A/N: Thanks, faithful readers and reviewers; I love reading your reviews! And even those who haven't reviewed yet, thanks for at least reading; hope all of you are having as much fun reading as much as I am writing this story…enjoy more holiday drama that unfolds…
Interfamily Affairs and Games
By: CNJ
PG-13
21
Thanks to Karen and Simon and probably my own dear dad, social services are back late Monday morning.
We've cleaned up the mess as much as we could, but I know they see our boarded windows and have heard about the havoc the twins have created. They interrogate Annie and Eric about it, implying that the two of them at fault that the boys are out of control. In a way, they are, but that fiasco Friday night was also Ruthie's fault too.
"And you did realize that the children were alone in the house once you took Ruthie out?" Nichelle grills me. There're two other social workers with them and they don't stop peering around our home. One of them even goes upstairs as if our private bedrooms are her business.
"Yes…but Ruthie had told me that the boys had offered to watch the younger kids," I tell her.
I have to remember to keep my story straight. The last thing I need is for these government creeps to trip me up with trick questions that would make me look like a liar.
"But you had admitted that Ruthie has lied to you in the past…so you didn't bother checking her claim…ask Sam yourself?" Nichelle presses.
"She has…but she was showing signs of shaping up…she seemed so sincere that I believed her," I say. "I never dreamed she'd lie about something like this…not when kids' lives are at stake here."
"Reverend and Mrs. Camden…you have admitted, however, that Ruth has been negligent in the past with her daughter," the third social worker tells us.
"Yes…" Eric nods. "But Kaylee has us…and we are teaching Ruthie how to mother her…she's still young and has some growing to do, but with our guidance and support, she will mature and take on a more active role in her daughter's life."
The hardest part that makes me cringe is when Nichelle talks to Savannah. Lucy tries to object, but they insist. Savannah tells them that I hate Simon and claims that I'm "mean" to "her" Uncle Simon.
"And it was your uncle who you called Friday night?" Nichelle puts an arm around her as if she's pals with her.
"Yes…Kaylee and me were scared…" Savannah tells her. "Uncle Simon came…the twins had that knife…Sam was yelling and chasing David with the knife…they threw all the trash and food around the house…they broke the kitchen window…"
"They ran outside right before Uncle Simon came…" Savannah continues when Nichelle nods. "…the police came too…and Uncle Simon talked to them…Uncle Simon looked scared too…then Mommy, my grandparents, and Martin came home…they all got mad at Uncle Simon and started yelling at him…I don't know why they kept yelling at him since he came and helped us…"
"Simon did his share of yelling at us…he really said some terrible things about Martin and me…" Lucy cuts in indignantly, but Nichelle holds up her hand.
"They all yelled at each other," Savannah says. "But Mommy, why did you kick him out of the house…why did you let Martin say bad things to Uncle Simon…why did you yell at him not to come back? Why did you make Uncle Simon cry? And Grandma, why did you get mad and yell at Uncle Simon too? He helped Kaylee and me when we were scared."
"It was just a family argument, honey," Lucy tells her, coming up and patting her hair. "And I am sure your uncle wasn't really crying…we were all tired because it had been a hard night for all of us…I think Uncle Simon was tired…and we both said things we shouldn't have said, but sometimes grown ups get tired and say things they don't mean."
"Martin, why do you hate Uncle Simon so much?" Savannah eyes me. Sheeesh, I better think up a good one for this. "He's a good man and never did anything bad to you."
"Well, I don't really hate your uncle…" I fumble. "I know your uncle and I disagree about a lot of things and sometimes we look like we're angry with each other, but we're really not…and sometimes we're just…kidding around…like most families do."
Savannah just eyeballs me with her huge blue eyes. I'm not sure if she's entirely convinced, but to my relief, she doesn't ask any more questions.
Lucy sends her upstairs to study her reading cards. Brian peers at me. By then the fourth social worker is coming down and is rapidly entering things into a little ipad.
She surveys us, looking at each face every once in a while as if she's sizing us up. I really am growing sick of being constantly sized up…and judged.
"Mr. Brewer…" Nichelle asks me. "What exactly is the nature of your relationship with Mr. Simon Camden?"
I so wish I could say that I hate Simon's guts so badly I wish I could strangle him. I also wish I could tell her all about Simon's sleazing around with all those girls in college, his ping-ponging from one temp job to another and about that trashy ghetto he's living in, but I know that would only make me look bad.
I also don't want to outright lie and imply that we're great pals since they know about our Friday night fight and also just heard what Savannah had said about us, so I have to choose my words carefully.
"I would say it's a lot like a sort of brother or brother-in-law relationship," I say. "We have our ups and downs of course…and yes, Simon and I have disagreed on lots of things, as Savannah has noticed, but I have the utmost respect for Simon…"
"And I do understand that he meant well when he came here on Friday night…" I have to really force myself to say this part. "I understand that he's concerned about us…and the kids…as you can see, Savannah cares about her uncle also…" I smile at her, not a huge phony smile, but a small, polite one.
"I hope once Lucy and I marry, I can continue to have the meaningful family relationship with my future brother-in-law I've always had…and I do wish him very well in his film career," I conclude.
They stare at me, expressionless for a long minute. The worker with the ipad taps away on it. I can't tell if they believe me or not.
But to my relief, they ask me nothing more. They turn then to Lucy and Eric and the kids' education.
