Chapter 5
All for the Love of A Child. Pt. 2
"Just great!" the Sheriff said out loud as small drops of rain began hitting his truck's windshield. Not only was it really cold out for a November in Georgia, but now it looked like rain too! What's next snow? He just hoped that his son was dressed warm enough, as he turned the truck's heater on for a bit to sap away some of the cold and damp.
Every time Rick Grimes thought about his seven year old son, and him being out alone in that city and now in the hands of the authorities, well the father just wanted to explode. And all of this was due because his boy run away from his mother and her boyfriend.
Why would Carl do such a thing? And where were both Lori, and his ex best friend Shane anyway?
Neither he nor the police could get ahold of the two of them!
And if either one of them knew like he did, and know what's good for them … then they'd both had best be incapacitated in some form or fashion; nothing less than like close to death would do, thought a very angry father/Sheriff. If not, then the Lord have mercy on their souls, because I'm surely not going to!
And to make things even worse the Sheriff had gotten a phone call earlier before his phone died. It was from a Mrs. Mellissa Anderson Ross, the head of the Office of Social Services and Child Welfare of Georgia, informing him that because of the seriousness of what has happened with Carl, he nor Lori will be allowed to take his boy back home to King County, and the hearing will be sometimes Monday in front of a judge. But until things are straightened out her department was going to place Carl in foster care.
But because of Thanksgiving (which for some inexplicable reason always happens no matter the holiday) no foster homes, nor any beds at the children facility were available. So to keep his child from being in limbo and somewhere outside of Fulton County, Mrs. Anderson Ross had asked Miss Rènald who is not only a lawyer but also certified as a foster parent if she would be willing to look after Carl. She agreed, so his boy will be staying with and in the stranger's care until then.
Sheriff Grimes couldn't believe this. Never would he have ever imagined that his only child would wind up in foster care when Carl had so many other people in his life that loved him, and would be more than willing to take care of the child until either Rick or Lori were allowed too.
And all of this was happening because Lori and Shane left his son alone with strangers at a hotel while the two of them were off doing only God knows what when Carl could have ..., no should have been at home with him. And then on top of that, the most frightening thing of all, his boy was almost kidnapped by some suspected pedophiles if it hadn't been for that very astute lady lawyer. And if not for her who knows what would have happened to his son or where the child might be now!
"And why wasn't his kid in school in the first place? Will someone please answer that for me, when there had been two full days lefted before Thanksgiving!" The angry Sheriff thought out loud.
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Maddie really came through, Michonne thought smiling as she placed a brand new pair of briefs, some pajamas, and a robe along with a new pair of house slippers on top of the commode lid in the guest bathroom. All the while her boy sat neck deep in Coconut, Mango, and Papaya infused bubbles. Michonne's favorite, and now her Handsome's too! Because the little boy didn't think that he could ever go back to just plain ole Mr. Bubble after this.
I wonder if Mom will get me some of this stuff, thought the happy child while blowing thick and luxurious bubbles away from his smiling face as he played contently with his new bath toys.
And all the items that Michonne had lovingly placed in the bathroom were the result of Maddie's (Michonne's neighbor 4 floors up), early, early Christmas shopping for her seven year old nephew who lives in California.
Being an emergency room surgeon at Mercy Hospital, an Army Captain's wife, and mother of a 12 year old boy, the woman gets her shopping in when and where she can. And thank God that she does and did, if not ..., what a life saver! The loving mother and aunt even had the foresight to send along a package of toys for Handsome. Her nephew Charlie loves playing in the tub too!
And after depositing her Handsome's ensemble for the night, Michonne sat down on the floor outside the bathroom door. That had been a request of her by Handsome while he took his bath.
The kid didn't want to be alone, so Michonne could do nothing less than oblige him, which she did gladly, and used the time while sitting there to text all her family and friends who either heard, or saw on the news of what had happened earlier. Her phone had been ablaze with all their calls of concern.
And there is one thing that holds true about her city, and that was that news travels fast in Atlanta, especially when everyone that loves or cares about Michonne, Terry has on speed dial.
