"Look, I Get that it is complicated, timely and costly. But I don't care. Happy is family. She was as good as our daughter before my sister died. We're not losing her." Ralph said testily over the phone to his attorney in America. "I don't care Tom, you can't tell me that even just going by the numbers, that my family wouldn't be good for Happy and her development. My wife and I are parents, we're in a stable and loving relationship. We have means to support ourselves and Happy in any way we need or could possibly want." Ralph listened for a minute. "Look, I know family law isn't your strong suit but whoever you are using to help you is obviously the wrong person if this is their recommendation. If you don't want to help us then I'll seek other counsel." Ralph told him angrily.
"Good, I'd rather do this with you then have to do it without you. Get whoever we need and get back to me. Failure is not an option." Ralph told him before hanging up.
"Ralph, come on, dinner is on the table." Veronica told him from the door of his study.
"I swear it is like he's actively against us doing this. Why is he putting up so much flack?" Ralph said absently.
"Ralph, come on to dinner. Everyone is waiting." Veronica said again.
Ralph looked up at her for a moment.
"We're not losing Happy, Veronica. I refuse to accept that. She's our little girl." Ralph told her defiantly.
"Of course we're not and of course Happy is our little girl. But now is the time for supper. You can come back and argue with them after everyone has gone home." Veronica told him.
"Wait." Ralph said as he thought back. "Danielle Teague, she was that attorney I got for Seth and Angela when they wanted to adopt." Ralph snapped his fingers before he grabbed his rolodex and began shifting through the cards.
Veronica sighed and shook her head before turning and walking back to the dining room.
"Ralph is too focused at the moment, everyone, so we'll go ahead and start without him." Veronica said with a sad smile before sitting down.
"Is he that distraught about Aunt Jo?" Paige asked sadly.
Veronica smiled and shook her head.
"He's trying to." Veronica paused as she looked at Happy sitting there waiting expectantly. "Well he's got some concerns he's trying his best to work through." Veronica said. "Sean, would you care to say Grace for us?"
Sean nodded and bowed his head as he made the sign of the cross and prayed.
"Let's dig in, everyone." Veronica smiled and everyone began putting food on their plates and passing food to others.
Happy slipped out as Sean prayed and made her way to Ralph's study.
"Ah Danielle, thank you for calling me back so quickly and on a weekend too." Ralph said as he grabbed the phone up on the first ring.
"Yes, it is a matter of adoption. My sister and her husband had just taken a young girl in as a foster with the intention of adopting her. A week later my brother in law was in a horrible accident in Japan. Meanwhile my sister sent Happy to stay with us while she tended to her husband and my sister had to make the decision to terminate life support. Then as she was returning to the States the plane she was on was the American Airlines flight that was lost over the Pacific." Ralph was telling her.
"Thank you for your condolences. Since then the orphanage has been making demands that we return Happy to them. Happy's our daughter now. I don't care what it takes or costs. My attorney is being very hesitant and claiming his outside counsel is pushing us to just let them take her. I'm not doing that. I need a rottweiler to take this case on and win. And I remembered you handling a case for friends of ours." Ralph explained.
Happy teared up instantly and ran to the stairs and up to her room where she buried herself into the bed and cried.
Veronica smiled as she ate when she looked over and saw Happy wasn't there and that there wasn't any food on her plate. She frowned as she swallowed.
"Where did Happy go?" Veronica asked as she stood up.
"She was there when Dad started saying Grace." Paige said as she stood up.
"Sit and eat Paige, I'll go check." Veronica told her.
Veronica walked to the front of the house but didn't see her. She walked over to Ralph's study but just saw him talking on the phone so she turned and went upstairs. She paused at Happy's door and frowned hearing crying.
"Happy, it's Veronica, may I come in?" She knocked on the door.
"Come in." Happy choked out.
Veronica stepped in and smiled at the mound of blankets hiding the young girl. How many times have blankets warded off the horrors of the outside world she wondered.
"Are you okay sweetie?" Veronica asked softly as she sat on the side of the bed.
Happy crawled out and onto Veronica's lap.
"I don't want to be sent away." Happy cried.
"Oh sweetie." Veronica said as she hugged her tightly to her. "We're not going to let that happen. You are our baby now. Ralph knows many, many people. He has friendships and connections among the most powerful and influential people in the world. You mark my word, you aren't leaving us. You will be a Dineen legally before Summer is here." Veronica told her.
Happy looked up suddenly as her tears stopped.
"You really mean that?" Happy asked with dreadful hope.
Veronica smiled and nodded.
"We already think of you as our daughter Happy." Veronica told her sweetly.
"I love you Mom." Happy said as she buried her face into her neck.
"I love you, Happy." Veronica told her as she held her tightly and just rocked her back and forth.
Ralph walked into the dining room ten minutes later.
"Well I just got off the phone with another attorney, she says she's not going to let them take Happy. She's filing an injunction as soon as the court opens. She'll need us to go back to the States at least for a hearing and some other legal issues but she says we're not losing Happy." Ralph told them, grinning.
"Well, that's great news Ralph." Sean told him as he stood and shook his hand.
