Status: Complicated
The next morning they met at the ski lodge, grabbed some snacks, a couple of bottles of water and started strolling trails through the trees. There were only a few other people around, during the summer most of the people there were riding down concrete chutes on wheeled sleds. They presently found a pretty spot and sat down.
"James, do you have any current attachments? A girlfriend?"
"No, just a lone engineering geek at the moment." James tried to speak lightly.
"I have someone. A man I have dated through high school and college. I am expecting to marry him, but we haven't set a date."
"Well that does make things a little more complicated," James took his disappointment and stepped hard on it. "Have you mentioned the contract to him?"
"Well, yes, but only in general terms." Ann looked at the ground.
James said, "I think it is only fair to bring him into these discussions because he is going to have to live with whatever terms we work out."
"I want to see what terms you would find acceptable first."
"Fair enough." James paused to collect his thoughts. "I always thought that I would be involved in the raising of any child of mine."
"How directly must you be involved?"
"Must?" James was not ready for this, it was starting to sound like he needed a lawyer present.
"Sorry James, I'm sorry to sound so harsh, I am a bit rattled by this conversation."
"Me too, saying 'must' makes me think that we should be sitting across a table with our lawyers at our sides."
"Maybe lawyers would be a good idea. But can we discuss acceptable boundaries and responsibilities before we get lawyers involved?"
"Fair enough, how about we start at the absolute boundaries and see if we can find some acceptable middle ground? The maximum involvement for me would be for me to live with you…"
"A group marriage?" Ann snorted, "I don't think so, Paul would freak at the mention of it."
James pondered that Ann said that Paul wouldn't consider it, but not that she wouldn't. Pressing on, he continued, "The minimum involvement would for me to drop off my contribution in a turkey baster or something and am never heard from again. Which to me is not acceptable."
"Turkey baster?"
"I might have read it in a story somewhere. Gets around needing physical contact to deliver the, uh, genetic material. Anyway, what at what point along that spectrum of fatherly involvement does it become acceptable to you and Paul?"
At this point the day went as downhill as one of the grass covered slopes. James' disappointment in being pushed to the sidelines in his future child's life was palpable. And if he was being brutally honest with himself, he had hoped for a chance at a place in Ann's life. In the end, they agreed that both would consult with child custody lawyers and have a phone conversation the next weekend. They left the lodge without having dinner.
"Mom? It's James." James lay on the bed staring at the ceiling in his hotel room. "I don't think I can do this. She's already planning on getting married and I don't see the guy letting me have any involvement in this child's life." James blew out a sigh and listened to his mother on the other end of the phone.
"Selfish? I'm an engineer, we like to see the results of our work…"
"I suppose I had built this fantasy of having a child with this woman, falling in love and living happily ever after…"
"How can you know this is that important? I mean how can one child be that important? …"
"WHAT! No I don't want her fiance assassinated! How can you even think of doing something like that! …"
"We agreed to consult with attorneys experienced with child custody cases and talk next week, then have a face to face meeting with our attorneys the week after."
"OK Mom, I won't do anything more than talk to the attorney this week. I'll pop in this weekend for a visit. Love you bye."
What the hell had he gotten sucked into? According to his mom, this child was necessary to "save the world". Dammit, he was a scientist and engineer. He didn't believe in predictions that were made, what 100? 200? years ago. Still, his friend Amy was a biologist and did some discreet studies of the Society's work. She reported that they had eliminated several inherited diseases that used to be devastating in several family lines. So they did seem to know something about "improving the human race". She also mentioned that they dealt with people from a wide spectrum of ethnicities and cultures, so at least they weren't going for white purity or anything like that. Feeling like he was on the edge of contributing to something amazing, but he would never know the results, he fell into a fitful sleep.
"Paul!" Ann waved from her seat at the little cafe. She stood and gave her boyfriend a quick kiss and sat back down."
"Ann, I thought you had a business meeting today?"
"I did, but it ended early and we will finish the agreements next week or so."
"How are they going? Anything you can tell me about?"
"Actually they include things I need to talk to you about."
"OK" Paul smiled at her. His smile warmed her. He had been at her side all through high school and undergrad college. Her best friend boy friend one might say. While she continued on to grad school, he left for management at an investment bank and was considered a promising newcomer.
