I Adopted My 7 Siblings When I Was 18 So They Wouldn’t Be Separated – Three Years Later, My Youngest Brother Handed Me a Photo Revealing What Really Happened to Our Parents
The judge read while Denise touched her pearls and Warren stared at the floor.
***
Finally, the judge looked up.
« Ma’am, your petition is denied. Any future guardianship claim must be approved by this court first. »
« Rowan, don’t do this. »
Denise gripped her pearls. « Your Honor, I only wanted what was best. »
Behind her, Uncle Warren finally looked up.
« Denise, » he said quietly, « you told me they asked you to step in. »
Denise didn’t answer.
For the first time since Mom’s funeral, someone in that family looked at her instead of me.
The judge turned to Mrs. Dalrymple. « And your request? »
« I only wanted what was best. »
The old woman straightened. « I want to be listed as emergency caregiver, if Rowan lets me. He should pick up his studies again. Marianne and Eric raised fine children, but Rowan has goodness in his bones. »
I looked at her. « You really want that? »
She snorted. « Child, I’ve been feeding your army for three years. Of course. »
***
After court, Benji held up the photo. « Would Mom be mad I found it? »
« No, » I said. « She’d be proud. You saved us, Ben. You saved us from being separated. »
Lila read the back softly. « Rowan will know what to do. »
« You really want that? »
***
That night, I wrote Mrs. Dalrymple’s name on the emergency sheet.
Relationship: Family.
She blinked. « I just live next door. »
I taped it up. « Then family lives next door. »
I spent three years trying to prove I was enough for them.
« It isn’t that simple. »
I looked at Tommy, curled under his blanket, with one hand still holding Mom’s old keychain. « Neither is telling a six-year-old he lost his parents and his family in the same week. »
Ms. Hart closed the folder halfway. « I hear you. Don’t get me wrong. But love isn’t always enough. »
« Then teach me what else I need. Help me. »
« I can only do so much, Rowan. But remember, a court date will be set, whether we like it or not. »
« It isn’t that simple. »
***
Court was worse.
Aunt Denise arrived in pearls and a cream coat, with Uncle Warren carrying a folder like they had already won.
« I love those children, » Aunt Denise told the judge, dabbing under one dry eye. « But Rowan is a child himself. I can take the youngest two until things settle. I’m willing and able. »
Phoebe grabbed Lila’s sleeve.
« The youngest two? Do you even know their names? » I asked. « Why are you talking about them like they’re luggage? »
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