“Absolutely. When I gave up my rights, I wasn’t in a good place, and it was probably the best thing I could have done for her. But I’m not a scared, broke kid anymore.”
She smiled warmly. “No, you aren’t, and I’m proud of you for showing up like you did.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t come?”
“I hoped you would, but when you do what I do for a living and see what I see, sometimes you never know.”
I lived through some of the nightmares Karen had probably seen, and while she might remember enough of the gossip to think to call me when Ireland’s name landed on her desk, there was no way she could fathom the extent of the neglect I had suffered as a kid. It wasn’t something I liked to talk about.
“Did you know her adoptive parents?” I asked, hoping that she had.
“I didn’t. Why?”
“I need to find out about her parents’ final wishes. I was online yesterday Googling about what children go through and one page talked all about regrets, the regrets people had about not getting to say goodbye to their parent because someone kept them away from the funeral when they were a kid. I don’t want Ireland to feel that way.”
“I’m really happy to see you taking that initiative. Your attorney will be able to find that out. I brought you a list of names just in case the one yesterday didn’t work out.” Karen reached for her bag.
“No, the attorney was great, I hired her. She is trying to get a copy of the Lacys’ will and contact Judge Cree.”
“Who did you hire?”
“Jameson Lane.”
Karen’s eyes widened. “You got the best; she is a shark.”
“What’s next?” I folded my hands and rested them on the table as if praying.
“I’ll file papers with the state on Monday. The first part of this is very quick, it is where they declare you her temporary guardian and a thirty-day wait period begins. During that time, if anyone has proof of why they should be the legal guardian of Ireland and comes forward then there will be a hearing. The rest is drawn out and may require you to come back for a meeting or two with the judge, but let’s get through this first step before we worry about that, okay?”
“I’m okay with that, whatever I need to do.”
“Aaron, I know that you want this, and I believe that you are what’s right for Ireland, now we just need to convince the judge of that. I need to go chat with Ireland and try to find out if they are releasing her today.” Karen got up and left the small room.
Aaron
I nearly dropped my phone on the hard terrazzo floor when it rang while I was staring at Vivian’s texts and having a pity party. Not recognizing the number but knowing that it was from this area, I answered anyway.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” a woman asked, I didn’t recognize the voice.
I answered somewhat reluctantly. “At Deaconess hospital.”
“Okay, but where, that’s sort of a big building.”
“Pediatric unit.”
“I have no ever-loving clue where that is.”
“Who is this?” I finally asked.
“Oh, sorry. This is Jameson, your attorney.”
“I’m on the fourth floor in a private conference room.”
“Hold that room, I’ll be there shortly.
“Okay . . .”
She disconnected, and I was left staring at a black screen, no explanation, no anything. It wasn’t even five minutes later that she walked in wearing a bright red golf skirt and a low-cut, white golf shirt.
“You aren’t going to believe what I got.” She shook her large bag at me.
“Obviously, you met the judge at the eighteenth hole.”
“Yes, and he was shocked to find out Ryan had been killed. The names haven’t been released yet, because they weren’t sure who the next of kin was and were waiting to notify them.” Jameson took a seat at the small table and began spreading out her papers. “After I told him, he informed me that Judge Lacy had all of his affairs in order as well as an entire estate plan, including guardianship of Ireland according to Judge Cree. He said that he was the one to personally notarize it for Ryan Lacy.”
“Okay, who is the guardian?”
“You are.” Jameson pulled a reddish-brown legal file in front of her, opened it, and then unclipped a letter that was fastened to the front before handing it to me.
I took the envelope with the judge’s seal up in one corner and opened it, not sure why he would leave me a letter.
Unfolding the letter, I read:
Aaron,
If you’re reading this, obviously, something has happened to my wife and me. When we first met you, I saw in you something that I admired; I could tell that you were torn over what was right for Ireland. In the end, I believe you did what was best, and we are thankful for the years we’ve had with her.
You were just a child yourself, you never had what you wanted Ireland to have. So many times, my wife and I wanted to invite you to come live with us, but I was afraid, not that you would take Ireland or anything, but that you wouldn’t leave. You would cherish having the family you never had and pass up the opportunity of a lifetime, your scholarship and chance to play in the NBA.
I went to some of your University of Kentucky games, and I tried to make it whenever you played the Pacers. Each time I saw you on the court, I knew