Lucy and Eric are ordered to haul the kids' work folders and workbooks that they use. Social worker number four, a Lois Kramer, asks about phonics.
Lucy has to hedge there. "We're sort of using a different phonics," she tells them. "Not sounding out all letters, but using parts of words and all…and my daughter is doing very well with it…she's recognizing words and can write her own name." Lucy holds up a paper with her name printed on it.
"Reverend…" Brian adds. "Your boys…Sam and David…were in school at one point…why did you remove them from school? Roosevelt Elementary is known for being an excellent school."
Eric heaves a bit of a sigh. "Their second-grade teacher…was not very professional…she often let her personal life get in the way of effective teaching…and some of their classmates were negatively influencing the boys."
"But how would you feel about positive peer influence in the schools?" Lois asks. "I have been to all the Glen Oak public schools and many of the students there are polite, moral, and well-behaved."
They are? I think.
"Surely, if you've raised them well, they would gravitate toward the positive influences and benefit from not only making friends their own age, but also gain positive role models from their responsible, well-behaved peers who would then offset any negative influence," Lois concludes.
"I don't know about that," Annie puts in, shaking her head. "Have you seen the news reports in TV? All the shootings and gangs? We know our older children were in public schools, but thankfully, our daughter here, Lucy resisted all the evil temptations of those schools and came out well. Some of our other children…" Annie shakes her head again.
"Mary…Simon…" she mutters.
"We understand you and your middle son, Simon, have had problems, including what he's found out about his parentage," Lois barrels on. Annie's head shoots up and she starts to glare at her, but stifles the glare and forces a phone smile that I don't think fools Lois. "How do you intend to handle that in the coming weeks and months?"
"Yes, it's true Simon and I have had…issues…" Annie tries to keep her eyes from bulging. "But I hope to work things out with my son…I love him and want him to be happy…he's had lots of problems, which is partially what led to this…family fiasco recently…we've all been through a lot in recent months…"
"We've lost our oldest son, Matt…" Annie sniffs a little. "…very tragically…and since Simon found out about…his birth father, he's been angry at us…but he doesn't really know how to communicate that directly with us…so he feels a need to get back at us…punish us…"
Annie takes a tissue and wipes her eyes. I hope she's not going to start her uhhhh-uhhhh crying in front of these people.
"From what I've gathered from Mrs. Kinkirk, the police, Beau Brewer, and several others, your son has no desire to 'punish' any of you…it seems as if he is worried about the three youngest children here…" Nichelle says.
"But Simon's in cahoots with all of them!" Annie bursts out. Eric puts a hand on her shoulder, trying to stop her latest conniption, but she steams on.
"Simon's always been different from the rest of us! Lord knows, Eric and I tried to raise him right, but he's just…he knew about me all along and he's getting back at me! And he hates most of the values we live by…"
"Remember, Eric, Lucy, Martin…how he and Mrs. Kinkirk criticize us for educating our own kids instead of letting school bureaucrats do it for us? He's a vindictive, conniving little…" Annie pounds her fist on the coffee table.
"Mom…calm down!" Lucy tells her. "This isn't going to help us!"
Eric kind of ushers the social workers back into the foyer. "I'm sorry about my wife's outburst…this has been a stressful time for her…and this latest…isn't really helping her state of mind…" he tells them.
"We understand," Lois nods.
"We'll go…and be back Wednesday at the same time," Nichelle adds.
"How about you not come back at all?" Eric mumbles in a low voice. I don't know if they hear him or not, but they do leave.
Monday afternoon, Eric has to go and bring Ruthie back home…she's been released. I really don't want to ever see her again, but I guess if I want to continue seeing Lucy and having a relationship with Annie and Eric, I guess I must.
Fortunately, Ruthie just goes straight upstairs to bed. "The doctor says she has to rest a lot in the next few weeks," Eric tells us.
"Mommy sleep 'lot?" Kaylee asks, toddling into the living room.
"Yes, honey," Eric tells her. "So we have to be quiet when we're upstairs…if you need anything, your Aunt Lucy, Uncle Martin, or your Grandpa or Grandma can help."
Kaylee turns and stares at me. Lucy and I are going back and forth in the dining room helping Annie with dinner. Eric just brought up some dinner for Ruthie in bed.
"Martin nop a unnkee…" she shakes her head. "Sime is…and Maaa was…"
"But soon, I'll be, Kay," I tell her, stroking her dark curly hair. "I'll be marrying your Aunt Lucy very soon, so then I'll be your uncle."
"Speaking of marrying…" Annie says as we get ready to sit down to dinner. "We have to start planning your wedding…it's just a few months away…how about in February, Lucy?"
"I was actually thinking of a June wedding," Lucy says. "I've always wanted to be a June bride…and we'll have more time to plan a big June wedding…and I want to go someplace tropical for our wedding."
"What about our church?" Eric says. "We've always done weddings at my church…and I've always been the one to marry the couple."
"Oh, you'll still marry us," Lucy smiles at him. "But we can fly down to someplace like Florida or Hawaii…how about it, Martin? Wouldn't it be so romantic having a big wedding in a tropical setting?"
"Yeah…" I agree, helping myself to string beans.
A tropical wedding does sound good. I'd love the warm breezes, sun, and palm trees. Maybe Lucy and I can talk Eric into giving us a nice long tropical honeymoon also.
