She appointed temporary independent counsel for me until Gregory’s potential conflict could be examined.
She also ordered an independent neurological and psychiatric capacity evaluation.
Most importantly, she postponed any guardianship ruling.
No victory.
No defeat.
Just time.
As the courtroom emptied, reporters crowded outside the doors, but the bailiffs guided Sophie and Maria through a private corridor.
Before leaving, Sophie looked back at me.
I raised my hand as far as I could.
“Thank you.”
She smiled.
“My mom said you’d know what to do.”
I wished I had as much confidence in myself as Elena apparently had.
An hour later, I was sitting in a conference room with my new temporary attorney.
Her name was Rachel Kim.
She was forty-something, direct without being cold, and the first thing she did after closing the door was pull a chair beside me rather than across from me.
“What do you want?” she asked.
