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“I don’t understand. We’ve done everything you’ve asked.”
“Yes, to be guardians. This is how the foster care system works. You’re a temporary guardian until the blood parent or parents are ready to take back their responsibility. I thought with the mother deceased and the father nowhere on the birth certificates that this would be open and closed and we’d eventually start the process of adoption and permanent guardianship.”
“You’ll take those kids over my dead body.”
“Mr. McCoy, you know I don’t scare easily and you puffing out your chest does nothing for me. So I suggest you sit your ass down and listen to me.” She shakes her head. “You’re such a hothead. Now, as I was saying, he is making claims that you were withholding the children. Not allowing him to see them, and not allowing him to establish a relationship with them. He stated your sister was the same way. He tried to insinuate that these stresses are what drove him off the deep end that caused his inability to be a rightful father or some bullshit.
“It’s time to get your ducks in a row. I have a gut feeling that nothing is going to come from this, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes off from the clinic within the week, but if he doesn’t then you need to be prepared. I understand that you’re an established family. I see it. There’s no denying that you love those kids and that they are yours in every aspect of the meaning.”
“What if I tell you that we’re enjoying those kids so much we’re trying to make our own?”
“Tylan!”
“What? I’ve been fucking you bareback since day one, so don’t act so surprised.”
“I’m on the pill, you idiot.”
“Why the fuck didn’t I know that?”
“Please stop bickering.” Her warning stops us.
“What are we supposed to do with this information?”
“Unfortunately, it’s really a waiting game. I should report this to my case manager. The knowledge of the birth father wanting to become an active parent needs to be noted, but I’m not going to do that—yet. I don’t trust him, and I’m not going to open a can of worms that might stay sealed. It’s really in his court right now. I plan on waiting until I hear from the clinic.”
“Maggie, I need to know what we can be doing in the meantime,” I say. “I can’t sit around and wait for something to happen, and I can’t have you show up at the house with him saying that it’s time for a visit.”
“It wouldn’t go like that, but I understand your concern. If I were you, I’d start the process. Fostering your niece and nephew isn’t good enough. You need to show that you want more of a commitment. Take the step needed to get the kids in your care permanently. I don’t know, get married if need be. You need to take the necessary steps for the kids. If I receive a call from the clinic, the first thing that will need to be established is matching DNA. I know you weren’t in contact with your sister, Tylan, but there may be a strong chance that this man isn’t even their father.”
“This is such bullshit. I know he’s their father. No man would stir up this shit, especially when he didn’t get what he wanted in the first place if he didn’t have knowledge he was their father.” He slams his hands on the table before rising. “You pushed these kids on me. You guilted me into taking them in, loving them, and now you think you and this ass-wipe can show up, play the victim, and get clean and then rip them away from me? I don’t fucking think so, Mags.”
She stands, straightening her shoulder before speaking. “Then I suggest you pull your big boy pants up and get your shit taken care of before those kids are ripped from your home. Get a move on it, Lick.”
She shuts her binder, leaving us to a quiet room.
“Wait a minute. He can just show up and have a chance to take the kids from you?”
Savannah and I are in my kitchen eating frosting out of the container. I would much rather be drinking wine, but I’m not comfortable getting tipsy when the kids are here, so I’ll binge on sugar.
“It’s not that simple, and I really don’t think he’s going to do anything with it, but the point is, he made the threats. Now we have to sit here and see if he follows through.”
“I saw him, Jenni, and in no way, shape or form was he anywhere near ready to get clean. He looked awful. He was completely strung out.”
“Maggie feels the same way, but there’s no telling what’s really going on in his mind. I’m not sure this is about money anymore. I think he might be doing it to stick it to Tylan since he didn’t give into his demands.”
“Wow. I wouldn’t even know what to do if I were in your shoes. If Tyson were still alive and threatening me to take Grace away. Girl, I can’t even.”
“Yeah, and now it’s a waiting game.”
“What does Lick think of everything?”
“He’s pissed. He wants to run. He wants to hunt Rob down and kill him. He’s in total protective mode right now. I want to get everything in order to make sure we have a strong case. If the possibility comes to light that Rob is serious about this and he wants those kids–”
“Look, Jenni, I know that you and Lick are new, but seriously. If you love him and you want this, then go get married. We did. It’s about you two and no one else–”
Just as the spoonful of yummy goodness hits my lips, I pull back. “Wait, what?”
Her mouth clamps down on the spoon currently in her mouth. Opening her mouth, she continues, “Anyway, if you need to make sure you’re a family and stay a family, then you need to do what needs to be done.”
