He Sent Every Dollar, So Why Was My Daughter Starving? novel · Chapter 23 of 24
Chapter 23: The Ruling
"The petition of Lowell Bissell for custody and visitation is denied," the judge read.
I gripped Kurt's hand so hard my fingers went numb.
"Sole legal and physical custody of Maisy Gleason remains with her parents, Emmeline and Kurt Gleason."
The room let out a roar of cheering.
The bailiff called for order twice.
Kurt put his forehead down on our joined hands.
"Quiet," the judge said. "I'm not finished."
The room settled.
"Mr. Bissell's biological claim is acknowledged in this record and nowhere else. He has no custody and no standing over the child's schooling, her health or her name."
Lowell sat with his head bowed.
"On visitation: none, unless and until the child herself asks to see him. At fourteen, or sooner if she raises it, a counselor will be present. The court will not allow a parent's wish to override a child's."
She looked at Lowell.
"And Mr. Bissell, hear me. If she never asks, you will never see her."
Lowell's shoulders shook once.
"Additionally," the judge said. "The criminal matters are before another court. But I have been asked to rule on the restitution account, and I will."
She turned a page.
"All funds taken from the Gleason allotment, forty-three thousand four hundred dollars, are to be restored to the Gleasons within thirty days, with interest, from the frozen Bissell Holdings accounts."
I let out a sound I did not know I had in me.
"In addition, Bissell Holdings is ordered to fund a family food bank in Calder Falls, at a cost of no less than the entire amount Mr. Bissell earned from his grocery chain last year."
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