"Mandy was placed in her grandmother's custody a little over two weeks ago. A complaint was made that Melissa had left her alone in her apartment. Apparently, she was out partying with her friends leaving Mandy asleep. She was found crying at the door. She was trying to find her mother. The neighbors called the police, and she was removed."
"Two weeks ago, why wasn't I notified?" Dante asked his mind was reeling; he wanted to strangle Melissa.
"Melissa told the caseworker you are in a nursing home with brain damage and wouldn't be able to deal with Mandy," his attorney told him.
"Well, apparently that was a lie. Did you tell them that I was fine and living in an apartment on my own?"
"My assistant told her, and her worker will be contacting you for a visit to place her with you. Her grandmother says she is not willing to keep the child for much longer."
"Ok, good so I should be hearing from them soon," Dante questioned, trying to wrap his head around all this information he just dumped on him.
"Dante, are you sure you're ready for this? You're talking about a lot of responsibility, and they will be keeping an eye on you to ensure Mandy is well cared for."
"If I get to keep all the child support, we will be fine. Besides, what do I have to do all day? Mandy will be fine with me. Contact work men's comp and stop the child support payments now," Dante told him looking around his apartment trying to figure out where to put her and her things. Where is he going to find her things? He has no money at this point.
"I don't have to let Melissa see her, do I?"
"It depends on what the court order says. I would imagine they would let her see Mandy supervised. You can ask for it not to be in your home. That will keep Melissa out of your lives."
"That sounds good. Knowing Melissa as I do, she will probably try and move in with us."
"She can't do that, or they will take Mandy away from both of you," his attorney snapped.
"OH, that will never happen. She could try, but never again will she be a part of my life. No Mandy and I will be fine by ourselves," Dante's heart was pounding, he couldn't believe he could have his baby girl with him soon. He wondered how often Melissa had left her alone. "Thank you, James, this is the best news I have ever received. I'll let you know when the caseworker contacts me."
"Make sure the place is clean and have an idea of where she will be sleeping. Make that not with you. Also, a few books and toys, even from a resale shop would be helpful. Stay calm and breathe deep. Be honest about your disability. Tell them about your ongoing rehabilitation. They always want to place children with a family member so don't worry too much. This could take a week or a day, it depends on how motivated the grandmother is to have her moved. Do you know her?"
"Yes, she is a drinking, smoking, bitch, just like her daughter," Dante told him, thinking about the last time they saw each other. He didn't think she disliked him. Probably just disappointed Melissa picked the wrong man to get her pregnant. Her home was disgusting, smelled of smoke with a yellow film over everything. He hated to think of Mandy living in that mess.
"My Phone is beeping, I'll call you back," Dante told him and clicked over to his other call.
"Hello."
"Yes, I'm looking for Dante Cabot."
"That is me. Can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm Helen with the child protective unit in Brazoria County."
"Yes Ma'am, my attorney just told me to expect your call."
"So, you know what is going on with Amanda."
"Yes, I'm sorry you were miss informed about my condition? I have spoken to Melissa twice during the time since Mandy was removed. She never let on that there was a problem. She wouldn't let me see her or talk to her. I have only seen her once since my accident."
"That was my next question, how are you doing?" Helen asked.
"Ah yes. My legs are giving me a problem. I'm in a wheelchair, but I'm still receiving rehabilitation. Everyone is positive of a full recovery. I just need to work on regaining the strength in my legs. Otherwise, I'm healthy, I'm living in an apartment on my own, and I have room for Mandy. Mandy and I have a good relationship. She comes to me and crawls all over me. Ma'am, I want my daughter to live with me. I would never leave her alone. I paid her mother enough money for them to live well without the courts becoming involved. However, with my accident, I had to make some permanent arrangements that is why my attorney called to find out if there was a problem. With Melissa not being able to use Mandy as an ATM, any more we actually were just checking if there was a problem."
"Yes Sir, there is a problem. Mandy needs to be moved from her grandmother's home immediately. I was looking for a foster home for her when I received the call from your attorney. Melissa told us you couldn't care for your daughter and had nothing to do with her. That you gave her no money and had not seen the child."
