Chapter 20
“Can you handle it? Or shall I?” Caden asked Lorenzo.
“I got it. Just say the word.”
Thinking over the situation, Caden didn’t respond right away.
Word on the street was Galloway had gone to the grocery store, The Lucky Lounge, and had even been driving by Tina’s house in search of Dru.
Apparently, Galloway expected a payment from Dru when the thirty-day mark hit, regardless of the fact that Caden had paid him.
Because Caden had never trusted Tina and was only sparing her life because she shared the same DNA as the woman he was falling in love with, he’d put guards on her house and Marilyn’s.
Always subtle and unseen, Tina had no idea the guard drove by her house every hour, and she also didn’t know there was a guard watching her mother’s house to make sure she never approached her youngest daughter again.
What Caden wasn’t expecting was for the guard at Tina’s house to tell Lorenzo that Galloway was driving by himself.
Galloway had gotten to a place where he didn’t have to do anything for himself, especially getting his hands dirty.
If he was looking for Dru, it was out of desire, or it was because he was taking Caden paying her debt personally.
“Pay him a visit. See what he’s on. If you can’t get him to meet with you, let me know.”
“On it,” Lorenzo confirmed before leaving Caden’s office. That wasn’t what he thought he’d wake up to hearing, but it was a small issue as far as he was concerned. As much work as he’d been putting in to cultivate Dru’s peace, he wasn’t going to let anyone or anything disrupt it.
The sound of Dru’s laughter from whatever Lorenzo had said to her in passing made him smile. It was scary how much her peace and happiness meant to him. He’d cleared his schedule to be able to meet with a lawyer to discuss the process of Dru adopting Dreya.
When he was sure his frustration with Galloway wouldn’t be present, Caden made his way downstairs for breakfast. Even before a word came out of her mouth, he felt Dru’s energy as she rocked in her seat and stared at her glass of orange juice.
Wanting to carefully pull her out of her thoughts, Caden placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.
She still jumped, but Dru smiled and wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him down so she could kiss his lips.
“You good?” Caden asked, sitting next to her at the dining room table.
“Yeah. Just nervous.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to get her hopes up thinking I have a chance of adopting her, just for them to tell me it’s not possible.”
Caden’s head shook as Sidney set his plate of food in front of him. He thanked her, then told Dru, “It’s very possible. Just off the situation with Quenton, there’s a strong chance Tina’s parental rights can be revoked.”
“I keep telling myself that, but what if they find me unsuitable as well? I knew about the first time she sold my sister for money, and she wasn’t arrested. I should have tried harder. What if they don’t trust her with me either?”
“When you found out what happened with your sister, you and your mother fought. She had you arrested, and you did time. After that, it took a year before you were able to move back in to get close to your sister. Since then, you’ve been protecting her and taking care of her.
Only one time were you unable to keep her safe, and you risked your life trying to fight the man that had violated her.
“Now the judge won’t know this, but that man is dead because of you. You ended a threat and made sure he would never be able to hurt your sister again. Trust me when I say, there is no one more capable of protecting and caring for Dreya than you.”
His words seemed to settle Dru, so he covered her hand with his and continued.
“Anyone can judge how to handle a situation they are not in. At the time, there was no evidence of foul play, and it was your word against your mother’s.
Your sister was even younger then and too scared to testify about what happened.
You made the call you believed was best and did everything you could to keep her safe.
“Honestly, there’s nothing the police could have done for her in that moment beyond take her out of the home, and from what you’ve told me, Dreya wasn’t old enough then to realize that would have been for the best. She didn’t want to get her mother in trouble, so she remained silent.
Now that she’s older, she knows the way she’s been treated is wrong and she wants to be with you.
That’s what we’re going to make sure happens. ”
A smile lifted the left side of Dru’s mouth as she confessed, “Dreya always says she doesn’t know how she would have made it through life without me.
Now I can say I don’t know how I would have made it through this without you.
” Cupping his cheek, she added, “Thank you for being to me what I’ve been for everyone else.
I feel like I don’t have a way to truly repay you for you simply being who you are, but I hope my love, presence, and partnership will be enough. ”
“More than enough, sweetheart. I meant it when I said all I want is you.”
Finally, she gave him that full smile he’d fallen in love with. Then, they enjoyed their breakfast before they headed out.
Dru’s leg bounced until Caden palmed her thigh.
She looked over at him and smiled. It was clear her nerves were rattled as they waited to hear what Tristan would say.
Any legal issues Caden or anyone on his team had were usually handled by Kaos at MWPG Law Firm, but for this, he recommended his partner.
