“Max and I have been trying to figure out a way you can live here. There aren’t many options, in fact, the only option is to apply for custody until you are eighteen, and then you can make your own decision about where you live.”
“I want to live here, with Max and Isaac,” she said.
“The problem with applying for custody is that we have to find a reason for it. The easiest way is to prove that a parent is unsuitable to raise their child, and if there is another family member willing to take the child, then a judge is normally fine with that. Does that make sense?”
“Does it mean I have to testify against my dad and tell a judge what he did?” She pulled her chair closer to mine,so I put my arms around her, tucking her curls behind her ear.
“That is a possibility, isn’t it, Peter?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is.”
“But what if I tell the truth, and they still send me to live with my dad? Then it’ll make things worse.”
She cried and held me tight. “Please, Isaac, don’t let them send me back to live with them. They were awful. Dad’s wife doesn’t even want me there.”
“I know, sweetie, we’ll do everything we can. Even if I have to steal you and Max and take you both to Portugal,” I joked, squeezing her tight.
“Isaac, I filed the temporary custody application overnight. The judgehearing today’s cases is a family friend. It doesn’t mean it will be easier because she will still decide based on the evidence and witness testimony, but she’ll know there’s good reason for me taking this case on.”
“Thanks, Peter; I appreciate all your help,” I said before I turned to Lucy and pulled her into a tight hug. “Right, you beautiful girl, what do you say we go out there and kick ass?”
Lucy laughed. “You sounded reallyAmerican just now.”
“Max must be rubbing off on me.” I winked.
“Ew.” They both replied.
* * *
I couldn’t stop fidgeting as we made our way to the courthouse in Officer Jones’ car with Peter following behind us.
Lucy was holding up surprisinglywell, but I could see it in her eyes. It was the same look she’d had when we’d found her in Lydia’s Magical Gardens. Absolute fear.
My phone rang in my pocket. I took it out and looked at the screen.
“Hi, David.”
“Isaac, what’s going on? You left a strange message on my phone, and Joel has been trying to get hold of Max for hours.”
I sighed and told David what had happened. I realized I was on speaker when Joel let out a loud curse.
“What the fuck is he playing at? Why didn’t he tell me what was going on?” Joel sounded so angry. I dreaded his reaction when and if Max told him what he’d gone through as a teenager.
“Joel,” I called as loud as I could over the phone, “I know how you’re feeling, but right now we justneed some support. Max needs you. You’re his best friend.”
“What can I do across the fucking ocean?”
“I don’t know. We’re on our way to the courthouse for the temporary custody hearing. If things progress, we may need you as character references. Will you be able to fly at short notice?”
“Of course.”
I heard a rustling in the background and muffled voices.
“Isaac. This might not be the best moment,” David said, “but I thought you’d like to know Aunt Teresa has applied for full custody of Filipe in view of adopting him.”
“When will you know?”
“I think it can take a few weeks. Tiago is doing a great job with the lawyer here. They made Filipe see a psychologist, and they say there’s enough evidence to suggest his grandparents aren’t fit to look after him.”