"There is an organization that has made me an amazing offer. They are willing to pay off my student loans, pay future school costs and give me a stipend until my residency is complete. In addition, they can set me up for my next year's residency at one of the leading edge hospitals doing neurosurgery and trauma work."
"That's sounds great Ann. What do they want in return, your firstborn child, Maybe a spare?"
Ann looked into Paul's eyes, there was no humor there.
"Your dad told me." Paul said coolly.
Ann bit back her surprise. "Actually, you should have a long talk with dad. If I take this contract you will be in the exact same position as he was."
"Really Ann, you would bring adultery into the marriage?"
"Paul. Adultery is when one party in a marriage has sexual intercourse with someone not their spouse. We aren't married yet and the agreement isn't for sexual intercourse, it is for me to get pregnant."
"And you can get pregnant without intercourse?"
"Turkey baster."
"What?"
"There are other delivery systems for semen than a guy's penis. Look Paul, I haven't agreed to anything yet. Your input is important to me. Two questions you need to think about. First, can you love a child that is mine but not yours and second, what level of interaction will you allow between the biological father and his child?"
"Do we need to keep and raise the child ourselves?"
"That's my requirement, not part of the contract."
"Ann you are working 80-90 hour weeks, how are you going to find time for a child?"
"That's what I will have a partner to help me with. The hours will get easier after I finish my residency. I have to run, my shift starts in 45 minutes. Think about those two questions and I have a third. Do you want to be married to a surgeon?" Ann stood up, dropped a twenty on the table, leaned over to give Paul a kiss and walked out.
The Contract
James sat at the table with Brooke Lane, his legal assistant sitting beside him. The door to the little meeting room opened and the receptionist showed in Ann, flanked by two gentlemen. One was older and carried a portfolio and James guessed that the other was Ann's boyfriend/fiance. James and Brooke stood and introductions were made. Paul pointedly refused to shake James' hand. John Decks, Ann's attorney, opened the meeting.
"This meeting is to formally agree to the terms of custody, support and visitation rights of the children of James Possible and Ann Credible. A unique situation to my experience, but we treat this agreement as seriously as we would for existing children. Now James and Ann have discussed terms via telephone earlier in the week. We will review the main points of their terms and if agreed, the agreement will be signed. First, do each of you agree that this agreement is binding and unlike most agreements, should any part be decided to be illegal or changed by a court order, the entire agreement will be reconsidered in binding arbitration with the Blue Heart Society providing the arbitrators?"
"Yes," said James.
"Yes," said Ann.
"First major point. Ann Credible will have full custody of any children produced by Ann and James."
"Yes," said Ann.
"Agreed," sighed James taking a deep breath.
"Second major point. James gives up any rights of visitation and agrees not to communicate with any children produced by Ann and James until their 21st birthday."
"Ann, please?" James looked like his heart was about to break.
"No way buddy, you agreed to stay away!" Paul pointed out.
"Agreed," said Ann looking down at the table.
"Agreed," said James after Brooke put her hand on his shoulder in sympathy.
"Third major point. James will not provide any child support of any kind to any children produced by Ann and James."
"That's not fair! He benefits from these children, he should be responsible for some of their support!" Paul objected.
"Agreed," growled Ann, giving Paul a hard look.
"Agreed," said James after being prodded by Brooke.
"Last major point. Should Ann become unwilling or unable to take care of any children produced by Ann and James, the custody will revert to James."
"Agreed," said Ann.
"Agreed," said James.
Anne's lawyer and James' legal assistant carefully went over the two page agreement to make sure they understood, copies were signed and exchanged.
"Ms Lane, may I have a word with you?" asked Ann's lawyer.
"Sure"
"Well, if you will pardon me, I have to get to class." James walked out of the office looking like a broken man."
"And we need to get to the airport for our flight back home." Ann stood and walked out with Paul following her."
"Ms Lane, excuse me for saying this, but you aren't a lawyer are you?"
"No Sir, I am a legal assistant. The legal office originally was going to send a pair of lawyers because frankly, we think that this is unfair to James. But for some reason, James believes that these children are more important than his right to be involved or even his happiness. We actually had to work hard on him for him to forgo child support. They sent me to prevent the lawyers who wanted to come from fighting for James' rights to see his children."
