Summer of Second Chances - Andrea Hurst Page 0,114

she hears me out. If I can talk her into letting me stay, what do I need in place to secure that my grandmother, Alice Meyer, will be my legal guardian until I turn eighteen?"

"Your best and fastest solution would be for your mother to sign a temporary custody agreement appointing Alice as your legal guardian. I've drawn up a preliminary draft for you to look at. I presumed that might be your optimum recourse. I'll print a copy and you can take it home to review."

"And what if her mother says no?" Logan asked.

“Shelby could petition for emancipation,” Anthony said. “But that is up to her.”

Shelby squirmed. "I'm hopeful I won't have to go that far. It feels so...I don't know, hurtful. She's still my mother. But I believe it would be better for both of us if I finish high school here."

"All right," Anthony said. He retrieved her copy of the document from the printer and placed it before Shelby. “Take it home and look it over with your grandmother. Then let me know if your mother agrees. Once she signs, I’ll get it processed for you."

Shelby stood. "I can't thank you enough."

Anthony looked over at his son before answering her. "I'm happy to do it."

After Anthony left the room, Logan looked at Shelby. "How are you doing?"

“Surprisingly okay. Your dad's great."

Logan blinked twice in surprise. "I don't think anyone's ever told me that before. I'm grateful he’s willing to help."

“Me, too. I’d better get home and go over this with Alice before she goes to sleep

tonight.”

“I’ll walk you home,” Logan said, following her toward the front of the house.

“Okay. But first I’d like to say thanks to your mom." Shelby put her head in the kitchen. "Are you sure you don't want any help, Iris?"

"I'm just about done here, and tonight you are our guest."

"Dinner was incredible,” Shelby said.

"Well, I hope it will be the first of many more to come. Perhaps you’d like to help cook the next one? Learn some of the family recipes?”

"Definitely," Shelby said. Another reason to add to her long list of why she wanted to stay at Moonwater Lake. Now more than ever.

“Good luck with your mother," Iris said. “And please let us know if we can assist in any way.”

Once everyone waved goodbye, Logan walked her across the street.

“You have a wonderful family,” she said. “Thank you for including me tonight.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "I'll see you in the morning.”

Shelby watched longingly as he walked back. Halfway there, Logan turned and waved and she returned it before entering her house and closing the door behind her. Leaning against it, she let the waves of happiness wash over her as memories of the night lingered.

“Shelby, is that you?” her grandmother called from the bedroom.

Shelby found Alice sitting up and watching TV in bed with Scarlett lightly snoring beside her.

“I had the absolutely best night,” Shelby said.

“I’m so glad to hear it,” Alice said. “Theo and I had a lovely dinner as well.”

Her grandmother’s voice seemed flat. Perhaps she was just tired.

“I see you're holding some papers,” Alice said.

Shelby had forgotten they were still in her hands. “Logan’s father drew up a temporary custody agreement with you as my guardian for us to review. We can let him know in the morning if we want him to formalize it."

"We’d better get right to it," Alice said. "Your mother called. She'll be here in two days.”

Chapter 39

Shelby woke early the day of her mother’s arrival to go for a long walk alone by the lake and try to clear her head. She’d hardly slept the night before in anticipation. Yesterday had been frantically busy after everyone on “Team Shelby” had been alerted to the new timeline and had shown up at Alice’s to help Shelby prepare. She was as ready as she could ever be. Theo had offered to join them for lunch today, so that he would be there when Dana arrived.

Sweat rolled down her neck and back as she raced around the last bend of the path before turning for home. She stopped and took a deep breath to absorb the calm and stillness of morning on the lake. Familiar birdsongs echoed between the trees. She was prepared. Logan's father had brought over the final temporary custody and legal guardianship agreement yesterday. It clearly specified she would live with her grandmother until Shelby turned eighteen. Now all she