To Harper:Emergency favor. Can you watch Leo for 30 min while Chloe and I take a call?
Harper:Be there in 10.
“Leo, buddy, guess what? Harper’s coming to visit. She wants to see your puppy drawings.”
Leo’s face lit up. “Can I show her my truck?”
“Absolutely.”
Harper arrived first, slightly breathless. “Jack’s watching Emma. What’s going on?”
“Arthur has an update,” I said quietly.
Harper’s expression shifted to understanding. “Say no more. Leo and I are going to have a very important discussion about those puppies and his drawings.”
Chloe pulled up moments later. She came in, gave Leo a quick hug, and followed me to the bedroom. I put my phone on speaker and called Arthur back.
“Sam, Chloe,” Arthur greeted us. “I’ve got the PI report, and I’ve spoken with Patricia Hoffman, Jenna’s attorney in Chicago. This is going to be difficult to hear.”
Chloe reached for my hand as we sat on the edge of the bed. “We’re ready,” I said.
“The PI confirmed Jenna went back to Chicago. She’s living with her ex-husband – David - in their previous residence.” Arthur paused. “They’re flying to Vegas this weekend to remarry.”
My stomach clenched. “She went back to him after everything he did.”
“It appears so. The PI did some digging into how this reconciliation came about.” I heard papers shuffling. “David had been seeing someone else, a younger woman, but that relationship ended badly. According to what the PI was able to gather from David’s social circle, he called Jenna and told her he’d made a mistake. Said he still loved her, wanted her back, was sorry for how everything ended.”
“Let me guess,” I said bitterly. “Leo wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Correct. David’s stipulation for reconciliation was that Jenna sever all ties with Leo. He doesn’t want to raise another man’s child or be reminded of Jenna’s lying.” Arthur’s voice was carefully neutral, but I could hear the disapproval underneath. “The PI managed to overhear David discussing this with friends at his gym. David’s exact words were that he ‘can’t live without her’ and that he’s ‘willing to take her back despite everything she did.’”
“Despite everything she did?” The hypocrisy made me want to put my fist through a wall. “He’s the one who cheated.”
“Yes, well, David seems to have a flexible relationship with accountability.” Arthur cleared his throat. “There’s more. David told these same friends he’s getting a vasectomy. He said, and I quote, ‘If she ever gets pregnant again, I’ll know she’s cheating, and she’s gone for good.’ Meanwhile, Jenna’s been heard gloating to her social network about winning her husband back and the substantial monthly allowance he’s giving her to spend on whatever she wants.”
The cold calculation of it was staggering. I closed my eyes, thinking about Leo asking when his mommy was coming back. “So she traded her son for financial security?”
“In the bluntest terms, yes.” Arthur paused. “Patricia shared something with me during our conversation. She said Jenna seemed relieved. Patricia’s exact words were that Jenna told her she knows Leo will have a better life with you and Chloe than she could ever provide, and that she’s glad he’ll be taken care of so she can move on with her life.”
“Glad she can move on?” Chloe’s voice was sharp with disgust.
“Patricia said Jenna was very matter-of-fact about it. She acknowledged that David can give her the lifestyle she wants. She sees this as the best outcome for everyone involved.”
Chloe made a sound that was half-laugh, half-snort. “Sounds like they’re perfect for each other. Two selfish people who deserve exactly what they’re getting.”
“Indeed.” Arthur cleared his throat. “Patricia’s very well-respected in Chicago family law circles. She confirmed that Jenna retained her services to voluntarily terminate her parental rights. David is paying, of course.”
“Can she actually do that? Just… give him up?”
“In Illinois, yes, but it’s complicated. Typically, voluntary termination requires either the other parent accepting full parental responsibility or proof that termination is in the child’s best interest, in which case the child is put into care with a view to adoption. Patricia walked me through the process.” Arthur’s voice shifted into lecture mode. “First, Jenna has to file a petition with the Illinois family court. There will be a hearing where she has to appear before a judge and confirm this is her voluntary decision, that she understands she’s permanently severing her legal relationship with Leo. The judge will appoint a guardian ad litem to represent Leo’s interests.”
“How long does this take?”
“Six to twelve months typically. Since you’re already his legal father, it’s more straightforward than a traditional adoption, but there will still be a home study to verify you can provide adequate care, background checks, and possibly interviews with Leo, depending on what the guardian ad litem recommends. The court needs to confirm that granting you sole custody and allowing Jenna’s termination serves Leo’s best interest.”
“What do we need to do?”
“For now, exactly what you’re doing – providing a stable home for Leo. You’ll need to file a petition for custody in Oregon since that’s where Leo is currently residing. Patricia and I will coordinate between jurisdictions.” Arthur paused. “Sam, this is going to cost money. Court fees, legal representation in both states, the home study, the guardian ad litem fees. We’re looking at $15,000 to $25,000, depending on how complicated it gets.”
