We hadn’t seen Erin in months. When she gave birth to a baby boy, the whole family traveled to celebrate!
Gifts in hand, I was just as excited to meet the newborn and my goddaughter, Lily.
Except… she wasn’t there.
“Where’s Lily?” I asked.
Erin froze, glanced at her boyfriend, then shrugged.
“Oh. I gave her back.”
Silence.
“You—what?” My stomach dropped.
“I always wanted a boy. Now I have one. Why would I need a daughter?”
I felt sick. “You GAVE HER BACK?! She’s a child, not a return item!”
She rolled her eyes. “Relax. She wasn’t really mine anyway. Just… temporary.”
That’s when I snapped.
Lily wasn’t temporary—she was also my goddaughter, the little girl who filled the void left by my miscarriages.
“TEMPORARY?! You let her call you Mom, held her in your arms, and threw her away the second you got your ‘real’ kid?!”
Erin scoffed. “She was a foster kid, okay?”
I was shaking with rage.
Suddenly, we heard sharp knocks on the door. If only I knew that she would answer for this immediately.
Erin sighed dramatically and went to open the door. Standing there was a woman in a business suit, holding a clipboard. Her badge read “Child Protective Services.” Behind her stood a police officer.
“Erin Carter?” the woman asked.
“Uh, yeah? What’s this about?” Erin scoffed, but I saw the flicker of panic in her eyes.
“We received a report that you voluntarily relinquished a foster child after nearly two years in your care. Is that correct?”
Erin folded her arms. “Yeah, so? I wasn’t obligated to keep her.”
The CPS worker glanced at the officer, who stepped forward. “Ms. Carter, we’ve also been informed that you received financial assistance for Lily’s care. That includes subsidies you continued collecting even after she was removed from your home.”
Erin’s face drained of color. “Wait… what? No, I—”
The officer pulled out a piece of paper. “You signed documents stating you were still fostering her while receiving benefits.”
Erin’s boyfriend, Rick, took a step back. “You told me you sent the money back!” he snapped.
Erin’s mouth opened and closed, no words coming out.
“Ms. Carter, we’re placing you under investigation for fraud. You’ll need to come with us for further questioning.”
“No! This is a mistake!” she shrieked, clutching her newborn son to her chest. “You can’t take me away from my baby!”
The officer sighed. “For now, your son will stay with his father, but depending on the outcome of this investigation, custody arrangements may change.”
Rick looked disgusted. “If I’d known what kind of person you were, I never would’ve had a kid with you.”
Erin turned to me, tears streaking down her face. “Tell them this is insane! I’m a good mom!”
I held her gaze. “A good mom? You abandoned Lily like she was disposable. Maybe now you’ll understand how she felt.”
The officer escorted Erin out. Rick stood there, cradling his son, looking as if his entire world had just collapsed.
That evening, I made a call to Lily’s new foster family. They told me she was adjusting, but she missed me. I promised to visit her soon, to let her know she was still loved.
Karma hit back fast, but the real justice? That would be making sure Lily never felt abandoned again.
Life lesson? Love isn’t temporary. Kids aren’t placeholders. If you betray the trust of an innocent child, the universe will make sure you answer for it.
If this story resonated with you, share it. Let’s remind the world that every child deserves love, stability, and a forever home. ❤️