Chapter 28 — There is No Perfect Day
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A/N — I struggled with this chapter a lot and eventually broke it into two parts. Hopefully you all enjoy. xoxo — tmtcltb
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"Good luck, ma'am!" Nikki called as Kara packed up her briefcase for the day, even though it was barely noon.
"Thank you." Kara paused on her way past Nikki's desk. She had already changed into civvies and it felt decidedly odd being in the office out of uniform. "I'm not planning to come in tomorrow but if anything comes up, I'll be available."
"No, you won't," replied a familiar voice. Mike lounged in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "You're off until Monday and no shop talk until then. That's an order."
Kara chuckled. With half of the Nathan James' crew and most of Command invited to Danny and Kara's house on Saturday for a party to celebrate the girls' adoption, there was certain to be plenty of shop talk. Still, Kara appreciated Mike's effort to give her time off, which is probably why she made a confession. "I'll just be glad once the hearing is done."
Mike moved into the small alcove where Nikki's desk was located, lowering his voice. "Last minute issues?"
"No, nothing like that," Kara rushed to assure both of them. "Although I'm a little worried about a crowd at the courthouse scaring the girls."
It wasn't a lie. Kara was worried about what might happen at the Courthouse this afternoon. Since the news broke about the pending adoption, there had been no less than six cover stories featuring Danny and Kara. Fortunately, the press wasn't allowed anywhere near the base or the base daycare, and several guards had been posted at Stella's school and the Howards' house when the girls were present, so they hadn't been exposed to a complete media circus. This court hearing, however, was public and Wolf reported that the reporters began gathering hours ago.
Still, as much as Kara worried about exposing the girls to reporters, that wasn't the real reason she just wanted today to be done. Danny thought that she was being paranoid. Not that he used the word paranoid, of course, but she could tell by the carefully neutral look on his face when she asked him — again — whether the girls' father had been identified or located, or if Mrs. Guy had called, or if taking Delilah to the doctor for a suspected earache would reflect poorly on their parenting skills. Kara even understood why Danny would think that her reaction wasn't rational. But Kara simply couldn't shake a feeling of impending doom.
Mike scowled. "Damn press. Blood-sucking leeches, all of them."
"Pretty much," Kara agreed, before she turned back to Nikki. "Which reminds me, do you have the package of materials from Val that need to go to Jacob Barnes?"
"Yes, ma'am, I'll release it as soon as I hear from you," Nikki confirmed. Although Danny took an instant dislike to Barnes during the joint interview that they held with the Millers to discuss the new additions to both families, he reluctantly agreed to give Jacob an exclusive after speaking with Alisha. Neither would tell Kara what was said, a situation that was driving her batty.
"Then I'm off." With a final wave, Kara made her way down to the base daycare. When she reached the toddler room, Delilah was bent over a small table, carefully stringing beads onto a pipe cleaner. Beads that went flying in all directions when Delilah looked up to see Kara. "Mama!"
Giving Miss B an apologetic look, Kara tugged Delilah to her for a hug. Then she bent down. "Do you remember what I told you this morning? About going to a special place this afternoon so we can all become a family?"
"Where's Stella?" Delilah asked, bouncing around as Kara collected her lunch box, snack bag, water bottle, nap sack, three art projects, and a shoe that had been misplaced the day prior. As she stuffed everything into the large canvas bag that she procured for just this task, Kara was struck by how much had changed since the first day that she picked Delilah up from daycare, having literally no idea what she was doing. "And Daddy?"
"We're going to meet them there," Kara explained, waving her goodbyes and she and Delilah headed to the parking lot. At the car, Kara took an extra five minutes to change Delilah into the white smocked sailor dress that Debbie made specifically for today. Although it wasn't something that Kara would have chosen herself, Stella had found a picture of Kara wearing a similar dress as a child and begged Debbie to make matching dresses for her and Delilah. When Kara asked Stella what she wanted to wear today, she chose these.
Ten minutes later, Kara pulled into the court parking lot, thankful to see that Danny was already there, standing with Wolf and Azima in an empty parking space next to Wolf's truck. As she pulled into the space, Stella waved at her exuberantly from the front passenger seat. Parking and slipping out of the car, Kara gave a wary look at the crowd gathered around the entrance. She had expected reporters, but this was worse than even she thought. As though sensing her gaze, someone on the edge of the crowd glanced in Kara's direction, then there was a shout as someone must have recognized her car.
Moving quickly, Danny began unbuckling Delilah from her seat as Azima helped Stella out of the truck. Stella threw her arms around Kara. "I'm so excited! Today is our adoption day!"
"I know!" Not wanting to spook the child, Kara gave her a tight hug, before grabbing her purse and a bag with extra clothes, snacks, and toys for the girls in case there was a delay in the proceedings. Kara looked at Danny. "Back door?"
