I wasn’t an idiot. I knew that financially, he had me beat. But could someone who was constantly on the road give a baby the love he deserved? My mom had read me a bedtime story every night until I was eleven and was able to read my own. She’d picked me up and dropped me off at school every day. Had attended all my ill-advised sporting attempts.

Would a nanny and a part-time dad be enough for a kid to feel the same level of love and contentment I had?

So that’s why I lifted my chin and stared back at every single one of those men, my eyes lingering on River Cooper. I wasn’t here for a pissing match. I was here so that my brother could have a life filled with love and understanding. Safety and consistency.

After staring at him for a good ten seconds, I lifted my hand in a wave. We might be adversaries today, but I didn’t want to be enemies. They obviously cared for Huey, and his mother, and I didn’t want to cut Huey off from any family he still had, even if they weren’t blood relatives.

It didn’t help that they were stupidly good-looking, though. Honestly, River Cooper was gorgeous. A square-cut jaw, and light brown wavy hair that he’d styled back from his forehead. He had arms the size of my legs, and thighs the size of my whole torso.

He spun away without acknowledging my wave, as did the guy on his left. That guy was wiry, but just as tall and strong, his skin a soft tan that seemed to make the brown of his hair look even darker under the overhead lights.

It was only the last guy—a huge man with longish honey-blond hair and a clean-cut face—who lifted his hand back, his eyebrows raised.

Well, I guess he's the nice one.

I sat down at the table beside Mr. Lief, and the hearing got underway. The lawyers argued. CPS gave their report. Most of the legal jargon went over my head but it came down to this in layman’s terms:

1. I could provide a home and around-the-clock care for Huey.

2. I was his actual blood relation. His sister. That counted for a lot, apparently.

3. I was financially stable and would be able to provide for all of Huey’s needs.

But, on the other side, it was just as good.

1. River Cooper already knew Huey. He was his uncle in everything but blood. He had supported Alana, Huey’s mother, throughout her pregnancy as he’d considered her a sister.

2. He could provide a standard of living and opportunities that Huey would never get with me.

3. He could have the best medical care money could buy.

In the end, even I was almost convinced he’d be better off with River Cooper.