Keeping Katie Ch 10

Don chose to go in late the next morning and he was glad he did. He was there to help the kids get ready for school and he assured them he'd be there that night for dinner with the whole family. Joseph was happy to see him, but he didn't immediately glom onto him like Don expected. He ate his food and Charlene had him help her with the dishes while Karen took Don into her office.

"I thought since we were talking about the place you ought to get an idea of where we are financially, unless you'd rather not."

"No, but don't think you have to show me the books...I mean, I'd be happy to look at them, but it's entirely up to you."

"I do want you to see, so you have an idea of the real picture here."

Karen sat down at her computer and put her password in. Don pulled another chair around and sat down beside her. They spent over an hour on the computer when Charlene knocked at the office door. "Come." Don said automatically then grinned at Karen. "Sorry, habit."

"Not a problem." she put a hand on his leg. "What's up, Charlene?"

"A state car just pulled in. I don't recognize the woman driving."

"We'll be right there."

"I can go to work if you want to meet her alone." Don offered.

"I think I ought to see what she wants first. Do you need to go now?"

"I'll let you know. I can stay around if I need to."

"I'd like that."

Karen closed her computer down and they went out to meet the woman. She was a large black woman with a pleasant demeanor in a business suit. She had a briefcase with her. "Ms. Wesson, I'm Audrey Constance from the State of New York. I'm here to conduct a home inspection and then there are some papers we need to go over."

"Hello, Mrs. Constance. Welcome to our home. May I present my fiance, Captain Don Cragen of the NYPD."

"Fiance, is it?" Mrs. Constance said in surprise. "Does that mean you'll be moving, Ms. Wesson, or will you be moving in here after the wedding, Captain Cragen?"

"We live here now, Mrs. Constance." Don said.

At her surprised look, Karen added. "I've already filed all the paperwork with my local branch and it was approved."

"I see. We weren't notified. Do you have copies of your forms?"

"I do. I'll send copies with you as well as anything else you need." Karen assured her. Don admired her calm attitude. "Do you have a particular place you want to start?" Karen asked.

"I'd like a tour of your facility, if you don't mind." Mrs. Constance said.

"Alright. Do you need to speak to Don after your inspection?"

"I would like to ask you a few questions, if I may." the woman told him.

Dons cell phone rang. "I'll be here. Excuse me, please, ladies. Cragen." he said charmingly excused himself and went into the living room to take his call.

"He's a captain?"

"Yes, he's at Special Victims Unit. I met him when Katie needed to be there."

"I read that report."

"We can start the tour anywhere you would like. If you'd prefer you could leave your briefcase here, no one will bother it. The kids are at school and Joseph is out in the back yard."

"Joseph is...?"

"My temporary boarder. He's been here for a couple of weeks. I'll introduce you to him, though I'm not sure how he'll react to you."

"Why is he not in school?" Mrs. Constance demanded.

"Because he's 31 years old."

"Thirty one? I was told that you only take children up to 13."

"That is the paperwork I filled out. Apparently some of the paperwork has been entered incorrectly and it reads that I take people 31 and under. That is one of the things I've been working on trying to get straightened out. My worker Tolna hasn't returned my phone calls."

"Tolna is no longer with the agency."

"She's not? I wasn't notified. If you'd like to start with the rooms for the boarders..." Karen indicated the room for the boys first. "Here is where the males sleep, Joseph went in here to begin with because he came at 2:30 in the morning and it was the only bed we had at the time. He had a hard time settling in and we chose to leave him here for his feeling of security. Laslo is the other boy I have here now and they get along alright."

"So you made no effort to get him his own room? He's a grown man."

"Who, according to my paperwork, should not even have been brought here to begin with, and isn't supposed to stay. No, I have not made any of those arrangements. Until a permanent placement is decided there wasn't any need. I'd like to get that settled once and for all. Things that Joseph mentioned lead me to believe that he was mistreated before he came here. I was considering applying for an exception to keep him here. He is very fragile mentally and we've managed to establish a bond."

