Strings of Fate
208- Custody and caring
The morning goes by in a rush. Megan and I are constantly on the go with Kiara trailing along with us
as we prepare for thest minute dinner ns. I probably could have nned them forter in the week
but I didn’t want to wait and it IS doable. Just requires a bit of
extra nning. By one in the afternoon we have had Darien and Bemy rearrange the furniture and
move in a couple of fold up trestle tables to make space for everyone as well as a bunch of extra
chairs. Kiara is currently working with Darien toy table clothes over all the tables to kind of merge
them together while Megan and I start prepping stuff for dinner. Thankfully she’s a much more
experienced cook than me and has some idea of how to prepare such arge meal. I did suggest just
ordering something but she insisted on making it ourselves and I don’t mind trying. Worst case
scenario, it fails and we order pizza. Just before three, Alex arrives Bemy and I leave Kiara with
Megan who is in the middle of prepping
some chocte mousse desserts and head to the office.
“So, I did locate one living rtive for Kiara, her grandfather on her mother’s side. I
contacted him and arranged for a meeting: He lives interstate so it will be another video conference
call.” Alex exins. I feel cold and sort of panicky. Interstate? I don’t want her to move that far away.
I’ve definitely gotten attached, plus I think spending time with Logan will be good for her. Is it really fair
for her to move so far away from where she’s grown up so far? Alex sets up the call then excuses
himself, announcing that he will go assist Megan with the meal preparations and to call if we need him.
The call goes through and I’m surprised to see
a young woman on the screen.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.
“Hello? Oh good it’s working. One moment.” She swivels the camera around to show an old
man who must be Kiara’s grandfather.
“Thanks Joe.” He tells the woman gently.
“Good afternoon.” Bemy greets him.
“I am Alpha Bemy Kane and this is my partner Ryann Gale. Did Alex exin the situation to you?”
Bemy asks politely. The old man nods.
“Yes, I’m Ray and this is Joe, she helps me out during the day, I don’t move around as well as I used
to. And only a little. Your friend Alex exined that there was some issue with my daughter. I’m not
sure what you want me to do about it, she hasn’t spoken to me in over ten
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208- Custody and caring
years. Not since she married that Reaper. I never approved. It’s not safe, and what kind of life could
she have hiding away with him?” He grumbles. My heart sinks. This is not looking good.
“I am sorry to have to tell you that your daughter and her husband were murdered several weeks ago.”
Bemy says carefully. Ray goes even paler than he already was, which is saying something because
he didn’t look all that well to begin with.
“Oh. I didn’t realise- no one said… I suppose since I don’t answer my phone I wasn’t notified, I only got
your message because your man tracked down my carer and called her to arrange this meeting. Is… is
this about her estate then? I can’t imagine that she was especially well off.” He considers. My eyes
widen and I nce at Bemy. Does he not know he has a granddaughter? If he cut contact ten years
ago it’s entirely possible that he doesn’t know. I take over, needing to tell him myself.
“Sir, I don’t know if you are aware but your daughter had a child. A girl named Kiara. This call is about
her.” I tell him. He looks shocked.
“A granddaughter? A little Witch I suppose? I didn’t know.” He admits. He doesn’t seem all that torn up
about it if I’m being totally honest. I don’t think I like this guy very much.
“She’s not a Witch, she took after her father and is a Reaper. We’re contacting you because you are
her only living rtive at this point. We are trying to determine what should be done regarding her living
situation. Legally, she goes into your care, although we’ve been looking after her temporarily.” I tell him.
He immediately shakes his head in refusal.
“I don’t have the time or energy to take care of a child, much less a Reaper. She can’te here. Find
someone else.” He deres. I have to repress the desire to yell at him. I can see why Kiara’s parents
cut ties with this man. He’s kind of racist and obviously doesn’t care. I
can see that he might not be capable of taking care of her, but he doesn’t even seem concerned and
he hasn’t asked to meet her or anything like that. He hasn’t even asked about her wellbeing or wished
her any condolences. It’s a good thing he doesn’t want her because I don’t think I could give her up to
this jerk. Seeing my frustration, Bemy takes over the conversation. I don’t think I could speak without
yelling or crying.
“To rify, you are giving up your custody rights of Kiara?” Bemy asks. Ray nods.
dismissively.
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208- Custody and caring
“Yes, yes. Give the girl to someone else or put her up for adoption if ites to that. I can’t take her.
Now, is that all? I have an appointment at four and I want to get there early.” He grumbles. Bemy
nods and without another word just ends the call.
1 explode.
“What a BASTARD. He didn’t even CARE! We cannot send her to him, even if he DID want her!” I rant,
keeping my voice low enough that Kiara won’t be able to overhear me.
“I agree, I will have Alex send documentation through to him ensuring he signs over his rights. We don’t
want himing after herter demanding money or anything like that.” Bemy says calmly. He
doesn’t seem nearly as upset as I am and honestly I have no idea how he is so calm. What are we
supposed to do? It was already going to be hard enough giving Kiara up to her family. Am I supposed
to give her to strangers? Or put her in foster care, a group home like Harry and I grew up in? I shudder
at the thought.
“You know, I never expected we would end up parents before actually having S*x.” He says casually,
clearly amused. I whirl to face him in my chair.
“Huh?” I say dumbly. Bemy raises an eyebrow and meets my eyes.
“Am I wrong? We are keeping her aren’t we? Assuming she wants to stay. We have the space and the
money to provide for her. If there was a better ce I would consider it, but I can’t think of any and
honestly I don’t want to send her away. I don’t think you do either, do you?”
He asks earnestly. I nod.
“I can’t send her somewhere that she is unwanted, and I want her. Can- can we really take
her?” I ask nervously. Bemy shrugs.
at
“I doubt that old bag cares where she ends up, he will sign her over to us easily enough. Given how
attached to you she is I believe she will be content to stay with us
We will need to look into schooling and such, we can ask some of the other Shifter parents where they
send their kids. I know a lot of them homeschool too, maybe she could join in if there is a group the
same level as her. We have plenty of support. We can do it, as long as we’re both willing, and I am.” He
adds at the end. I can’t help it. I fling myself at him, out of my chair practically knocking him over as he
has to catch me and bnce himself in his own seat.
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208–Custody and caring
“Yes. We can do it. She should stay with us.”