"And the rest of us sweating like hogs," Sam snarks.
"So, Mom…Dad, can you give me this wedding I've always dreamed of?" Lucy asks. "It would mean so much to me…and this one will last forever…much better than the marriage to Kevin…"
"I don't know, Luc…" Annie shakes her head. "That could get expensive…and think of Christmas coming and the damage to the house your dad will have to pay for…"
Lucy sighs and her face sinks into a sulk.
"We'll see what we can do, honey," Eric pats her hand. Lucy smiles at him.
"Thanks, Dad," she croons.
Annie shoots Eric a rather dirty look across the table.
What? Eric mimes back at her.
"Yeah, I heard it cost like a thousand bucks to fly to Hawaii," David puts in. "Got a thousand, Dad?"
"No, we really don't," Annie frets. "And with Christmas just a little more than two weeks away, we'll have enough bills as it is…I haven't brought anything for the house…and the tree, Eric…and the presents…we haven't even started on that…it'll take us until at least June to pay it all off, then to turn around and have to finance a long-distance trip…Luce, I don't want to disappoint you, but…"
"I have an idea…we can skip the gifts and tree this year," Lucy says. "Let's make a family pact not to buy anyone anything…Christmas is way too commercialized as it is…and Dad, you don't have to buy a tree…Martin and I were talking the other day about it…I've had this idea in mind anyway…we need to get back into the real meaning of Christmas."
"Which is the birth of Christ," I add. "Not the 'holiday' Santa, trees, and lights circus that the world has reduced it to…and certainly not all these material presents for ourselves."
"Good point, both of you," Eric beams at Lucy, then gives Annie an almost smug look. "Since when does a big pine tree all draped with a million gaudy lights and junk have to do with our Lord's birth?"
"I guess you're right about that," Annie nods. "But let's think about the wedding a little more, okay, Luce?"
"But I want the new Game Three that's out this year," Sam protests. "Dad…you'll still get that for me, can you?"
"No, he will not," Lucy glares at him. "Christmas is NOT a gimme, gimme, gemme, gemme day…we're all going to church that day to honor the birth of Christ and we will pray and have an un-materialistic CHRIST…miss this year, got it?"
"Awww, shut up, Lucy!" Sam scowls at her. "And you're not pushing this 'holy' Christmas crap on all of us out of the goodness of your heart; you just want to hog all the family money so you can have your fancy royal wedding in Hawaii…Daddy, gimme a fancy Hawaiian wedding with all the works…talk about gimme and gemme this and that."
"Just cut it out, Sam!" Lucy snaps. "And my wedding is in June…and you will not demand any toys or gifts this year…it's Jesus Christ's birthday, not yours…you certainly haven't earned any presents this year the way you've acted."
"There goes the dinosaur set I wanted," David grumbles. He pokes Sam. "We can forget about getting any presents this Christmas…oh, excuse me, Keeeeriiiiisttt…msssss… 'cause Lucy always gets her way…only the best for the family princess Lucy," he mutters.
As they promised…or threatened…the government busybodies are back Wednesday exactly on schedule, much to our dismay and especially Eric's disgust.
And this time, they tell us that they've sent their bureaucrats to speak to Sandy, Rose, Mrs. Kinkirk, my traitor dad, and Simon. Terrific, I think bitterly.
No doubt they'll do their best to make us look like not only unfit parents, but horrid villains. And I have another court date with Sandy to finalize the details of our divorce.
"How did they find out where Simon lives?" I demand.
"He and Kevin's mother are in cahoots against us…" Lucy snaps. "Remember…I'm sure Simon told Mrs. Kinkirk everything and she told these people."
"Greaaat…" Eric mutters.
"My own son…" Annie shakes her head, pacing. "My own son reports me to social services and gets me into trouble."
"No one is trying to get you into trouble, Mrs. Camden," Nichelle tells her.
She and Brian are back and there is a third person, a different social worker we haven't met. She introduces herself as Gera Narrali. Good God, I think. Is every social worker in central California going to converge on our house, intruding on our private lives?
They ask more questions about the kids being home schooled and about Kaylee and who's really raising her.
They ask about Ruthie's miscarriage and try to get her to come down, but Eric insists that she stay upstairs and not be subjected to their grilling. She'll most likely claim that I "abandoned" her at her deathbed or some tripe.
"She's still weak," Eric explains.
They nod and back off on bringing her down, much to my relief. I really don't need Ruthie spilling out the sordid details of her affair with me.
They move on to questions about Mac and if there is anyone in Mac's family that we know and if Kaylee has met any of them.
"No," Eric says. "Mac took off on Ruthie once Ruthie told him she was pregnant…we tried to get Mac to marry her, but he just disappeared…he didn't want the responsibility of his actions…that's why we are helping to take care of their daughter…I've taken on the role Mac should have taken…and with Martin here as an additional male figure, Kaylee has adequate role models to raise her properly."
"Yes, about male role models…" Brian muses and turns to me. He seems to study me with piercing eyes that I think narrow a bit. "Would you say you are a good role model for your own two boys?"
"Well…" I don't want to say anything that would make me look like a liar since Sandy would most likely paint me as this horrible father who "terrorized" his own sons.
"Sandy and I had our disagreements," I search around for an adequate explanation that would counter Sandy's accusations, yet not seem like a counterattack of lies of an embittered ex-husband seeking revenge.
