Chapter 23 #3
“You said ‘my whole family needs me,’ not ‘my girls need me.’“ Shay leaned against the counter beside her. “That’s growth, Solo. A few months ago, everything was about the kids. Gabe and I talked about how worried we were that you’d lost yourself in motherhood, and lost sight of your marriage.”
Solo was about to protest but stood down quickly enough.
She couldn’t argue that Shay was wrong. “My girls mean so much to me,” she said slowly.
“But they’re not everything. Janie’s my world.
I learned my lesson. Being without her nearly killed me, and I’ll always see her as more than just the mother of my kids. ”
“That’s what’s going to get you through this,” Shay said and slapped her hand against Solo’s chest. “That right there. The fact that you’ve learned to balance being a mother and a wife and yourself, all at once.”
Gabe walked into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. “You two having a moment without me? I’m hurt.”
“Just giving Solo the Shay Washington wisdom treatment,” Shay said and ran her knuckles over Solo’s buzz cut.
“Then all will be well in your world,” Gabe said and grabbed another bucket of beer. “Now can we get back in there before everyone dies of thirst?”
They returned to the living room, where Janie was deep in conversation with Rosie and Lori. Solo caught the end of Rosie saying something about therapy approaches and Janie nodded, looking more relaxed than she had when they’d gotten there.
“Your turn, Gabe,” RB said. “I’m tired of destroying Woody’s ego.”
“My ego is indestructible,” Woody shouted, thrusting her controller in the air.
“Your ego is definitely something,” Shay said, and everyone laughed.
They played for another hour, the energy lighter.
Shay kept the mood upbeat, cracking jokes and trash-talking with Woody in a way that had everyone in stitches.
At one point, she turned to Janie and said, “You know, if your mom tries anything in court, I’m happy to testify about what a badass lawyer you are.
What you’re doing for Rosie is scary good. ”
Janie’s cheeks flushed. “You think?”
Shay nodded. “Your mom’s lawyers have no idea who they’re up against.”
Solo watched Janie’s face transform: she sat up a little straighter, and some of that lawyer confidence crept back in. Solo smiled at Shay and raised her bottle. She always knew exactly what someone needed to hear and how to say it.
Around ten, Janie’s phone rang. She looked at the screen and went pale. “It’s David.” The room went silent as Janie put it on speaker. “David. What is it?”
“I’ve reviewed the motion,” David said after half apologizing for the late call. “Your mother’s uncovered the ER incident. She’s requesting temporary custody until the hearing.”
His words hit Solo like a sucker punch. “How? Aren’t those records supposed to be confidential?”
“They are,” David said. “But no doubt she has investigators who’ll do anything to get the information they need.”
“What do we do?” Janie asked, her voice shaky.
“We fight it. I’ve already drafted our response. But you need to be prepared. There’s going to be an emergency hearing on Monday morning. The judge will hear both sides and make a ruling on temporary custody.”
“Monday,” Janie whispered. “Two days.”
“I’ll email you both the details tonight. In the meantime, document everything. Your routines with the girls, Carmen’s schedule, therapy appointments. Show stability and consistency.”
After David hung up, the room stayed deathly still. Solo looked at Janie’s stricken face, then at her crew.
“So,” Woody finally said, her usual levity replaced by something harder. “Monday. That means we have a couple of days to make sure you’re ready to show that judge you’re the best fucking parents those girls could ask for.”
“We’ll all be there,” RB added quietly. “Whatever you need.”
Shay stood up, and Solo saw that look on her face, the same one Gabe got when she was planning a mission. They’d been friends long enough to think alike in almost all situations, but especially ones like this.
“Okay,” Shay said. “Here’s what we’re going to do.
Tonight, Solo and Janie go home and get some sleep.
Tomorrow, we help them document everything.
We’ll come over, take photos, help organize records, whatever they need.
Sunday, we do a practice run, where you,” she pointed at Solo, “are going to practice staying calm and confident under pressure. Monday morning, we show up to that courthouse, and we don’t let them take those babies. ”
Rosie got up to stand beside Shay. “You’ll walk into that courtroom with an army behind you.”
“Damn right,” Lori said softly, and Gabe squeezed her hand.
Janie was crying now, and Solo pulled her close. They were surrounded by their people, their army, and even though everything was kind of falling apart, there was something steady beneath the fear.
They weren’t alone. They were never alone.
In the car driving home, Solo reached over and took Janie’s hand. “We’re going to win this,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as Janie. “We have to.”
But Janie just stared out the window at the passing lights, her hand limp. “What if we don’t?” she finally whispered. “What if Monday morning, a judge decides I’m unfit? That we’re unstable? What if I have to watch my daughters get taken away by my mother?”
Solo didn’t have an answer. She just gripped Janie’s hand tighter and drove them home, toward their sleeping children, toward whatever the next few days would bring.
Two days. They had two days to save their family.
And Solo had never been more terrified in her life.