Author's Note: I am not a lawyer and have no idea if what I'm proposing is legal in the state of Minnesota, but let's pretend that this is how it works in regards to removing parental rights and adoption. I do know that the state of Minnesota does not like to remove legal rights from a biological parent unless there is someone willing to step in to adopt. That's all I know. And even then, that's now. Not 1993. But there was a lot of research put into this.
*************flashback**********
April 5th, 1997
Charlie Conway hastily removed his rollerblades when he got home from hockey practise. Even though his mother was not supposed to be home for hours, he didn't want to risk her being upset with him for rollerblading in the apartment if she happened to get off work early. Besides, he had big news and didn't want to give her any reason to say no.
The undefeated Eden Hall Ducks had just been invited to a skills development camp in Europe for the summer. They would be leaving right after exams in June and not returning until right before school started in September. There were only 500 people invited, with players coming from both North America and Europe.
Coach Orion had told them that although they had a contract to play with Eden Hall for two more years, it was an opportunity for them to strut their stuff as he was sure that there were going to be scouts there from the USHL, WHL, OHL and the Q leagues and Division 1 University teams.
Coach Orion had offered to schedule extra practise time for anyone who wanted to get some extra practise in as long as they kept up their studies. Charlie leapt at the opportunity. Coach Orion had warned them that he was going to push them even harder at practise than normal, and he was right. Charlie's legs felt like rubber, but he grinned and bared it because he knew it would be worth it in the end. He knew that if he could go pro, or at the very least get a college scholarship, his mother would no longer have to worry about having to put him through college.
Charlie pulled his text books out of his backpack and started on his homework so it would be done by supper time.
**Two hours later**
After two hours of studying, Charlie closed the textbook in front of him. He had finally finished his homework and had studied for his history test. The only thing he had left to do was get the permission slips signed and have his mother sign the paperwork for him to get his passport.
Charlie decided that he was going to cook his mom a home cooked dinner. Ever since he moved into the dorms at Eden Hall and his former stepfather, Jamie, had moved out, his mother had to work extra hours to make up for the lost income, and most nights she was simply too tired to make herself anything more than either a sandwich or a microwavable dinner.
Charlie took a small roast out of the freezer and put it in the crock pot with some vegetables . He turned it on low and set a timer for eight hours.
Charlie looked around and sighed. He had eight hours until supper was done and didn't want to leave the house while the crockpot was on. The idea of going for a nap for a few hours had passed through his mind, but he was not tired. Sore, but not tired. He also thought of maybe inviting one of the ducks over to play some video games, but that didn't appeal to him either.
Charlie decided that this was as good a time as any to fill out the paperwork for his passport. He could fill it out mostly on his own and then just have his mother sign it when she got home from work. He sat down at the kitchen table and filled out the information as best as he could.
It wasn't until he got to the very bottom of the page that he stopped. Charlie realised he needed to find his birth certificate in order to submit the paperwork for his passport. Charlie had an idea about where his mother would have kept his birth certificate. She kept all of her important papers in a box in the back of her closet. Charlie wasn't sure about going through his mother's personal papers, but he reasoned with himself that he was only grabbing his birth certificate and that it was his birth certificate anyway, so it shouldn't be a big deal.
Charlie pulled out the big box from the back of his mother's closet and started to go through it. As predicted, she kept almost all the important papers in the box. Anything from copies of the lease to his school report cards. It was all in this one large box.
Charlie had almost emptied the entire box when he saw it.
/
Name : Charles Christopher Conway
Date of Birth : July 31st 1982 2:02 am
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Sex: M
Mother: Cassandra Elizabeth Conway
Father : _
/
Charlie was confused.
He had never seen his birth certificate before. His mother would normally do all his paperwork for school and hockey, but Charlie had always assumed that his father's name would be on his birth certificate.
Charlie shrugged. It was just as well. Less of a headache not having to worry about getting his father's signature.
Just as he was gathering up all the other papers he had tossed around in search of his birth certificate, Charlie noticed what looked like a court document with his name on it. Charlie knew that snooping through his mother's papers was wrong, but he couldn't look away.
