Treasures
I am not sure where this story is going. The genre might change. This is the sequel to Shots Fired.
Chapter One
Maybe I could switch to obstetrics, Drew would muse every so often. But that specialty didn't offer the variety and adrenaline the ER did. And face it, gay or not he was already hit on enough by female patients. Perhaps his military physique was a turn-on both women and gay men.
He didn't realize just how strong his desire to be a parent was until he was one. Love and respect for his own father and mother was long gone. Though Drew would deny he was still grieving that loss Rick could see through him. That grief might have been deep but his paternal instincts to protect his daughters-from anyone- were stronger. Avery was oblivious to the situation. Brianna had overheard things she shouldn't. The thirteen-year-old was reassured for now, with the help of her therapist everyone hoped the matter would fade from Brianna's memory. It had been just over a month and the couple or their lawyer hadn't heard anything heard anything more from Drew's mother. His father didn't appear to be an active party in his wife's legal antics, his name wasn't in the documents the couple received. Perhaps the man didn't want to raise children again despite hating his son's "lifestyle." But even when Drew worshipped his father, the man had a cynical view of kids in the foster care system, one Drew never shared. Both men thought and briefly discussed (while Brianna wasn't home) that Drew's mother might try to gain custody of Avery but not Brianna simply because Avery didn't have the "former foster child" label like her sister did.
Splitting up the sisters weren't going to happen, either. The lawyer Drew and Rick had consulted inquired how the couple felt about visitation, supervised by a therapist in their home in San Antonio a few hours a month, if the case was to make to court and parties were asked to come to a compromise. The lawyer didn't try to change their minds.
"I'm not a therapist but your parents appear pretty toxic and seeing them would not be in the best interest of either of your daughters. If it comes to it, I'm sure a psychologist would try to convince a judge of this. And as far as, your mother possibly wanting one child and not the other I don't know many judges who take kindly to that at all. I will keep watch on this but you have a strong opposition the court is likely to agree with. I will keep you informed," she said.
Blissfully unaware of the seriousness of the skype conversation Avery shook the rattle in her hands. Drew smiled and kissed her head. He could just imagine the views his parents would be in the innocent baby's brain before she could even talk.
Seeing the concern on his husband's face, Rick leaned in and kissed him.
"Hey," he said. "Don't worry. One way or the other we're going to be fine."
He didn't want to say it but his in-laws weren't young. The fact that Drew's parents were almost seventy and set in ways. They were in denial of Brianna's medical needs and very fragile health. Still thinking the double lung transplant "pretty much cured" the girl's Cystic Fibrosis. That would sink them in any court. Even with a therapist and in their own home neither dad was going to bend on any form of visitation. Brianna didn't want to see Drew's mother. She already had grandparents. Those grandparents loved her, accepted her dads and even if it made them sad they understood she wasn't "cured" from her disease.
"I know," Drew said. "But I just wish they would come around or fuck off."
"We can't let them into our world, ya know. Anymore than they already have intruded. It looks like things are on our side again."
Drew knew his husband was right. That would mean they metaphorically "won." There was no way the elder Alisters were winning that battle, let alone the war for the children.