"And I am sorry to admit that yes, we did have several arguments in my sons' presence that upset them a little…but I have tried to make amends since then…"
The image of my own crying oldest son cowering away from me and swallowing the way he did, afraid of his own dad appears in my mind unbidden. And this was all because I raised my voice a little.
This unwanted image annoys me. Lots, if not most parents yell at their kids…heck, my own dad yelled at me when I got Sandy pregnant. But I did NOT get all scared of him and I certainly didn't gulp and shrink away from him.
I bravely stood up to Dad's accusations and blame, fighting back like a man, I remember indignantly. And Aaron needs to learn to stand or sit straight the way I do…not cower, cry, and swallow anytime somebody speaks a bit loudly or he's not going to make it in this life.
I fight to stay calm and continue. "Look, I know most likely, Sandy and I are beyond fixing our marriage…I think we've both now realized that our relationship is finished…but I do plan to be there for my boys…we will work out a regular visiting schedule, so I can be a father to my own sons…that's all I'm looking for at this point…"
"And I know my dad is selling my…um, his house and wants me to find a place…so that's why I'm staying here…so Sandy and I can settle our divorce and we can both be out of my father's hair while he sells the house and moves himself…" I also try to explain Dad as best I can.
"I am aware that my sons have enough going on in their lives at this point and need a stable place to stay…that's another reason I'm staying here with the Camdens…Eric and Annie are good role models and the boys will have them as well as me when they come here…"
"Eric has been wonderful to me and can be a good father figure also to my boys…and Lucy and I plan to get married soon, so the boys can have a real family with Lucy and me," I smile as I gesture around the room, indicating the family I've rather adopted.
"We have observed your family, Mr. Brewer," Brian tells me evenly. "Several neighbors as well as Sandy, Rose, and your father have observed that while you and Sandy were together, the boys seemed tense and often subdued…recently since you and Sandy have separated, the boys seem more relaxed and less fearful…they've become close to Rose and her daughter Rochelle."
"Sandy, Rose, and your father were especially concerned about Aaron…we understand you had several angry outbursts that caused Aaron and possibly Sandy to feel physically threatened…you attempted to intimidate Sandy and the boys into joining you in coming here…not to mention the loud altercations you have had with your own father that neighbors have heard."
A whoosh of breath bursts out of me and I roll my eyes before I can stop myself. "Well…Aaron has always been a bit shy…and yes, there was tension between Sandy and me…and my own father also didn't help matters…he was constantly telling me how to raise my own sons…so yes, there were several arguments with my father…and Aaron…well he needs to be a bit stronger…"
No change in their expressions.
"I am trying to be more patient…and I can help my son in that regard…Aaron needs strong male figures in his life…being with two women and a toddler girl isn't exactly a conducive environment for a growing young boy…for two growing boys…they need a father…and I'm their father, so I can provide that for them…and since Sandy and I are separated, they won't have to witness any more fighting between us…"
"And since my dad and I will no longer live together, that won't be problem either…here in the Camden family, we know how to work things out…sure, they've had their problems, especially with Simon's…" I have to search for the right word here. "...instability and accusations, but aside from Simon, they've always worked everything out and stayed united."
"And I can help Martin get established with his family," Eric interjects. "Really, this has gone far enough…I really find it hard to believe that you haven't seen Simon's instability and Mrs. Kinkirk's own issues…"
"Lucy and Kevin parted on rather bitter terms, so it's no surprise that Kevin's mother has issues with us…she most likely blames the divorce on us when it was Kevin…her own son…who walked out on my daughter and left her with two children to raise without a father."
Eric's eyes widen indignantly as he stands straighter. "And Simon…Simon…" he lets out an angry wheeeesh and shakes his head vigorously.
"Simon…has a history of premarital sex, drunkenness, rebellion, money problems, shady friends, and mental problems…and God knows what else. Lord knows, I've tried to help him get a stable, good job since he has essentially been unemployed for the past couple of years…" Eric sighs gustily.
"I have tried to reach out to him even though he's not even my blood son, but he has continuously and I might add ungraciously rejected all of my offers of help and has basically shunned me…even though I raised him as my own son."
"We're sorry to hear you feel that way about Simon," Nichelle tells him coolly. "Because from what some of his 'shady' friends and what Mrs. Kinkirk, Mr. Beau Brewer, and many of your own neighbors have told us, Simon is actually a very stable young man with a good place of his own and is supporting himself quite well financially with excellent temporary and contracting jobs…"
"Supporting himself well…" I mutter under my breath. "Right, real well off in that horrid ghetto…"
Nichelle either ignores or doesn't hear my comment. "And he has several good friends and seems to get along well with most others in a variety of settings…completed college with honors and is about to begin a career in film directing…"
"That aside, the big picture is that Simon, Mrs. Karen Kinkirk along with Beau Brewer, your own neighbors, and Rose are genuinely concerned about three innocent children," she lectures us as if we should all join the Team Simon bandwagon.
Gera butts in with her own bombshell. "In fact, Mrs. Kinkirk has petitioned the court that if she is denied regular visitation or this home is found unfit, she will file for custody of Savannah and Eric Kinkirk."
"SHE CAAAAAN'T DO THAAAAAAAT!" Annie shrieks at the top of her lungs. Wincing, I make a face at her.
