Sister Mother

Chapter 29

Addie

Judge Parsons didn't say one thing about our family's unique attire. He simply convened today's meeting.

"The custody placement of Miss Beatrice has been a difficult decision," he began. "In an ideal situation, Mr. and Mrs. McKenna would regain full consciousness and declare the last several weeks a waste of all of our time. I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to each McKenna here today."

I exhaled. Beatrice tucked her chin onto her chest. Gabe rubbed her back and closed his eyes. Kevin crossed his arms over his chest. I glanced over at Uncle Jason, who usually reacted to someone giving him "condolences" by telling the person that Mom and Dad weren't dead. Today, all he did was nod solemnly.

"In response to Ms. McKenna's request at our last hearing, we will no longer be discussing her physical limitations. Are there any objections to this?" He looked over at the Hell-Bringers.

The lawyer stood up. "Your Honor if I may-"

"You may not, Mr. Cross," the judge replied, making the lawyer fall back into his seat. Judge Parsons turned his bald forehead in my direction. "Ms. McKenna, I would like to acknowledge that you have brought several issues to my attention. In every case I have overseen, I have examined each aspect individually. I'm sure you're aware that guardianship can be revoked solely in the event of a physical or mental disability."

I grasped the wheels of my chair and ran my hands across my tires. "Yes, Your Honor. I'm aware of that."

His forehead nodded up and down. "It is my responsibility to assess a family's situation as a whole, and not spend too much time focusing on one factor. With that being said, before we begin today's hearing, I would like to express my apologies for the unfairness you've suffered during this case, Ms. McKenna."

I inhaled. No one had ever apologized for fixating on my disability. I doubted anyone had ever acknowledged it.

"Thank you, Your Honor." I replied, unable to express how much his apology meant to me. It meant more than his condolences.

"Mr. Grant, will we be hearing from any character witnesses today?" Judge Parsons asked.

Mr. Grant stood up. "Not directly, Your Honor."

"Not directly?" Judge Parsons asked.

"Allow me to explain," Mr. Grant said. He walked over to the center of the courtroom. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out an envelope. "We've spent this case trying to determine why Ms. McKenna would be a suitable guardian. I took the liberty of seeking out the original source."

The original source? What does he—

My parents!

I turned around, half-expecting to see Mom and Dad waltz into the courtroom. I came to my senses a moment later, and turned my attention back to Mr. Grant, and the envelope he was holding.

"Did Mom and Dad write me a love letter?" I asked loudly.

"Mr. Grant, where did you find this?" Judge Parsons asked.

"I took the liberty of returning to Mr. and Mrs. McKenna's family lawyer's office," Mr. Grant explained. "She informed me that when they revised their wills, they asked her to place this letter with it so that their eldest daughter could read it at the right time."

I felt my heart pound against my rib cage. "She didn't give me the letter when my uncle and I went there last year. Why didn't she give it to me then? Mom and Dad's conditions haven't changed at all."

Mr. Grant walked lowered the envelope to my level. I gasped when I saw my father's messy handwriting spell out my full name, accompanied by a single word.