Chapter 9 - Emily’s question
Emily asked me one night:
“If she is genetically ours, is she ours?”
I knew she was not asking biology.
Caroline had carried Sophie.
Given birth.
Fed her.
Named her.
Raised her for nearly five years.
Sophie called Caroline:
Mom.
Emily was Sophie’s genetic mother.
But genetic parentage did not automatically erase Caroline’s legal maternity, especially after assisted reproduction and birth records.
Then Mara’s guardianship.
Legally valid based on Caroline’s parentage and will unless court determined otherwise.
Our rights were not automatic.
The law would have to address a situation it was not designed to enjoy.
Our attorney Grace Holden said:
“We should not assume you can simply take custody.”
That angered me.
Then she explained:
“Sophie has a legal history. Caroline was her legal mother. Mara has a guardianship order. Your genetic relationship is powerful evidence, but assisted-reproduction consent law determines parentage differently across jurisdictions.”
Emily asked:
“Can Mara get her back?”
“Not immediately while CPS investigation and emergency placement remain active.”
Sophie was placed temporarily with a licensed foster family experienced in emergency kinship? We were biological but not legally established. Could she stay with us under provisional placement after home study? CPS moved cautiously.
For first week:
Hospital then temporary foster placement.
We visited supervised.
Lily came once after assessment.
Sophie held her hand the entire time.
Then emergency court hearing.
CPS argued:
Mara concealed Sophie from investigators.
Failed school enrollment.
Placed child in unsafe wall cavity.
Risk of flight.
Mara’s attorney argued:
She panicked because she feared losing Sophie.
The court suspended Mara’s guardianship powers temporarily pending adjudication.
Could Sophie be placed with us?
CPS performed expedited home assessment.
Background checks.
Safety inspection.
Mechanical passage sealed by contractor after police release? Evidence portion preserved first. An external barrier installed under law enforcement approval.
Then Sophie came to our home.
Not as permanent daughter.
As temporary placement under court supervision.
She refused the west hallway.
So we gave her upstairs guest room.
May you like
First night she slept under bed.
Emily sat on floor outside until she fell asleep.