Lucy glares at her also, but also sticks a tongue out at Gera. Uoooomph she grunts angrily.
"Of all the vindictive, spiteful…!" Eric spits.
"It would serve all of you right!" Ruthie's unpleasant voice suddenly shrills from the stairs. "Lucy, you're a terrible mother and Martin, you're a lousy father and an all-around JERK!"
"Ruthie, get back upstairs!" Annie yells. "Stay out of this!"
"No!" Ruthie shouts back and comes on down as if we invited her.
She's still very pale. She is wearing a loose polo shirt and what I suspect is a pair of MY pants. The pants are pinned at the waist area to stay on her slender frame and bag down over her feet.
"Did you tell them how you got me pregnant, then dumped me, Martin?" Ruthie continues. "And did you explain to them how you came by and led me on into thinking there was still something between us, then as I lay there losing my baby in that emergency room, Lucy butted in with her little crisis with her own son and stole you back from me?"
"Just shut up, Ruthie!" Lucy advances toward her, her eyes menacingly wide and icy.
Brian holds out his hand, telling us all to quiet down. "Let's hear what Ruth has to say since she's here now…what is the nature of your relationship with Martin…and your daughter?"
Ruthie smirks at Lucy, then me. I glare furiously at her. Nichelle stares me down.
"First off, Martin has been mooching off this family for years…Mom and Dad pamper him and Lucy like there's no tomorrow…"
"Eh! Ehhehhe…!" Eric starts angrily, but Nichelle shushes him.
Eric glares at her, but doesn't cut in any further. It angers me that these government socialists, who have no clue about this family, are taking charge and even controlling the heads of this house.
It's a bitter realization that the days when parents were in complete charge of their own children and had the final and only say of what went down in their own families are now gone.
If this disaster Simon and Mrs. Kinkirk along with Ruthie and Sandy have created has taught me any lessons, it's that our government is now basically socialist. It is now in charge of all of us, including our own families. They own our kids now, not us parents.
"You do and you know it, Dad," Ruthie barrels on. "And Martin got Sandy pregnant and for months, avoided her. He only took her back because you and this creep's own dad guilted him into taking care of his own son…and he married Sandy, who was an awful wife and mother…they never even loved each other…Martin led me to believe he loved me…"
She stares at me and I see tears glint in her eyes. I look away in distaste. I hope she's not going to start crying in front of these people and make them feel sorry for her.
"I loved Martin for years, but at first he didn't give me the time of day…I was depressed over it for a long time…my high school years were miserable because of this jerk stringing me along…I had no other friends…it was never easy for me to make friends…well, Mac and this other guy Vince sometimes hung out with Martin and me…but Vince turned out to be a jerk too and ditched me in public."
Ruthie finally breaks her stare at me. "And I started college…and Dad made Martin marry Sandy, even though Mom and Lucy hate her…so do I…Sandy's a promiscuous tramp…she trapped Martin with that baby, which served him right…so I decided to get even with Martin…"
"Mac was at the same college, so I went out with him…we had a relationship for a while…and I thought Mac loved me…but I got pregnant…it was only ONE time, but I still got pregnant with Kaylee…"
"I thought Mac would stick by me and marry me…he seemed to understand at first…but Mom and Dad butted in…they yanked me out of college and made me come home…told me to go to a community college after I had Kaylee…Dad tried to force Mac to marry me, but Mac got chicken and took off…totally left me high and dry…" Ruthie glares at her parents. Annie glares back.
"But Lucy had her nonsense with Kevin and Kevin split, so Lucy had to move back home…had her kids and Mom and Dad went back to ignoring me and spoiled Lucy like they always did…"
"Martin came over often…and usually invited himself to dinner…and Eric and Annie fell for it and let him stay…he and Sandy were having their marriage problems…that's when Martin and I started confiding in each other…" Ruthie heaves a gusty sigh.
"I thought he loved me again…he led me on…told me he never loved Sandy…he told me he was planning to leave her…" She sits forward for the purpose of giving me this disgusted look as if her shenanigans are my fault.
"But he got me pregnant and like Mac, blamed and dumped me…Martin's a terrible father…and a terrible jerk who uses people…he and Lucy deserve to lose their kids...they are both SPOILED ROTTEN!"
The social workers are peering at all of us, once again assessing our worthiness. A fresh wave of rage overtakes me as I once again see that they are in control; they have power over our lives and especially our kids.
And these arrogant pricks are not afraid to show the power they have over us. They remind us of our court dates tomorrow and Annie and Eric to be in court on Monday over Sam's stupidity last Saturday. They eventually leave, but really don't comment much on what Ruthie has told them.
Once they leave, we have our work cut out…Eric and Lucy have to gather all the kids' schoolwork together to present in court. I have to think up and maybe write down evidence that I will be a better parent than Sandy.
Lucy and Eric mutter things back and forth, complaints about Mrs. Kinkirk and Simon. "I will NEVER forgive Simon for this!" Lucy splutters. "NEVER."
"I can't believe Ruthie just came down and carried on like that," I add my complaints. "She's also a traitor like Simon."
"Why didn't Mom stop her?" Lucy demands. "Dad, once Mom started carrying on and crying in front of those people, why didn't you just send her out of the room?"
Eric wheeshes and runs his fingers through his thin hair. "Your mother doesn't really listen to anyone these days…and she would have just turned and yelled at me, making an even worse impression…the last thing we need is for those bureaucrats to get the impression that your mother and I have a bad marriage."
