Chapter 14

"Can I go over to Tiffani's?" Christy asked Chris a couple of days later as they came through the back door.

"Sorry not today. Daddy's taking us out to dinner," Chris answered as she made her way from the kitchen with a glass of water.

"Where are we going?" Christy asked.

"I don't know. He hasn't told me. Go wash up."

"Okay," she said sighing going up the stairs.

"Bill, bill, hmmm.... Non – bill," Chris said as she went through the stack of mail.

She opened up the non-bill and skimmed through the words. It was addressed to T.C. and Chris Callaway. The words that stuck out in her mind were 'Shannon John', 'Christy's biological mother', 'wants custody', 'court date set for December 6th', signed by Shannon John.

The reality of what this letter meant knocked the air out of Chris. It took all the strength she had to keep standing but caused the glass she was holding to fall to ground causing Destiny to start crying.

Shannon was Christy's biological mother and she was taking them to court for custody of her.

"Mommy what happened?" Christy said coming down the stairs.

"Watch your step, sweetheart," Chris said stopping her from coming near the broken glass.

"Des has been crying like for ever," Christy told her.

"You know what. Let's skip dinner tonight. I'm sure T.C. won't mind. You can go over to Tiffani's," she said picking Destiny up.

"Okay."

She dropped Christy and Destiny off at Tiffani's after Marva offered to watch Destiny for her.

"T.C!" Chris shouted as she bounded the steps to T.C.'s office.

"Chris? Honey what's wrong? What happened? Where are the girls?"

"She wants her back," Chris said out of breath.

"What? Who wants who back?" Chris you're not making any sense."

"Shannon is - - - she's Christy's mother. Her real mother. And she's taking us to court to fight for custody."

"What? Oh my God," he whispered.

"We're going to loose her T.C," Chris cried collapsing against T.C.

"No we won't," T.C. reassured her.

"Maybe we could just leave town. Take the girls and go far away."

"Chris you're not thinking. You're a cop come on now you know we could never do that."

"What are we going to do then?"

"We're going to get the best lawyer Chris and we're going to go to court and fight for Christy alright?"

Chris nodded against T.C.'s chest as he held her against him; still crying. It was a side of her he'd never seen before. It showed what mother hood could do to a person. It showed how much Chris loved a daughter who wasn't even her own.

The court date finally came. They decided to have a private case and T.C. and Chris had not yet told Christy a single thing about it.

"The Callaways," Judge Kern Rose began to say, "Have provided a home for Christy and you should be thankful for that," T.C. placed his hand on Chris's giving her hope while Shannon and Shawn almost gave up.

"However, Ms. John has proven that she is capable of taking care of her daughter and seeing that she is probably the only relative Christy has left; I hereby grant custody of six year old Christy to her biological mother Shannon John."

T.C. and Chris were silent and Shannon shouted a victorious 'Yes!'

"Order," the Judge ordered pounding his gravel, "The Callaways will be allowed to call her once during the week and can visit her on weekends only. This case is closed," he finished pounding the gravel once more.

"This isn't over. We'll appeal," Mrs. Melina Nickie-Diesel , T.C. and Chris' lawyer told them before she gathered her things and made her way out.

"You have until tomorrow evening with her. I'll let you know where we'll meet," Shannon said as she stood beside them.

"How could you do this? Don't you have a heart?" T.C. asked her, "You know how much we love her and you're just gonna take her away from us?"

"She's my daughter and I love her too."

"Christy is going to hate you for this," Chris told her, her voice cracking.

"Tomorrow," Shannon said before walking out the court room.

"How could she do this?" Chris cried to T.C. that night.

"She has rights Chris," T.C. told her.

"We have rights too. We adopted her. She was ours T.C. and now this might be the last time we get to tuck her in," she said against T.C.'s chest.

"Why are you crying mom?" Christy asked standing a little way behind them. Chris couldn't turn around and tried to dry her eyes quickly.

"What are you doing up young lady? If I'm not mistaken I put you in bed an hour ago," T.C. said making his way to her and lifting her into his arms.

"I was thirsty."

"Oh you were?" T.C asked as their voices faded into the kitchen.

"Christy sweetheart. What do you think about your mom?" Chris asked as she came into the room a while later.

"I think you're the best."

"Not me baby. I'm talking about your real mother. The person who gave birth to you," Chris said trying her best not to break down.

"Well I don't know her. And she doesn't know me."

"But what if she came back and wanted you," T.C. asked.

"But you guys already have me. You all are my parents."

"Yes we are sweetheart. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," T.C. said.

"I'll always be your mother and I'll always love you no matter what. Don't you forget that," Chris said hugging Christy tightly.

"I won't," she replied.

"Coach said that I'm playing soccer really really good," Christy went on as they made their way to the spot that Shannon had specified.

"Tiffani can only lift the ball this high but I can raise it all the way up here. He says in no time I'll be playing like David... uh—David something I can't remember his name."

"Beckham sweetheart. David Beckham," Chris answered.

"Do you believe I could be that good mommy?"

"I believe you could be anything you set your mind to," Chris replied.

"Why are we stopping here?" Christy asked as they pulled up at the meeting place.

"Your mom and I have something to tell you," T.C. said as they got out of the car.

"A very, very smart man decided that it'll be best if you go live with your real mommy and you'll get to take your toys and anything else that you want," Chris tried to explain as they made their way to a waiting police car.

"But I don't want to live with her. I wanna stay with you. Don't you want me anymore? I promise I'll be good."

"You are good Christy," T.C. tried to tell her.

"So why don't you want me?" she cried holding onto Chris.

"It's not that we don't want you..." Chris began.

"Daddy you're the lieutenant do something 'cause I'm not going with her," she said locking her arms around Chris' waist.

"Hey Christy," Shannon called from a little distance away.

"Shannon!" Christy said running to her, "Please don't let them take me away."

"Christy you're coming to live with me. I'm your real mom"

"Huh?" she asked clearly confused.

"I'm your real mother Christy," she said again.

"No you're not! Chris is. And I'm staying with her," she said running back to Chris.

"It's time for her to come with us," an officer said coming towards them.

"No. I'm not coming. I'm staying with my mom and my dad," she said locking her arms around Chris once more.

The officer came and she began to rip her away but the child held on for dear life.

"I don't wanna go!" she yelled lashing out at any hand that came near her.

"You have to," T.C. told her and helped Chris remove Christy's hands. The officer took her to the waiting car, crying, kicking and screaming all the way.

Chris turned to T.C. as she heard the car drive away with a still screaming Christy. She buried her face in his neck and cried her eyes out. T.C held her and did the only thing he could do.........he cried too.

(For those of you with a good imagination. Picture this as being in a movie, with the dramatic music and all. It'll be better then.)

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