Chapter 117:Wishes
Author's Note: Hi y'all. Shortly after my last post, I accidentally poured coffee out on my laptop. Under normal circumstances any cup placed on my writing desk is required to have a lid on it. Somehow, it happened anyway. Despite my best efforts to save Henry, (my laptop) he died. It is taking me awhile to replace him. However, I've made a few new discoveries. First, it appears that voice recognition software is more compatible with the Wordpad application than with Microsoft Word. Ironically this is probably because Wordpad offers less functionality. Second, authors can post to the review board for their own stories. If I should encounter technical issues in the future, and will not be writing for awhile because of them, please check the review section for my stories. I will post comments letting my readers know what the holdup is so that you don't have to question where it is I've gone to. No, I haven't ditched the story, but I'm still having computer issues. However, I believe things are finally well enough here for me to be able to post a chapter. Let's give it a try, shall we?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Rabb Residence
San Diego, California
19:05 HRS
Pamela Jensen takes the long walk up the stairs from the sun drenched beach to the Rabb's newly expanded back porch. Although the wood has been properly stained and weather treated, it's still so new that she can almost detect the scent of fresh sawdust in the atmosphere. It's faint, but it's there, mingling under layers of salty sea air and sun block.
Clad in a brightly colored and loose fitting cotton caftan, Mac smiles in welcome. She grimaces slightly as she attempts to leave her comfortable resting place long enough to clear some of Chloe's magazines from the nearest chaise. "Here, I'll push the clutter aside… Sit; please."
Jensen smiles. "Stay where you are Colonel. I can shuffle the clutter for myself. You just had surgery. Friday… I believe?" When the Marine nods in the affirmative the social worker attributes the look on her face to that event. Sarah Mackenzie wears an expression that is born of equal parts fatigue, apprehension, and relief. After the visitor moves an assortment of magazines meant to capture the attention of young twenty-something women from the offered seat to a nearby table, she takes a second look as she settles in and decides there might be a touch more apprehension at this moment than relief. Years of experience have taught her that this has more to do with her presence than it does with the any post-surgical pain the other woman might be experiencing. Everybody looks at her this way; she has the power to take children away from people. Sometimes this book is mixed with hostility, anger, denial, resentment, or even rage. Sometimes, like now, it's mixed with a tepid perfunctory welcome, discomfort, worry, and hope despite the lack of more malignant emotions.
To put Laura's aunt at ease, she starts lightly without opening the leather bound notebook that she brings to rest against her knees. "It looks as if surgery must've gone well."
Mac nods. "I don't think it could have gone better. Apparently there were no complications. I hurt, but not nearly as badly as I was led to expect. I'll be taking it easy for a few weeks, but I'm okay. A little sore and tired; but good. More than anything else, I'm relieved. With any luck at all, the condition that led me to have surgery… Endometriosis… It's a thing of the past, and I have more than enough time to make a full recovery before the babies are born."
"Babies? It's been awhile since we talked. I take it... it's official? There's definitely more than one?"
Despite the fact that she deliberately restraints her enthusiasm, it's easy for Pamela to see the warm light in the Marine's eyes and she nods. "At least one per surrogate; according to what showed up on the ultrasounds. Harm and I are already thrilled, no matter how many there are, but we're both hoping that there won't be any more than two. According to the doctors, it's not impossible for one baby to hide behind another and therefore, not be visible on the ultrasound. We'd like to have our children and still have time for each other too."
"And what about Laura? Given the fact that the size of your family may double in the near future..." She pauses long enough to look to the ocean where her young client splashes and bobs happily in the surf with both her furry canine companion and the sweet-faced young woman she's never met. "Are you still looking forward to adopting her?"
"Yes. Harm and I couldn't want her more. She's part of this family. No matter how many babies we may have, she came first. Nothing will change that."
"I'll need to hear that from him as well." The social worker comments as she opens her notebook, twists her ink pin and begins to write."
Understanding that no offense is meant… that it is simply mandatory for the woman to have the consent of both potential adoptive parents, Mac chuckles gently. "Fine, ask whatever you need to. He'll be here shortly. He'll tell you. He's not shy about his feelings, or his intentions, where Laura is concerned. I find it hard to believe they've only known each other for ten months. Feels as though they've always been together. They're quite a pair."
"Yes, I've noticed. May I ask about the young lady out there with Laura now?"
