anything lately? Fallen for any scams?”
“Of course not. Do I look like a fool to you? I never sign anything without reading it first.”
“Well, ma’am, according to this, you sold your home about a month ago.”
“That’s not right. Why would I sell my home?” She looked at me as if I were the one losing my mind.
“Give me back my house.” I slammed my hand down on the desk.
“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave, or I’ll have to call security.”
“You can’t steal my home; I know what you people do. Thieves!” I could feel myself losing control but couldn’t rein myself in.
The next thing I knew, I was being dragged from the building, kicking and screaming and feeling strangely disassociated from reality. What is happening? Why does it feel as if someone is out to get me? What did I do to deserve this?
My head was spinning in circles, and I had nowhere to turn. I thought of calling my in-laws, but that would be the worst thing I could do right now. If they learn about the house being sold, they’d never believe me.
Who was it? Was it my husband? Did he do this to set me up? Oh, wait, wait. I have life insurance on Dan; I can use that to pay the lawyer as soon as the check clears. I hadn’t been through all the papers I got from his home but hadn’t been through them as yet.
I’ll do all that later; right now, I have to get in touch with the insurance company and get the ball rolling. I don’t care what it takes or how much it costs. I’m going to get my grandson back.
* * *
That was three weeks ago.Since then, a lot has happened, and I’m still left here scratching my head. I got the quarter of a million dollars in insurance I had on Dan, which was no problem, but that was just a fraction of what I needed for the lawyers to fight the courts for me.
I hadn’t told anyone about the house yet, and no one had been by to take possession, so I think there must’ve been some kind of mix-up somewhere, which was a good thing because it’s the only thing I’ve got going for me.
