Chapter 24 - Gloria appeals the guardianship
The final family-court hearing should have closed everything.
Gloria made one last serious counterattack.
She argued permanent guardianship to me was premature because:
My work travel could resume.
My apartment lease ended in five months.
I had no parenting history before crisis.
Lizzy remained attached to grandparents.
Criminal sentence was short.
Financial misuse repaid.
Patricia proposed:
Professional guardian or shared kinship structure?
Not realistic to split guardianship with unsafe person. Better she proposed temporary guardianship to Natalie for another six months, then reconsider, rather than permanent.
Why?
Gloria hoped time would allow return.
Dr. Lane opposed.
“Children need durable caregiving plans.”
Then my future housing.
I had been searching for a larger townhouse.
Gloria framed:
Instability.
I answered:
“My lease is valid. A future move within school district is not current instability.”
Then work.
My employer confirmed:
Permanent local assignment available.
One overnight trip per quarter, optional with childcare plan.
Good.
Then childcare backup.
Licensed after-school program.
My cousin? Need another adult. Could use vetted family friend Susan Hale? Better Lizzy’s paternal grandmother maybe? But introducing may complicate. Let's say Ben’s sister Amanda Reed, age 39, had always lived two hours away and passed kinship background check as emergency backup. She had not sought guardianship due three children at home. Good.
Amanda testified:
Natalie calls for advice.
Lizzy knows my family.
I can provide emergency weekend care.
No single-point dependency.
Then Gloria argued:
Natalie is alienating.
Evidence?
No.
I had facilitated Walt sessions.
Preserved Gloria’s letters.
Did not disparage in school records.
Then Gloria’s appeal of accounting? She withdrew once final $840 adjustment issued.
Good.
Then her strongest emotional argument:
“I am Lizzy’s grandmother. I raised her for eighteen months. Removing me completely would be another loss.”
True.
Dr. Lane answered:
“Contact and guardianship are different questions.”
There.
Then final recommendation:
Permanent successor guardian:
Natalie.
Walt:
Supervised therapeutic contact progressing based on child.
Gloria:
No contact for minimum three months after sentencing, then therapeutic reintroduction only if Lizzy agrees and clinician supports.
No automatic unsupervised visits.
Financial:
Harbor retains trust.
Natalie subject annual accounting.
No grandparent account authority.
Judge reserved decision for two weeks.
Active.
Then Gloria filed a motion asking court to order Lizzy to attend reunification therapy with her immediately.
Dr. Lane opposed.
At six, forcing contact after recent abuse could increase distress.
Judge denied mandatory immediate reunification.
May you like
But left future review open.
Gloria lost the last lever to make Lizzy show up before she was ready.