Laura has been with them long enough now that Pamela Jensen's questions regarding all persons who come into contact with the girl have become commonplace. Familiar with the routine, Mac feels herself relax a bit and says openly, "That's Chloe… Chloe Madison… What would you like to know?"
"Is she a neighbor? Perhaps a baby sitter?"
Mac smiles brightly as she shakes her head. "Chloe is family. She's here visiting from her home in Vermont. I met her a little over 10 years ago when I had some spare time on my hands and decided to join one of those big sister\little sister mentoring programs for kids at risk. I was paired with her. I located her father who serves at sea in the Navy, and through him, I found her grandmother, Martha, who lives in Vermont and cared for Chloe until she was old enough to be on her own. Chloe needed a home. Her mother died unexpectedly. Her stepfather did not want to be solely responsible for raising her. Despite my life in the military and the geographical distance between our addresses, we've remained close to one another. She's in college now, currently enjoying a summer break. She's helping out while I recuperate. A few years ago she discovered an appreciation for photography. To say she's good… Well frankly, the word good is an insult to her talent. She was our wedding photographer. She took that photo hanging in our living room, and probably 200 other photographs as well. Harm's mother offered her the opportunity for a professional exhibit at her gallery last fall, and Chloe is still making money as a result of that exhibit."
"You befriended Chloe. Your husband took in Mattie. Now there's Laura. The two of you have a habit for taking in children in need."
Mac laughs. "Neither of us intended to make a habit of it. The opportunities simply presented themselves. I suppose neither of us could turn a blind eye… Walk away."
"Why do you think that is?"
Before answering, Mac shrugs and then pauses for a heavy moment to think before speaking. "When Chloe and I found each other… I was lonely and looking for a way to fill the hours when I wasn't at work. I don't think I was consciously aware of this at the time, but the best way to get out of your own head and stop obsessing about your own issues is to help someone else with theirs. Chloe was headstrong, vibrant, and desperately trying to hide the fact that she was scared, neglected, and lonely. I know what it is to be that kid. It's a big part of the reason I've bonded so deeply with both she and Laura. My Uncle Matt stepped into my life; helped me turn things around. I'll never be able to repay him, and I know I don't have to, but he saw something wrong and he did what he could to ease my suffering. It's simply my turn. As for Harm… unlike me, the only thing Harm ever needed growing up was more time with his father. He has literally traveled the world in his attempt to stay connected to his dad, and I'm pretty sure that his attempts be a part of Mattie and Laura's lives has helped strengthen that connection. Even if it doesn't intensify the bond between he and his father, at the very least, it's helped him heal. Harmon's death was tragic, but it's made Harm the man that he is. With the girls, he sees the absence. He knows the loss. He knows he can't fill that void. He just tries to make it bearable."
"You both seek to repair the damage done."
Mac laughs again. "I think you've given us both too much credit. I don't think our motives are quite that altruistic. I'm not sure we can ever fix the damage done by other people; whether the damage was done intentionally or not. I think people choose for themselves whether to heal or not. I think the best we can strive for is to be there to help them make their own way through the damage done and live life beyond it. That's what I want for Laura; a rich, full life beyond her mother and all the damage she's done, and I know that's what Harm wants for her too." Mac pauses and turns her gaze toward her niece. "Laura, time to get out of the water and dry Candy off. I think I just heard your uncle pull into the drive. He's got dinner."
"Yay!" Laura cheers. "Come on Chloe. We're having Chinese. Hi Ms. Jensen!" The girl calls out happily as she splashes her way toward the sand. " I didn't know you were coming over today. Is everything alright?"
"Hello Laura. There's nothing for you to worry about. I need to talk to your aunt and uncle for a few minutes, but I promise I'll be gone before your dinner gets cold."
Only when she's sure that her niece is safely out of the water does Mac struggle to come to her feet. Moving slowly she opens the back door for the other woman. "Chloe, keep an eye on her, please. Don't turn your back on the ocean."
Chloe laughs merrily. "She wouldn't get back in the water right now even if I paid her to do it. She's too busy thinking about her stomach… But I promise to guard her with my life anyway."
Laura rolls her eyes but smiles dryly. "Oh brother, you guys are real funny."
