Making it So
It had been early afternoon on Saturday before John called to inquire after his son. He'd meekly accepted a dressing down from Caroline and then allowed her to persuade him to let the child to stay with them until Sunday afternoon to give him and Judith time to recover.
By this time Margo had arrived with a colleague who specialized in private adoption. Peter Markham sat at the dining table with them explaining all that would be involved. Laurence helped to care for the infants during this lengthy discussion. At one point it had become necessary for Kate to nurse Callie and Margo took the opportunity to follow her into the nursery.
Pulling a chair close and leaning forward earnestly, "Kate, at the risk of being thought a pessimist, have you and Caroline really considered this decision fully?"
Kate had expected this question or something like it when Margo followed her into the room. She had seen the scrutinizing looks she and Caroline had been receiving from both lawyers. "Not at length. But we know it is the right thing to do and the right thing for us and for our family."
Seeing the lift of the chin and hearing the severity of the tone in Kate's normally soft voice, Margo didn't hold out much hope of having an impact but she had to try once more. "After waiting so long for Callie are you certain you want to take on another infant at the same time?"
Firmly, "It's been decided Margo. Caroline and I have discussed it. This is what we want. Both of us. Waiting can have no benefits for this little boy."
Finding herself on the receiving end of an implacable stare, Margo realized that she'd reached the limit of her influence with her cousin. Sitting back in her chair she held Kate's eye, then said with a speculative smile, "If anyone could make this work, I believe it would be you and Caroline. You're both everything a parent should be, certainly." Then, "I've done the best I could for you. I called in a favor to bring Peter over here on a Saturday afternoon."
Kate relaxed visibly, "Thank you, Margo. I knew I could count on you."
"I just hope your still thanking me when this is over." Laughing in spite of her misgivings and still with considerable reservations about this whole venture, "The two of you are quite intrepid aren't you? Married one month, give birth the next and two months later you're trying to adopt another baby. I'm not sure if you are two of the hardiest souls I've ever met or certifiably insane."
Brown eyes twinkling, "One thing is sure, my life with Caroline is never dull."
In the dining room, Caroline had been subjected to a similar line of questioning. Once again he suggested that the birth parents might be persuaded to get treatment for their alcoholism and become the parents the child needed. Caroline, conscious that Laurence was in and out of the room summoned Peter to her study.
Seating him in the reading chair as she took the desk chair so unsuitable or pouring her heart out to Kate but perfect for addressing this lawyer who clearly did not understand this situation. "I realize you mean well, but I was married to John for twenty years. Alcohol use aside, he doesn't have it in him to provide consistent attention and care to a child for any length of time. He isn't a bad person he's just not interested in doing this. He never wanted Judith to have this baby, he told me that early on. In fact, he has shown a rather uncharacteristic amount of selflessness to stick with her through the pregnancy."
Markham watched her closely. In his practice he saw many bitter divorces. He didn't detect acrimony in her voice or manner, she seemed matter of fact and realistic. He knew that people could sometimes put on a façade but he tended to believe she was authentic. "What about the mother?"
Caroline shrugged, "I hardly know her. Every time I've seen her to speak to, she has been falling down drunk. Quite literally. The first time she fell down the front steps to the house onto a bottle of wine she dropped and I had to drive her to casualty. The second time she was in the house with John when I arrived home unexpectedly to find her just fallen down the stairs in my bathrobe."
Markham noted these tales were told matter-of-factly considering how painful they must have been for her at the time. He also saw that she had moved on from the past. What mattered to her now was the child.
Continuing to answer the question, "Other than that it's only what John has told me. Apparently she has tried to stop drinking before only to return it. I've no idea how much she drank while she was pregnant. Laurence says his Dad tried to stop her drinking as much as he could. Probably the reason he stayed with her this long. He does have some sense of obligation to the child, I suppose. I have reason to believe he hasn't been faithful to her and can hardly think they would stay together any length of time now, even for the sake of the child."
Seeing that this lawyer continued to study her face, "Look, I know you see all sorts in your line of work. I see more than I'd like in mine. Another reason I believe that these two are never going to be the parents this child deserves." Considering the arrogance of that statement, "Not that I'm setting myself up as perfect, or even Kate for that matter. I can tell you that we'll love him and do our very best for him. I can't say more than that."
Smiling for the first time since he'd shaken her hand upon entry, "For what it's worth, Dr. McKenzie-Elliot, I believe you."
Flashing that disarming blue-eyed smile, "Please call me Caroline."
When the meeting resumed the four completed the necessary forms and made a plan for addressing the birth parents.
It's Exponential
On Sunday, Kate called her Mum asking if she could come to the flat. Mystified by Kate's unwillingness to explain why she was asking, Edie had nevertheless arrived as requested. Kate told the story of the little boy to her mother and finished by telling her that she and Caroline had decided to adopt him if the parents could be persuaded. Edie was quite amazed and sat looking from one to the other.
Finally, speaking from experience, "Two babies are quite a lot of work, you know." Seeing their ready nods, "You've had Callie for the last three months, I know you realize what it takes. I'm not sure you realize that two babies is not 1+1, it's exponential." Smiling to herself, "I don't think Alistair and I did more than catnap for six months after Kate and Kevin were born." Raising her eyebrows at them with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "And we were more than a decade younger than the two of you are now." Scrutinizing each of them in turn, "You're sure you want to do this?"
"Mum, you know I've always wanted a family. Now I have one." Tears were in her eyes when she finished.
"Edie, I know it seems quick but we are sure. Very sure."
