What He Didn't Know...

Chapter 13: Adoption?

After Malena hung up with Ryan, she called her lawyer and explained the situation. She and Ryan are currently speaking to him about what they should do.

"So you suggest that I take my daughter to get the DNA test so I won't be charged with contempt?" Malena asks her lawyer, Mr. Fitzgerald.

"Yes Ms. Rodriguez...it is a court ordered summon." 

"Alright...once the results come in...then what?" Malena asked concerned. She knew Colin wanted custody of Faith even though he knew nothing about his daughter and Faith had NO clue who he was.

"Well, if Mr. Kaepernick shows to be Faith's biological father...then he would most likely ask for a court hearing and obtain visitations with her...if that is the case then you can ask for child support and joint custody if you'd like."

Malena looked at Ryan who had a mad expression on his face. He was obviously upset at the whole situation that his girlfriend is going through and the fact that Colin thought he had the right to ask for custody of a child he just found out might be his...even though the DNA test hadn't been done yet.

"Colin is asking for full custody of Faith...and the child support I could care less about. I am financially stable, I have been for years. What are the chances that he could be granted custody?" 

"Slim to none Ms. Rodriguez...first, he just found out that there is a possibility that Faith might be his daughter and if she is, the child doesn't know who he is. It could be traumatic for her to be taken out of her home and away from the family who she loves and knows. Plus, from what you told me about you being drugged the night the child was conceived...I doubt the judge would even consider handing Mr. Kaepernick the child...we might even ask for his parental rights to be denied in this case. We could file for Soul custody and a restraining order so he has no way of having any contact with you or Faith." Mr. Fitzgerald tells her. 

Malena sat back on her chair and sighed. This was too much to take in. In a way she knew why Colin was doing what he was doing...but full custody of a daughter he just found out about? What is he thinking? Is he that vengeful that he is taking it out on her? Does he NOT understand how traumatized she was after realizing what his friends had done to her? Then to find out her virginity was taken away without her consent...by him? How she tried to speak to him and his friends threatened her with rape and even ending her life is she said anything? How when she found out she was pregnant she had a nervous breakdown and tried to commit suicide several times landing her in a Psych ward until she gave birth? How her mom and dad had to take care of Faith until she was well enough to get out of the Psych ward and be given a bill of good health and competent to take care of her own child? She went through HELL thinking she would never be able to take care of her beautiful, precious little girl!

"What if his name is NOT on the Birth Certificate?" Ryan spoke next to her. Malena glanced over at him furrowing her eyebrows.

"Well, if he isn't he has no legal claim to her unless you put his name on it."

"Can the judge make Malena do it?" Ryan asked the lawyer.

"It depends on the results and..." but before he could continue Ryan cut him off.

"...what if I adopt her?" he asked staring at Mr. Fitzgerald intently. 

"Ryan...what are you saying?" Malena asked.

Turning to look at her he says "Exactly what it sounds like Malena...me adopting Faith...me being her father...legally!"

"What? How?" she asked.

Ryan took her hand and kissed her knuckles "If I was her father which I have been for the past few years...then he can't get custody...especially if his name isn't in the Birth Certificate...if you and I get..."