Eric looks up at both of us. "So, tomorrow, all of us have to appear united…no bickering or carrying on in front of the judge…and please, no meltdowns tomorrow…the last thing we need is for anyone to put on a show right in court."
Lucy and I both nod.
"And Martin, make sure you don't rise to the bait if Rose or Sandy try anything…make sure you appear calm and caring for those people…you know what a concerned father is like since you care for those boys…and you can tell them Annie and I are available to help you with the boys….good luck tomorrow."
"Yeah…" I nod. "Well…good luck to you also, Eric. People respect you…once they know you've got things here under control, they won't let that Kinkirk woman pull anything over on us."
"Over my dead body will that Kinkirk…" here Lucy inserts the slang term often used for female dogs. "…get my children."
Although Eric despises true cursing, he doesn't react to Lucy's epithet for Mrs. Kinkirk. Instead, he just calmly tells her, "Tomorrow, Luce, you'll need to stay calm…not let Mrs. Kinkirk get to you…no matter what she says…even if she slanders you…"
Lucy lets out an angry little squeal. "What…?"
Eric holds up his hand. "Just smile slightly and say that you are a fine mom and that since you were raised by fine people…your mother and me…you've learned from good role models on how to raise children…I'm sorry, Luce, but you'll need to eat a bit of bile and act conciliatory toward Mrs. Kinkirk…pretend that you are pleased that the kids are gaining another grandmother in their lives and act as if you are fine with her coming to visit…"
Lucy reddens and glares, but this time says nothing and doesn't make any of her noises.
"Once you appear to be the accommodating daughter-in-law, the court then will see how reasonable you are…they'll see that Mrs. Kinkirk's charges are totally unfounded and she won't be able to take our kids away…we might be forced to let her visit once in a while, but that's all…and since she actually lives in New York, how often will that be? Once or twice a year, tops?"
Lucy appears a bit calmer, then nods.
"And everyone will see how well Savannah's learning under both of your tutelage," I add. "So that Kinkirk woman can't pin any 'educational neglect' crap on us…so we can keep on educating our own kids…oh, Eric…I was thinking…when I get my own sons here, do you and Annie think you can help me? I want to home school them too."
"Sure, Martin…we'll see how tomorrow goes, though…" Eric nods. "Let's take things one day at a time for now…get through this week and Monday…once this mess clears up and you get your boys here, we can talk about a home schooling program for the boys once they reach school age."
Using Eric's computer, I download and print out as much information as possible on the benefits of kids' living with their own fathers and their own fathers raising them. I also hit gold when I come across information on "parental alienation syndrome."
"PERFECT!" I crow.
"What?" Lucy asks as she and Eric join me at the computer.
I show them what I found. "That's what Sandy's done to me…her boys are poisoned against me by parental alienation syndrome…very common in divorce…a bitter ex-wife gets back at her husband for splitting from her…so she uses the kids and alienates them from their own father."
"Good work, Martin," Eric smiles at me.
"If the PAS claim doesn't convince the judge, nothing will," Lucy adds. "You are clever, Martin…I'm lucky to have you…" she kisses my cheek and I kiss back, smiling at her.
The next morning, all of us try to appear united as we head to court. Annie orders Ruthie to watch Savannah. We have to take Sam and David with us unfortunately. The last thing we need is for those two to create another debacle like last weekend and land us in greater hot water.
Ruthie is slowly getting better and doesn't need to rest as much. She's taking some kind of antibiotic for some kind of female infection I'd prefer to know nothing about, but is able to be up and around more. Since it's just Savannah and Kaylee this time, we hope she can at least manage that for a couple of hours in the morning.
For good measure, Lucy and Annie do order Savannah and Kaylee to stay quiet, do as Ruthie tells them, and to not act up.
"And don't you dare call your Uncle Simon again," Lucy tells Savannah. "Or your other grandma…they don't understand how we live…we don't need them here complicating things…our family is in trouble here and we need to save it…I expect you to not make trouble either…got it?"
"Yes…but Uncle Simon was trying to help us…why don't you want him to help our family?" Savannah whimpers. "He's nice to us…and he's so good to everyone…he cries and worries about us…"
I snort at this. Simon is NOT nice to me at all and never has been. And with all his immoral sleeping around and hanging around with fellow sleazes, he can hardly qualify as "good" in my book.
"No, he's…!" Lucy starts, but catches herself. "Maybe he was trying to help us that night…but I think he also made a mistake…he knows our family's in trouble, but I think he blamed the wrong people…since he doesn't live here, he got the wrong idea about us…so please…no trouble today…okay?"
I guess Savannah doesn't argue because Lucy comes back downstairs and joins us as we leave.
So here's what goes down with me and my court deal…the divorce is finalized.
But Sandy with the generous help of Rose and her mother, who trips my lawyer and me up with one sneaky insinuation after another and with two psychologists…or maybe they're psychiatrists; I never can tell the difference between all the shrink titles they use these days, I am painted as these abusive father who can't keep his temper under control and am a "threat" to the boys.
And to ice the cake of betrayal, my own dad is there and tells everyone about my unemployment and how I really am not "ready at this time" to be a father and about how "manipulative" the Camden parents are. I can only sit there helplessly and glare at my father in fury.
