S.E.A.L IV: All I Need

Chapter 51 Pt. 2

~Charli~

Please tell me you have good news Titi because the closer we get to Christmas the harder this is getting, I said sitting across from her. I don't Charli; I mean the holidays start next week and the judge still hasn't made a decision. I've presented everything to him, even the statements from their biological father stating that he wants you and Nia to have them permanently. Their mother! Haven't heard from her, I've contacted her lawyer multiple times and still no response. What about the aunt is she still pressing this? As far as I know she still wants them. If we gave her the money do you think she'd go away. Excuse me. If we just gave her the money, she'd go away we'd get the kids and all of this would be over. No Charli it wouldn't be over, because then she'd be extorting you, which is a crime. Titi I just want my family home all together for Christmas. I know but you...before she could finish her sentence her phone rang. Let me get this right quick. Ok I am gonna go to the restroom right quick and clear my mind. Alright she said picking up the phone.

I threw some water on my face. Charli you gotta pull through this not just for Nia, but for you as well. You owe this to yourself. You love these kids just as much as Nia does. I let out a deep breath and grabbed a paper towel to dry my face. Ok you got this I said leaving the restroom. I went back to Titi's office to see her grabbing papers quickly. Titi you gotta leave? Yes, and you do to, go pick up Nia and meet me at the court house in 30 minutes. What's going on? The judge has made a decision and wants us in his chambers in 45 minutes, this is the last appointment before the end of the year. Go now she said shooing me out of the office. I had to figure out where my wife was right now cause she wasn't at home when I left. I dialed her number and it went to voice mail, Damn! I called her work phone at the store and she answered there. Hello. Babe where are you right now? Duh baby the store where you called me at. Look I am on my way to get you right now the judge has made a decision. Don't play with me Charli. I am not baby I am around the corner come out in 5 minutes. Alright by she said hanging up the phone. Titi's office was around the corner from Gigi's store so it took me no time at all to get scoop Nia up and meet at the court house in the 30 minutes.

Yall made it in time. Yeah, she was at the store. Renee what's going on? He's made a decision. Are we going to be in court like normal? No apparently only his chambers she said showing us to the Judges chambers. Where is the other lawyer and his aunt? Renee shrugged as we waited for the judge to come in. 10 minutes later the other lawyer and their aunt came in and then a few minutes later the judge followed suite.

"I've called this session late session because I've made my decision in this case, I've looked over all evidence, testimonies, personal statements, and I've heard from all 6 of the children, individually and collectively. The people I haven't heard from are the guardians of these children."

Nia squeezed my hand before speaking up and sharing her side for why she wanted the children. She explained how she always wanted to be a mother and it didn't matter to her if they were biologically hers or not that she loved them either way. She stressed how in the past two years of us having them how they had made complete 180's from introverted yet troublesome children to well rounded good kids, she explained how Terrance is the ultimate role model for his brothers and sisters. How Demetri went from being a D student to graduating high school with a 3.6 grade point average in 2 years. How Sarai has become open and well adjusted something that she'd never done if they hadn't come into our lives. And the little kids, they actually have a chance at living a real life, one where they don't have to know what it is to struggle, go to bed hungry, or wear the same clothes to school.

"And you, what's your take on this. Why do you want these children?"

Your honor had you asked this me this two years ago, I wouldn't have an answer for you. I would have probably told you that it was the right thing to do, because no child should be left alone or homeless. But that's not why I believe we should have custody of them. I believe that we should have full parental custody of them because I've been in their shoes before. I know what it's like to have parents that aren't necessarily stable enough to take care of a child. But I also know what its like to have a parent a real parent to take care of me and my every need. And eventually as I got older, my biological parents came around. They got their selves together and started to form a relationship with me. And that's what I want for these kids as well, I want to give them that second chance. I want them to experience life for what it is and not the circumstances that it dishes out. My wife and I love these children, our family loves and accept these children as our own and we would love nothing more thing then to fully adopt them and make them members of a family they've always been welcomed into.