Chapter 11: What Leo Said
They brought Leo in first.
Arthur waited in the hallway with Mia and the court advocate, a woman named Pauline who had kind eyes and had spent the last hour teaching Mia a card game.
Mia was still holding the cards when Leo went through the door.
The door closed.
Arthur sat in the plastic chair and looked at the floor.
Mia climbed into the chair beside him and leaned against his arm without saying anything.
Fifteen minutes passed.
The door opened.
Leo came out.
His face was composed.
He looked at Arthur and gave a small nod — the kind that meant *I did what you said.*
Then Mia went in.
Leo sat down in the chair Mia had vacated.
He was quiet for a moment.
"She asked me about Ray," he said.
"At the hospital.
Whether he talked to us."
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth.
That he came in, talked to the nurses, signed some papers, and left.
That he didn't ask our names.
That he didn't say goodbye to Donna." He paused.
"She asked me if I'd ever spoken to him before last night.
I told her no.
She asked if I wanted to live with him."
Arthur looked at him.
"What did you say?"
Leo looked at his hands.
"I said I didn't know him.
I said the only person who had ever come looking for us was you.
And that you came because our mother asked you to, but that you stayed because you wanted to." He glanced up.
"That's true, isn't it?"
"Yes," Arthur said.
"That's true."
Leo nodded and looked back at his hands.
Twenty minutes later, Mia came out.
She found Arthur's hand and held it.
"She was nice," Mia said.
"The judge."
"Good."
"I told her about the sparrow."
Arthur looked at her.
"The sparrow at the window this morning?"
"I told her that your kitchen has a window where birds come.
And that Leo found the cereal.
And that you slept in the chair in the hallway last night because you wanted to be close to the door in case we needed something." She looked up at him.
"I heard you.
When you moved the chair."
Arthur had nothing to say to that.
They were called back into the courtroom twenty minutes later.
Judge Osei was already seated.
She waited until everyone was settled.
"I've spoken with both children," she said.
"I've reviewed the financial documentation submitted by Mr.
Crane.
I've reviewed Mr.
Marsh's petition and his responses to my questions today." She set her hands flat on the bench.
"Mr.
Marsh, I'm going to be direct with you.
Your inability to explain how you learned of this situation, combined with the existence of unclaimed insurance policies that would pass to a legal guardian, raises serious concerns about your motivation.
The children have no memory of a relationship with you.
You made no attempt to locate them for fourteen months after your sister's de@th.
And when asked directly why you want guardianship, you have not given me a single answer that centers the children's wellbeing."
Ray's lawyer started to rise.
Judge Osei's hand came up.
"I'm not finished." She looked at Ray.
"Your petition for guardianship is denied."
Holt was on his feet.
"Your Honor, we request —"
"Your request is noted and denied." She turned to Arthur's side of the room.
"Mr.
Harrison's emergency petition for temporary guardianship is granted, effective immediately, pending a full home evaluation and follow-up hearing in sixty days." She looked directly at Arthur.
"Mr.
Harrison, the court will be watching this closely.
These children have had enough instability.
I expect you to give them the opposite of that."
"Yes, Your Honor," Arthur said.
"And Mr.
Marsh." She looked at Ray one last time.
"If I find that you have made any attempt to contact these children, their guardian, or their mother without court authorization, I will not treat it as a civil matter.
Do you understand me?"
Ray's jaw was tight.
His folder was still on the table, unopened.
"Yes," he said.
It was the flattest word Arthur had ever heard.
Outside in the hallway, Edward shook Arthur's hand once, firmly.
"Sixty days," he said.
"Let's make sure the home evaluation goes smoothly."
"It will," Arthur said.
He looked down.
Mia had her hand in his again.
Leo was standing straight, his jacket zipped up, looking at the courthouse doors like someone who had just decided something.
"Can we go see Mom now?" Leo asked.
May you like
"Yes," Arthur said.
"Let's go."