Edie silently considered all that Kate had been through in her quest for a child, for a family. She finally had given birth to the baby she'd felt compelled to bring into the world. She thought over what these two had been through over the conception of Callie and the aftermath of the birth when they'd faced down the difficulties Kate had experienced. If they felt that they wanted another child maybe this wasn't the worst way to go about it. She did think it was too bad this opportunity hadn't waited to present itself in another year or eighteen months. Not fully convinced they really knew what they were in for but realizing that few parents ever did no matter how their child came to them, Edie smiled, "I'm sure I couldn't think of a more love filled home for any child to come into. I'll help you as much as I can but I do have Alistair to see to as well."
The Meeting
Caroline had called John, arranging to meet him and Judith at a neutral place. Caroline and Kate in the Jeep, Margo and Peter in Margo's car, as they would start off for Leeds after the meeting, drove mid-afternoon to the agreed upon restaurant to meet John and Judith. The women had left the babies with Laurence and Edie at the suite. They hoped that after this meeting it would not be necessary to go back to get him to bring him to York but felt that it would do no one any good to have him in the room during this discussion. The foursome entered the restaurant to find John and Judith at a table to one side of the nearly empty dining room. The two looked none the better for their respite from child care.
As agreed in advance, Peter took the lead, introducing himself to John, who made an effort by standing to shake hands, then to Judith. After introducing Margo and Kate to Judith, the entire group was seated at a at a large round table nearby.
Peter led the conversation, "I'm Peter Markham, I practice family law. I specialize in private adoptions. Caroline and Kate are offering to adopt your child." Pausing to watch their reaction, Markham saw surprise on both faces. John's gaze turned immediately to Caroline, who raised her fingers from the table in a gesture to signal him to listen.
"I realize that this may be a new idea to the two of you but I urge you to hear me out and consider this proposal carefully." Peter went on to outline the facts as he knew them: the role that alcohol played in both of their lives, the fall that Judith had taken while pregnant being on record with the authorities and her blood alcohol level at the time of the arrival of the ambulance, the events of Friday last and the likelihood of the baby being put into the care system sooner or later unless the two of them were ready to immediately change their lifestyle and seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
Peter went on to make it clear what the consequences for them would be if they opted to keep the child and he suffered any type of abuse. He described what the law considered child abuse and the likely penalties for each variation.
Peter's succinct, factual presentation had gotten the attention of John and Judith. They had watched his grave face, stealing glances at one another from time to time. Peter went on to summarize the terms of the adoption making it clear that they would relinquish all rights to the child, stressing that in spite of the fact that the parties were acquainted, once consent to the adoption was made the birth parents would have no role whatsoever in the life of the child. He outlined the rest of the provisions offered and advised them that these were very generous terms, which would allow the two of them to get on with their lives and perhaps find a better path than their current one. He finished by asking if they had any questions.
John's eyes were on Caroline as he asked a little incredulously, "Would you really want him?"
Clutching Kate's hand into her lap under the table, willing herself to say the right thing but not sure what that might be. Caroline began slowly, "He looks so much like Laurence did as a baby." Shrugging, "I guess it seems natural." With a faint smile, "And Laurence is totally taken with him." Looking at Kate as she felt her loving brown eyes on her, "We'd like very much to make him part of our family."
Judith, sitting across the table watched the two women as Caroline spoke. She found herself wishing someone, anyone would look at her the way these two looked at one another. She couldn't remember anyone in her life ever looking at her with such loving eyes. Not her Mum who'd had four children and a full time job that kept her too frazzled to focus much on any one child. She'd hardly known her Dad who had moved to London after the divorce. No one ever had looked at her that lovingly; certainly not John who'd only ever had himself on his agenda so far as she could see.
Caroline looked at John and Judith in turn, "We don't want to rush you. This is a big decision and you should talk about it together. But we wonder if you'd be willing for us to keep him for a few days at least, or until you decide. We're enjoying him so much and it would give you more time to talk." Caroline finished her request looking at Judith. She couldn't read the expression on her face.
Judith had admired Caroline's poise and confidence since their first meeting on the doorstep that long ago night. The cool efficient way she'd wrapped her arm in toweling, put her into the Jeep and taken her to Casualty. She'd been surprised when she'd emerged to find Caroline still waiting, offering to take her home. She'd driven her back to York, seen her safely inside the flat with all that she would need for the night. She wasn't accustomed to being treated this kindly. It was a mystery to her why John had left Caroline to live with her.
Judith had seen the love in the eyes of William and Laurence when the topic of their Mum came up, the way they'd guarded her, changing the subject quickly. Saw the way Caroline looked at them on the few occasions when she'd dropped them off or picked them up from John's visitations with them. The way she touched their hair, kissed them goodbye, squeezed them briefly before sending them on their way. As she had contemplated the birth of her child she wondered if she had it in her to be that kind of Mum.
She had wanted to have this baby. She wanted someone to love her, look at her the way William and Laurence looked at Caroline. But she was canny enough to know that Caroline had engendered the relationship between mother and sons. It was the result of years of loving care. She had never been sure she was capable of that. Since the birth of the baby she had been shocked at the overwhelming demands of caring for an infant. Had in fact allowed John to do all that he would to care for him.
Now Judith looked at these two women who so obviously loved one another and who wanted to adopt her son. Give him the time and attention that she was finding so difficult to provide. She nodded her consent to John for them to keep the baby until they made their decision.
John, knowing the boy could hardly be in better hands agreed. All of this talk of child abuse and penalties had shaken him more than he cared to admit. Peter took down their details promising to call them in the morning to see if they had any questions that he could answer for them and passed them each his card. Margo and Peter rose, and the two women stood with them. Peter said goodbye for all of them and ushered the group out of the restaurant.