"This way," Azima replied, making a beeline towards what appeared to be a small shed attached to the back of the building. Kara made a mental note to thank Elena for suggesting the alternative entrance. Unfortunately, Kara realized almost instantly that the crowd was going to reach them before they got to the door.
Danny must have made the same calculations as he moved closer to Kara. "You take Delilah and I'll get Stella."
Nodding, Kara pulled Delilah into her arms while Danny lifted Stella onto his back, her arms wrapped around his neck and long legs dangling. She laughed as he began moving again quickly. "You're crazy, Daddy!"
Danny jogged forward. "No, I'm not Miss Stella. I'm a lunatic!"
As Stella laughed at the joke, the first of the reporters caught them, the questions shouted as microphones appeared in their faces. Thankfully, Wolf was there to make a hole and, at the last minute, something else seemed to catch the reporters' attention. Taking advantage of the short lull, Danny and Kara made it the last ten feet and then they were inside the building.
Kara sagged against the wall as Danny set Stella on her feet. A moment later there was another shout, and then the door opened again to reveal a rather pregnant Sasha Cooper Chandler. Sasha laughed as Azima slammed the door closed behind them, hand going to her midsection. "I think that's the most exercise that I've gotten in months."
"I assume you folks are all here for the Green adoption?" A voice said from behind them.
Kara turned, not recognizing the man but Danny reached out to shake his hand. "Officer Lunny. Thank you for meeting us here."
"Happy to help, Commander. My son has been singing your praises for months," the man replied. He nodded politely to Kara. "Yours as well, ma'am."
Realizing that the man must be the father of Edwin Lunny, one of the junior members of the VBSS team, Kara smiled. "Your son has been an asset to the Navy and the Nathan James, sir."
Beaming at the praise for his son, Officer Lunny waved them towards the metal detector. "Mr. and Mrs. Nolan are already here. I just need your sidearms and..."
The door swung open, admitting Tom Chandler before slamming shut again. Tom's gaze went directly to Sasha, eyes narrowed. "When you mentioned that we were waiting for a signal from Taylor, I naively assumed that the plan was to avoid the media. Not to deliberately antagonize them."
Sasha raised an eyebrow. "You were the one who offered a statement. What did you tell them?"
Kara leaned a bit closer, wondering what Tom had told the media given that, to date, they had refused to confirm Sasha's pregnancy despite intense speculation.
"I told them that we were overjoyed to be part of this expansion of the Nathan James' family, of course," Tom replied, flashing her a smile before looking at Kara. "Are we headed to the courtroom?"
"Yes." Having left her own firearm at the office, Kara and the girls made it through the metal detector without issue. She waited, somewhat impatiently, while Danny, Wolf, Azima, Tom and Sasha surrendered theirs for inspection. Then they were on their way to the pre-assigned courtroom. As they walked, Officer Lunny informed them that, due to the intense public interest, Judge Clancy had held a lottery this morning to determine who from the public would be permitted into the courtroom. The upside, Kara realized, as they entered the courtroom, was that the room held only about two dozen people.
Andrea moved towards them, taking Kara's bag. "I wasn't sure that you would make it through the bloodsuckers. Tex already called Mike and asked him to send over a couple MPs for crowd control."
"Good idea," Kara replied. Following Andrea to their seats, Kara busied herself fixing Stella's hair and smoothing down the girls' dresses as Danny spoke quietly to their attorney, Stephanie Meylan. Although they picked the woman because she was Admiral Meylan's daughter and could be trusted not to leak information, Kara liked the young woman. Despite having finished law school only the year before, the woman had inherited her father's confidence and had assured them that this adoption proceeding would end successfully — come hell, pandemic, or high water. After the fiasco with Alexandria Guy, it was exactly what Kara needed to hear.
"Kara!"
Kara turned to see her mother hurtling down the aisle, Peter a few steps behind. Behind Debbie, the door to the courtroom opened again and Kara frowned as she recognized Pablo-friggin-Reyes slipping through the door, escorting an older woman who Kara didn't recognize. But then Debbie threw her arms around Kara and she turned her attention back to her mother. Kara gave Debbie a tight squeeze. "Mom, I'm glad that you are here."
"As if I would miss this," Debbie replied, eyes teary as she turned to Stella and Delilah. "You two look like the best sailors that I have ever seen. Give Gigi some hugs."
The girls threw their arms around Debbie in unison, promptly wrinkling their outfits, but Kara didn't care. Debbie was here and sober, hugging her granddaughters. That was what mattered — not the inevitable focus by the press on misaligned buttons or scuffed shoes. Kara looked at Peter. "Gigi?"