But she wasn't doing all that waiting alone, because when Maddie's son and Michonne's quart size shopping buddy Cody brought down the things for Handsome, he also brought along with him four eight weeks old puppies that Michonne and he adopted while on one of their shopping trips to the mall.
It was his job to pick them up from the dog sitter downstairs, and keep until Michonne gets home. And she was now home. His mom's rule.
She was also hoping against hope that the puppies would be just the thing to cheer her Handsome up, because what child doesn't love a puppy. However in this case hopefully, Handsome had four to keep him preoccupied and well entertained.
There was Hap a bobbed tail Rottweiler, Jazz the Jack Russell Short Haired Terrier; he had a short tail too. A Black and Tan Beagle named Wilson, and the boss of the whole bunch, Bear a brown miniature sausage dog that rounded out the loveable quartet. All four were the last left in their pen, and Michonne didn't have the heart to separate any of them.
The decision to adopt at all was an impulsive one, but to take all four … well that was just a knee jerk reaction stemming from Mike's rejection, and those big pleading eyes of both the puppies and Cody's. Michonne knew instantly that she was done for, and would be unable to just say no! So she didn't.
And it didn't help matters much either when Andrea found out what she'd done and why. Adding injury to her insult, she began singing rather badly a loud made up song in between her laughter, "You Blow Pop … Dum Dum ... and an All Day Lollipop!" Then after seeing the pups proudly declared herself their aunt.
Yes, Michonne knew that she may have adopted those puppies, but Andrea is the one who takes cares of them financally. Because, not once since bring them home has she had to buy them anything. Those eyes got to Andrea too! And Michonne had to laugh at the irony of it all, because they were both big humongous Suckers.
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Just sitting there in that standstill traffic had given the Sheriff more than enough time to contemplate all the possibilities of what could have happened to his boy. The man had seen it playout on the wrong side more times than he'd care to remember.
Just how many time as he and/or any one of his deputies have had to break the devastating news to parents or a love one that their child has been found but … And it's always the word "but" that is so heartbreaking to have to say.
At least when he got that call about his son the news thankfully was much better than most. Carl was alive and unharmed physically, but the trauma of what those men tried to do to him was there. The father heard it in his child's voice the first moment he'd talked to his son earlier.
And for that, Richard Grimes his boy's dad wanted to beat Hell out of someone, starting with that ex best friend of his, because if not for Shane, he'd be home with his wife and their son who in turn would be at home too. Not only safe and sound, but still an innocent little boy running around in footie pajamas and playing with his action figures without a care in the world.
Just the thought of those monsters with their hands on his boy made the man see red, and once he's sure that Carl is ok, he intends on taking a little trip to that jail where those dead men are being held; the father really didn't know how or even care, but he will get in to see those walking corpses and take a bite out of crime literally.
And who'd blame him.
But the Sheriff knows that he must first get out of this mess that he's sitting in and soon, and then to Atlanta; his boy was there waiting on him even if the child can't go home just yet.
And he also had the makings of a rather bad headache coming on, because clenching ones jaws tight due to anger will cause that to happen every last time.
This was not how the man's day started nor how he'd envisioned his day to be, but then the father got that call two and a half hours ago that would wholly change his life forever ...
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Eariler that evening ...
Sheriff Richard Grimes (under the guise of working late), sat in the quietness of his Sheriff's Office trying really hard to concentrate on a stack of work papers that was sitting right in front of him. And it would have been so much better if he could. But instead he was only thinking about all the time that he was without his boy.
Missing his boy was one of the main reasons why he wasn't already at home. And adding injury to insult to make things even worst, Thursday was Thanksgiving. And with much sadness the child's father resigned himself to the fact that this too may be the second Thanksgiving Holiday that he wouldn't be allowed to spend it with Carl.
But that still hadn't stop the boy's dad from taking Wednesday and Friday off just in case. Just in case they were able to do just that, spend the holiday and then some together.
Lori the man's ex-wife had full custody and wield that power like a dictator. She wanted Carl with her all the time, even though she had him everyday. Now that include every holiday too. Last Christmas the father and his son spent a total of only 4 hours together. And it had been their first since his and Lori's divorce.
