"She hired a full-time nanny," I explain, my voice thick with frustration. "The nanny said she’s going to be taking Hannah to school every day, looking after her. And that's when I realized—Meghan is planning something. She's going to try to take her away from me."
Nate leans forward in his chair, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean, ‘planning’? You have full custody, right? She can’t just waltz in and take Hannah away from you. Can she?"
I shake my head, exasperated. "I don’t know, Nate. It’s like she’s been waiting for the right moment. I’m just not sure what her angle is, but I know she won’t stop until she gets what she wants."
Dad’s face hardens as he looks at me. "She hasn’t been there for Hannah all these years. You’ve been the one raising her. You’ve been there every step of the way. I don't care what tricks she tries to pull now. She can't rewrite history."
"I agree," Sylvie says, her voice cutting through the tension. "But even though you have full custody, Cal, that doesn’t mean she can’t petition the court for a modification. If she’s made arrangements for a nanny, if she’s trying to get Hannah in her home more frequently, she’s setting up a case for herself. She might argue that Hannah’s current living situation isn’t stable or that you’re not able to meet her needs anymore."
I feel my stomach tighten at her words. "You’re saying she could actually win this? Even after everything?"
Sylvie nods. "It’s possible, yes. But we can fight this. We need to show that Hannah is thriving under your care, that she has stability, love, and the support she needs. But we also need to prepare for the possibility that Meghan will try to make you look unfit somehow. Question your parenting, your ability to provide for her emotionally and financially."
Mom, who’s been quiet up until now, speaks with a firm tone. "Cal, you need to prepare yourself for the long haul. Meghan will stop at nothing to get what she wants. And if she thinks she has a chance, she’ll use whatever resources she has to fight you in court."
"I know," I reply, my voice tight. "If this turns into a legal battle, I could lose everything I've worked for, while Meghan will have barely scratched the surface of what she can afford in legal fees."
"That's where we come in," Dad says, his tone unwavering. "Your mother and I are with you every step of the way. We’ll do whatever it takes to help."
"Count me in," Nate says, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. "So what’s our next move? We can’t just sit around waiting for her to act. We need to prepare for the fight."
Sylvie looks around the room. "First, we make sure that any attempt to change the custody arrangement is contested. We’ll file a motion to keep the current custody order in place and request an emergency hearing if necessary. Then we gather evidence to show that your home is the best place for Hannah."
When her gaze lands on me, I feel a surge of determination. "We’ll fight this. I’m not letting her take my daughter from me."
Sylvie nods. "We’ll prepare for the worst, but we need to make sure we show the court why Hannah should remain with you. We’ll need documentation of everything—Meghan's behavior, any evidence of neglect or lack of involvement. And we’ll need to present a strong case about how much you’ve been there for Hannah."
Nate looks at me, a fire in his eyes. "She’s not taking her, Cal. No chance."
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of the battle ahead. But with my family backing me and Sylvie leading the charge, I know we can win this. "I won’t let her," I say, my voice steady with resolve.
Chapter 31
Danielle
We have movie night tonight, just us girls. Tina has the night off, Jo and Beth came over, and Hannah is staying with me while Cal is in New York on business.
We order Chinese food for dinner, because no movie night is complete without it. The smell of sesame chicken, fried rice, and spring rolls fills the air as I open each container.
“We should do this more often,” Tina says, glancing around the room. “Who needs fancy restaurants when you have Chinese takeout and a movie?”
“Right?” I say, catching Beth’s eye. “Who needs anything else?”
I glance around the room, and find everyone staring at me. “The only entertainment Beth and I had when we were in foster care, besides a few toys and each other, was the movieHome Aloneon DVD.”
“It’s still one of my favorites,” Beth says.
“Our parents gave us the movie for Christmas the year before the accident,” I continue. “Before everything changed. Watching it with Beth was a source of comfort, something special we shared no matter where we were. A movie and a bowl of ramen noodles.”
“Is that why you force me to watch it with you every holiday?” Tina chimes in, shooting me a knowing smile. “We’ve watched it so many times over the years, I know every single word by heart.”
After dinner, we all settle on the couch to watchFrozen. Popcorn in hand, easy conversation flowing, and laughter echoing around the room, the night feels perfect.
Tina slouches into the oversized chair next to the couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap. “You know,Frozenisn’t exactly a holiday movie.”
Hannah, sitting on the floor in front of the couch, doesn’t miss a beat. “It is, too! Elsa is the best! She has powers, and she can make ice castles!” Her little hands mimic the icy magic, which makes me burst out laughing.
Later, after the food is gone and the movie has ended, we all snuggle in for a lazy, laid-back night. Jo and Tina talk about a new movie they want to see, while Beth tells me all about the boy she has a crush on.