My own father…my own father, who has just thrown egg in his own son's face. And he has the gall to talk about "fit" fatherhood. If anyone's an unfit father, it's Beau Brewer.
Once my turn to testify comes, I'm ready to go full force. I try to tell the judge and everyone in the courtroom about my dad's mental state in light of his involvement with Iraq and how unbalanced he is, but the judge keeps cutting me off, braying, "Just aaaaaanswerrrrrr the question, Mr. Brewerrrrr…"
It's a real fight to stay calm, but I manage to at least outwardly appear calm. When I am asked about my relationship to Sandy, I begin telling everyone about her shady past, but the judge declares it "irrelevant to the question."
"Irrelevant?" I splutter in shock, my eyes wide.
The judge then moves on to us as parents. I pull out the printout on PAS. Sandy, it turns out has found a temporary job and is now supporting the boys. Rose helps some, but she adds that Sandy is doing well and has opened several bank accounts.
"Aaron isn't so nervous anymore…" Rose tells the judge with that sickeningly sweet smile she has. "He laughed yesterday for the first time in a long time…and the boys along with my own daughter are beginning to think about Christmas and Santa…like most other kids."
I'm appalled to see the judge actually smile at her. Knowing Rose and how materialistic she is, she'd brainwash my boys into that gimme, gemme mentality that Lucy was talking about the other day.
Sam still complains under his breath that it's Lucy's "fault" that he won't be getting those stupid video games for Christmas. And he and David now say that stupid keeeeerist…msss all the time. They really think they are cute.
Once my turn comes again, I start to show the judge and Mrs. Taylor my information on PAS, but Mrs. Taylor turns it back on me. "Looks like you did a fine job on your own, Mr. Brewer, of alienating your own sons from yourself."
My fury rises again as she not only grills me about my leaving for the Camdens several times, but my fights with Sandy and that I "yelled at" my sons and made Aaron swallow and cower.
The judge dismisses my PAS claim anyway, citing that it's "outdated junk science" that "died out in the early nineties" as if it were no more than a dated rock band or TV show.
The whole going back and forth drags through the morning and we have to take a lunch. But once we come back, the nasty shock comes that the judge thinks I'm an "unfit" father and grants full custody to Sandy.
"HEYYYY, WAAAAIT…!" I fairly scream at the judge as Sandy and Rose smile and hug each other, no doubt gloating over my humiliation. My own useless lawyer touches my arm, but I jerk away.
The judge glares at me, but then ignores me and continues with the next blow…I am denied even visitation for several years. It seems as if he somehow knows about last Saturday's disaster, about Sam, David, about that punk Simon and that witch Kinkirk.
I wonder if Simon and Mrs. Kinkirk secretly met with the judge to slander me. I wouldn't put it past any of those sneaky sleazes.
As I watch Sandy and Rose along with Mrs. Taylor leave the courtroom triumphantly, all arm-in-arm, I wonder just where my boys are now. I wouldn't be surprised if they have them in some day care center already being raised by strangers.
I look for my dad, but he's already vanished like a coward. He's really not much different than Simon, I think. If I didn't know better, I'd think he really was Simon's father. Those two deserve each other. I scowl as my lawyer mutters apologies.
I turn my scowl on my lawyer, then turn my back on him and stalk out of the courtroom. His apologies sure don't cut it in the face of his total uselessness.
The mood in the house is grim as we all return. Lucy and Eric's evidence, all their work was deemed not good enough for those court high and mighty aristocrats, so essentially, they've been ordered to place the kids in school…an institution that "educates" with so-called "professionals."
"So what if we don't?" Lucy screeches. "What if we practice that civil disobedience and refuse to obey their order?"
"No, Luce," Eric almost gasps. "We could be jailed…all of us! Then we'd really lose our kids to Karen Kinkirk! That would surely only play right into her hands. Just…we'll have to cooperate for now with them."
"Yeah…and we have to let that Kinkirk woman invade our lives," Annie complains bitterly. "She's been granted her grandparents rights, sure enough…thank God they had the sense not to completely take the kids away from us, but we have to let her visit whenever she pleases…"
"I lost my own boys," I add my complaint in. "They basically judged me as 'unfit' because of a few misunderstandings…as if no dad in the world has ever had a disagreement with his own wife…Eric, I know you and Annie have had fights over the years, but no judge ever took your kids away, not even when Simon started rebelling and messing up his life."
"Well, Martin, we still have the hearing with Sam this Monday," Eric sighs gustily. "So we still have Sam to possibly lose to juvenile hall if some people have their way…"
The phone rings and Annie, who's starting to get dinner ready, picks up. It only takes a minute to see that she's not happy with whoever is calling. Oh, God, let's hope it's not that Kinkirk woman already inviting herself over here.
"Uhhh-uhhhh," Annie nods. "Well, Lilly…I don't think this is a good time…well, I have too much to do this Christmas…yes, the kids are all fine…my grandchildren are doing great…you want to…I know you're their aunt and great-aunt, but Lilly, really…"
Lilly. Annie's illegitimate half-sister. Lucy groans and Eric lets out another wheeesh.
After a few minutes of Lilly apparently yammering on, Annie finally says, "Well, then I'll see you…I'll let you know when I'm free…bye." she bangs down the phone so hard the phone makes a ninging sound.