Rick hadn't wanted to fight his ex-wife over their son, so he'd stupidly trusted Lori to do what was fair for all three of them when it came to Carl; despite the judge's ruling. Despite her over and over again actions that always had a way of proving the man wrong.
But like everything concerning his ex, what's fair is always in her best interest. Unfortunately, this particular time would be no different. And with Henderson money and all that goes along with it Rick was looking at an ugly fight that he didn't want their son to be a part of. So the man didn't fight dirty nor her. And in the long run what good would it have done. But 20 /20 hindsight is always an eye opener after the facts.
Maybe he and Carl can spend all of Christmas together this year.
If not, Rick had already made up his mind that he was going to take Lori back to court and revisit that travesty of a custody arrangement. He'd realized way too late that he should have fought after that ruling, and allowed his parents to help him financially with a better lawyer. One outside King County, one from Atlanta. Not saying that the first lawyer that he had wasn't a good one, because he was. But Evan Bayson wasn't a shark, and when dealing with the Hendersons you really need their kind; another shark, and that thought sadden Rick to no end.
It's not that Lori was a bad person or parent, because deep down she wasn't, and really does love their son. It's just that Lorette Elizabeth Henderson is extremely spoiled, and besides being an only child, she's also the first and only girl in a whole long line of Henderson males. And that made her everyone's little darling, even Rick's … that is until Carl was born, and she had to share her spotlight.
Especially when it came to Rick, and that was the beginning of the end for their marriage, because Lori had to grasp late in life that she must learn to share, and it's hard training an old dog new tricks so to speak when they are as stubborn as a mule, used to winning, and can get their gratification elsewhere.
"You don't spend enough time home with me ... ah us Rick! You work way too much Rick! You don't love me like you use to Rick! Carl needs his father around more Rick!"
That was Lori's constant way off tune of her "Woe is me and my grief song," which she sang to him daily.
So Rick being the man that he is tried hard to do all he could to please his wife. He did it by coming home early at times, or would take some extra time off just to spend more time with her and Carl. Anything and everything that he could do or think of to make his wife happy, because he loved her and Carl with everything in him. But still that wasn't enough, and Lori soon found what she wanted outside their marriage in his best friend Shane Walsh's bed, leaving Rick and taking Carl with her.
Lori and their son moved into her parents home first, and stayed there just long enough to say that they did, then a short time later moved out and in with Shane permanently, and not long afterwards Lori found out that she was pregnant and the baby wasn't Rick's but Shane's.
Now that was just another betrayal that he had to deal with. And an even more heart-rending thing for the Sheriff to have to face …, the baby should have been theirs; his and Lori's. They had been trying so very hard for so very long for another child. And not only that, but now the constant male figure in his boy's life was not him his father, but his father's ex best friend.
However, sadly a baby was not to be for any of them at that time, because Lori at seven months pregnant delivered a stillborn; the baby had just stopped living. It was a boy ..., she and Shane would have had a son.
And then not too very long afterwards Lori came over to the house that she, Carl and Rick once shared and called home, informing her estranged husband that she'd made a huge mistake (like he didn't already know that); the worst one in her life (the Sheriff knew that too) and wanted to come back home, if not for them then for their boy Carl.
Even though Rick was still in love with his wife, and dearly loved his son. The man knew that way too much had happened between the two of them for their family to be put back together, or ever be the same.
Bravely Sheriff Richard Grimes said no.
And him saying that one word of "No" surprised Lori to no end. Because when it came to her, Rick Grimes never said that to his wife when it was something that the woman wanted. So the very next day Lori went and filed for divorce even though she had no grounds on which to do so. Then on top of that would asked the Courts for sole custody of Carl. Whereas, Rick countered for joint custody.
And adding injury to Lori's insult towards her faithful husband, the judge agreed, shutting the father out of his son's life almost completely.
Him citing the fact that being Sherriff was too much of a demanding job and that he wouldn't be able to spend the time needed with a five year old, despite Rick's parents testifying that they were more than willing to help when he needed them to. But that old Henderson money and prestige won out. Rick was only allowed to see Carl every other weekend if he was blessed to. If not he and Carl would talk on the phone sometimes, but only if Carl was not busy. Lori's mendacity.
