Chapter 3
The adoption paperwork could not legally transfer Ivy to Maribel by itself.
Elowen’s attorney, Rachel Sloan, made that clear immediately.
A valid adoption required actual parental consent or another lawful basis for terminating parental rights, compliance with state procedures, background and home-study requirements where applicable, and ultimately court approval.
A forged page did not make Maribel a mother.
But that did not make the document harmless.
The first question was whether anyone had tried to use it.
Police contacted Helen Cormack.
She initially denied notarizing anything involving Elowen.
Then investigators showed her the seal.
Helen stopped talking without counsel.
The notary journal was subpoenaed.
There was an entry for Elowen.
Date:
Three weeks before Ivy’s birth.
Document:
Adoption planning acknowledgment
Identification method:
Remote verification.
Elowen had not participated in any remote notarization.
The IP address associated with the purported session traced to Lucinda’s estate.
The email account used for Elowen:
Not Elowen’s email.
Created five days earlier.
Recovery phone number:
Maribel’s.
Maribel’s attorney called that a clerical error.
Rachel nearly laughed.
Then the state’s adoption licensing unit contacted the family.
A private agency called Hearthstone Family Placement had opened a prospective intrafamily adoption file five months earlier.
Prospective adoptive parent:
Maribel.
Expectant mother:
Elowen.
The agency had been told the arrangement was voluntary and private.
Elowen had never spoken to Hearthstone.
Never emailed them.
Never filled out a questionnaire.
Yet her file contained answers.
Reason for considering adoption:
Concern about marital stability and emotional readiness for motherhood.
Preferred relationship after placement:
Open adoption with regular contact.
Reason for selecting Maribel:
Existing family bond and confidence in her financial stability.
Elowen read the sentences in silence.
Then looked at Stellan.
“Marital stability?”
He looked as shocked as she felt.
The agency director explained:
“We never reached final placement approval.”
“Why not?”
“We repeatedly requested a direct private interview with Ms. Whitmore.”
“And?”
“Ms. Shaw said pregnancy anxiety made direct conversations difficult.”
Rachel leaned forward.
“Did that not concern you?”
“It did.”
The agency eventually froze the file.
Then Lucinda called personally.
The director produced the email.
Elowen is overwhelmed by the emotional reality of placing a child within the family. Please do not mistake reluctance to discuss painful logistics for withdrawal from the plan.
Rachel asked:
“Did you ever meet Elowen?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Lucinda you required independent confirmation?”
“Yes.”
The reply existed.
No placement process will proceed without direct, informed, voluntary participation by both legal parents and compliance with all post-birth requirements.
Lucinda received that warning four months ago.
She continued building the file anyway.
Then Hearthstone disclosed another fact.
Maribel had completed a home study.
Background check.
Home inspection.
Parent preparation course.
References.
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She had not merely kept blank forms in a handbag.
She had prepared herself to adopt a specific child who already had two parents raising her.