As the two women enter the Rabb's small kitchen, Chloe wraps a large beach towel around Laura's slender shoulders and lifts the girl's feet off the ground because without her brace, she won't be stable on her feet; especially not when she reaches the loose, dry sand between the shore and the house. Only when they are alone outside does Chloe question quietly, "Who is that lady?"
"That's Ms. Jensen. She works for the child Welfare place. She's my caseworker. She only comes to see me when Mom messes up. Like now; being in jail and stuff. I know she comes to make sure I'm OK. She says she has to make sure I'm in a good place now." Laura scowls. I wish she'd just leave me here and go away. Maybe she will if Uncle Harm and Aunt Mac get to adopt me."
"What, you don't like her?"
Laura shakes her head and shrugs. "She's a nice lady. I just never see her unless things are bad I'm tired of things being messed up. It's nice when things aren't messed up."
"Oh, okay. I get that. When I was a kid the only time it didn't feel like the whole universe was screwed up was when your aunt Mac was around, but I was always scared she was going to leave and things would go back to being messed up again… At least until I got use to her anyway… eventually I figured out she wasn't going anywhere, but until then, I was kind of a brat for awhile."
Laura pushes her wet hair out of her eyes and nods. "Maybe I was too for a little while. I told Aunt Mac that I hated her once. She didn't leave. She didn't even yell back. Mom woulda yelled back that she hated me more."
Chloe shakes her head as she hugs the girl close and leads her wet dog to the back porch. "I remember once being mad at your aunt because I wanted her to marry my dad, be my new mom, and give me a little sister. She told me she couldn't do that, and it made me mad, but she didn't leave. Not even when I pouted and threw a fit."
Laura eyes her friend with incredulity. "Don't get mad at me for saying this Chloe, but I'm really glad my aunt didn't marry your dad."
Chloe throws back her head and laughs aloud. "Me too kid! Me too! Trying to imagine Mac without Harm is just…"
"Really really weird?"
"It's worse than really, really weird… It's just unnatural."
While the girls dry themselves off in the setting sunlight and work their way into swimsuit covers, inside the house, Pamela Jensen smiles in greeting in response to the look of mild surprise in Captain Rabb's eyes as he places bags of takeout on the dining table.
"Were we due for a visit?" Harm asks as he rounds the table. On his way to the kitchen to get real silverware in place of the plastic stuff that came with their takeout, he touches his wife shoulder lightly in silent but affectionate greeting.
"No. I dropped in unannounced. Welcome home. I won't stay long enough to interrupt your dinner. I just wanted to let the two of you know that I've had a visit from a woman named Janyth Donovan. I've been to the prison in an attempt to speak with Casey and verify what Mrs. Donovan had to say, and I'd like to talk to the two of you about it for just a moment, but if you confirm what she had to tell me, Captain Rabb, it's my intent to petition the family court to nullify Cassandra's parental rights."
Harm nods thoughtfully, taking a deep breath before speaking and making his disgust known. "The short version… After Mac was safely out of surgery on Friday, I left her long enough to drive to the prison to let Casey know that we want to adopt Laura. We didn't want to ambush her by simply sending the paperwork courtesy of her lawyer without any warning. I expected her to put up a fight. I thought it possible she might be angry or offended. Now I wish she had been. That would have been easier to understand and to forgive. However, she declared that she believes that by simply taking care of her daughter's basic needs Mac and I are spoiling her. She went on to tell me that she would sign over all rights to her daughter for a price. She apparently believes her daughter is for sale Ms. Jensen."
"Captain Rabb, what exactly did she ask for in return?"
"A car. A car that is no longer in my wife's possession. She then suggested that, in addition to the Corvette, parental rights, where her daughter is concerned, might be had in exchange for sexual favors... from me."
"I see." Jensen grimaces; the conversation obviously leaving a very bad taste in her mouth as well as his. I've heard the same from Mrs. Donovan, and when pressed, from Laura's mother as well. As such, I have every intention of stripping Miss O'Hara's parental rights. Before I do, I need to know… Do you still wish to adopt Laura and provide a permanent home for her?"
"More than ever."
Both Harm and Mac follow her to their front door as she says,"I'll request a new hearing before Judge Dubose, if possible, because he's already familiar with the case. Laura's more likely to be comfortable in his presence than an unfamiliar judge's if hers is required for any reason. I'll have our in-house counsel draft a motion to terminate Casey's parental rights. That will clear the way for the adoption. I'll be in touch. Enjoy your evening… And thank you."