/
State of Minnesota
County Hennepin
In Re the Petition of:
Cassendra Elizabeth Conway , Petitioner/Parent
and
Gordon Michael Bombay, Petitioner/Stepparent
To Adopt:
Charles Christopher Conway
(child's current name)
District Court
Petition for Stepparent Adoption (Uncontested)
Judicial District: 4th
Court File Number: 392837
Case Type: Adoption - Stepparent
Petitioners, upon their oaths or affirmations, and to the best of their information and belief, represent to the Court the following:
/
There was other paperwork as well. Forms with 'Termination of Parental Rights' and 'Consent of Parent to Adoption by Stepparent and Waiver of Notice of Adoption Hearing'. Statement to the court. Letters to the Judge Some are filled out. Some not. Some with court file numbers. Some not.
Charlie exhaled.
"Bombay was going to adopt me?" He wondered aloud to himself.
It was a lot for Charlie to take in. Too much. Charlie put all the other papers not related to the adoption and his birth certificate back in the box and put the box deep into the closet. Hopefully never to be seen again.
Charlie took the remaining papers to his bedroom to read them one more time. It didn't seem real to him. Charlie had a million questions running through his head.
'Did they really remove my Dad's name from my birth certificate?'
'Did the adoption even go through?
''Is Coach Bombay my step father?'
"if he's my stepfather, why did he leave to go to California?'
'Did his mother or Bombay back out of the adoption? who did? And why? '
'Did his Dad even put up a fight to keep him? Where was he?'
And probably the most important one, 'Why did no one even tell me?'
***Eight Hours Later**
"Smells great," Casey called out when she got home from work.
Charlie bolted awake. He had fallen asleep. He was more tired than he had originally thought. He had fallen asleep reading all the forms.
Charlie quickly shoved all the papers in his binder in fear that his mother would find him reading them.
"Coming!"
Charlie rushed out to the kitchen table to find his mother setting the table. Casey smiled at him. "Thanks for making dinner Charlie."
"Ummm….no problem."
Casey laughed. "And yes, you can go. But make sure you call every week."
Charlie blinked. "What?"
Casey shook her head. "Coach Orion already called everyone to let them know the good news. Did you remember to bring the paperwork home? "
"Paperwork?"
Casey sighed. Sometimes her son was forgetful. "The permission slip."
"Oh." 'That paperwork' Charlie thought to himself. "I didn't forget it. I'll grab it."
Charlie walked back into his bedroom to grab his permission slip. He looked at the binder with all his adoption papers. He hesitated. He wanted answers. Desperately. He was also afraid of his mother if she found out that he had gone through her personal papers. She could, and possibly would, change her mind about allowing him to go to hockey camp.
"What's taking so long? Your food is getting cold. "
Charlie heard his mother. He grabbed the binder, the permission slips, and the passport form. Charlie went back to the kitchen and gingerly placed the binder on the counter like it was a bomb that was going to go off if any of the contents were to fall out of it.
"Here you go." Charlie handed her the permission slip and passport form. "All you gotta do is sign it."
Charlie sat down across from his mother and started to eat. Slowly. He wasn't hungry.
"So how's school?" Casey asked.
Casey felt there was something off with Charlie. He had been quiet since she got home. She only had one or two meals a week with her son, who lived in dorms all the way in Eden Prarie.
"It's alright, I guess."
He couldn't take his eyes off the binder. Casey noticed this too. She stood up and reached for the binder.
"No!" Charlie yelled.
"Charles Conway. Keep your voice down, "she hissed.
She grabbed the binder and opened it. As soon as she saw what was inside, she immediately dropped everything on the floor.
"Charles Christopher Conway!" She yelled, suddenly not caring about the neighbours anymore. "What gave you the right to go through my things. You.."
Charlie cut her off. "What gave you the right to keep this from me?" Charlie shot back. "You always go on and on about how we shouldn't keep secrets from each other. And here you are, keeping the biggest secret yet from me. "
Casey was taken aback. She had not seen Charlie this upset since early in his freshman year. "If you are going to use that tone with me, maybe I won't sign that permission form."
