Chapter 21 - Ellie asks for her mother
Ellie was four.
She understood:
Mommy went away.
Mommy hurt Nora.
Police.
Court.
She did not understand kidnapping.
Then one night:
“I want Mommy.”
I held her.
“I know.”
“Call.”
“We can’t right now.”
“Why?”
“Because the court says Mommy can’t talk to you until adults decide what is safe.”
Vivian had not harmed Ellie physically.
That mattered.
But she had hidden another child inside Ellie’s home for most of Ellie’s life.
The psychological environment alone raised serious concerns.
Family court appointed independent child representative and ordered parenting evaluation? User prefers not evaluator-heavy. Could use narrow assessment.
A court-appointed custody professional reviewed:
Criminal findings.
Ellie’s attachment.
Vivian’s behavior.
Risk.
No immediate visits while Vivian incarcerated pre-sentencing.
After sentencing, contact question would remain.
Daniel sought sole legal and physical custody.
Vivian opposed termination of all contact.
Her lawyer proposed:
Letters screened by therapist.
No direct visit initially.
I hated it.
Ellie’s therapist said:
“Your feelings are relevant. They are not the only factor.”
Correct.
Then Nora.
She did not want Vivian mentioned around her.
So any future Ellie-Vivian contact could not occur in home with Nora or involve Nora.
Two children.
Different legal relationships.
May you like
One household.
No simple solution.
