Before Elizabeth arrived
The police walked Kate from their cruiser to her front door she knew it was over.
Then to be informed that Lin and his Wife would be arriving shortly made her day go from bad to worse. She was thankful that Liz was out and about instead of seeing her mother in handcuffs as police officers raided their house for drugs.
She answered question after question truthfully and defeatedly. It was suppose to be one run that had turned into a daily occurrence, but the money was great and she was finally paying off student loans!
Another car pulled up and out stepped Lin. And his Wife. Great.
"Mr. Miranda, we have to go over legal paperwork. Everything that follows must be in Elizabeth's best interest." A CPS worker told him.
"Of course, is she here? Where is my daughter? I-"
"You use that term loosely, don't you?" Kate practically spit.
Lin turned to look at her. She continued, "Daughter? Doesn't that mean you actually have to be a father?"
Lin narrowed his eyes, "I-"
The CPS worker also inerupted him, " She's here!"
A police officer, spurred on by her words , met the girl In the yard.
Present time
Donna walked Liz into the house and the girl pushed passed the police and the two new people that she recognized as Lin and his wife. She ran into her mother chest and hugged her. Kate, who was unable to hug her back due to the cuffs, tried to calm her child down. Elizabeth was now crying softly, in a rare fit of emotion. The last time they had had an interaction like this, was after an ex boyfriend had thrown Liz into a mirror, shattering it and cutting Liz in several places.
"Mom, they're wrong, right?" Elizabeth whispered.
"Elizabeth, I- I love you. Soooooo much baby. And, I put you at risk and for that I'm sorry. I got in with some bad people ,Liz. I'm not going to be around for a while and I need you to be strong- "
"No! That's not happening What's going on?" She looked around frantically.
Donna stepped forward, "Elizabeth, you're going to go with your father. He has custody now, and that means you'll live with him for a while."
" What? No, you can't do that!" She turned and pointed at Lin, " He cant do that! I won't go. You can't make me. MOM!" When Elizabeth turned back to her mother, Kate was being led out of the room by an officer. "MOM!" The teen called out again as she tried to follow but was grabbed by strong arms around her waist. Fight instincts kicked in and she threw an elbow back and into the nose of her attacker. A strain of Spanish curses followed but Liz didn't stick around to translate. She made it to the porch in time to see the police car rolling smoothly down the driveway. "Mama?" She whimpered softly.
This time , the hand that grasped her shoulder was soft. She turned to see, the woman who had been beside Lin. His wife.
"What do you want?" She spun and looked her in the eye.
"To see if your okay. To help you. To-" She spoke with a sweet voice.
"To help me? This is what you call helping me? Taking me from my mother?" Elizabeth screamed.
The police officers skirted of the porch, saddened by the scene unfolding before them. Donna had left Lin, who was holding a bloody nose , holding a file filled with information on Elizabeth and gone to finish her daily rounds. The three were alone.
Elizabeth sat on the top step and cried. Her head was tucked into her knees and her shoulders rocked slightly.
Vanessa eventually turned and returned into the house to find Lin sitting at the kitchen table.
He looked up, " V, I wanted to meet her but not like this."
Vanessa looked at him. "She blames us. "Lin sighed sadly and Vanessa continued, " She's scared. Of us, and what's going to happen to her."
Lin shook his head, " Mis Hija. She's scared of me? Oh god V."
Suddenly the front door opened and Liz walked in and opened a kitchen drawer. She grabbed a pen and paper and leaned against the counter as she began writing. Lin stood and walked over to her slowly, still holding his nose.
"Elizabeth? I'm sorry this happe-"
"No you're not." She stopped writing and gave him side eye before continuing to write.
"I am. I didn't want this to happen. I'm you're father. I wish I could have been there to see your childhood. I'm sorry I wasnt. But I'm here now and I want a chance, so please, let me and Vanessa and our son sebastian be your family. "
"No." The child responded with more bitterness and anger than any child should ever have.
" What about a deal?" Vanessa stepped in. " We have custody for a few months. You'll live with us, and then when we go to court to finalize, or terminate custody you can decide."
Lin looked at Vanessa, horrified that she would mention terminating custody of his daughter.
Elizabeth stopped writing and set the pen down, " Okay. I'll do it. Now," She grabbed the paper and handed it to Vanessa," Your a lawyer , right? This is list of everything I have to sell for when the judge posts mom's bail."
Vanessa's heart ached and she knew it wouldn't be enough, not that they would let her sell anything but the only thing sh could do was lie, " Okay, I'll see what I can do. Why don't you go pack for a few days. When we get to New York, well hire someone to pack everything up and send you your belongings as well as make sure the house is taken care of."
"Woah, hold up. New york? As in, above the Mason Dixon line? " Liz's body stiffened.
"Yes, it's where my play is being preformed. " Lin tried to say as softly as possible to not wound her back up.
" I- I've never left Virginia. I can't just go. What about school? My friends?"
He sighed, "We've talked to your superintendent and he will allow you to take classes online for the time being."
"O-oh." Was all Elizabeth could say. She was emotionally drained and wanted to sleep. But she couldn't so she went to pack her bags. The undeniable click of a lock on her door echoed down to Lin and Vanessa as the consoled each other. A cheesy salsa ring tone broke the silence and Lin looked down at his phone and answered it.
"Hey, Chris."
"Hey man, how's it going?"
"Not good. I can't believe that this happened. We got a call this morning that her mother -Kate - was caught running drugs fucking drugs, Chris. "
"Oh, my god. Lin, I'm sorry."
"Yeah so we filed for emergancy custody and got it. I met her today and she's beautiful. She's been through some shit though. V read the file and she had a couple of run ins with some of Kate's exes. I think she hates me. "
"Lin, listen to me. Kids are tough, she just met you. Give her some time and show her that you guys love her. Wait till she meets the cast and learns about the play. Look man, God has a plan. "
"Chris, I've got to go. But thank you for this. Can you ask Tommy to get Javier to cover me for tomorrow. Well be back then and I'll have to get Liz settled. "
" Of course man. Do you want me to let everyone know what happened?"
"Yes, please. Thanks Chris, bye."
"See you soon."
With that the call disconnected and lin sat down again, defeated.
------------------------------
Landing in NYC
Leaving the NYC airport proved more difficult than Liz expected. The sudden rush of city sound shocked her to day the least. The rush of reporters bombarded them and she instinctively ducked to Vanessa, (although she would never admit to it.) While the paparazzi asked questions and swarmed like flies.
After a taxi cab ride filled with stop and go traffic , they arrived at an expensive looking appartment complex.
Here goes nothing. Liz thought before taking a deep breath and entering the lobby.