Charlie was seething. "Do you think I even care about that dumb camp after learning about this? You lied to me. Both of you. "
"I never lied to you. Not once. "
Charlie huffed. "Lied by omission." You changed my birth certificate. You were going to have Bombay adopt me. Don't you think you should have told me? Don't you think I deserved to know? "
Casey stared hard at her son. "I'm not going to say anything until you calm yourself down."
Charlie glared. He knew he was fighting a losing battle. He sat down and finished his supper in silence, then went to his room. Casey sighed. She picked up the binder and looked at the papers, trying to decide if Charlie was ready to hear the truth.
She thumbed through the paperwork. It seemed like forever ago, even though it was just a few years ago. Casey went through the papers again. Some were missing. Casey went into her bedroom and looked through the box in the closet. It wasn't there. She frantically looked everywhere. Then, just as she was about to give up, she found what she had been looking for.
/
November 3rd 1993
To Judge Matthers
I have known Gordon Bombay since he was 9 years old. I first met him 20 years ago when he came in one afternoon to buy a new pair of skates from me. I have watched Gordon Bombay grow from a sweet young boy into the caring, compassionate man he is today.
I have absolute trust and faith in him as a potential step parent to Charles Conway. He has shown patience and kindness towards not only Charlie but all children. He is responsible, considerate, and compassionate. I have had the pleasure of observing both of them and it is my upmost belief that it would be beneficial to all involved to have Gordon Bombay adopt Charles Conway in a step parent adoption.
Gordon Bombay had many conversations with me about this. He had told me about how this young boy had walked into his life and had changed it forever. Gordon adores Charlie's mother. I've never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at her. He told me that he fell in love with Charlie first. And that, regardless of what happens between him and Casey Conway, he wants to be a part of this boy's life.
I believe that Gordon wants this more than anything. He loves that child. I know that. Nothing could convince me otherwise. And although he's too young to articulate it at this time, Charlie feels the same. I'm sure of it.
I have spoken to Gordon Bombay at length about the responsibilities and challenges he may face as a new father, and I am certain, without any reservations, that he is up to the task. I, therefore, give my recommendation to the court to proceed with the adoption process without delay.
Sincerely,
Hans Andersson
/
Casey felt her eyes water a little. She always got emotional when it came to Hans. She was a lot like Charlie in that regard. Wearing their emotions on their sleeves. Hans had been there for her until the very end. Whether she was having relationship issues with Bombay or dealing with a moody teenager. Hans always had an ear to listen.
Casey went back to the kitchen and finished the dishes. Just as she had finished putting away the last dish, Charlie re-appeared from his room.
"Mom?"
Casey looked at her son. Charlie had calmed down. She could still see the questions in his eyes, but his breathing had returned to normal.
"Yes."
Charlie took a deep breath. "I want to know the truth."
Cased sighed. "Sit down."
Charlie took a seat across from her. "Tell me." Charlie paused. "Everything."
Casey fidgeted a little with the dishcloth still in her hand.
"I guess I'll start at the beginning," Casey started. "About five years ago, when Gordon and I were dating and we were starting to get serious, I wanted to see how serious he was about us and our future. So he straight up offered to adopt you if we ever decided to get married. "
"He did?" Charlie sucked in his breath.
"He did." Casey eyes became misty. "I wasn't even expecting him to make such a large gesture, but since he made it, I went along with signing off on the preliminary paperwork."
"So what happened?" Charlie asked.
"You know what happened," Casey said. "He never kept in touch, and I met Jamie."
A horrific thought crossed Charlie's mind. "He's not my father, right? Please tell me no. I mean, you were going to have Bombay adopt me, but you.." Charlie wrested with his thoughts. "I mean, you married him, and Bombay was going to adopt me and you didn't even marry him and….."
Casey snorted. "God no."
