“Should we ask the others if they want to go back?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to head back, even if we decided not to.”
We plan to head back tomorrow, I’m really hoping we’ll have some answers soon. Being in limbo about Palmer and my ex-family is the worst feeling.
This time we all got on a commercial flight. I have to admit, I miss the private jet. It’s easy to get spoiled with things like that.
Emerson
When we get back to Lake Renegade, it’s like some of the stress I’ve been feeling goes away. We get there in time to have dinner with everyone and then go to bed. It’s amazing how tired I am, flying from Italy to Illinois. When we get up, I have a text from my cugino.
Sebastiano: We found something. Come to the clubhouse when you get up
I show Sawyer the text. We get up and get showered.
Emerson: On our way in five minutes. Just need to ask my parents if they can keep River with them
Sebastiano: We’ll be here
We head downstairs and see my mama cooking breakfast. River’s sitting and watching her.
“Morning,” I say as I kiss my mama on the cheek and tickle River’s tummy. “Would it be okay if River stayed with you for a bit?”
“Of course. Is everything okay?”
“I think so, Bastian said he needs to talk to us.”
“I hope it’s something good. River and I will have some breakfast and then play outside. Maybe we’ll head up to the main house so he can play with his cousins.”
“Thank you, Mama,” I say as I hug her.
Sawyer hugs my mama and thanks her. We head over to the Cimaruta clubhouse, I’m a little anxious. I feel like we need to have this done already. Sawyer is on edge a lot because she’s worried that Palmer could actually have rights to River. Lorenzo said he can try. But legally, he’s never done anything. Plus, it was supposed to be an anonymous donor. So we’re going to go after the clinic too. They violated Sawyer and River’s rights when they gave Palmer her information.
When we get to the clubhouse, Sebastiano, Francesco, Gervasio and Galen are waiting for us. Some of our other family members have been helping Bastian and Franco with the IT stuff. We all say good morning and sit down to talk.
“Okay, we’ve actually found out a lot. We didn’t want to send any of this in a text or on the phone. First, I wanted to give you an update on the adoption. Our papers are filed, but for somereason it’s not moving through the system. Lorenzo’s making phone calls to find out what’s holding it up,” Francesco says just as Lorenzo walks in to join us. I don’t like the look on his face.
Francesco stops talking and we all look at Lorenzo.
“I found out why our petition is taking so long. There’s another one in for parental rights from Palmer. He has none, of course. But he’s still allowed to submit his claim. And he has connections that he’s using. Because we have a court date in four days,” Lorenzo says as he looks at us.
“Holy fuck. How much did he pay to bribe whoever did this?” I snap.
“I don’t know. But our name isn’t taken lightly either. But I also don’t know this judge. And I need to talk to some of my colleagues.”
“So are you saying that if this judge is dirty, he can take River away from me?” Sawyer asks as her voice shakes.
“I’m saying he won’t get away with this. We already have all the proof that you paid for an anonymous donor and they’ve violated that. I’m waiting on the petition to see what they’re claiming. It has to be on my desk by the end of today. Or the date has to be pushed back again.”
Sawyer is sobbing as I hold her. This isn’t what we were expecting.
“What if he lies and the judge believes him?” she asks.
“I can’t ask for a change of judges until we see what this one’s like. I’m not going to let them touch River. But we have to see what he’s doing before we jump to conclusions.”
“Even if he’s asking for visitation, I don’t want that.”
“I know, and again, we have the proof that you paid for an anonymous donor. You didn’t ask for a partner in this, or any help.”