"Guess who…" Annie laughs bitterly as she starts to yank things out of the fridge. "Lilly, my illegitimate sister from my father's teenage affair, wants to come for Christmas dinner and see all of the kids…" she spills a bunch of lettuce on the floor.
"As if we don't have enough trouble in this house already!" Annie screaming now and slams the fridge door shut. She scrapes the lettuce from the floor and flings it all into the trash.
"So why didn't you just tell her to butt out?" Lucy asks as she and I move to get the plates out for the table. Since most of our real glasses were smashed last weekend, we have to fish out the cheap tacky plastic little cups that we usually reserve for the kids.
"Well, apparently, she's heard about the mess Mrs. Kinkirk and Simon have helped cause!" Annie cracks a corning ware dish in slamming it down.
"Oh, Loooorrrd," Eric mutters as he gathers silverware. "So she's in cahoots with Kevin's mother…next is Lilly dragging us to court demanding her 'great-aunt's' rights."
"Euuugh!" Annie exclaims as she hurls the broken corning ware into the trash can and hunts for another serving dish for the vegetables she's making.
"So, Lilly had the nerve to invite herself over here for Christmas dinner?" I ask incredulously.
"Almost…" Annie says huffily. "She wants to meet the grandkids and come visit during the holidays…and is asking for them to go over and visit her…as if I'd let our kids go to a strange woman's house!"
Lilly sounds as nervy as Mrs. Kinkirk. Eric has to make a quick run to his office to check for messages and meet briefly with the elders, but promises to be back in an hour. Annie tells him she'll have dinner ready.
"Then we'll figure out what to do about Lilly," Lucy calls as Eric grabs a jacket and heads out.
It's actually an hour and a half before Eric makes it back. By then, dinner is ready. Annie broke another plate and a mug in her anger, but still has managed to put together a super meal, as usual.
"Guess who else called," Eric announces grimly as we sit. I groan.
"Simon," Eric says this shortly.
"It's about time," Lucy says. "I hope you read him the riot act for all he's put us through."
"Simon!" Annie's eyes bulge. "Well, why did he call you at YOUR office and not here? He should have called here, his own family, for Christ's sakes!"
"So, is he reconsidering your offers of help?" I ask, thinking maybe he's finally gotten sick of his temp jobs and realizes he's getting nowhere.
"No, he's not," Eric tells us, "In fact, the opposite…he's moving to New York City in a few days…he starts his permanent job in the film industry in a couple of weeks, he tells me…and to top it all off, he adds he's not coming home at all for Christmas either."
"It figures," Lucy grumbles. "We're not good enough for Simon anymore…and of course, why would he want to spend his holiday in poky little Glen Oak when the lure of glamorous New York is calling? I think Simon's always looked down on this town…like he's above poky little Glen Oak."
Annie bangs down a fork angrily. "So now he decides to tell us about this move?"
"No, he told us at Thanksgiving," Sam puts in. "He was always miserable here anyway…well, we won't have to look at his ugly face again since he'll be way across the country."
"We should be happy he'll be gone," Ruthie adds. "I never want to see him again…you know he had the nerve to come see me at the hospital and bring me this dumb card and flower? I told him to get lost…he just stared at me, turning all red and wet-eyed, then whimpered this Goodbye, Ruthie as he left…like he's really sorry I lost my baby."
"This isn't about you, Ruthie," Lucy snaps.
"Well, it isn't all about you either!" Ruthie snipes back. "Maybe you and Martin should just get married in Hawaii and stay there and not come back!"
"And maybe next Christmas, things can get back to normal around here," Sam interjects. "Then I can get my Game Three without Princess Lucy's butting in with her KEEER. AIIISSST. MSSS drivel as an excuse for hogging everything for herself…and we won't have to look at Simon's dog face anymore, listen to his dog whimpering, or have his fart smell all over this house again."
"Sam…Ruthie!" Eric scolds.
"Tell Lucy and Ruthie to knock it off…" Sam mutters, digging into his mashed potatoes.
"Uncle Simon can make movies now!" Savannah actually grins as if this is great news and we should all jump up and applaud. "Remember how he said he wants to make movies, Grandpa…Mommy? So he'll be happy again…and he'll see Uncle Matt and Aunt Sarah's kids again…"
"Well, what is he going to do for Christmas?" Annie demands. "Mope over there in all that cold among all that pollution and all those concrete skyscrapers, blaming us for his problems?"
"I really don't know, Annie," Eric sighs. "He's always wanted to escape us…I really don't understand his thinking…I just don't know what is wrong with him…he acts as if we're criminals or something…well, this is his escape…this Saturday he's going."
"THIS SATURDAY?" Annie screeches. Savannah and Kaylee cover their ears. "As in TWO DAYS?"
Eric nods as he spears his veal cutlet. "That's what he told me."
"You'd think he'd have the COURTESY to give us more notice!" Annie exclaims. "Not to mention call me directly…I guess this is his way of just shutting me out again…I really don't understand him…my own son wants to escape me…after I provided a loving home for all my kids…"
"I don't think he ever had courtesy in the first place, Annie," I say. "I think we'll all be better off without him around."
But neither Annie or Eric look pleased. I guess they still feel this obligation to him or something…maybe Annie wants to feel important to Simon since she actually is Simon's mother.
Or maybe Annie's afraid that Simon will dig up his birth dad and find out more sordid details about her affair. I wipe my mouth to hide a grin. In a way, it would serve Annie right.