"What about your assistant, Charlie?"

"Charlene. She's able to work with him as well, plus he's fond of Don. Don was who he bonded with first."

"Charlene, I have it down here that she's single?"

"Yes. She is. She has her own room here and she'll be going to college in the fall for Social Work."

"So you don't believe she'll be, uh, a temptation for Joseph?"

"Charlene recently broke off her engagement and is seeing someone else casually."

"That's awful sudden for a broken engagement." Mrs Constance said sharply.

"Not considering the circumstances. I would have broken it off as well, and the man she's seeing is casual and recent. There's no reason to believe she'd even consider Joseph as anything but another resident. Charlene has always been an honest straightforward person and I trust her with any of my charges at any time."

"What does her new gentleman friend do?"

"He's a cop, too."

"I'll need his name and his CO so I can speak to them."

"You can ask Don when you get a chance to speak to him. He'll have all that information. This is BB and Katie's room. There's a lock on the inside of both bedrooms and one on the bathroom door accessible from the outside, like the law requires. All the codes and conditions are all up to date and I can show you the maintenance records, if you want to see them."

"Who is your maintenance man?"

"You're looking at him." Karen smiled.

Mrs Constance nodded with a smile. "And what is in that locked door?"

"That is my private quarters and Dons now. It's locked at all times during the day and left open a bit at night when Charlene is not on duty so we are accessible to the kids and we can hear them if they need us and can't call us."

"And this system works well for you?"

"It does. We're small enough that it is easy to keep things simple. We aren't set up for big groups of kids. I like it that way. The kids need special care and this way I can give it to them."

"What would you do if the state required you to maintain at least six children to maintain your license?"

"Then we'd do what we have to do, Mrs. Constance." Don said firmly, joining them.

"But with the children I get, the amount of care they require, I cannot keep six kids here and be effective. I'm not set up for them." Karen said.

"The state is reviewing that portion of the rules. We are so overwhelmed with kids who need help that they are reconsidering that portion of the policy and it may be a requirement. Some exceptions to the rules will be granted, but since you have Katie in school, it may change your status, that and having another competent adult or two in the home."

"One who works a full time job outside the home and one who will be a full time college studen except for weekends." Karen said.

"Those are constants in every household, I'm afraid."

"How long until this might go into effect?" Don asked.

"Immediately. That's one of the reasons why I'm here. You are not up to the specs and I'm here to find out why and rectify the situation or make a recommendation as to why or why not."

"One of the reasons? What are the others?" Don asked sharply.

"I'll be getting into that in a bit."

"Is everything okay?" Karen asked him.

"Yes, everything's fine." he assured her with a smile.

They went out to the back yard and Mrs. Constance looked around and made notes in her book. They walked toward Joseph, who got nervous when they approached. He looked like he was ready to bolt. "Joseph, this is Mrs. Constance from the state. She came to look around and make sure everything is okay here." Karen said with a smile to the nervous man.

"Hello, Joseph. How are you?" the worker said.

"I'm good."

"You have a lot of wood here to stack."

"Karen said its an important job and I should do it but not to work so hard that I get sick. I can stack it good and I'm strong. I'm a good wood stacker, aren't I, Karen?"

"The best, Joseph. And he's good with the animals and helping around the house." Karen said with a smile for Joseph.

He ducked his head in embarrassment. "I gotta get back to work now." he said.''

"Lunch will be ready soon. Listen for us to call you, okay?" Karen reminded him.

"I will. They feed me really good here." Joseph told Mrs Constance.

"You're doing really good work here, Joseph." she said with a smile for the man.

"Thank you."

