Knowing now what would happen Cherry didn't freak out when the plane took off. She didn't enjoy it, but she also didn't scream. Alana was staying with my mom until we got back. It was early evening when we landed in Houston. We headed straight to our hotel and ordered pizza for supper. Monica was asleep by nine thirty, but Cherry and I were up a lot later.  We sat by the window, listening to music and looking at the stars. Around eleven Cherry fell asleep and I put her in the bed, but my thoughts wouldn't let me sleep. The fear of losing cherry weighed heavy on my mind. Around two I went to bed. I didn't sleep well and it was obvious the next morning.
   We had a meeting at noon with Jemima. We met her for lunch. Cherry didn't eat anything. Which at the time was the least of my concerns.
"You have a very strong case, Mr. Kropp. And Mr. Yates's case is falling apart gradually. Now, will you both be obtaining legal guardianship?" I looked at Monica and she nodded.
"Yes."
"As the foster parent this is Mr. Kropp's fight. But as I said your case is very strong. For starters you have no criminal record or a history of drug and alcohol abuse."

———

After lunch we had an hour before the court hearing. Mon, Cherry and I got ice cream and enjoyed our hour as much as we could. Then we headed to the courthouse. Cherry screamed when she saw her dad, which I think should tell you all you need to know about him, but whatever. Monica had to take her out to get her calmed down. They came back in after a few minutes, but stayed in the back.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Gray." Everyone stood as the judge took his seat. Then we all sat down and things got under way. A lot of questions were asked, evidence against me and against him was brought forward. Mr. Yates lawyer was good, but his case still wouldn't hold up. Jemima told me that a lot of times in these kinds of cases the jury leans toward the biological parent because it's in the best interest of the child.
"Ladies and gentleman of the jury, your honor, this man," Jemima pointed at Mr. Yates, "has been in and out of prison more than a dozen times in the last four and a half years. He as a history of drug and alcohol abuse as well as child abuse."
"Objection! There's proof of that." Mr. Bryant, Mr. Yates lawyer, stood up.
"Sustained." Jemima rolled her eyes.
"If I could direct your attention to this photo." She picked a photo of Cherry up off the desk and approached the jury with it. "This picture is from last September. This little girl looks nothing like the little girl before you today." She gestured at Cherry. "I dare you to look me in the eyes and tell me that man," she pointed at Mr. Yates again. "Is a more fit guardian for that little girl than Mr. Kropp. That's all." She came and took her seat. Mr. Bryant stood and straightened his jacket. He gave a long statement on why Jemima was wrong and finished with,
"Mr. Kropp's living situation is unfit to raise a child. More often than not he doesn't even have a home address. He spends ninety percent of his time living on a tour bus with a bunch of other men." Shortly after that we took a fifteen minute recess so the jury could make a decision. I was pacing.
"Baby, calm down, you're freaking Cherry out." Monica said, gently grabbing my arm. I stopped walking and looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"Deedee?"
"Yes, Stargazer?"
"I hungy." She stuck her necklace in her mouth and rested her head on Monica's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, kiddo, there's not really anything I can do about that right now." I told her.
"Otay."
"It's time to go back in." Jemima said. Everyone filed back in and took their seats. The person chosen to give the jury's verdict stood up.
"We have decided it is the best interest of the child for Mr. Yates to lose all legal guardianship and for her to be placed in Mr. Kropp's care permanently." I couldn't keep the grin off my face. As soon as it was appropriate to I stood and took Cherry form Monica.
"Do you know what this means Stargazer?" She shook her head. "It means you get to stay with me forever."
"Foreva?" She asked. I nodded and she smiled.
"Forever." I held her to my chest and grinned at Monica. She smiled and stood up. She gave me a hug and kissed my cheek.
"I love you." I told her. "And I love you too, Stargazer."
"'Ove you, Deedee!" She threw her arms around my neck and nodded placed a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
"You should call your mom and your brothers." Mon said. I nodded and pulled my phone from my pocket. I called Mom first.
"So?" She said when she answered.
"I won! She's mine!"
"He won!" She said. I could hear cheering from people in the background. "I'm gonna put you on speaker."
"Congratulations!" Sebastian and Emerson said.
"Thank you!"
"I'm so proud of you, sweetie." Mom said.
"Can you say hi?" I asked Cherry and held the phone up to her ear.
"Hi?" She said. Someone spoke, "Thebathan!" Someone else spoke, "Ebosern!" They talked to her for a few minutes and then said their goodbyes. I said goodbye to them and ended the call. Then I gave cherry back to Monica so I could sign the papers that made Cherry my daughter. Her full name was Cherry Katelynn Yates. But by signing that paper she became Cherry Katelynn Kropp.
"Congratulations, Mr. Kropp." Judge Gray said and offered me his hand for handshake. I obliged.
"Thank you, your honor." He nodded and went to shake hands with Monica. Jemima approached me. "Thank you so much, Jemima."
"You're welcome." After we were don't with everything at the courthouse we went to get supper. I went to bed the happiest I'd felt in months. I would never have to worry about losing Cherry again. She would never have to go back to that monster. I had done it. As I laid in bed that night with Monica beside me and Cherry between us I felt like the luckiest man alive.

So this is totally late. Sorry.

Avery L.