Chapter 4: The Document She Wanted Me to Sign
“Guardianship?””
I said the word slowly, watching Simone's face.
She had gone pale beneath her makeup. Her fingers tightened around her phone, and for the first time since I had known her, she looked like someone who had been caught doing something she could not explain away with a smile.
“Darius, please sit down,” she said.
“No.””
“Can we have a reasonable conversation?””
“We were having one until I saw a message about changing my daughter's guardianship.””
“It's a misunderstanding.””
I almost laughed.
That was the third time she had used that word since I walked into the bridal suite.
A misunderstanding was forgetting someone's birthday. A misunderstanding was booking the wrong flowers or sending an invitation to the wrong address.
A document concerning my daughter's guardianship was something else entirely.
“Who is Marcus?”” I asked.
“Our wedding coordinator.””
“What does he have to do with guardianship?””
“Nothing directly. He helped me organize some paperwork.””
“What paperwork?””
Simone looked toward the door.
I stepped between her and the exit.
“Look at me.””
Her eyes snapped back to mine.
“I am looking at you.””
“Then answer me.””
She exhaled sharply.
“The document was a draft. I wanted to make sure everything was organized before we became a family.””
“What did you organize?””
“Household responsibilities. Emergency contacts. Medical permissions. Things that stepmothers sometimes need.””
“Then why did Marcus ask about announcing a change in guardianship after the ceremony?””
She pressed her lips together.
I watched her search for an answer.
Finally, she said, “Because I wanted to discuss the possibility of becoming Lily's legal guardian someday.””
“Someday?””
“Yes.””
“Without talking to me?””
“I was going to talk to you!””
“When?””
“After the wedding, when you weren't so stressed.””
I stared at her.
“You thought the best time to discuss becoming my daughter's legal guardian was after you had already married me?””
“I wanted us to be settled first.””
“Settled enough for what?””
Her eyes filled with tears again.
“Darius, I love Lily.””
“Then why are you treating her like an obstacle?””
“I am not!””
“Yesterday, you complained that she looked too much like her dead mother. This morning, you cut her hair. Now I find out you've been preparing guardianship documents behind my back.””
Simone's chin trembled.
“You're making me sound dangerous.””
“I'm asking you to explain your actions.””
She turned away and wiped her face.
For a few seconds, the only sound was the faint music drifting through the hotel walls.
Then she said, “I thought becoming her legal guardian would make things easier.””
“For whom?””
“For everyone.””
“Explain that.””
She faced me again.
“If something happened to you, I would need the authority to take care of her. If she got sick, if she needed school paperwork signed, if there were emergencies—”
“Those are legitimate concerns. Why didn't you discuss them with me?””
“Because every conversation about Lily becomes a conversation about Elena!””
Her voice echoed through the room.
I didn't respond immediately.
She had finally stopped crying.
Anger had replaced the tears, and anger was revealing things that her careful explanations had concealed.
“I cannot compete with a woman who is dead,” she continued.
“I cannot build a marriage with someone who treats every memory of his first wife like sacred ground.””
“Elena is Lily's mother.””
“And I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life being reminded that I came second?””
“You knew that before you agreed to marry me.””
“I thought it would get easier!””
“For whom, Simone?””
She looked away.
I pulled out my phone.
“I'm calling a lawyer.””
Her head snapped toward me.
“Don't you dare.””
I stopped.
“Excuse me?””
“You can't bring lawyers into this. We're about to be married.””
“Which is exactly why we're not getting married until I understand what's happening.””
She stepped toward me.
“Darius, listen. I haven't done anything illegal. I haven't filed anything.
I haven't taken Lily anywhere. I was preparing for our future.””
“Then you won't mind showing me the document.””
Her face changed.
“What?””
“The guardianship document. Show it to me.””
She shook her head.
“It's a draft.””
“Show it to me.””
“I don't have it on this phone.””
“Where is it?””
“On my laptop.””
“Then we'll look at it together.””
She backed away.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I felt a chill move through me.
“Why not?””
“Because I don't want you twisting everything I wrote.””
“Then explain what you wrote.””
“I don't remember every word!””
“You prepared a document concerning my daughter's future, and you don't remember what it says?””
“I said I wanted to be prepared!””
I held her gaze.
“Prepared for what?””
She looked down at her phone.
It buzzed again.
This time, she didn't answer.
I held out my hand.
“Let me see the message from Marcus.””
“No.””
“Simone.””
“It's private.””
“It's about my daughter.””
She clutched the phone against her chest.
“You're acting like I planned to steal her from you.””
“I don't know what you planned. That's the problem.””
Her face crumpled.
For a moment, I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Then she said, “You know what the worst part is? I have done everything for you, and the moment something goes wrong, you treat me like a criminal.””
I stared at her.
“What have you done for Lily this morning?””
She said nothing.
