Weeks passed, followed by months. Adam ceased inquiring about Daddy’s return home time. I also stopped acting as if I understood the solution.
I was thrown into a nightmare once Daniel departed. Protective Services for Children became engaged. No matter how much I loved Adam, I had no legal claim to him since I was a stepmother.
They didn’t give a damn that I was the only mother he knew and that I had reared and consoled him. They claimed that I wasn’t his biological mother.
It was intolerable to think that Adam may be taken from me and put into the system. I battled as if it were my first time.
Innumerable court dates and restless nights ensued. Every document was examined closely, and my suitability as a parent was questioned.
But I persevered. I was unable to. And I prevailed in the end. Adam became legally mine in all respects when I adopted him.
