Chapter 10 - THE TEMPORARY ORDER
Family court addressed immediate safety.
Adrian requested supervised contact with Emiliano.
Lucy requested no contact initially.
The judge reviewed:
hallway video,
hospital records,
police statements,
financial documents,
Adrian’s messages.
Adrian admitted:
slapping Lucy,
hitting Emiliano,
using Lucy’s credit beyond what she understood.
His attorney argued:
single acute incident,
financial stress,
no prior police record,
no history of child injury,
voluntary enrollment in anger-management treatment.
All relevant.
Judge Allison Hart ordered:
temporary protective order,
no contact with Lucy except through counsel,
no unsupervised contact with Emiliano,
therapeutic parenting evaluation before visits,
no access to Lucy’s financial accounts or devices.
No dramatic permanent termination.
The judge also said:
“Financial control and physical violence often reinforce each other. This court will treat both as safety issues.”
Adrian looked down.
Lucy did not feel victorious.
She felt tired.
Then the judge asked where she would live.
Lucy looked at Carmen.
Carmen said from the back row:
“She can stay with me.”
Lucy almost cried.
But Rachel shook her head later.
“Temporary.”
“Why?”
“Because safety should not become another dependency.”
Good.
May you like
Carmen helped.
She did not own the rescue.
