Page 99 of Her Summer Hope

Madison smiled. "Sometimes, adults need a little help to make big decisions. But no matter what, I love you and your brothers very much, and I'll always be here."

As Ellie nodded, seemingly reassured, Madison's gaze shifted to the hallway where Jackson stood with a troubled look on his face.

"Are they going to take us away from you?" Jackson's voice quivered as he stepped closer.

Madison's heart ached at the fear in her son's voice. She opened her arms, and Jackson rushed into them. "Oh, Jackson," she whispered, holding him tight. "No one is going to take you away from me. I promise I'm doing everything I can so we can all stay together."

"But I heard you talking on the phone. You sounded scared," he mumbled into her shoulder.

Madison pulled back, lifting his chin to meet her eyes. "Sometimes, Mommy gets worried, but that doesn't mean anything bad will happen. We're a strong family, okay? And I'll always fight for us."

Jack nodded, a small sense of relief washing over his features. He believed in her the way all little kids should be able to believe in their parents.

Madison kissed his forehead, a silent promise to shield him as much as she could. James, working on his letters nearby, looked at her with a wariness that made her want to cry.

This ordeal could set him back exponentially.

In the lawyer's office later that afternoon, Madison sat across from her attorney with Em in her lap while the other kids colored happily under the eagle eye of his secretary on the other side of the room. David Harrison was a man known for his expertise in family law. The room was cluttered but professional. She felt comfortable there.

She clutched a stack of legal documents, her knuckles white, as the lawyer spoke in a calm, measured tone from behind his desk.

"Madison, while we have a strong case, I need to prepare you for the challenges ahead," Mr. Harrison began, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of professionalism and empathy.

Madison nodded, her throat tight. "I understand. I just... I can't lose my children," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she darted a glance over at them to make sure they hadn’t heard.

Mr. Harrison leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk. "I assure you, we'll do everything in our power to prevent that. However, you need to be prepared for Rob's parents to fight hard. They're likely to bring up every possible argument to undermine your position as the sole guardian, perhaps even some that are blatantly false."

Madison's hands trembled as she absorbed his words. "But they don't know what's best for Ellie, Jackson, and James. They barely know them," she countered, her voice laced with desperation. “And Em is just a baby, she needs me.”

"We'll emphasize that," Mr. Harrison reassured her. "Your consistent role in their lives, your stability and love, will be our primary arguments. But be ready for personal attacks – they'll try to paint a different picture. They’ll try to rattle you, get you to argue or lash out, and make yourself look bad."

As they reviewed the strategy, Madison's mind raced with 'what-ifs' and worst-case scenarios.

∞∞∞

Tuesday dawned cool and foreboding, with black clouds and thunder threatening to unleash a torrent at any minute.

In the soft morning light filtering through her bedroom curtains, Madison stood before her open closet, her gaze drifting over the rows of clothes.

Today, her choice of clothing seemed way more important than usual. After a moment of contemplation, she selected a tailored light grey suit coat over a very subdued pink sundress, its simplicity speaking volumes of her seriousness and professionalism while not being as austere and as cold as a black or navy suit.

As she dressed, her movements were methodical and her hands felt numb. Turning to the mirror, Madison styled her hair into a neat, composed bun, ensuring no strand was out of place.

Her reflection stared back at her. She looked like a mother, and a woman determined to face whatever challenges the day might bring…and to fight like hell while doing it.

In the children's rooms, she tried to give the morning some comforting semblance of normalcy.

Madison helped Ellie, Jackson, and James get ready. She tried to stay bright and cheerful.

She brushed Ellie's hair, tied Jackson's shoelaces, and made sure James's shirt was buttoned correctly. She changed Emmie, put on her nicest little outfit, and packed the diaper bag with extra things for all the kids.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke the quiet.

Madison peeked through the window, surprised to see Wyatt stepping out of the vehicle. His arrival was unexpected.

As she opened the door, Wyatt greeted her with a warm, albeit somewhat awkward smile.

"Morning, Maddy. I'm here to drive you to the courthouse," he announced, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of seriousness.

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