Page 18 of Like A Daydream
“You’re just upset because our son took after us and made something of himself,” Jack’s father says, voice low, “and gave your daughter the life that you couldn’t.”
“Adam—” Sarah says, even she knows that’s a low blow and Danielle feels a sting on Emerson’s behalf.
“No, Sarah,” Jack’s dad says, “They can’t stand when people accomplish goals and they didn’t. Jack and Emerson started their company alone, and had a life that we could only dream of. And they’re trying to take that out on us.”
“Well, I never— We were your friends, Adam
“Funny way of showing it!”
Danielle exchanges a glance with Erick and rolls her eyes before clearing her throat and standing up. Time for shit to really explode.
Actually,” she sets the envelope she had been holding on the table, “she’s coming to live with me.”
Emerson’s mother snatches the envelope from her grip before it’s even fully on the table, and she pulls the paperwork from inside. Her eyes scanning back and forth.
“This can’t be legitimate,” she says, eyes going wide, “there’s no possible way that they would leave her to you.”
All four grandparents erupt into senseless protestations and arguments, throwing words back and forth between the four of them like children. Danielle watches, and their lawyer folds his arms over his chest like a disappointed father.
If they hadn’t just come from the cemetery, the whole thing would have been funny.
“There are a lot of perfectly good reasons they would,” Danielle says, her voice coming out more tired that she would have liked. “Starting with the fact that neither set of grandparents have actually, physically, met Harper.”
The room falls silent.
“She was born after you all left, and then we had a pandemic. In the four years since, not once have you made the effort to visit,” Danielle says. “Not only have you not met her, you don’t even live near her. She doesn’t know who any of you are. People sending her checks twice a year aren’t fit to be someone who keeps her alive every day. Fight it in court, if you want, but I’m sure a judge will honor their decision.”
“With this,” Erick says, “and everything else.”
“And what happens when you can’t handle a child and a business, yourself?” Emerson’s dad asks.
“I don’t know,” Danielle says, “to be honest, I’ll probably make a lot of mistakes, but you all made them yourselves. All I can do is take one day at a time, and do my best to honor Emerson and Jack in how I parent Harper.”
“Oh, that’s just perfect,” Emerson’s mom says with a huff. “One day at a time and trying your best.”
“Isn’t trying our best what we all do every day?” Danielle asks. “I wasn’t expecting to lose my best friend and become a mom, and yet here I am. All I can do is what I can do, and it’s providing a home for Harper where she is seen, known, loved and safe.”
“She’s not going to be alone,” Erick says, “she has me, and a community here, and it’s better for Harper. You can’t pull her away from everything that she’s ever known when it’s clearly what Jack and Em had decided that her staying here is what’s best for her.”
“If you slip up,” Jack’s mother says, “we’ll take you to court.”
“If I make a mistake bad enough for you to take me to court, I’ll surrender her myself.”
“Are we done, here?” Erick says. “I think the whole neighborhood is going to be at my house for lunch, and we should probably join them.”
With various levels of resignation, Emerson and Jack’s parents leave the meeting room, not saying anything as they pass Danielle or Erick. Em’s parents will probably be on the first flight back to Berlin now that they haven’t gotten anything from her, and Jack’s parents will probably finish visiting some family on this side of the country before they leave.
Danielle won’t be sad to see any of them go.
“That went… well?” Erick asks, helping the lawyer clear up some paperwork on the table. “I was expecting more fighting than that.”
“I think they were intimidated because we did it here, with an actual lawyer,” Danielle says. “If we’d done this at your house, it probably would have been a nightmare.”
Erick’s hand settles between her shoulders and she steps out of reach, grabbing for the letter naming her Harper’s guardian.
“It’s always good to have a lawyer on your side,” their lawyer says, half smiling. “It’s also the shock and grief that they haven’t come to terms with. If anyone tries to contest anything down the road, all you have to do is call.”
A fresh wave of gratitude washes over Danielle and she lets out a breath, feeling her whole body relax for the first time in a week.