They continued the tour of the facility and Mrs Constance followed them into the house. They sat down at the kitchen table and she pulled her briefcase over to her. "I'm going to tell you that I'm impressed with your facility, Ms. Wesson, Captain Cragen. I'm not supposed to tell you that, but in this case, I feel I'm justified. If anyone asks though I'm going to deny it. I see no reason you could not accomodate the requisite six children. It might be a bit of a strain and adjustment at first, but I think you're up to the challenge. The is going to be my recommendation to the state." Don could see the tension building in Karens posture. "Now on to your involvement here, Captain Cragen. Just how involved with the kids are you?"

"I help them with projects around here, if they have trouble with their homework, I'm available for them, and if they need help with moral dilemmas I'll be there for that too. These kids need help, support and guidance. I'm used to doing that and I want to be here. Karen is not paying me, I want to be here. If you check into my background, you will find that I am a recovering alcoholic and that I am also a decorated police officer. I'm a widower and I maintain an apartment in the city for the work related reasons, but I'm considering giving that up."

"You carry a gun, Captain. Do you have a locked gun safe?"

"I do."

Mrs. Constance nodded once and they moved on. "Now, we come to the matter of Katie. I understand that you have put in a petition to adopt her?"

"Yes, I did."

"The background check for that revealed that she has grandparents that were unknown and they too have filed a petition for custody and quite frankly they have a greater claim than you do by virtue of being a blood relative."

"I understand that. I'm also aware of the fact that they don't know anything about Katie and she doesn't even know they exist. They haven't made a single effort to see her since I got her as a baby, it was their son who mutilated her, they have to be older being her grandparents, they probably don't have any training in dealing with a child with her special needs, and why now after all these years have they come out of the woodwork now? These are all factors that will enter into the judges decision. I'm not counting on their blood being the only factor the judge looks at." Karen answered, confidently.

"You'll need to contact a lawyer concerning this matter."

"We've already spoken to one." Don assured her.

"You've thought this through. It's going to be a long messy fight. The Andersons won't give up easily."

"Why now? I think there has to be some reason they're doing it now." Don said. "They were listed in her file as possible custodial guardians in her initial evaluation and ruled out as non responsive. I'd like to know why they've decided that they can take care of her now."

"Are you aware that her father has died in prison?" Mrs. Constance asked.d

"I read the report." Don acknowledged. "Yesterday. I inquired if it was the same man. It was." he told Karen.

"They are also required to have home inspections and supervised visits with Karen to get to know her. I'll have them or their attorney contact you to arrange for those visits to start."

"And that's something else. They do not have a history of clean inspections, that I do."

"Ms. Wesson, there's no telling what the judge will do. Depending on the judge, they could be so pro family, those things you mentioned will not be huge factors. I don't want you to get your hopes up."

"Mrs. Constance, I have had Katie since she was a baby. She calls me Mom and Don she calls Dad, because she doesn't remember much about the man who was her father except fear and pain. She doesn't deserve to be terrorized again by the people who raised her monster of a father and I will fight every way I know how to keep her safe from them. Count on it."

"I have a record here of your, um, conversations with some of the caseworkers. You come across as having a bit of a temper. I'd advise you to watch how you proceed."

"I'm fighting for what I consider my child, Mrs. Constance. Would you back off?"

"No and I'm not advising you either way. I'm only giving you sound friendly advice."

"I appreciate it, thank you."

"Mrs. Constance, can you give us some idea of what your report will read?" Don asked.

Karen looked at him then quickly at Mrs. Constance. The older woman closed her folder and folded her hands over it on the table. She pursed her lips and thought a minute. When she raised her head and gave them a level look. "Quite frankly and off the record, I would much rather have Katie live here with you than go to grandparents that I believe are not capable of raising her properly or treating her as she needs to be treated, but mine is only a recommendation of your status here. Another social worker will be doing a home visit to observe Katie with you, both of you, and hers will carry more weight for Katies placement than mine. I will send you a copy of this evaluation as soon as it's ready.

