Chapter 10 - HIS FATHER REALLY HAD CHOSEN ME
The court did not treat Tavian’s words as a magic command.
That was the first thing the judge said.
“A parent may nominate. The court remains responsible for the child’s best interests.”
Then she admitted the nomination as valid.
Signed.
Witnessed.
Authenticated.
No later revocation.
No later competing guardian designation.
Tavian’s final confirmed choice:
Me.
Rhydian Vale.
His younger brother.
Not because I was younger.
Not because he loved me more.
Not because Ulric did nothing for him.
The record showed the opposite.
Ulric had done a great deal.
Tavian still chose me.
Why?
The supporting memorandum was explicit.
Esmond’s emotional safety.
My relationship with him.
My willingness to follow professionals.
Tavian’s concern about Ulric using fear as discipline.
Then the emergency phone.
Not legal proof of custody by itself.
Corroboration.
Tavian had deliberately told his son:
If you are scared, call Rhydian.
He had built that instruction around the same guardianship choice.
Then the financial structure.
Tavian intentionally separated guardianship from money.
Independent trustee controlled Esmond’s inheritance.
The guardian would have to request appropriate support.
No guardian could take principal for personal use.
The house remained trust property.
Social Security benefits required separate reporting.
That destroyed one of Ulric’s insinuations:
That I wanted guardianship to control Tavian’s estate.
I could not.
It also destroyed my suspicion that Ulric wanted guardianship only for money.
He could not easily control it either.
His motive had to be more personal.
Then Tavian’s last confirmed instruction to Harriet:
No change.
Rhydian remains first nominee.
The judge issued an interim guardianship order to me pending full best-interest hearing.
Not permanent yet.
Conditions:
Keep Esmond in current school.
Continue grief therapy.
Complete guardian education.
Allow child advocate access.
No discussing litigation with Esmond.
No relocating outside the county without approval.
I agreed.
Ulric’s contact remained suspended under criminal no-contact orders.
Could that change later?
Yes.
The court made no permanent finding about family contact yet.
Then outside the courtroom, Ulric’s lawyer approached mine.
“Ulric says Tavian was manipulated by guilt.”
I almost laughed.
“By who?”
“He believes Tavian felt guilty that Rhydian was less involved during treatment and compensated by giving him guardianship.”
There it was.
Ulric could not accept a choice unless it was payment.
Help equals credit.
Presence equals entitlement.
He had spent ten months caring for a dying brother.
Then Tavian did not give him the child.
Ulric experienced that as theft.
The bat was not about money.
May you like
It was not even mostly about me.
It was rage at discovering caregiving could be love without becoming ownership.
