After Jack's latest trip to the hospital, his lawyer absolutely insists that he work out a custody plan for Liddy. Under the law, Avery could actually have her shipped to North Korea if something happened to Jack. So he sits down with a blank sheet of paper and a glass of scotch and tries to figure it out.
The most obvious choice is Colleen. But she's getting old (even if she is going to outlive all of them, damn it), and in any case Jack wouldn't want to subject Liddy to the same upbringing he received.
Milton's not quite as old, but he's hardly young, and Jack also has concerns he'd turn her into some sort of hippie chick. Father Donaghy is obviously not an option.
Then there's the whole army of Donaghy brothers and sisters. Some of them have kids, but he wouldn't really trust any of them to buy groceries for him, much less raise his daughter. There's a mix of alcohol and money problems that lead him to believe that a little girl with a large trust fund could lead to disaster. And, he's met his nieces – a bunch of working-class harlots, every one. No thank you.
There's Avery's mother, who's only a bit older than Jack. Her age means she doesn't really solve the problem. She did a pretty good job with Avery, but his relationship with her is poor: in a conservative family, impregnating her out of wedlock (while seeing another woman) is especially bad form. He has a hard time with the idea of his daughter raised by someone who dislikes him so intensely.
His mind drifts away from family, radiating outward from his office. Jonathan has a certain reverence for Liddy, as if she were the daughter of God. But that's way creepy, and anyway, no.
Liz comes to mind, but he holds that thought: there has to be a better option.
The surviving Geiss family is full of half-wits. Of the parents in the building, Tracy is insane, Pete isn't a man – as if they were close enough for Jack to ask, anyway. The rest of the staff is a collection of children. Bob Ballard is at sea too often to be a good parent. And anyway, he and Bob aren't as close as they once were.
So he circles around to Lemon. She's still a mess – although less of one than when he started working on her. But if there's anyone that would take it seriously, and have the love to give, it's her. Her affection for him is not in doubt – even whatever romantic crush on him she might harbor isn't a problem in this context. She can tell Liddy more about her father than just about anybody – Avery included. The sudden wealth wouldn't go to her head. There really is no other choice.
She really would be a wonderful mother to Liddy. And almost as importantly, it would complete her life as well.
His thoughts are interrupted by Liz herself strolling in through the open door.
"What can I help you with, Lemon?"
Liz sighed. "Do you have any more connections at adoption agencies? Because I'm running out of ideas."
"No, but I do have an idea for you. Have a seat."
END