He shrugged. Debbie had spent the last two months trying out variations on the traditional grandma. "I think she's made a final decision this time."
Over the girls' heads, Debbie smiled at Kara tearfully. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I am so very happy for you. And you too, Danny," Debbie added, her eyes moving past Kara.
A chill ran down Kara's back, a sense of premonition. One that turned into full-on dread when Danny's hand landed on her shoulder. He leaned closer, voice low. "Debbie, could you watch the girls for a few moments while Kara and I speak with Ms. Meylan in private?"
Debbie's face paled, but she quickly summoned a smile. "Of course. Girls, Mommy and Daddy have to go talk to the attorney really quick. Do you want to play I spy or rock paper scissors?"
Danny kept his hand on Kara's arm as they walked towards the front of the courtroom, where Stephanie was speaking quietly with the courtroom clerk. Next to her stood Robert Maxwell, the girls' court-appointed representative, and next to him was the man who was now officially Kara's least favorite person in the universe and the older woman who he arrived with.
Kara leaned towards Danny, not turning her head. "Who is that woman with Reyes? Please tell me that's his mother and Reyes is here because there was an outbreak of the virus or another war broke out and not because he's about to screw up the most important day of our lives?"
"She's...," Danny's voice faded as he looked around. "We'll figure it out, Kara. Stephanie is getting us in to see the judge so we don't have to do this in open court."
Tears burned at the back of her eyes, her stomach twisting so badly that, for a moment, Kara thought that she was going to throw up.
It was happening all over again.
She was losing everything.
No, not everything.
Kara reached over to take Danny's hand, squeezing tightly. "Whatever happens, I love you."
There was a slight pause, then Danny leaned over, his voice in her ear. "Everything will be fine. I promise."
"You're pregnant, Kara. We're going to have a baby."
His voice so happy, his face excited and terrified and proud.
A moment of perfection.
Before it all went to hell.
Danny could no more fix this than he could fix what happened six years ago. If, as Kara now suspected, that woman was Stella and Delilah's grandmother, there would be no happy ending. Not for Kara, anyway. No adoption, no family of four, no vacations and school plays and trips to the pond. The best that Kara could hope for was an opportunity to say goodbye.
Before she went home with a hole in her heart the size of Texas.
Kara walked forward, numbly, as Stephanie waved them through a door in the back of the courtroom. The clerk led them to a small chamber where Judge Clancy sat at a desk, wearing a rather dull tan suit and looking much less imposing without her robes. The Judge waited until the door was closed before speaking. "Ms. Meylan. I understand that you have something critical to tell me involving the minors in this matter that could not be shared in open court?"
"Yes, your honor," Stephanie began, looking more uncomfortable than Kara had ever seen. "Mr. Shemanski here is a private detective hired by Commanders Green and Foster to search for biological relatives of the minors in issue. He has discovered that Mrs. Magnolia here may be a relative..."
Kara shot Danny a look. A private detective hired by Commanders Green and Foster? Commander Foster, for one, had not — and frankly wouldn't — have hired Pablo to do a single damn thing.
"May be a relative?" Judge Clancy interrupted. She turned her attention to the woman in question. She was older, probably older than Debbie, with curly grayish-white hair and a narrow nose. One, now that Kara noticed it, looked rather like Stella's nose. Accidentally catching Pablo's eye, Kara shot him a death glare. Whatever Pablo was up to — and Kara was starting to get a bad feeling that Danny knew exactly what Pablo was doing — he was responsible for their current predicament.
"We are still waiting on DNA results," Stephanie explained "Mr. Shemanski only located Mrs. Magnolia last night. They arrived in Mayport this morning and went directly to the laboratory in the hopes of having that information before the hearing. Unfortunately, that did not happen."
Pablo arrived with Mrs. Magnolia in Mayport this morning.
Which meant that Danny knew about her before the hearing.
And didn't tell her.
If it was possible, Kara felt her stomach twist again. She clenched her hands into fists, letting her nails dig into her palms.
Whatever happens, I love you.
Had she really just said those words? To a man who knew that this was coming and didn't tell her? Didn't warn her that her life was about to fall apart? Danny's arm brushed against hers and Kara flinched. Next to her she felt Danny shift. His lips moved to her ear, the words a bare whisper. "Just hear her out."
Kara glanced sideways, lips pinched to restrain herself from screaming at him. Danny looked as awful as she felt, his face pale and eyes wide. But whether that was because of what was happening with the girls or because he felt guilty for keeping her out of the loop, Kara didn't know.
Or, at the moment, care.
She turned her attention back to Judge Clancy, who was frowning as she asked. "And when do you expect the test results?"
"My apologies for the interruption but your clerk said to come in." Every head turned as Rachel Scott entered the room. She gave several documents to Stephanie before leaning down to give Kara a hug.
