Chapter 7: The Dilemma
Pogue opened the front door in only his pajama pants. "Oh Mr. Garwin what are you doing here?" Pogue questioned him, I stuck my head out of the kitchen curious. "I was told Piper and her siblings were staying here with you. I have some business to discuss with her." He said, I stepped out fully making my presence known. "What kind of business?" I questioned him. He looked up at me. "Can we speak about this privately?" He questioned me gesturing outside. I nodded and stepped outside.
Pogue gave me a watchful look and I returned it with a reassuring smile. Closing the door behind me I leaned against the railing overlooking the parking lot. "A room for you has been prepared at our house as well as the guardian paper work has been taking care of" he said. "What about my brother and sister? Last night you said you and you're wife would adopt them?" I questioned him. He sighed, "We were until I had spoken with your grandparents." He told me. I paused. "My grandparents are dead" I told him. "On your mother's side yes but your grandparents on your father's side are quite alive. They are very adamant about taking guardianship of your brother and sister and will be here within the hour." He told me. "Where do they live?" I questioned him. "Boston" he replied.
"Boston? That's so far away! They can't go to Boston!" I shouted at him. "What about Dad's will?" I demanded, "they're contesting it and this will go to court but until there's a decision your brother and sister will be put into foster care." He told me, I shook my head. They couldn't go to foster homes. No, not after I had been raising them. "Can they take guardianship of them? Legally?" I questioned him and he nodded his head. "Yes, I'm sure the judge will give custody to them, but if you want we can fight it and we'll put up one hell of a fight." He told me, his blue eyes trying to reassure me. So different from his son's.
I shook my head. "How long do I have to think about this?" I questioned him. "Two hours I'd say before they show up." He told me, I sighed and nodded. "When you've made a decision here's my card." He told me handing me the card. "I've also written the address on the back of my house. I've already had movers taking the liberty of packing you're things and moving them to a room in the estate." He told me, I nodded not really paying attention as I opened the door. It felt so add conversing with Reid's father.
Let alone he was going to my legal guardian now. Thank God Reid lived in the dorms.
I opened the door and stepped back into the apartment and rubbed my arms. I was cold in my pajamas and I instantly had a blanket wrapped around me. Pogue was tucking the edged in around me. "Thanks" I told him taking the blanket and holding it tight against me. Tyler and Cassie were both up, but Derek had been moved into the bedroom to keep sleeping. "What did he want?" Cassie questioned me I sat on the sofa bed next to her. "Apparently my grandparents on my dad's side are alive, but not are they only alive they're on their way down here to take Derek and Jenna with them back to Boston." I said softly. "What?" Cassie shouted surprised by my news.
"But I thought you're grandparents were dead?" She questioned and I nodded. "So did I, but apparently not. Mr. Garwin said that if he doesn't allow them guardianship of Derek and Jenna then they'll be put into a foster home till it's decided in court and the judge would most likely rule in favor of them. So they'd take them back to Boston anyway." I told her putting my head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around me instantly cradling me against her. "Oh I'm sorry P, but we'll figure this out! How long till they get here?" She questioned, "two hours" I groaned.
"Well are you going to go ahead and let them have them?" Pogue questioned me, "I don't have much of a choice, yeah we can fight it but I can't see them in foster care. It would destroy them. Especially Derek." I told them. "Then it looks like you don't have a choice" Pogue said squeezing my ankle. "But can I let them just go with complete strangers?" I demanded, "it's fine P" Derek's sleep filled voice announced his presence. Looking over he was rubbing his eyes, his dark hair going all over the place. I opened my arms to him and he climbed up onto the coach bed and cuddled.
"But you don't know them" I told him. "We'll get to know them." Derek assured me only for Jenna to wake up with a plaintive wail. I groaned getting up and going to go get her. We didn't have time to talk about things afterwards. The boys and Cassie went to school while the rest of us had to meet Mr. Garwin at his office. We stepped up to the secretary and she had sit and wait. Apparently this was where we'd be meeting our grandparents for the first time. Jenna held tight onto her teddy bear as we waited. "You can go in now" the secretary smiled at us politely. We got up and went in. Jenna' rested her head on my shoulder, her legs hooked over my hip.
We stepped in and an older gentlemen turned around in the chair to look at us. Dad's brown eyes stared back at us. White hair on his head, with matching wrinkles. He had a kind smile as he looked at us. "Hello there" he greeted. "Hi!" Derek smiled happily at him taking an immediate liking to him. He offered to take us out to lunch, to 'get to know each other' how wonderful.
