“I’m not letting her go into the system, Mark. I want to start the process for legal guardianship and, eventually, adoption.” Another long silence. “David, this isn’t like buying a company. This is a child. There will be background checks, home visits, and a lot of red tape. It could take years.”
“I have the resources, Mark. And I’m committed.” His lawyer sighed again. “Okay, I’ll look into the first steps. But David, you have to report this officially. You can’t just keep a child in your house without notifying the state.” “I understand. Can we do that today?” “I’ll see what I can set up.”
David hung up and saw Maya watching him. “Is everything okay?” she asked. David smiled, trying to look more confident than he felt. “Everything’s fine. Just handling some paperwork so you can stay here officially.” “Officially?” Maya frowned. “Yeah, there are rules about who can look after kids.”
“What if they say no?” David felt a pang of fear in her voice. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure they say yes. I promise.” Mrs. Gable intervened with a smile. “Why don’t you two go for a walk? It’s a beautiful day out.” “Great idea,” David agreed. “Maya, want to go down to the lake?”
Maya’s eyes went wide. “Really?” “Sure. Let’s take advantage of the sun. But first, how about you put on some of those new clothes?” An hour later, David was walking along the Lake Shore Drive path with a beaming Maya. She was wearing her new blue dress and the light-up sneakers.
The joy on her face as she ran ahead, chasing seagulls and looking at the water, was like medicine for David’s soul. To any observer, they looked like a father and daughter enjoying a sunny morning. And for the first time in his life, David felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
The next few months were a whirlwind of adjustment. Following Mark’s advice, David officially registered Maya with Child Services. As expected, it wasn’t easy. There were questions about how he found her and several home visits. But David’s clean record and Maya’s clear improvement helped.
Adapting to his new reality was a challenge. David, used to 80-hour work weeks, now had to balance board meetings with pediatrician appointments and parent-teacher conferences. His penthouse was now filled with toys and a bit of organized chaos. For Maya, the transition was also hard.
After the initial excitement, she struggled with nightmares and a constant fear that David would disappear. A child psychologist, Dr. Miller (no relation), explained that this was a normal reaction to trauma. Maya was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
One Friday morning, David was getting coffee before taking Maya to school when his phone rang. It was Mark. “Good news, David. The judge has set a hearing for next month. If all goes well, you’ll be granted permanent legal guardianship.” David felt a wave of relief. “That’s great, Mark. Thank you.”
“It’s not full adoption yet,” the lawyer cautioned. “But it’s a huge step.” “I understand. Any word on the biological father?” There was a brief pause. “Well, that’s the tricky part. The private investigator found him. His name is Greg Miller. He’s in Miami, working at a beach bar.”
David felt his stomach tighten. “Does he know about the proceedings?” “Not yet. The investigator just located him. We need to decide how to proceed.” “What’s your recommendation?” Mark sighed. “Legally, he has rights. If we want the adoption to go through without a hitch, we need him to sign away those rights.”
David closed his eyes. “And if he refuses? If he decides he wants her back?” “It’s a risk,” Mark admitted. “But if he abandoned her like she says, we have a strong case. Plus, his history of instability won’t help him in court.” David heard footsteps in the hall. Maya was awake.
“I have to go, Mark. We’ll talk later.” He hung up just as Maya walked into the kitchen. She was wearing her favorite bear pajamas. “Morning, kiddo,” David said, hiding his worry. “Sleep okay?”
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