ICU: THE TRILOGY

12

Devale focused on the road ahead of him as he drove to the hotel Rachel sent him. He wanted to know why he was being served custody papers. He didn't even know foster parents could be served papers. So many things were running through his mind.

On top of that, he couldn't get in contact with his wife. Crystal was in a Savannah cabin, drinking lemon drops and living her life. She wasn't even thinking about her family.

When Devale arrived at the hotel he park and went inside. He made his way to Rachel's hotel room. There was a do not disturb sign on the door but he knocked anyways.

A few seconds later the door opened. Rachel was standing in a robe with her hair tied up.

"Hey what are you doing here?" Rachel asked looking behind her.

"You have me served with custody papers without a warning and think I'm not gonna pop up on you." Devale said walking into the room.

"It wasn't like that. I didn't know they were gonna do that." Rachel said.

"So now what?" Devale asked.

"D, the deal was for you to keep him until I got my life together. My life is good now. I'm on my way to be a doctor, I help at this youth clinic that's my job. I have my own place. I'm clean." She said grabbing Devales hand.

He pulled it away and sighed. "I'm proud of you I am. But are you mentally ready for this. It's not gonna be easy, he's been through a lot." Devale told Rachel.

"I know that. But, you have a family, you have children. Terrell is the only family I have and you want to keep him away from me? that's selfish." Rachel told Devale.

Devale ran his hands over his face becoming frustrated. He knew that Rachel didn't have family to support her. Her only living relatives didn't really deal with her. But, he has a relationship with Terrell. That's his son now, he doesn't want to leave his life.

"What does it mean for Terrell and our family?" Devale asked becoming emotional by the conversation.

"I don't know. I'm going back to Canada and he's coming with me.." Rachel says. "Maybe we can set up visits and stuff." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Visits? Okay cool. How do you think Terrell is going feel about this?" Devale asked Rachel. "You're ripping him away from the only family he's ever known." He tells Rachel.

She looked at him and blinked a couple of times. "He'll be fine." She said softly. "I just want my son to come home." She said becoming teary eyed.

Devale's heart softened. He didn't want Rachel to cry. They both care for Terrell deeply. Devale felt like he was fighting for a child he helped conceived. That wasn't the case and he knew that going to court the judge would rule in Rachel's favor.

It was another thing for Devale to add to his list of things he can't control. His heart was broken. Giving away Terrell would hurt him more than any other situation he's dealing with.

"I gotta go home. But, I wanna resolve this before court. I don't want it to be an issue." Devale told Rachel. "I want you know that if you need help, I'm always gonna be here for you and Terrell." He said in an assuring tone.

Rachel nodded her head and smiled. "Thank you that means a lot." She said softly. "I'm gonna try to fill you and Crystal's shoes. I know that it's gonna be hard, but Terrell deserves a good life and I wanna make it up to him." She said to Devale.

Devale left the hotel unsure of Rachel's words. But, he went back home and came back to chaos.

His

"DJ get your butt over here and put your clothes on now!" Papa Scoop yelled as DJ ran around the house naked.