Let's say this was awkward. "You'd like it in Boston. It's a big house, and your grandmother is already decorating rooms for you." Grandfather went on and on. "Guys why don't you take these quarters and go play?" I questioned Derek. He sighed and nodded taking Jenna's hand as the two left the table, I looked up at him. "So you're only taking guardianship of Derek and Jenna?" I questioned him, he sighed but nodded. "You're already under Mr. Garwin's guardianship and he's refusing to recant. So myself and my wife will be taking guardianship of Derek and Jenna and move them to Boston." He told me, "why would Mr. Garwin not want to recant?" I questioned him. He sighed leaning back in his seat.
"You'd have to ask him. Do they have everything they need? I've already signed the paperwork and we need to leave." He said getting up. "Wait right now?" I demanded and he nodded. "Mr. Garwin has already set up for their rooms to be packed up and it's already on the way to my house. So we'll go ahead and go." He said starting to move towards the kids. I got up quickly beating him to them and dragged them outside. "You can't take them now!" I growled at him. "I'm they're guardian I can do what I want. I will call the police if I have too" He said pulling out a phone.
The asshole. I clenched my jaw. That was the last thing the kids needed right now. "Piper what's going on?" Derek questioned, I squatted down pulling them into a tight hug. "Grandpa is taking you guys with him back to Boston now." I told him. "What? But I haven't gotten to say goodbye to my friends!" Derek immediately protested. "I know Derek I know, but we don't really have a choice. Call me as soon as you get there all right? And please keep reading to Jenna, look after her Derek. You're the man of the house now all right?" I questioned him, I watched his chest swell up with pride at his new title but the tears in his eyes soon made them sprout up in mine. I hugged him tighter.
"I'll see you guys for Thanksgiving, and I'll call you often all right?" I questioned him. He nodded before pulling back letting me hug Jenna tightly. She was crying as well. I picked her up and set her up in the car seat. "It'll be okay baby" I told her kissing her forehead. Derek sighed and got into the front seat of the car. I closed the doors and looked up at him. "You better take good care of them" I growled at him. "I will" he said before getting into the car and driving off.
I got into my car and floored it back to Mr. Garwin's office. I barged past the secretary and slammed his door open. He looked up from his desk. "Can I help you Piper?" He questioned me. "Yeah why didn't you sign over your guardianship to my grandfather?" I snapped at him. He sighed, "Because when you're mother passed they created a joint will and she made it very clear that I was to take up your guardianship while your father's father would take up Derek's and Jenna's." He told me. "Why?" I snapped, and he shrugged.
"Don't do that! You know why!" I snapped at him, "you're his lawyer you know!" I snapped getting pissed now. He sighed, "Yes she had a reason. And part of that reason was an agreement to not tell you. So you will remain in the dark about it and there's not contesting that. Your stuff is already in your new room at the Garwin estate. If you want too next year you can have a dorm in Spenser's." He said looking back at his work clearly dismissing me. "This isn't over" I growled at him before storming out of the office slamming the door shut as I made my way out.
Checking my watch it was nearing three. I sighed and pulled my phone out. I had a new text message from Caleb. 'The swim meat is still today if you need a distraction.' I smiled and got into the car and floored it to Spenser's. Surprisingly it took me a while to find the pool. The half naked guys should have really given it away but who's paying attention to that right? Note the sarcasm.
Spotting Cassie I made my way over to her and sat down. "Hey! Didn't expect you to be here! Where's Derek and Jenna?" She questioned me. "On they're way to Boston" I told her. "Boston?" She questioned and I nodded. "Apparently Grandfather wanted to grab them and bolt." I told her looking around at all the guys. "Oh honey I'm sorry" Cassie apologized. "It's fine, I just want to distract myself with bulging muscles and skin tight speedos" I told her. She laughed but nodded. "Caleb's over there if you're looking for him" she smiled nodding her head. I looked over. "Hot damn" I smiled making her burst into laughter.
I already knew Caleb had a buff chest, but I had failed to notice the long muscles legs that were now exposed for me to view. My eyes finally met his dark brown and he smiled at me with a wink. I smiled back at him but it just didn't quite reach my eyes. He furrowed his eyebrows but glanced around before he sighed and nudged Pogue. "So do you want to come over and get drunk after the meet?" Cassie questioned me. "Sounds good, but I'll probably have to go to the Garwin estate and unpack" I told her. "Oh yeah, you and Reid under one house. Fun" she laughed and I glared at her. "Please he stays in the dorms thank god!" I sighed in relief. I just hoped Reid's mother wasn't as much of a pain in the ass her son and husband were.