And due to that Hellish ruling he and Carl have been paying a hefty price ever since.
This truth was already a well known fact to the man. But the hard reality of it all hadn't really grasped him until that one phone call from Officer Anderson about his heart. About his Carl. And that opened the man's eyes expeditiously.
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Sheriff Grimes cursed out loud. He was so angry, he had to do something! And that something has to be quick and right now!
And then a very simple thing occured. The two way radio in his Ford F-250 crackled for the first time in over two hours.
"What in the world-," Rick said as he looked over at the thing. What had he been thinking, he could have used it to get help!
And could have a long time ago!
And why hadn't he thought of it before, especially when he'd had a working way to communicate at his disposal the whole time he's been sitting there in that mess like a dumb fool! And the most embarrassing and unbelievable thing about it all is that he's a Sheriff.
So why hadn't Rick Grimes the Sheriff thought of using his radio before? Simple…because the father in the man had been mad as Hell, and that anger and concern for his son's wellbeing had given him tunnel vision with one goal in mind for the time being, and that was to get to Carl!
And his anger in this case not only made the man stupid, but blind to the reality that was staring him straight in his face…a two way, way out…the radio!
And he would not be telling anyone about this, and that was for sure.
If that thang had been a snake, it surely without a doubt would've been dead, me sitting here in the cab with it would be in need of a very good 'n' hot sudsy shower, and the inside of this truck's cab a very good airing out with some extensively good detailing, Rick thought chuckling to himself amused, as he joyfully, and with relief picked up the handheld receiver, and brought the thing to life with the push of its button.
Click!
"This is Sheriff Richard Grimes of Kings County. I need to talk to whomever is in charge. Over."
Click!
Silence. One minute...two minutes…and then three minutes passed.
Click!
"This is Sheriff Philip Blake of Piedmont County, and how can I be of help to you this evening Sheriff Grimes? Over."
Click!
Rick looked up and gave thanks that someone with authority was on the other end. He knew that Piedmont County had a new Sheriff, and had spoken to him only once, and that was to congratulate the man on his win and to extend all the well wishes expected when a new Sheriff is elected or placed in office.
Click!
"How are you, Sheriff Blake." Rick said, and after that salutation he began explaining to the Sheriff just why he was contacting him in the midst of all this chaos.
Needless to say ten minutes later the good Sheriff of Piedmont County sent help. And now Sherriff Rick Grimes and his Ford F-250 were rolling down a clear area along the medium of I-93 as he followed a Deputy Sheriff's cruiser in front.
Everything appeared good until they got up to the accident.
The information given hours earlier had all been spot on and then some. What a colossal mess!
There were jackknifed trucks as far as the eye could see, wreckers, workers and official personnel everywhere. Even two of the many trucks twisted up in that mess were lefted lying on their sides with all their loads being soak and spoiled out, from a hard cold rain that started out as a sporadic sprinkle.
The two vicheles stopped, and even though they were both going the same way until the Deputy got to his post, the man pulled his cruiser over as far as possible, allowing the Sheriff to bypass him and be on his way to his child. An act which Rick truly appreciated, and showed it with a wave of his hand in a grateful jesture of thanks as he passed by the Deputy.
And afterwards, Rick picked up the receiver of his radio so that he could do the same to the man that had made this all possible.
Click!
"Sheriff Blake, Sheriff Grimes here." Over."
Click!
Click!
"Sheriff Blake here, over."
Click!
Click!
"Just calling to say thank you Sheriff," Rick said over the radio. "And if at anytime you ever need my help for anythang, please do not hesitate to ask! Over." And this the man offered with his sincerity
Click!
Click!
"You are very welcome," the law man on the other end replied back. "Now go to your son, and I hope that every thing works out ok with him. Over and out!"
Click!
Click!
"Will do!" Rick hit his horn hard before signing off with an over and out of his own, and then that last Click!
And the Sheriff heard it through his receiver as he sat inside his Bronco parked at the opposite end of that highway catastrophe.
You don't owe me anything Sheriff Grimes, thought Sheriff Blake as he cranked his vehicle and headed towards the wrecked trucks. He just hope someone will do the same if need be for his wife and unborn daughter if the time ever comes.