"That's a relief." Charlie laughed, but then turned serious. "Why not? I mean, I'm glad he didn't, but if you were going to have Bombay adopt me …"
Charlie trailed off. He didn't know how to ask. He wanted to know why his former stepfather hadn't adopted him. Not that he wanted him to.
Jamie always made Charlie feel like he was a third wheel in this newly formed family and that he would prefer it if it was just him and Casey. Charlie, being insecure at the time, took the hint and started spending a lot of his time at the skate shop. He was old enough to know when he wasn't wanted.
"You were already too attached to Bombay," Casey said, sensing what Charlie was trying to ask. "I thought about asking him about it but I don't think he wanted to anyway."
"Yeah," Charlie said glumly. A thought came to him. "Did you really find my Dad?"
"We did."
"Oh."
Charlie was quiet. He never thought much about his Dad. He could barely remember him and what he did remember wasn't worth remembering. But he often wondered what had happened to him. "So he just signed away his rights? Just like that? Like I was nothing? "
Charlie misted. Casey looked at him with compassion. Charlie hated that look. He swallowed hard. "Did he even ask about me? Why didn't he try to contact me?"
Casey grimaced. She hesitated.
"I can handle the truth," Charlie insisted.
"Your father is the type of man who is only found when he wants to be found." Casey looked at Charlie to see how he was taking it. Charlie nodded. "It wasn't until we explained that by signing away his rights, he wouldn't have to worry about me going after him for child support payments that he decided to show up. The only thing he seemed concerned about was that you keep his last name. Which we agreed to. I don't know why he cared about that, but he did and I just wanted to never see him again, so you're still a Conway."
Charlie blinked. He knew his mother struggled financially when he was younger. But she worked hard so he would always have a roof over his head and food in his stomach.
"Asshole."
"Charlie!" Casey scolded. "Language."
"Sorry." Charlie thought for a moment. "So who else knows about this? I mean, I know Jamie, my Dad, Gordon, and you all know. Who else? "
Charlie saw his mother hesitate. "Who?" Charlie insisted.
"Hans."
Charlie was dumbfounded. It was so quiet in the apartment. Charlie couldn't believe it. Hans? Hans kept this from him? Hans of all people? "You've got to me kidding me!"
Casey took the letter that Hans wrote and handed it to Charlie. "Gordon asked him to be a reference and he agreed."
Charlie took the letter and read it. Charlie smiled through his tears. "Can I keep this?" Charlie asked, referencing the letter.
Casey smiled. Her son loved Hans and had a blind spot when it came to Bombay. "You can." Charlie read the letter several sensed that Charlie was satisfied with her answers. She yawned. "Don't stay up too late. I'll drive you back to Eden Hall in the morning."
Charlie nodded as his mother went to retire for the evening.
Charlie held onto the letter. Hans was gone. As much as Charlie missed him, Charlie was at peace with Hans not telling him everything. It was not his place to tell Charlie the truth.
Charlie had also forgiven his mother for keeping this from him. He disagreed with her. She thought he wouldn't have been able to handle it when he was younger, but he knew she was always looking out for him and didn't want to keep him hurt.
Bombay.
Charlie didn't know what to think. Bombay has been gone for over a year now. He had last seen him in the stands at the JV/Varsity game. They didn't speak, but Charlie didn't need words at that time. Bombay was able to convey everything to him with that look in his eyes. Pride. Affection. And if he looked close enough, love.
Bombay had gone back to California and had all but disappeared. After their talk that one early morning at Eden Hall, Charlie had hoped that they would remain close.
After about six months, doubt started to creep in. If he really meant what he had said to Charlie that morning, he would make more of an effort . Charlie tried to excuse it at first, with Bombay being busy with his new job. But as the months passed, he began to give up hope.
Charlie read the letter again.
" I believe that Gordon wants this more than anything. He loves that child. I know that. Nothing could convince me otherwise. And although he's too young to articulate it at this time, Charlie feels the same. I'm sure of it. "
Hans believed that Bombay cared about him more than anything. That even when they are apart, it doesn't change who they are and that there is a reason for everything and it will all work out in the end.
Charlie chose to believe.