Chapter 13 - The Custody Hurdle
The reality of becoming a permanent guardian hit Jax like a freight train the following Monday. A thick manila envelope arrived from the state child services department, packed with legal forms, background check requests, and a notice for an impending home inspection.
Jax sat at a folding table in his garage, staring at the scattered paperwork with a look of pure defeat. He ran a heavy, grease-stained hand over his face.
"I know how to rebuild a four-barrel carburetor blindfolded, Clara," Jax muttered as she walked in with a thermos of coffee. "But I don't know what a 'Form 104-B' is. They want financial statements, character references, and a detailed daily schedule. I live in a garage. They’re going to look at me, look at this place, and take him away."
Clara set the coffee down and pulled up a stool beside him. During her marriage, Daniel had constantly belittled her need for organization, mocking her lists and planners as "small-minded." But looking at the overwhelming pile of bureaucracy in front of Jax, Clara realized her meticulous nature wasn't a flaw; it was exactly what this situation required.
"Slide that over here," Clara said, pulling a pen from her purse. "We are going to take this one page at a time. I'll help you pull your bank records, and Sarah at the diner can write your character reference. As for the daily schedule, we will map out his school hours, homework time, and meals."
Jax looked at her, the panic in his chest slowly subsiding. "You'd do that? Just sort all this out?"
May you like
"I'm already doing it," Clara smiled, uncapping her pen. "You just focus on being there for Leo. Let me handle the paperwork."
Over the next few days, Clara transformed into a logistical force of nature. She organized his files, created a structured, color-coded calendar for Leo, and prepped Jax for the kinds of questions the social worker would ask. For the first time in his life, Jax felt like he had a true partner in his corner, and Clara felt a profound sense of purpose.
