Chapter 17 - THE HEARING
The emergency family-court hearing happened six days later.
Mia did not testify.
Leah insisted on that.
“She has already carried enough adult responsibility.”
The judge reviewed police reports, medical records, video footage, the forged transfer request, and Erin’s recordings.
Carol’s attorney called the situation “a tragic family misunderstanding.”
The judge’s expression did not change.
“Locking food away from children is not a misunderstanding.”
Neither was abducting Erin.
Neither was forging her signature.
Neither was entering a hospital under false credentials.
Protective orders were issued.
Carol’s contact with the children was suspended pending further review.
Travis remained in custody.
Outside the courtroom, Erin leaned against the wall and shook.
Mia held her hand.
“Did we win?”
Erin crouched.
“This isn’t a game.”
“I know.”
“We got protection. That’s what matters.”
Mia looked toward the courtroom doors.
“Grandma looked sad.”
“She is sad.”
“Do I have to make her feel better?”
Erin stared at her daughter.
“No.”
The answer came fast.
Certain.
“No, baby. Grown-ups are responsible for their own feelings.”
Mia absorbed that slowly.
Then she nodded.
Across the hall, Carol emerged with her lawyer.
She looked older than she had a week earlier.
“Mia,” she said softly.
The child tensed.
Carol stopped.
“I’m sorry.”
Erin stepped between them.
“Not now.”
Carol’s face crumpled.
“I love them.”
“Love without protection is not enough.”
Carol lowered her eyes.
For once, she did not argue.
As Erin and Mia walked toward the elevator, Dana approached.
“We got the search results from Travis’s prepaid phone.”
Erin turned.
“There were messages to a debt collector. He owed more than we thought.”
“How much?”
“Over a hundred thousand.”
Dana paused.
May you like
“And one message said he’d have access to ‘the kids’ money’ by Friday.”
Friday was the day Mia carried Caleb into the hospital.
