33 Duane Visits Tommy

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Tommy heard his grandfather was coming to visit and he waited at the front window. He watched a van and a limo bigger than Uncle Trip's pull up out front. His grandfather got out together with other men in suits and two men in regular clothes. He jumped up and ran to the front door. "They're here."

Daisy seemed upset all morning. She kept fixing things that didn't need fixing and cleaning what seemed just fine to him. Mason was acting funny too. "Ray, what's going on?"

"Tommy did you hear why you're grandfather is coming now?"

"For a visit. I heard Daisy talk on the phone to Uncle Trip and I think he's coming too. I bet he brings me something."

"Make sure you don't mention me or anything..."

"Ray, I know, I know."

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Duane got out of the limo and looked the house over. He turned to his attorney. "I had no idea it was this…bad." He looked up and down the street at the rows of equally dismal little houses.

"Sir, I recommend keeping this just a visit, a get-to-know-you visit. We can get everything we want through the courts soon enough."

His directed his guard to stay with the vehicles. The attorney had gotten annoying again when he saw the van and he mentioned to him he planned on wrapping this whole thing up today and move the boy's things immediately. Seeing this house, he was even more confident. Trip had no interest in raising his grandson that was clear. He wasn't even here yet. He saw no reason to wait. A few pleasantries, offer these people a few thousand, and they wouldn't stand in the way. "Let's get this over with." His grandson came out to greet him.

"Tommy"

Tommy ran up and he gave the boy a hug. Tommy pulled away and looked over at the limo and then said, "Hi, Grandpa. Come on in."

He gave Tommy the wrapped gift. He couldn't remember what it was. Tommy took it and said thank you and led the way towards the door.

The woman taking care of Tommy showed herself there. "Mr. Ferguson, please come in." She shook his hand introducing herself. "Daisy, Daisy Adair."

She was very young and very attractive. She led him and the attorney through to sit on an old couch that had never seen a good day. The house was dilapidated and he could not believe that dear Trip had consigned his nephew to stay in this hovel. Some man who looked like he might be involved with the woman entered.

She said, "This is Mason. Mason, Mr. Ferguson. Tommy's grandfather."

Tommy said, "Grandpa, why doesn't Grandma come in?"

Of course the boy remembered. "Tommy. Tommy, Grandma Beth, she got sick and..." Better to change the topic here. "Tommy, how have you been? Everything OK?"

"Everything's just fine, Grandpa." The boy moved over to the woman and climbed onto her lap. From there he looked back towards him. "Why hasn't Grandma passed over?"

Daisy Adair said, "Tommy, let's not talk about that now. Mr. Ferguson, would you like something to drink while we wait for Trip and Charlotte?"

As it was he probably would have to replace this suit so he didn't think it wise to risk his health drinking from the utensils here. "No. But thank you. I didn't think Trip would show himself."

"Uncle Trip and Aunt Charlotte visit a lot, Grandpa."

"Really?" This would be better handled outside of the boy's hearing. "Tommy, why don't you go play somewhere?" He looked around. "Somewhere safe."

"Mason, could you take Tommy upstairs, please?"

The man looked relieved. "Come on, Tommy, I've got something to show you."

They left. The boy looked happy enough, but this couldn't go on. "Well, young lady. I want to thank you for taking care of the boy for the past year."

Her demeanor had shifted. "I didn't take care of him."

"What?"

"I adopted him. He's my son."

"What? Don't be absurd." He hadn't expected this. She wasn't smiling. Her eyes met his and held him. Her eyes revealed more time tempered mettle than her appearance would suggest. It might cost double his first estimate.

His attorney finally made himself useful. "Actually, Ms. Adair, no formal adoption has been applied for and certainly not approved by any court."

She frowned.

"And Mr. Ferguson is the boy's grandfather. We would be willing to compensate you for your trouble."

She went from a scowl to a rising anger. "I don't want money."

Mason showed himself at the top of the stairs. "Trip's here."

The front door opened and Trip and his wife, Charlotte was her name, came through followed by a dour man and woman he took to be bodyguards. He didn't blame Trip, better late than never, after what he went through. He stood up as did his attorney and the Adair woman. He extended his hand. "Trip."

"Duane." He turned to the woman. "Daisy."

His wife, Charlotte, and the woman hugged. She said, "Hi Daisy, where's Tommy?"

As if on cue Tommy came pounding down the stairs and jumped into her arms. Then he hugged Trip, and then even the man's bodyguards, both of them. Good grief. Duane exchanged glances with his attorney. This could be more difficult than anticipated.

Trip pulled over a chair. Mason retrieved a couple more chairs and they all sat back down. He could see Trip picking up on Daisy's mood. Daisy settled back into her chair and dropped any veneer of social niceties. Charlotte showed concern on her face looking towards Daisy. She put a hand on Daisy's arm and then he was shocked when Charlotte stood and offered to get drinks. They all declined and she sat back down. Tommy got back on Daisy's lap. The bodyguards were standing not far away and watching him too closely. His own man entered the house and stood nearby. Good man.

The attorney was about to launch into a frontal assault at this wall of people all gathered. He motioned and he backed off. He decided to take another approach. He said, "Trip, why don't we find something for Tommy to do while we talk privately?"

Trip nodded and looked toward Daisy. She in turn once again looked to Mason, who again said, "Tommy..."

