The London Paradigm (book 4 of Adopted by the Josephs)

46. Tyler

We brought Samantha some clothes and her school bag and computer on Sunday. Josh and Debby had asked if she wanted to stay and she'd said she did after Saturday's news came out.

We went over for dinner and Samantha and Rosie were thrilled to see each other again. And Rosie followed Samantha, and subsequently Jim, who followed Sam everywhere.

Jim had slept with Samantha the night before and Josh told us that if she had any nightmares, they weren't bad enough to have her wake up screaming.

She looked better.  The circles under here eyes were gone. She was smiling and laughing with Rosie. She was still a little guarded and wary, but much more relaxed. I hoped the press didn't figure out for a while that she was at Josh's.  At least long enough for her to get a bit better.

She was eating better, that was for sure.  I smiled as I watched her devour the roast chicken and potatoes Debby had made. 

"Sam," I said as we were finishing up our meal.

"Yeah, Dad?" She asked, looking up. Her eyes were so clear. Some of the brightness I'd gotten used to seeing finally back.

"We need to talk with you about the case," I said. Her face fell, but not as much as I'd actually expected it to. She looked resolute, not resigned. Maybe even a bit angry.

"Okay," she said.  "I know Mark's in town."

"I know you do. Uncle Josh told me you saw the news. I was hoping we'd be able to tell you, but, well, sometimes the news gets there first."

"That's okay. I'm not mad, if that's what you're thinking."

I smiled.

"Well, so with that out of the way, the trial date has been set. It starts on the 15th," I told her. She nodded.

"Okay. Do I have to be there?"

"I don't think so. Not at first. Mr. Greyson is going to come here tomorrow after school and we'll all talk about who might be needed and when. He's also going to talk to Doc, but don't worry, Doc is going to talk about when he first saw you and how you've progressed. He'll talk about some of the subjects you've talked about but not what you talk about specifically."

Samantha frowned and then nodded.

"Mr. Greyson also said they might want you to see a court appointed psychiatrist once or twice. Just to make it so that someone without a history with you can evaluate you."

She nodded again.

"Am I going to have to go over everything again with them?" She asked.

"Maybe. I don't know," I admitted.

Sam nodded again and then sighed.

"Okay," she said.

"You're handling this really well. Well, now you are. But you'll tell us when you're not okay, right?"

She looked down at her lap and then looked up at me.

"Yeah. I will."

"I know this hasn't been easy on you, Sam. I know you haven't been feeling well and I know you're trying to protect us all. That's our job, okay? Me and Mom, and your aunts and uncles. We'll protect you."

"I know. I just," she sighed. "I don't know."

"I know, baby cakes," I said, pulling her into a hug, which she melted into.

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Where's Samantha?
COLUMBUS

It's been noticed in the past few days that Samantha Joseph, the adopted daughter of Tyler and Jenna Joseph, who is the subject of a custody batter between her adoptive parents and her biological uncle, has not been seen around the Joseph home since the weekend.

Expecting to see the teen return home from school Monday afternoon, the press that have been camped outside the Joseph residence noticed that the Josephs did not leave to take Samantha to school in the morning, nor did she return home after the school day was over.

Speculation is that Samantha is being held in an undisclosed location as press coverage of her custody fight has affected her physical and mental health.

A spokesperson for the family assured the press that Samantha is safe and is doing well.

She was seen entering her high school Monday morning though it is unclear if anyone saw her leave at the end of the day.

The custody battle between the Josephs and Mark Solman came to light when Me. Solman petitioned the courts to hear the custody case, citing he did not know his niece existed as his sister had been isolated from the family after her marriage to the late Stanley Deitz, the disgraced lawyer who was killed during an altercation following his kidnapping of his daughter, who he had lost custody of, leading to her being adopted by the Josephs.

The trial for custody of Samantha is set to begin on October 15.