And for the next thirty minutes Rick creeped by crumpled rig after crumpled rig and was amazed at the miracle of no other vehicles being involved, or of anyone hurt, or worse.
Then after that it was three hundred and thirty plus miles of shear joy for the man. And that was in spite of the heavy rains that came down like sheets in some places as he sped down the highway unimpeded with only open road ahead of him. Thankful that he would soon be there with his child, and also glad that he'd filled up earlier before ever hitting the highway.
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And the Sheriff made good time getting to Atlanta, with it being some time after twelve o'clock midnight when he pulled up to the address given to him by Ms. Rènald. Which surprising to him was a very impressively tall building made of concrete, steel and glass. Not only did it have a circular drive, but two doormen, and a valet who quickly walked up to the truck and said "Good moring Sheriff Grimes." Surprised some more Rick said good morning back with some perplexity.
How does he even know me? the stunned law man thought.
"Sir, my name is Marty, Miss Rènald asked that I look out for you."
"Thank you, Marty," Rick replied as he got out of his vehicle, and handed the young man his truck keys along with a tip.
The Sheriff then walked up to the building and was greeted by one of the two men standing there at its entrance who introduced himself as Roger, and then politely opened one of the doors for him. And once in Sheriff Richard Grimes of little ole King County soon noticed that he was a fish out of water, because the inside of the building was even more impressive than its outside.
Because it was really something else. The condo lobby was bright and contemporary with a large glass and bronze water feature that housed water plants in it pool base. And was in the center giving off a cool and calming effect.. Light-colored marble was prevalent throughout on both the floors and walls. And hanging from a 30ft. ceiling in some places were large eight panel crystal pendulum chandeliers along with some smaller ones of the same designs.
The Floor to ceiling windows were massive; adorned with oiled brushed bronze finished mullions separating the large panes, and spaned three whole sides of the structure.
Expensive area rugs were used to separate the different seating arrangements, which was a combination of both leather and linen sofas, loungers, side chairs, and ottomans accessorized with granite tables, crystal and brushed nickel lamps along with different kinds of floral and greenery arrangements located here and there. Where accent pieces of lighted sculptures laid flush, and hung on two walls. One was in the lounge area, and the other behind the reception desk. And the color scheme was that of beige, brown, and golden tan.
The place looked more like a posh upscale hotel rather than a residential building. And the Sheriff had to admit to himself that it was all a bit overwhelming for him. Even though he was still in uniform and looked quite crisp despite having sat in a cold and damp truck cab for hours. The law officer still felt under dressed and just plain ordinary.
Unfortunately for the man, there had been a whole lot to absorb since he'd gotten that call from Officer Anderson about Carl, and for him this place was just more of the same, something that had him way out of his comfort zone, and he can't even began to imagine what his poor son has been going through.
To be truthful all his expereinces of the night, and this whole place had given the man a big dose of culture shock.
Rick Grimes has always been proud of where he came from, and where he lived. His house was located in a very nice area of King County, where everyone in the neighborhood took great pride and care in their homes. However, this place even made Lori parent's prestigious abode look like a shack, and it was a mansion located on ten plus acres of sprawling land, where a river ran through it. A place where four generations of Henderson have called home.
And the Sheriff just really did not know exactly what to expect once he get up to Miss Rènald's apartment. The Dad just hope that his son was doing much better than his father was at the moment.
"Good morning Sheriff Grimes,"
That unexpected friendly greetings by one of the two guards sitting behind their desk shocked Rick right out of his mind funk. The man had acknowledged him as if he was a frequent visitor or lived there.
"Good morning," Rick replied in kind with a slight smile. What an amiable bunch of folk, he thought to himself amused.
"Miss Rènald told us that you were coming and to lookout for you," repeated the other smiling guard who's name tag said Ollie. "Please sign here sir. You can take any one of the elevators up to the 30th floor. Miss Rènald's apartment number is 3018."
The Sherriff signed the sheet, gave his thanks to both gentlemen, and walked over to one of the large elevators stepping in. And with persice precision punched in the three and the zero; two numbers that would get him just that closer to his destination and that was his boy.
