Chapter 15 - Vivian’s counterattack
Vivian did not claim I was a bad mother.
Not exactly.
Her filing was smarter.
She argued:
Noah had lived at Ashford House nearly his entire life.
Vivian had been court-recognized guardian for most of that period.
I had voluntarily consented twice.
I had represented to a court visitor that care was shared.
I had maintained employment requiring evening and event work.
I had never exercised independent overnight parenting outside the estate.
I had no current housing after termination from staff employment.
Abrupt guardianship termination would destabilize Noah.
All true or partly true.
Then:
Elena may have intentionally encouraged Noah to call her “Mom” during a public event in order to influence litigation.
False.
But difficult emotionally because nobody could crawl inside a toddler’s head.
Vivian requested:
Continuation of guardianship during evaluation.
Neutral child-development assessment.
Structured contact.
No public discussion.
Leah read the filing.
Then said:
“This is not crazy.”
I stared.
“Excuse me?”
“She is not saying you lose your son. She is saying transition matters.”
“She fired me.”
“Yes.”
“To make me homeless.”
“That is something we will discuss.”
I wanted a lawyer who said:
We destroy her.
Instead I had Leah.
May you like
Annoying.
Useful.