Now as to the matter of Joseph. I'm pleased with his progress here, outside of him needing a room of his own because of his age, he could stay here as far as I'm concerned, but in order for that to happen, you'd have to change your paperwork to reflect the increased age of the clients you'll accept and that will open you up to a new level of committment and more trouble than you have had to date. GIven the status of your facility, I would recommend to you that you let Joseph be placed elsewhere to keep your facility in tact.

And, I would also consider getting your engagement out in the open to as many people as possible so it's an establish fact that you're to be married. Act as though you are under constant scrutiny, because you are because of Katies case. Now that I've said that, I must go, I have other visits to make."

All three of them rose to their feet. "Thank you, Mrs. Constance, for coming and speaking with us." Karen formally shook her hand.

The woman shook Dons hand as well. "I believe you have a strong set up here. We need more of those. Don't let it shake you. You will need to prove you can stand up against trouble and it will surely come. Good day to you."

Karen walked her out to her car and came back in. "I didn't expect that visit." she said, sitting suddenly at the table.

"You handled that like a pro. I didn't see any evidence that you were nervous."

"You learn to handle things like that if you want to keep your license. Afterward you can fall apart, but if you show any kind of fear they go after you like a rabid dog. It's a lesson I learned early."

Don laughed. "And here I thought you were just beautiful. You're smart too."

"And you're feverish." Karen teased relaxing with his casual attitude.

"No, I'm in love. I'm wearing rose colored glasses." he assured her. "Do you need anything, water or something to drink?"

"No. Though I wouldn't say no to a kiss."

He was kissing her when Charlene came into the kitchen. "You guys are going to give me a complex." she complained mildly but she was smiling.

Don lifted his head and grinned at her. "Get your own kisses." Charlene ducked her head and Don swore at his unthinking comment. "Charlene, I'm sorry."

"That's okay. I found a new source." she said unexpectedly.

"More than I needed to know." Karen teased. "Was that really a nothing call?" she asked Don.

"It was a what time are you going to be here?' call. I need to change and go in but I'm glad I was here for you when she came."

"I'll go with you while you change."

"Do you want me to make you lunch before you go?" Charlene asked Don.

"No, I'll be fine, thank you."

They went into their quarters and Karen sat down on the bed while he changed into his suit for the day. "I like it when you are here. I think this picnic can't come too soon. It's only a week away now."

"We're all set up for it?"

"We just need to figure out who all is going to be here."

"I'll make sure at the office. What else do we need to pick up?"

"The beef for the bbq and the grill. We have the rest of the food. Oh and the drinks but Charlene has the order all set all we have to do is notifiy them when we're going to pick it up."

"I'll get the RSVP's today and we'll be all set. I can't wait to let everyone know about us."

"Uh, Don, especially with Munch around, I seriously doubt any of them don't know. You didn't keep them around for their happy faces, did you?"

"I'm more sneaky than they are."

"I don't even want to go there. It doesn't matter, does it? Everyone will know soon that I got the grand prize."

"Just what I always wanted to be. The grand prize in some kind of contest." he joked.

"You have always been the grand prize, darling Captain, I just didn't know the contest existed."

He suddenly wanted to see her all dressed up in a nice dress and he wanted it to be just her and him together. He had a flash of inspiration. "You know I have this coming weekend off. What do you say we have some quality time together just you and I? We'll go out to dinner for no reason than just because we can."

"Sounds good. Shall I put on my dancing shoes?"

"Please. I can't wait to see that. We'll go out and cut the rug together."

"Where?"

"Leave that to me. I need to get to work. You have a good day and don't let this visit worry you. We'll be fine."

"You know me so well." Karen smiled at him.

If he didn't have to go he would have been glad to show her how well he did know her, but he had to go. That would wait until later. "I've only just started to know you. But I'm getting better all the time." he told her, leaning over to kiss her eagerly. "I'll see you later, beautiful."

"Be careful."

"Always."

He left even though he wanted to stay. He'd be home soon enough and then he'd show her how much she meant to him. He smiled at the beautiful day.

TBC