She desperately wanted to remain Lucan’s mother…forever.
Reva stepped into the starkly lit lobby of the Family and Child Services building, her boots echoing on the polished floor as she crossed to the reception desk. “I’m Reva Nygard. I’m here to see Bea Followill.”
The clerk nodded. “Yes, Ms. Followill is expecting you.”
As Reva stood, clutching Lucan a little closer, she saw Bea Followill approaching through the lobby.
“Reva, thank you for coming on such short notice,” she said, her face no longer filled with calm demeanor and a compassionate smile, but concern. A concern that only heightened Reva’s apprehension.
Dressed in a fitted pantsuit in a shade of gray that matched the stormy sky, Bea exuded an air of professional demeanor. As she drew nearer, her expression conveyed a mixture of understanding and sadness, a silent acknowledgment of what the horizon held.
“Like I said in my text message,” Bea began, leading them to her tiny office. “We’ve had an unexpected development.”
Reva trembled inside as she took a seat and unwrapped Lucan from his jacket. “What news?” Her voice remained steady despite the turmoil she felt inside.
Bea folded into her office chair and let out a sigh—a long, heavy sound that seemed to carry more weight than the air could hold. “His grandfather has reached out to us through legal counsel. Despite currently serving time in Texas for armed robbery—” She paused, searching Reva’s eyes. “Jess Dorsey wants to start proceedings for full custody.”
“I—I’m not following.”
“Technically, Lucan’s grandfather is his legal guardian until he relinquishes or the courts rule otherwise. Either way, he has about eight months left to serve out his sentence. Based on the circumstances surrounding this situation, his attorney is petitioning the court for early release, hoping to convince the judge it’s in Lucan’s best interest for his grandfather to be freed so his grandson can live with him.”
Reva scowled with concern. “He’s a criminal,” she protested. “I mean, is he the best one to care for Lucan? I am more than willing and able to?—”
“I’m afraid there’s little we can do if Mr. Dorsey wants to pursue custody. Of course, we’ll be completing a family home study but the fact he has a charge of this nature in his background doesn’t necessarily preclude him from stepping in as Lucan’s only family and taking custody of his grandson.” Bea looked across the desk patiently. “Given the current situation, we have no choice but to accommodate the rules and procedures in place. Lucan is currently a ward of the state, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
Bea folded her hands on her desk. “Reva, you know we’ll do everything we possibly can to ensure Lucan Dorsey is safe and in the best possible place he can be. Sometimes my personal desires do not line up with how the court rules. Please understand we do all we can,” Bea implored, her eyes pleading.
The room seemed to spin as Reva processed Bea’s words. She thought of the hours she’d spent holding Lucan through the night, comforting him, and the surprising amount of love she already felt for this little guy in her lap.
The possibility of handing Lucan over to a distant, incarcerated relative whose only goal was to walk away from prison was unthinkable.
“Bea, Lucan is…happy. He’s well cared for.” Reva tried to articulate the storm of objections in her mind, but each quickly dissipated, sounding less convincing than the last. She nearly screamed theonlything that mattered here. “He’s been through enough already. What is he going to think if the courts take him from me? He’s going to feel like I abandoned him.” She let out a rare curse. “We can’t do that to him.” She refrained from adding the other important thought in her mind. “He’s mine!”
“I understand your situation, Reva. You’ve been doing an amazing job. No one could have done better,” Bea said, her sincerity unmistakable.
The silence that followed was filled with unspoken fears. Reva felt a knife at her heart, ready to plunge its sharp edge into everything she held dear. She couldn’t imagine abandoning Lucan to anyone else—and especially a convict. Even if he was Lucan’s grandfather.
She let her lips drop to the top of his soft, black curls and kissed him. He turned and looked up at her, his large, brown eyes filled with nothing but trust.
“Okay, what now?” Reva finally managed, her voice a mixture of trepidation and worry. “You asked me to bring his things. Lucan has already become a part of my life. Does that mean I can’t take him home with me?” She could barely push the words past the lump in her throat.
Bea’s sadness was palpable. “I’m afraid that is best, Reva. I can’t tell you how much harder this will be later—on both of you.”
The following hour was a blur. Paperwork signed, instructions given, court dates noted. And tears shed…lots of tears.
Especially when she kissed his soft, dimpled cheek and whispered, “I love you, Lucan.”
As Reva pushed through the doors of the Family and Child Services building and made her way to the car without Lucan in her arms, more tears blinded her path.
There had been losses in her life—yet nothing like this. Yes, she’d always known this was a possibility, but never truly believed she’d have to give him up. Leaving Lucan in Bea Followill’s arms and walking away without him felt like death. Worse than death.
Abandoning Lucan to some unknown fate was torture.
31
Reva sat at her table, her eyes red and swollen from crying, a tissue crumpled in her hand. Her girlfriends—Charlie Grace, Lila, and Capri—hovered around her with concern, the mood somber, the air heavy with empathy and unwavering support.
Charlie Grace reached and covered Reva’s hand with her own. “Reva, honey, you did what you had to do. Lucan…he’ll be well taken care of until all this gets sorted out.”
