Chapter 12 - IMOGEN USES MY OWN ANGER
Imogen’s defense in the adoption review was not subtle.
Rosalind was volatile.
Rosalind dumped a box over Imogen.
Rosalind sent unverified financial accusations.
Rosalind was turning Sawyer against extended family.
Rosalind wanted the adoption rushed to obtain foundation status.
The last one infuriated me.
So I did exactly what I had learned not to do.
I said nothing.
Hannah answered.
“The adoption was initiated nearly a year before the current foundation dispute.”
Documents.
Home-study start date.
Therapy notes.
School records.
Sawyer’s own age-appropriate statements.
No financial reference until Imogen introduced it.
Good.
Then my box incident.
I did not dodge.
“I dumped the box because I was angry after seeing her slap Sawyer.”
“Did you intend to humiliate her?”
“Yes.”
“Did she fall?”
“Yes.”
“Could Sawyer see?”
“Yes.”
“Do you regret that?”
“Yes.”
No performance.
Then my email.
“I stated an unverified theory as fact. I corrected it the same day.”
Imogen’s lawyer asked:
“So you accuse first and verify later?”
“Sometimes I have. That is something I am changing.”
No fight.
The evaluator later told Hannah:
“Rosalind’s willingness to acknowledge conduct helps.”
Not absolution.
Good.
Then Adrian’s cross-examination.
“Did you pause the adoption before discussing it with Rosalind?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I suspected identity misuse.”
“Did that indicate uncertainty about adopting Sawyer?”
“No.”
“Did you ever have uncertainty?”
Adrian paused.
I turned toward him.
“Answer.”
Hannah did not need to say it.
Adrian did.
“Yes.”
My heart moved.
When?
“Early in the process.”
There.
Imogen’s lawyer smiled.
“What kind?”
“I worried whether legal adoption so soon after marriage would pressure Sawyer emotionally.”
Fair.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“My therapist. Rosalind.”
I remembered.
Seven months earlier.
We had delayed filing by six weeks because Adrian worried Sawyer was trying to please us.
That was real.
Healthy.
Then Imogen’s lawyer produced a text.
ADRIAN TO IMOGEN:
Maybe we should slow the adoption down.
Date:
Seven months earlier.
My stomach tightened.
Real.
Then next lines.
IMOGEN:
Finally.
ADRIAN:
Not because I don’t want him. Because I want to make sure Sawyer isn’t doing this because he’s scared Rosalind will be alone if something happens.
Full context.
There.
Imogen had kept only the first line in her private notes.
Selective evidence.
Again.
The evaluator saw.
Then Imogen’s lawyer shifted.
“Did you ever say Sawyer might be better off maintaining his original surname?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it was his biological father’s name.”
“And now?”
“Sawyer chose hyphenation.”
The adoption plan:
Sawyer Hale-Marlowe.
Not erasing his father.
That mattered.
Then the evaluator asked me:
“If the foundation disappeared tomorrow, would you still want Adrian to adopt Sawyer?”
“Yes.”
Adrian:
“Yes.”
Sawyer had already answered.
Yes.
Then:
“If the foundation offered Sawyer millions?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Hypothetical.”
“I would want financial interests handled independently from the adoption.”
Good.
That became the recommendation.
Resume the adoption only after foundation governance was formally separated from Sawyer’s legal status.
Not legally necessary.
Psychologically wise.
Imogen had tied the two together.
We would untie them before proceeding.
That meant more delay.
May you like
I agreed.
This time willingly.
