Married and Trying to Keep it Together

Chapter Fourteen

Today we were having our lawyer come over to talk about Noah. He needed to be able to go to school and that couldn't happen if we didn't have custody of him. The more he was a way from other kids his age the more shy he became. I knew if he went to school he would learn to trust others.

Slowly Noah was beginning to get used to the kids and the twins loved him. They hadn't left him alone since he's been here. Sapphire, on the other hand, has been distant. She usually didn't have a problem getting to know other people especially kids her age. I wasn't going to push her though. If she had a problem she knew she could come talk to us.

Cordell's lawyer finally came and we all settled in the living room. "So what did you have on your mind?"

"We just took in Noah and we want to make it where he is able to stay with us. We want to get him in school and we want to know our options."

"Well from what you told me that Noah here is a runaway then things are a little more complicated. He ran from his dad meaning he isn't a ward of the state and I would have to motion for the court to give you temporary custody until they can contact his father."

"And what if the court denies the motion?"

He sighed and looked down then back up at us. His eyes were very serious. "More than likely the court will order the child be placed back with his father or made a ward of the sate until they can contact his father." I should've known this wouldn't be that easy. My hope that things would go well jut went down the drain. I knew Noah's dreams were crushed too.

"I can't go back to my father!" Noah screamed out of nowhere. His eyes were wide and his face was full of fear. Something bigger was going on. There was a reason he ran from his father. I just didn't want to do something to make him think he had to run away again. Not from us. I pulled him to me holding him close. He needed to know things were going to be alright. I looked at Cordell who had his eyes trained on Noah. He was thinking too. His face was set as if he was hatching the next plan of action in that moment.

Cordell soon turned back to the lawyer now just as serious. "Is there a way around all of that? I don't want any problems but I don't mind getting my hands dirty to get this done."

"Well we could go to the father and see if he will legally sign over his parental rights."

"And if he does?"

"Then Noah will either become a ward of the state or you can begin the process of adoption if you want to go that route."

"But what will allow us to get him school right now? Adoption can take a long time."

"While I get the motion in, you two could be trying to get approved as foster parents so that if his father signs over his rights the boy can stay with you as his legal guardian until you can adopt him fully." I nodded trying to figure out what's next. He stood up straightening his suit. "In that case I will get started right away. The quicker we get this in the faster we get this done."

After the lawyer left Cordell and I went into the kitchen to talk. I wanted to scream at this point. "Don't worry everything will be okay," he said grabbing me pulling me into him hugging me tight. I wanted to believe that.

"How do you know that? We might not be able to keep him Cordell."

He sighed. "I know it looks that way but Jake is the best. He will do everything he can to make sure we get the outcome we want."

"And what if he can't?"

"Then we will deal with it then, but until then we will stand by him and do what we can to make him feel at home." I nodded trying to let go. I needed to let go.