Kara gasped, her arms going around Rachel more from habit than intent. "When did you get here?"
"Hm, oh, I arrived late last night." Rachel moved on to hug Danny. "Danny called and asked if I could come earlier than planned and, fortunately, I could. It's good to see you again. We will have to catch up more on Saturday."
Saturday.
The barbeque.
For an adoption that was probably not happening.
Rachel said that Danny asked if she could come earlier. The only reason to do that would be if he knew about Mrs. Magnolia yesterday. Except...why would Danny call Rachel to confirm a relationship that any competent laboratory, including the one on base, could perform in an hour? Kara could feel Danny's eyes on her, and she turned her head, willing him to have some explanation other than simply getting Pablo to sneak around behind her back looking for the girls' biological relatives.
Danny reached out, his fingers twisting through hers and squeezing. His lips moved without sound. "Trust me, please."
"Doctor Scott," Judge Clancy began, her awe at having the woman-who-saved-the-world in her chambers evident. "I'm honored to meet you. However, I'm uncertain why you are in my courtroom."
Stephanie set the folder from Rachel down in front of Judge Clancy. "Doctor Scott has confirmed that Mrs. Evelyn Magnolia is the paternal grandmother of Stella Eveyln Magnolia."
Kara couldn't contain her slight gasp, and Danny's hand dug into hers. Even if Kara thought there was the slightest chance of Rachel being wrong, the fact that Stella's middle name matched this woman's first name would have been far too much of a coincidence.
Stella was her granddaughter.
Named after her.
Again, Kara pushed away the tears. She would not cry. She wouldn't. Rachel turned towards Mrs. Magnolia, her voice low. "Unfortunately, I have also confirmed the other matter we discussed, Mrs. Magnolia."
Silence fell as everyone tried to digest that information. Judge Clancy was the first to recover. "Mrs. Magnolia, let's start at the beginning. How are you related to the children at issue?"
"My son, Kyle," the woman began. She reached into her purse, pulling out a picture. "He was Stella's father. Kyle was on the Gerald Ford. I'll never forget the day that the ship returned. We were all at the docks. Waiting for them to exit. But then people in hazmat suits went on, and after they came back, nobody else got off. Kyle told us to head home. Said they would be quarantined for a few days and he would join us soon. But he never got off that ship. None of them did. My precious boy died on that ship and we never even got his body."
Evelyn's voice broke and, despite the yawning hole in her heart, Kara couldn't help but feel for the woman. She stretched out a hand. "May I?"
Nodding, Evelyn handed Kara the photograph. She gazed down at the picture of a young couple — probably eighteen or nineteen, the man in his dress whites — holding a baby between them. Stella wore a purple and green plaid dress, with a large purple bow balanced on her head. A lump grew in Kara's throat as she considered all that Stella had lost in her short life. Her mother and father and years with a grandmother who clearly loved her. "I'm very sorry about the loss of your son, ma'am."
"Thank you."
Judge Clancy leaned forward again. "I'm sorry for your loss as well, Mrs. Magnolia. However, to confirm, you are related only to Stella Magnolia? Not Delilah Magnolia?"
The import of what Judge Clancy had just said hit Kara like a ton of bricks. Was it possible that only Delilah's adoption would go through? How could they explain such a thing to Stella? Worse, how could they separate the girls? The questions swirling through her mind, Kara missed Evelyn's response to the question, her attention only refocusing when Pablo spoke.
"I confirmed with the prison that Terek Jones died three years ago, your honor," Pablo said, passing several documents to Judge Clancy.
"Terrible man," Evelyn muttered, shaking her head.
"DNA taken at the time of his incarceration confirmed that Mr. Jones was Delilah's father," Rachel interjected.
Annoyed at herself for missing something as critical as the identity of Delilah's father, Kara forced herself to focus as Judge Clancy glanced through the paperwork in front of her. "These appear to be in order. I am accepting Doctor Scott's verbal confirmation that Terek Jones was the biological father of Delilah Magnolia. I also see Mr. Shemanski's affidavit indicating that Mr. Jones is deceased and that Mr. Shemanski was unable to locate any other biological relatives. Did you have anything else to add to the record in the case of Delilah Magnolia, Ms. Meylan?"
"No, your honor," Stephanie replied. "However, in regard to Stella Magnolia..."
"Hold on a minute there," Judge Clancy said, holding up a hand. She turned to Evelyn. "Mrs. Magnolia, are you here to request custody of your granddaughter, Stella Magnolia?"
There it was. The words that Kara feared from the moment she considered making the girls a permanent part of her life. Kara couldn't breathe, vaguely wondering if it was possible to break someone's hand from squeezing too hard. Evelyn turned to Kara and Danny, tears glittering in her eyes.
"No."