"All lies. I gave her At least two thousand a month. I lived like a pauper to make sure they had a nice home. I tried to live with Melissa and help take care of Mandy, but she made my life miserable. But I did see Mandy and took her when I could. But Melissa started making it difficult. She would make arrangements with me to come by and then not be at home," he breathes out a frustrated breath. "You know how it goes. I always took care of Mandy. When I was injured, I had my lawyer contact her and most of the Workman's Comp goes to them. But it is not as much as I could make before. The last time I saw Mandy, Melissa brought her to the rehab center and demanded I go back to work, she needed more money. If I could've, I would've."
"So how are you making money for your bills?"
"Workman's Comp until Social Security starts. My rent here is not much and it is a handicap apartment easy for me to get around. There is lots of room for both of us. Plus, I can look for a bigger place once everything is settled with my claim. Mandy has a home with me. Bring her here and you will see she knows me well and we love each other."
"Ok Mister Cabot what is your address?"
Dante told her the information holding his breath.
"I'll be there in the morning around 9 o'clock. We have court on Wednesday, if I like what I see I will ask the judge to place Amanda with you."
"Thank You." Dante was not a crier, but he felt like it now. "I'll see you at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning."
Dante called and left a message with his attorney speaking to his assistant. Next, he called Angie to see if she had time to take him to a thrift store. He could spend about twenty bucks on things for Mandy.
"She is two, right?" Angie asked.
"Yeah, she just turned two," Dante offered.
"I have a four-year-old granddaughter. I'll contact my daughter and have her go through her old things and I'm sure she can collect up too much stuff for Mandy. I'll bring it by this evening and bring a pizza we need to celebrate. Dante, I felt so sorry for Mandy after spending that little time with her mother. She will do so much better with you."
"Thanks Angie, I'm looking forward to your visit," Dante said and thought, "Why can't Angie be thirty years younger? She is great.
"I'll get busy here and see you later."
Dante looked around his apartment and had nothing to do. The place was clean already. He always kept it that way. "Boy, your life is going to change." He rolled back and looked at the front door, willing the time to fly by.
With a large box in hand and a pizza box sitting on top of that, Angie kicked at Dante's door. "Open up sweetie," Angie called out, she didn't know how long she could keep a hold of this box.
She basically fell into his apartment, the box landing on his wheelchair arms. "Whoa are you okay," Dante asked with a laugh shifting the box around.
"Yes, I was about to drop everything," Angie said looking at how well it landed.
"Well grab the pizza and let me backup," Dante said, trying to hang on to everything and move.
Backing away from the door, letting Angie in. The box she brought was heavy. "I didn't need to fill the room with kid stuff."
"I know my daughter took this as an opportunity to get rid of a lot of stuff," Angie walked by and sat the pizza on the counter. He rolled to the couch and sat the box down, pulling the lid open. It was filled with expensive toys and dozens of outfits that Mandy will look adorable in. He was like a kid in a candy store admiring everything he pulls out. "Angie, this stuff is so nice. Some look like she didn't wear them."
"Good chance of that. My daughter and I both have a problem with shopping. My little Kara wants for nothing. This barely puts a dent in the stuff she has packed away. Let me know if you need more. I assume she will come with her own things."
"I hope so, but with her mother you never know. You saw how she was dressed last time. She looked like a vagrant. I was hoping it was for effect. Oh, look how poor we are," Dante complained and kept sorting.
She took a seat, and they ate pizza while Dante told her again what had happened. He elaborated a little more and then voiced his concerns about caring for a small girl.
"I watched you at rehab with her, you did wonderfully. Keep her meals simple until you learn what she likes. She will have plenty to play with just play along with her. You love her and you will know instinctively what to do. Don't worry. You don't have to be perfect; she will love you anyways."
"Thanks Angie you have been a good friend," Dante said and reached out to hold her hand.
"No problem, Dante, I enjoy my time with you. Invite me over once you two get settled it will be nice to see Mandy again," she said and patted his hand.
"I'll do that."
"Ok, I have two more things in my car you will need to help me with them." Her back seat was filled with a plastic pretty princess bed, a crib mattress, and a plastic dresser with three drawers. She shows him quickly how the sides snapped together and left him to figure out the rest. It would be good for him to struggle and give him something to do this evening instead of worrying.
That is what he did, he spent the evening putting things together and away, finishing off the pizza. Folding all the clothes, he put them in the dresser and put the bed against the wall in the dining room. He didn't have a dining table, and he didn't see a need for one.
He stuffed the drawers to the top, leaving only a few things out. He sat them on the dresser and made the bed with the sheets and blankets Angie brought him. Thank God for Angie, she thought of everything. If not the first of the month he could buy more, it was only a few days away.