Chapter 8 - THE GUARDIANSHIP PETITION THEY FILED TOO LATE
-8
I thought Richard’s arrest would end the guardianship plan.
I underestimated Wendy.
Three days after surrendering on bond, her attorney filed a petition.
Not the original aggressive version.
A softened one.
She asked for court-ordered grandparent visitation and temporary appointment of an independent guardian ad litem to “protect Fiona from parental retaliation and abrupt family estrangement.”
Retaliation?
Because we stopped secret visits.
The petition quoted Fiona:
“Daddy gets mad when I talk about Grandpa.”
She had said perhaps after I reacted.
Context.
Then:
“Mommy cries when Grandma is mentioned.”
True.
Because betrayal.
They framed our natural response as harm.
Wendy claimed:
She acted under sincere belief trust protector authority permitted evaluations.
She did not intend to deceive.
She believed Richard had resolved legal status privately.
Impossible.
She helped death.
But different case.
Then:
Fiona had a meaningful bond with grandmother for seven years.
True.
That was hard.
Wendy had been good grandmother in many ways.
Cookies.
Sleepovers.
School plays.
She did not become false person entirely.
Fiona missed.
This mattered.
We could not simply erase.
Caroline said:
“Courts distinguish bad conduct from child bond.”
Good.
We needed decide supervised contact eventually.
But first hearing.
The judge appointed guardian ad litem, independent attorney for Fiona’s interests.
Not Wendy’s chosen.
Ms. Tara Blake.
She met us.
Fiona.
Wendy separately.
Reviewed records.
Dr. Morris.
Locke.
The red notebook.
Then Ms. Blake asked us:
“Would you oppose all contact forever?”
Jessi looked at me.
We had discussed.
“No,” Jessi said.
“Under conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“No secrets.”
“No discussion trust.”
“No Richard unless approved.”
“Supervised initially.”
“No undermining us.”
Reasonable.
Ms. Blake nodded.
Then Wendy told her:
“Andrew is isolating Jessica.”
Classic.
Evidence?
None.
Jessi had her own attorney offered.
She attended alone sometimes.
She said:
“I am not isolated. I am furious.”
Good.
Then Wendy claimed I forced Jessi to reject Vale identity.
Jessi showed independent bank account, business board, friendships.
No.
Then petition hearing.
Wendy sat across.
No Richard.
Criminal case pending.
Her lawyer argued:
“Mrs. Vale’s conduct, while misguided, arose from concern over an enormous trust and parents who had no knowledge of its complexity.”
Judge asked:
“Why didn’t she tell them?”
Silence.
“Why secret?”
Concern.
“Why forged consent?”
Lawyer said disputed.
Not good.
Then Dr. Morris testified about coaching.
Locke’s own emails.
Red notebook.
Then travel.
Wendy’s attorney showed my logs:
93 travel nights over three years.
That looked.
I did not deny.
Judge asked:
“Mr. Mercer, do you believe that is excessive?”
I paused.
“Yes.”
Caroline looked maybe surprised.
“I did not before.”
Honesty.
“Have you changed?”
“Yes.”
“Because litigation?”
“Litigation forced me to look. I stayed changed because my daughter deserved.”
Good.
Then Jessi.
Her migraines.
Grief.
Counsel tried portray.
She answered:
“I have migraines approximately four times a year. I took six weeks of grief counseling after my stepfather died. Neither makes me incapable.”
Then:
“Did you ever rely heavily on mother?”
“Yes.”
Good.
“Could she provide excellent care?”
“Yes.”
This complicated.
“Then why no unsupervised?”
“Because excellent snacks do not cancel telling my child she can hurt me by telling truth.”
Strong.
Then Fiona’s statements not live in court; guardian summarized to protect.
She loved Grandma.
She was afraid of secrets.
She did not want to live elsewhere.
She wanted to see Grandma if Grandma “stops making me practice.”
That line.
Judge ordered:
No guardianship.
No special custody.
Grandparent contact may resume supervised after Wendy completes family-boundary therapy and signs order prohibiting trust/legal discussion with child.
Wendy resigned protector already.
Trust stays independent.
This was balanced.
Then surprise.
Wendy stood after hearing and said:
“I won’t do supervised visits.”
Jessi froze.
Why?
Pride.
“I am not a criminal around my granddaughter.”
Her own lawyer whispered.
Judge warned.
She refused.
So no visits.
Fiona cried when told.
“Grandma doesn’t want?”
We explained:
“She doesn’t agree with rules yet.”
“Why?”
“She’s angry.”
“At me?”
“No.”
Again.
Then one week later, Wendy changed mind.
Because absence hurt.
She agreed.
First supervised visit.
Neutral center.
Fiona ran and hugged.
Jessi watched through glass? Maybe not; supervisor.
After, Fiona said:
“Grandma didn’t talk about money.”
Good.
“Did she say secrets?”
“No.”
Then:
“She cried.”
“How feel?”
“Sad.”
“Your job fix?”
Fiona shook.
Therapy worked.
No.
Then Wendy eventually wrote apology to Fiona approved.
I am sorry I asked you to keep a secret from your parents. Adults should never make children responsible for adult plans.
Good.
No excuse.
Fiona kept letter.
But trust not restored fully.
Then criminal proceedings moved.
Richard agreed plea negotiations.
Wendy faced own.
And one day Northstar called:
“We found an attempted vendor registration.”
Robert Lane Family Heritage Services.
Submitted six months before.
Wendy approved as protector.
Projected $480,000 annual contract once Fiona share activated.
There.
Direct financial interest.
Wendy had lied in court that she expected no economic benefit.
She personally was not vendor, but Richard.
Family.
Could be impeach.
Prosecutors added.
Then another vendor:
Vale Residential Management LLC.
Beneficial owner:
Wendy.
Projected $96,000 annual management fee.
My stomach turned.
She did plan to benefit.
Jessi saw.
Her face closed.
For months she had hoped mother's motive mostly legacy.
Now money too.
“I was stupid.”
“No.”
“She loved Fiona.”
“Yes.”
“And wanted paid.”
“Both can exist.”
That was hardest theme.
Love and exploitation.
May you like
Wendy had not been faking every hug.
She had simply let love become permission.
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