Chapter 6 - Grandfather
Charles arrived at juvenile court with three attorneys.
Daniel brought one.
That difference would once have embarrassed him.
Now he found it clarifying.
Charles sat across the aisle in a navy suit, looking like stability itself.
Daniel wore yesterday’s shirt.
Ethan sat beside Renee.
The commissioner reviewed the petitions.
Charles’s attorney spoke first.
“Mr. Cross has been Ethan’s biological grandfather since birth. He has no criminal history, no pending battery charge, and a stable residence with full-time staff.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Maya whispered, “Do not react.”
Charles’s attorney continued.
“Daniel Cross is currently under investigation after striking this child twice in public.”
Every word was true.
That made it worse.
The commissioner turned to Daniel.
“Any response?”
Daniel stood.
“My father’s petition should be evaluated on its own merits.”
Charles glanced at him.
Daniel continued.
“I did strike Ethan. I regret it. I am not asking the court to ignore it.”
Maya had not scripted that sentence.
The commissioner asked, “Do you oppose your father’s request?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Anna left documents suggesting my father may have had a motive to keep Ethan’s identity concealed.”
Charles rose.
“That is outrageous.”
The commissioner looked at him.
“Sit down.”
Charles obeyed.
Maya submitted copies of the trust provision and Anna’s note.
Charles’s attorney called them unverified allegations.
The commissioner agreed they were insufficient to establish danger.
But she also refused Charles immediate placement.
Ethan and Lily would remain together in emergency foster care while investigators worked.
Outside the courtroom, Charles confronted Daniel.
“You are humiliating this family.”
Daniel laughed.
“I slapped a child in public. I did that myself.”
“I’m talking about accusing me because Anna left another paranoid letter.”
“You knew about the trust clause.”
“Of course I did.”
“You never told me.”
“It was irrelevant. Lucas was gone.”
“He wasn’t dead.”
Charles stared at him.
“No one knew where he was.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
Charles stepped closer.
“You think finding him changes the past?”
“No.”
“You think Anna becomes innocent because she preserved a few photocopies?”
“I think you’re afraid.”
For the first time, Charles’s face sharpened.
“Of a seven-year-old?”
“Of what happens when he turns eight.”
Silence.
Daniel saw it.
Recognition.
Charles recovered.
“You’re unstable.”
“You taught me anger was power.”
“And apparently you learned poorly.”
Charles walked away.
That afternoon, Daniel visited Ethan under supervision at the foster home.
Lily slept in a bassinet.
Ethan sat at the kitchen table drawing.
Daniel placed a paper bag on the floor.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing expensive.”
Ethan eyed him.
“That sounds like something expensive.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“It’s food.”
The foster mother, Mrs. Greene, checked the bag.
Sandwiches, apples, milk, baby formula.
Ethan looked suspicious.
“Why?”
“Because you need to eat.”
“I have food here.”
“Then I’ll stop bringing food.”
Ethan frowned.
Daniel sat across from him.
“Can I ask something?”
“You always do.”
“Do you remember Anna mentioning my father?”
Ethan kept drawing.
“She called him the old wolf.”
Daniel blinked.
“That sounds like Anna.”
“She said wolves don’t chase when traps work better.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“What traps?”
Ethan stopped his pencil.
“She said papers.”
“What kind?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she say anything about Marcus?”
Ethan’s body stiffened.
“Mom told me Marcus was dead.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“She said if anyone asked, he was dead.”
“Did you know him?”
Ethan shook his head too quickly.
Daniel noticed.
“Ethan.”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Okay.”
That also surprised him.
Daniel stood.
At the door Ethan said, “I met him once.”
Daniel turned.
“Marcus?”
“Last year.”
“Where?”
“A park.”
“What happened?”
“Mom yelled at him.”
“What did he say?”
Ethan looked toward Lily.
“He said Lily changed everything.”
Daniel’s pulse quickened.
“Was Anna pregnant then?”
Ethan nodded.
“What else?”
“He told Mom she couldn’t hide forever.”
Daniel crouched near the doorway.
“And Anna?”
“She said she wasn’t hiding from him.”
Ethan’s eyes darkened.
“She was hiding from your father.”
That evening Maya called Daniel to her office.
She had obtained the full trust instrument from the independent corporate trustee.
“There’s more.”
Daniel read.
The eighteen-percent voting block would shift to an independent fiduciary six weeks before Ethan’s eighth birthday, provided Ethan’s identity and parentage were legally established.
Six weeks before.
Maya checked the date.
Then looked up.
“That date is tomorrow.”
Daniel felt the room tilt.
“If the paternity result confirms me…”
“Charles loses voting control immediately.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
Renee.
He answered.
Her voice was tense.
“The paternity results were expedited.”
Daniel stood.
“And?”
“You’re Ethan’s biological father.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
Renee continued.
“But there’s something else you need to know.”
“What?”
“Marcus Bell has filed a separate parentage action.”
Daniel looked at Maya.
“For Ethan?”
“No.”
May you like
Renee inhaled.
“For Lily.”