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Michonne walk out of her bedroom feeling totally refreshed from head to toe. And was astound, becaused she'd only taken a short shower instead of the long hot bubble bath that her body had so been craving all night long.
The reason she didn't was, she hadn't wanted to be gone too long from her Handsome who had finally fallen asleep. Astoinishingly, the puppies pooped out first; long before their boy did.
And just as she'd hoped there had been an instant lovefest between both Handsome and them; plus a grill cheese sandwich with some hot creamy tomato soup (the boy found his appetite), and as promised that loaded Hot Fudge Sundae.
Unfortunately, with all the former and latter activities of the night Handsome still found it hard to go to sleep even though he was bone tired, and needed Michonne near by until he did, and that went for the puppies too! Neither had he wanted to go into the bedroom to lie down. Not yet, not until his Dad was there. Saying that the boy was a little wired was an understatement for sure, and that loaded Hot Fudge Sundae probably didn't help matters much either. Anxiety plus a sugar high is a surefire recipe for a bad case of restlessness.
But, what was she to do, and how could she deny him those two straightforward and painless requests? Simple, she couldn't, and didn't. Because whatever her Handsome wanted and she was able to do it, she would and did.
So without a second thought, Michonne made up the couch to accommodate all of them. Her Munchie, Handsome, and the four puppies; her Handsome wanted it that way.
And there should have been a ready camera somewhere around, because Michonne knew that they were an adorable sight with her sitting on the couch and an ottoman under her legs with her guy's little head resting on her lap ever so peacefully. One puppy was at her feet, with two more next to Handsome on another ottoman, and then at her boy's feet near the end of the couch was another sleeping pup.
And Michonne had no idea how she did it, but she did, and it all made her smile; wishing that she was able to capture it all for posterity.
Then finally after two whole hours she was able to gingerly lift the child's sweet head from off of her lap, all the while making sure not to disturb him nor the puppies, and then hurried away to the bathroom for a quick shower; hoping that none would wake-up until she was finished
And none had. They were just as she'd lefted them. Except for one thing ... her Handsome. He'd losted his covers. They'd fallen off and to the floor. Her poor baby didn't even stir, he was still sound asleep.
And Michonne's heart swelled with love as she made her way over to the sleeping coverless child.
And the door bell rung, chiming twice followed by three soft knocks.
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Moments earlier ...
The elevator stopped on its designated floor, and after stepping out, Sheriff Richard Grimes anxiously made his way to apartment 3018. Rung the door bell, knocked, and waited impatiently for someone to answered. The father knew that it was either too early, or too late depending on how one would look at it, but his son was in there, and if need be he'd apologize later!
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Michonne covered her boy lovingly, doing for him what the child had been way too tired to do for himself. And that was to place the covers back on top of him. Then she hurriedly walked towards the front door before the person on the otherside could ring or knock again. But before she could something else rung; the phone in the hall and she answered it on her way there. It was Ollie from downstairs, her Handsome's dad was on his way.
"Thank you Ollie, he's already here," Michonne said reaching for the door.
And upon opening it Michonne realized that twice in one night she'd had the pleasure of looking into a set of blue pools that could change a girl's life forever. And there was no surprise there, because the man standing before her son already had.
"Sheriff Grimes?" smiling she asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," the uniformed man nodded.
So that's where her Handsome gets that from.
"Ms. Rènald?" the Sheriff replied.
"Yes sir," Michonne countered.
Sir, I look that old?
They shook hands firmly, and Michonne invited the man in. Directing the dad to exactly were he needed to be … and that was where his son was.
And what Sheriff Grimes saw when he'd finally made his way to his boy's side filled his heart with an unspeakable joy; almost leaving him apeachless.
His boy was sound asleep; partically surrounded by four sleeping puppies, with the child laying on his side, just like he does when he's home. The look of contentment on his face was priceless. And his dad knew just by gazing at his son, that he had been worrying for nothing, because Carl had been well taken care of and loved.
And with brilliant eyes full of unshed tears, the father turned to the woman who had been perfectly taking care of his boy throughout the whole night and said, "Thank you."