"Do you know what is going on?"
"Not really. I think that this is one of those things that lower level people like me should not ask too many questions about."
"Well, I think I need to dig into this a little more. A custody battle over children that haven't even been conceived yet? Something is up."
"In that case sir, I was told to give you this envelope. I was told that it would give you a decent place to start." Brooke handed John an envelope. "Excuse me, but I should really get these papers filed." Giving the lawyer a wave, she walked out of the meeting rooms.
The Straw
Ann dug through her top desk drawer for the third time. 'Dammit,' she thought, 'I swear that I tucked my passport in here. I just had it the other day when I made the airline reservation.'
Paul poked his head in the doorway. "Hi honey, how are you doing?"
"Frustrated," she replied. "You haven't seen my passport have you?"
"Yeah, your passport. I want to talk to you about that. You know, maybe this trip isn't a good idea."
"We've discussed this already Paul. I'm going to Germany for my third year of residency then return to Middleton to finish the last two years."
"No, you've discussed it, I get a vote too and my vote is no. Going to Germany means we put off marriage for another year."
"Paul, I offered to marry you before I left."
"No, I won't have an absentee wife. Plus if you don't go to Germany, then you can get out of the contract for having a child with that guy."
"Paul, we did talk about that contract before I signed it. You said that you were fine with raising a child that was mine and not yours!"
"I know, but I've been thinking. We would certainly end up having a child or two of our own and it wouldn't really be fair to their half sibling that we would love them more."
"Paul, without the contract I will have to repay my student loans and drop out of school!"
"I was thinking about that too, you have enough training to be a physician assistant. That should be an easier job so you can have more time to be a mother and wife. As I continue to rise in the firm, I will need more support from you."
"Paul, I want my passport!"
"Honey, take a day or two to think about it. You'll see I'm right. Talk to your dad, he agrees with me."
"I WANT MY PASSPORT!"
"Sweetie, you need to calm down, you are getting emotional."
"GET OUT!"
"Now baby, you don't mean…"
"GET OUT!"
A large hand appeared on Paul's shoulder. It was connected to an equally large muscular man, brown hair in a military haircut and heavy five o'clock shadow.
"Dr Possible, Ma'am. Is this person bothering you?"
Ann took a deep breath and blew it out. "Lieutenant Barkin, this is Paul. He may be my ex-fiance. He needs to leave, please. Paul, this is lieutenant Steve Barkin. He will be subletting my apartment while I am in Germany. He will see you to the door."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow when you have time to calm down," Paul said as he was escorted to the door.
Two years of residency had taught Ann not to panic. Being late getting to Germany was not necessarily a show stopper, but she really, really wanted to make a good first impression. Since the contract called for her to get pregnant towards the end of her year of residency there, she would need all the goodwill she can create. So, if she left today for Washington DC, she could spend tomorrow waiting in line to get a new passport and be ready to get on the flight to Germany with a day to spare. A quick call to her travel agent revealed that all her credit cards had been reported as stolen and couldn't be used. A call to her dad simply got her a terse, "You should listen to Paul, he really has your best interest in mind" reply. Her dad continued, "Besides, I think that you will come to realize that surgery is no place for a woman like you."
Not panicked but certainly in a mood closer to rage than a surgeon should ever let herself come, she wracked her brain for answers. Picking up the phone one more time, she called a number she found in legal papers at the top of the pile on her desk.
"Engineering Graduate Assistants Office, James Possible"
In Nana We Trust
Ann wracked her brain for answers. Picking up the phone one more time, she called a number she found in legal papers at the top of the pile on her desk.
"Engineering Graduate Assistants Office, James Possible"
"James, this is Ann Credible. I need some help."
"Sure, Ann, anything for the mother of my children." Bitterness crept into James' voice.
Ann thought that maybe this was a bad idea and was about to just hang up when James continued, "No, wait. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. I wouldn't have signed those papers if I didn't have full faith in you as a good person and a loving mother. Please, let me start over." James cleared his throat. "Hi Ann, it's nice to hear from you. What can I do to help you?"
Not wanting to go into details, she laid out the bare facts. "I need to get to Washington DC by tomorrow morning to get a new passport so I can make my flight to Germany. My credit cards have been reported stolen, so I can't make a flight reservation."