"I know, I know, you want we should go upstairs."

"Right my man. Let's go."

They left. That still left a crowd of people who had no business being here discussing family matters. "Trip can the two of us discuss this matter?"

"Please, let's discuss it." But he made no move to take this private. "I'm glad that you want to get to know your grandson. I understand how hard the passing of your wife must have been, but life must go on. And though it's been a year Tommy hasn't forgotten you. It's a good basis to build on." He smiled.

"It's been a hard year for me. And I am grateful that you picked up where I have been perhaps negligent in my duties. But I'm ready to take the boy to his home, where he belongs."

Daisy leaned forward and opened her mouth but Trip lifted a few fingers. He saw her eyes catch Trip's movement and she contained whatever she might have said. They know each other very well indeed. Trip said, "The boy has been well taken care of and he is home."

He looked around at the poverty and back to Trip. He just smiled. What an evil little... "I am the boy's grandfather."

"And I am his uncle." He paused and then looked to Daisy. "And Ms. Adair here is his mother."

His attorney jumped in raising his voice perhaps a bit more than necessary. "On what basis, Mr. Hesburgh, are you stating that this woman is his mother?"

Trip raised his hands and said, "I think I was making a point that the boy has been well taken care of and will continue to remain in very good hands...here."

According to his sources that could be disputed. Duane asked, "Has the boy had his vaccinations?" He paused and asked, "And which school is he attending?" He looked around and asked, "And how secure is this house you have left him to reside in entirely separate from your residence? I notice you have protection, but you leave the boy exposed…unprotected." He looked at the woman, Daisy, and said, "I mean no disrespect." He turned to Trip, "But why is he staying with this young woman? What is her connection to my grandson?"

Trip looked taken down a notch or two, but the woman, Daisy, her brow deeply furrowed glared at him, and Charlotte put her hand on her arm. The raised voices triggered Duane's bodyguard to move closer. And that triggered Trip's male bodyguard to take a step towards his man. His man had an air of professionalism in his well tailored suit. Trip's man didn't say anything but he looked to Duane like he practiced physical persuasion a lot and effectively. The woman took a one step to the side and shifted positioning herself he guessed to back the man up. His man glanced at both in turn and then at him.

His attorney spoke up, "The fact is, Mr. Hesburgh, that the circumstances in which you've placed the boy hardly leave you with a strong legal case for retaining any sort of custody particularly when confronted with a claim by his grandfather. However, we're sure that visiting rights for yourself and perhaps others during some transition period..."

Another young woman entered through the front door followed closely by a tall confident man. The boy came pounding down the stairs and flung himself at the woman. "Reggie." And then he went to the man, who flung the boy into the air and around and down. He giggled hysterically. "Uncle John."

He stood up. This situation was absurd. How many people lived in this hovel?

Daisy said, "This is Tommy's grandfather and his attorney. They have...designs on..." She nodded towards boy.

Trip broke in. "No one is going anywhere." Trip looked his way.

Perhaps not today. He smiled and nodded agreeably.

These people were all very friendly exchanging cross talk and greetings. Finally, Trip introduced the two newcomers. "Mr. Ferguson, this is Reggie Lass, and this is John Merryweather."

He had met this man somewhere. "Aren't you the police detective who handled the...incident with my son and…his disappearance?" He nodded towards his grandson who was still soaking up the attention from the young lady.

"Yes, sir. Glad to meet you again."

"Yes, again?" He still wasn't sure.

"Yes, I briefed you back then. Along with a few others."

"Ah, yes, yes." Having a policeman here could only work to his favor.

John pulled another chair from the dining table, but Reggie excused herself and went towards the back of the house taking the boy with her. John sat down. Duane wasn't sure how this police detective had any standing to sit in on family's business, but...

Trip said, "Duane, you have made several good points and we will take action..."

"I'm glad. I have an excellent private school in mind that's not far from my house."

Daisy broke in, "No. We'll take care of his schooling here."

Oddly Trip deferred to her. He narrowed his eyes. There was something more going on here, below the surface. Duane asked, "And what school would that be?"

Daisy looked perplexed. The boy came running by and on up the stairs. The young woman walked in and sat down in an open chair. She said, "Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing. Why don't we homeschool him?"

Homeschooling. He could feel his temper igniting again. He caught a glance from his confused attorney. And then it hit him, a temporary solution that would be extremely useful and cut through these complications.

"It so happens Tommy's cousin, a Mabel Ferguson, is a credentialed primary school teacher."

They all looked to him. He saw suspicion from a few. He said, "Mabel could come teach here and perhaps live in." She was a recently graduated student so the appalling conditions probably wouldn't even faze her, and she could collect the information that would clinch the case for him in the courts. He would even pay her and offer a generous bonus for an outcome resulting in his obtaining custody of the boy. Yes. He looked over at Trip, who he had no doubt at all understood exactly what he was up to.

He saw Trip nod towards Daisy, who said, "We don't have the room for another person to live..."

Reggie jumped in. "John and I could move in over at my old house. George is there."

Daisy looked outflanked. But she wasn't done yet. "How old is this Mabel? I don't want some young wild college student bringing in strange boys..."

"I will make it clear to her that she is to focus on teaching the boy and compensate her well. This is only temporary until we resolve other outstanding issues."