“What did you do when she asked you to stop cutting her hair?””
Still nothing.
“And what did you do when she asked whether I would believe her?””
Simone's shoulders stiffened.
I took a step back.
“I'm done with this conversation.””
I reached for the door.
“Darius!””
I stopped but didn't turn.
“Please don't leave me standing here like this,” she said.
“At least let me fix Lily's hair. Let me apologize to her. We can still make today work.””
I turned around.
“You think this is about fixing her hair?””
“It's part of it!””
“No. It's about the fact that my daughter was frightened of you, and you keep finding ways to make yourself the victim.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“That's not fair.””
“Maybe it isn't. But I will not marry someone I no longer trust.””
I left the room.
My mother was waiting in the hallway outside.
She took one look at my face and reached for my arm.
“What's happened now?””
I told her about the message.
Her expression hardened.
“Have you seen the document?””
“No.””
“Then don't let Simone talk you into signing anything.””
“I haven't signed anything.””
“Good. Keep it that way.””
We walked toward the elevators.
Halfway there, my phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered.
“Darius? Thank goodness,” he said.
“I'm sorry to call you directly, but Simone told me there might be a problem with the ceremony.””
“There's a problem with a guardianship document you prepared.””
Silence.
Then Marcus cleared his throat.
“I think you should speak to Simone about that.””
“I did. She says you're the one who prepared it.””
“I prepared a document based on instructions I received. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't provide legal advice.””
“Who asked you to prepare it?””
“Simone.””
“What exactly did she ask for?””
He hesitated.
“I don't think I should discuss private client information without her permission.””
“It's about my seven-year-old daughter.””
“I understand.””
“Then tell me whether the document requires my signature.””
Another pause.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“The draft includes a section for your consent.””
“Did Simone tell you I had agreed?””
“No. She said it would be discussed with you.””
I closed my eyes.
At least that much was clear.
“Did she ask you to announce anything during the ceremony?””
Marcus exhaled.
“She asked whether a short family announcement could be added to the reception program. Something about welcoming Simone into her new role in Lily's life.””
“What new role?””
“She used the words 'official guardian,' but I told her that wasn't something I could announce as a legal fact without appropriate documentation.””
My mother gripped my arm.
I thanked Marcus and ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then my mother said, “She planned to announce it before you had agreed?””
“Apparently.””
My mother looked toward the bridal suite.
“I want to know what is in that document.””
“So do I.””
We returned to the hotel room where Lily was waiting with Nia.
Lily ran toward me as soon as I opened the door.
I caught her in my arms.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
“Are we going home?””
“Yes,” I said.
“We're going home.””
She looked at my face.
“Are you sure?””
I kissed the top of her head.
“I'm sure.””
My mother knelt beside us.
“Would you like to come stay with Grandma tonight?””
Lily nodded.
“Can Daddy come too?””
My mother smiled sadly.
“Of course.””
While Lily packed her flower crown into her little overnight bag, I called my attorney, Richard Cole.
He had handled my business contracts for years, but I had never needed him for anything involving my daughter.
When he answered, I explained what had happened.
He listened without interrupting.
Finally, he said, “Do not sign anything. Do not agree to any guardianship arrangement under pressure. And don't assume the message tells us what the document actually says.””
“I understand.””
“Has Simone ever discussed adopting Lily?””
“No.””
“Has she ever asked you to change Lily's school records, medical permissions, or custody arrangements?””
“Not that I remember.””
“Then we need to find out exactly what she prepared and whether anything has been filed.””
I glanced at Lily.
She was carefully wrapping her flower crown in tissue paper.
“Can you review the document if I get a copy?””
“Yes. Send it to me before you respond to anything else.””
After the call, I helped Lily put on her shoes.
She held my hand all the way to the elevator.
As the doors closed, she leaned against me.
“Daddy?””
“Yeah, baby?””
“Will Miss Simone be at Grandma's house?””
“No.””
“Will she come to our house?””
“Not unless we agree to see her.””
She considered that.
Then she whispered, “Good.””
The elevator descended.
I thought the worst part of the day was behind us.
I was wrong.
At the hotel entrance, a man in a dark suit approached us carrying a thick envelope.
“Mr. Bennett?””
I stopped.
“Yes?””
“My name is Daniel Price. I'm an attorney representing Ms. Simone Carter.””
My mother moved closer to Lily.
The man extended the envelope.
“Ms. Carter asked me to deliver this before you leave.””
I looked at the name printed on the front.
Darius Bennett.
Underneath it, in smaller letters, were the words:
*Proposed Family Guardianship Agreement.*
I didn't open it.
I didn't need to.
May you like
Because the final sentence Daniel spoke before walking away was enough to make my blood run cold.
“Mr. Bennett, my client believes this agreement is necessary to protect Lily's best interests, and she intends to pursue the matter if you refuse to cooperate.””