Tristan set the paperwork down that Dru had to complete before the meeting started and gave them his attention.
“Okay, so you have a very solid case for guardianship,” were the first words out of his mouth, and Caden saw Dru’s chest cave in relief as she sat back in her seat.
“We can argue neglect, abuse, unsafe environment, and your mom being an unfit parent. The first thing we’d need to do is file a petition with juvenile court.
“We’d need to establish your standing and relationship with the minor, prove your mother’s unfit, and demonstrate it’s in the best interest of the minor that she be under your care.
The judge is going to want to look at the environment she’s currently in, or leaving, along with the one she will be going to with you.
And because she’s sixteen, she is old enough to speak on her own behalf and decide if she wants to stay with you or someone else. ”
“What are they going to be looking at to decide if I’m the best person for her to live with?” Dru asked softly.
“Your living environment and financial status mainly. They will interview you and make sure you are capable of taking care of her mentally and emotionally as well. If we do the petition for termination of parental rights because of neglect and abuse, you’ll basically have to look like the opposite of your mother. ”
“If my mother and I had a physical altercation in the past, is there a chance that will come up?”
“If she fights the petition, it may. From what you shared in the file, that won’t be held against you.
That was the first documented incident. Even though it isn’t stated why the fight occurred, the dates line up with the first time your sister was assaulted.
You’d be able to argue that you and your mother fought because you were protecting your sister.
Even if the judge frowns upon physically fighting to do so, it’s another check against her and point in your favor.
I really don’t think you have to worry about that though. ”
“For her peace of mind,” Caden cut in, “can you tell her a numerical percentage of how good her chances are of getting guardianship?”
Tristan smiled with a nod. “Yes. Based on what I’ve read, there is a one hundred percent chance of termination of parental rights due to neglect, abuse, and an unsafe living environment.
Of the options for guardianship, Dru has a one hundred percent chance of being selected, especially if her sister tells the judge she wants to live with her. ”
“Whew,” she released vocally before releasing a giggle. “Okay. Great. That’s . . . really, really great.” Dru reached across and grabbed Caden’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Before we file the petition, are you prepared to show proof of income and housing stability? You mentioned you were the one paying the rent, which also works in your favor.”
“Yes to both. Also, I don’t know if it’ll come up, but I’m paying for her to have two therapy sessions every week. She started last week.”
“Wonderful,” Tristan said, writing it in her file.
“That will definitely help. Well, if you decide you’d like for me to represent you on this, I can start the process as early as next month.
We’ll need to prep and file the petition as soon as possible to get a court date so your mom can be served.
Do you think there’s a chance she’ll fight it? ”
“I want you to represent us, and I’m not sure.
A part of me says she won’t because she’s never wanted to be a mother anyway.
The other part of me says she won’t want to look like a failure, and she also is so spiteful, she’ll fight to retain her custody just to be evil. It can honestly go either way.”
“I’d go as far as to say for the right amount of money, she’ll yield,” Caden said.
“You see how quick she was to discard you. Your mother is a pimp. She will operate in her best interests. That’s why she’s letting Dreya stay with her mom.
If she tries to fight it—” He paused and looked at Tristan. “She won’t try to fight it.”
Tristan smiled and stood. “I’ll take this to my assistant so she can make a copy and set up a follow-up meeting so we can go ahead and start prepping the petition so you guys can talk. Caden, you want the invoice sent to your email, correct?”
“Correct,” Caden answered, waiting until they were alone in the office to say, “If Tina tries to fight you on this, I can promise you she will fold if I offered her the right amount of money.”
“Unfortunately, I agree. I hope this is one time she does the right thing, but even if she doesn’t, I know soon enough, Dreya will be coming home to me.
Or I guess I should say us. I don’t want to leave you, K.
I think the whole building us a house next door thing works just to ensure her comfort.
But I . . . I don’t want to leave you. I’ll stay with her until she leaves for college, and then I’m coming right back next door to you. ”
“That sounds like a plan to me. I’ll be sliding in your bedroom as many nights as you’ll let me.
” Dru laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a kiss.
“Cameras all around the exterior of the house and inside. You both will be safe from the world, and I want you to always know she’ll be safe with me too.
I will never do anything to hurt either one of you, and I for damn sure won’t do anything to lose you. ”
“I trust you, but I do appreciate you going the extra mile with the cameras. She’s excited about meeting you. Granny is too.”
“Well, let me pay this invoice for his retainer, and then we can head their way.”