The mystery gifts that arrived every September nineteenth weren’t such a mystery. It wasn’t hard to guess you’d sent them. She knows all about you, we’ve always been open with her, and I know that with time, she will understand why you did what you did and find appreciation for it.
I know that you can provide for her and love her. Please think hard on this for us, for Ireland.
Ryan and Shannon Lacy
I refolded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. My mind was whirling as I tried to process so much information. I glanced up at Jameson, who was reading a document as well. When she finished, she had a wide smile spread across her face.
“What did the letter say?” Jameson asked.
“He asked if I’d take Ireland.”
“And . . .”
“Of course I will; it’s what I want.”
“Then you just need to sign here.” She slid the document she had just been reading over to me. “He already had filled out everything. You are now the temporary legal guardian for Ireland Lacy.”
“Why not permanent?”
“You’ll still have to make an appearance in Juvenile Probate so Judge McCree can make it legally binding and have it entered into the records.”
She pulled a sealed nine-by-twelve envelope out of her file folder and opened it. “This is Mr. and Mrs. Lacy’s will.” Jameson flipped through the pages and quickly scanned everything, before turning her eyes back to me.
“Basically, everything is left to you if you take Ireland. If you decide not to take Ireland, they ask that you be the trustee and portion out funds to whoever takes care of her when she’s eighteen, twenty-one, and the remaining amount at twenty-five.”
“I’m taking her, but I don’t want anything, it’s hers, all hers. I have my own money.” I was more than financially stable enough to take care of my daughter.
“Then do what they asked you to do for anyone else and put it in a trust for her.” Jameson’s phone dinged and she looked at it, scrolling through the text. “That was Judge Cree’s assistant; we are meeting him Monday at ten fifteen in his chambers. Karen Koehler will speak with the judge first and then we will. Ireland must attend.” Jameson leaned forward and placed one hand on top of mine. “Don’t look so worried, if you are positive that you’re ready for this then it is a done deal. We should have this wrapped up in a few days.” She pulled her hand back.
“Was there anything in there that stipulated their final wishes, like funeral or cremation?” I asked, hoping that if the Lacys had enough forethought to set this up, then they had taken care of final wishes as well.
“There is.” Jameson handed me a thick legal envelope marked Oak Lawn Cemetery, which I tucked into my inside front breast pocket to read later.
“We will meet at a quarter to ten Monday morning in the front of the courthouse.” Jameson began sliding everything back into her satchel. “Here’s my card, call if you need anything. This is pretty much a closed case, since they appointed you as her guardian and you are her birth father, so it is very unlikely the judge will contradict their wishes. Oh, I forgot to give you this.” Jameson pulled out another envelope that was bulging with something inside.
I opened it and found several keys. “What are these for?”
“His assistant told me they are copies to everything the Lacys owned. Bank deposit, safe, house, cars, everything. All of the other important information is inside.”
“Do you come across many people this organized?”
“No, why do you ask?” Jameson raised a brow, studying me.
“I don’t know . . . it’s almost like he knew something was going to happen to them or something.”
“Maybe he just saw the nightmare some people go through when a loved one passes away without leaving their affairs in order. The man was also anal retentive. He left his office every day at exactly five after five. He started his sessions on the hour and not a minute late. I think it was just him.”
“Okay.” I let it go. “Thank you so much for rushing up here with all of this.”
“No problem, I have to get copies over to the DCF so they know you have legal temporary guardianship.”
“Karen’s here. She’s with Ireland.”
“Great, let’s go see if we can find her.”
I held open the door for her and then pointed to the right. “That way,” I said, knowing she had no clue which way Ireland’s room was. When we turned down the final hallway, I glanced to her, saying, “I’ll pop my head in and get her.” Jameson nodded.
“Karen?” I whispered and both she and Ireland looked over to me. “Can you step out here for a moment?”
Ireland was watching me with such hope in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. I hadn’t gone into her room since she’d kicked me out, but I made sure she knew I was in the hospital in case she changed her mind. “You want me to come in and sit with you?” I finally asked. She nodded, and I swore, it was the best feeling in the world.
I stepped out just as Karen was snapping a photo with her phone of the paperwork that Jameson held out. “This is great news,” Karen exclaimed. “I’m so happy for you and Ireland.”
“Thanks, I’m pretty happy too.”
“When the nurse came in to check Ireland’s vitals, she said the doctor should be by around one. If he lets her go, then you are free to leave with her.” It was then, right then, that it hit me. This was really happening.
I was going to be a father, be responsible for someone