James was often the stereotypic clueless engineer. But he could pull it together when he had to and her terse explanations were setting off alarm bells. "Ann, are you in danger or are you constrained in any way?"
"What? No! Well at least no more constrained than the lack of passport and credit cards are doing. As for personal safety, I have a lieutenant of some kind of special forces sleeping on my couch. He will be subletting my apartment while I am in Germany."
"OK, hold on the line please, I need to check with someone." James put the call on hold and selected another line.
"Amanda Possible"
"Mom, I need to use my emergency credit card, so you might get a call from the bank."
"OK. What's up son?"
James quickly gave her Ann's request for help.
"Tell her to go to the airport - have her roomie take her if he can. Tell her to listen for a page for Amanda Possible and do what the page says. One carry-on bag only. Tell her that your mom has seen too many old spy movies."
"OK. Thanks, mom"
James switched lines, "Ann?"
"Yes, I'm still here."
"Mom is going to help us out. If you can, have your Lt escort you to the airport. Take only one carry-on bag. Listen for a page for Amanda Possible and answer it. She says to tell you that she has seen too many spy movies."
"James, are you serious?"
"The best way for you to find out if you can trust my Mom is to trust my Mom. My experience is that she can get things done faster than anyone I know."
"But my stuff!"
"Trust my Mom. Besides, you can buy clothes in Germany right?"
"OK, In Your Mom I Trust. Thanks, James, I owe you."
"Nah, we're business partners, right? Mutual benefit. Better get going."
Ann grabbed her birth certificate out of her desk and rearranged the contents of her overnight bag to be a little more self-sufficient and then carried it into the living room. Seeing Steve sitting on the couch flipping through TV channels, she asked, "Steve, could you take me to the airport and walk me inside please?"
Steve bounced to attention. "Yes, Ma'am! What luggage are you taking?"
"Just this bag."
Steve narrowed his eyes, "Ma'am, is there a threat? Should I draw my sidearm?"
Ann rolled her eyes, "No threat that your presence alone won't handle."
At the airport she heard a page over the PA system, "Party meeting Amanda Possible, please come to the United Customer Service Desk, Party meeting Amanda Possible, please come to the United Customer Service Desk."
Walking to the desk, she was greeted by a perky young man. "Good Afternoon, welcome to United, how can we be of assistance today?"
"Hi, I'm the party meeting Amanda Possible."
"Excellent! Could I please see some identification? Perhaps a driver's license?"
Ann dug her wallet out of her purse and showed the man her driver's license.
"Thank you very much, Ms Credible! This envelope is for you from Amanda Possible." the young man said, handing her an envelope. "And here are your tickets for flight 652 leaving in 45 minutes from Gate C5 and arriving in Washington DC around 9 pm." He showed her the boarding pass and then pulled out a second ticket from the little envelope. "And this is the flight that will connect you to your flight to Germany leaving from JFK. Is there anything else we can do for you this afternoon?"
"No, I think I am fine, thank you." Ann stepped away from the counter to where Steve was holding her carry-on bag and scanning the crowd like a secret service agent looking for assassins. "Let's go find my gate, Steve"
"Yes Ma'am"
Arriving at the gate with about 15 minutes before boarding, she sat away from the crowd to privately look into the envelope. She found an American Express Card with a note "for emergencies only" taped to it, a small stack of twenty dollar bills and a small stack of Deutsch marks. The note on the cash said "Enough for walking around, not enough to look like money laundering." Finally, there was a short note that read:
Dear Ann;
As luck would have it, I currently live and work in DC.
I would be pleased to host you for a day to help get
your affairs arranged. I will meet you at the airport.
If this is not acceptable, then allow me to at least take
you to a hotel convenient to the State Department.
Amanda 'Nana' Possible"
Using Steve as a privacy screen Ann put the cash, credit card and ticket to JFK in her money belt and settled it back under the waist band of her slacks. She heard the announcement that her row was boarding, so she thanked Steve for his help and boarded the plane. She pulled a medical journal out of her carry-on and stuffed the bag in the overhead. Ann was generally one not to fret about things, but she did wonder about meeting the mother of the man she just screwed over by denying him access to his future children.