"Thank you Sean. Where's your Mother and sister?" Ralph asked Paige.
"Happy disappeared while Dad said Grace and Mom went to find her about fifteen minutes ago." Paige told him.
"We're right here." Veronica said as they came down the back staircase.
Happy ran in and jumped into Ralph's arms.
"I love you Daddy." Happy said, trying but failing not to cry.
"I love you too, Happy." Ralph hugged her tightly to him.
March 3rd, 1999, Wednesday 8 a.m. Callan:
"I'm sorry Walter. I don't want to go but the attorney said it would help if the judge can speak to me as well." Paige told Walter as they were saying goodbye.
"I'm not going to be worth much while you're gone." Walter told her while hugging her tightly to him. "My brain has grown dependent on input from you."
Paige smiled. It had taken her a while but she was learning what might seem weird to outsiders from Walter were actually very deeply felt feelings.
"We'll chat every day through the web." Paige promised. "But you remember, just because I'm not here at the moment doesn't mean you can run off with some other girl." Paige teased him.
"Well I can't promise anything, so you better hurry back just to be safe." Walter teased back.
"Walter!" Paige said excitedly. "That was perfect. I love you."
"I love you and you never have to worry about anyone else. As far as I'm concerned there is only one person in this world for me and her name is Paige Dineen." Walter whispered into her ear.
"Walter, son, you be good while we're gone." Ralph said gruffly as he walked out of their house.
"I will Dad. I'll miss all of you." Walter said as Paige broke their hug. Walter turned to face Ralph and reached his hand out to him.
Ralph smiled as he shook his hand.
"Cabe's going to stay in the country so if anything comes up you contact him asap. Okay?" Ralph told him.
"I will Dad." Walter nodded.
"Walter, now you remind your Mom that I diverted my shopping order to your house. She needs to use all the fresh food and not to worry about the cost. And she better not let them try and trick her into thinking there is anything she has to pay for. If there is anything else in it that you can use, then use it." Veronica told him as she came out of the house with Happy.
"Yes Mom. I'll remind her." Walter told her while smiling.
"I feel like I'm leaving my boy behind. I love you Walter, be careful." Veronica stepped up to him and kissed his cheek and hugged him.
"I will Mom. I love you too." Walter told her before hugging Happy.
Walter stood watching as the SUV drove off leaving him standing there. His hand raised as Paige stared at him through the back window and her hand plastered to the window.
Megan stood on the hill about three hundred yards north of the Dineens' home. She saw Walter just standing there looking up the road, the Dineens SUV was long gone. She yelled and began waving her hand.
Something seemed to click in Walter's head and he put his hand down and then saw his sister waving. He waved and began walking towards her.
Friday 11:23 a.m. New York, USA:
"Okay Happy, the judge and the orphanage's attorney will be asking you some questions first. You stay focused on your parents. If you don't understand a question it is okay for you to ask them to restate it. If you need a break, I want you to touch the side of your nose and I'll ask for a recess. Okay?" Danielle asked.
Happy nodded.
The court officer called the court to order and everyone stood as the judge entered the courtroom. Danielle frowned as it wasn't the judge who was supposed to be on the case.
"Everyone be seated. Unfortunately Judge Parker was running a fairly high fever this morning and so I was asked to step in. Does anyone have any objections?" Judge Atherton asked.
Danielle looked to Ralph who shook his head.
"We don't have any objections to you, your honor." Danielle stood as she spoke.
"My client has no objections to you either." The lawyer for the orphanage answered.
"Very well. Is the minor child present?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Yes your honor, this is Happy Quinn." Danielle told him as Happy stood up next to her.
The judge smiled at Happy but then scratched his head.
"I'm a little confused why we're here. I've got all this paperwork and by any measurable standard the Dineens are exactly what we would hope for in an adoption or foster. Why is the orphanage pushing to take this little girl from this family?" Judge Atherton asked.
"My client wants to be sure the child is safe and hasn't been abused and for the family to undergo a normal investigative procedure, your honor." The lawyer spoke up.
"You do realize that Mr. Dineen is a high profile diplomat with the US Embassy correct? And that you don't rise up to that position without a deeper scrutiny than you've ever been involved in." Judge Atherton asked.
"Yes, your honor. My client still feels like it is the right thing to do." The lawyer stated.
The judge shook his head.
"Please bring Happy up to the stand." The judge waved his hand.
The court officer stepped over and walked with Happy to the stand.
"Happy, do you promise to tell the truth?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Yes, your honor." Happy told him.
"Please have a seat." Judge Atherton smiled as he gestured.
"Happy, do you know why we're here?" Judge Atherton asked after Happy was seated.
"The orphanage wants to take me away from my family." Happy replied.
"Your honor, I need to object to the phrasing of her answer." The attorney said.
"Overruled. Who is your family Happy?" Judge Atherton asked.
"My Dad, Ralph Dineen, my Mom, Veronica Dineen and my sister Paige Dineen. They're the only ones who want me." Happy told him.
Judge Atherton frowned.
"Why would you say that?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Because, everyone who has ever taken me home always wanted to change me into a girly girl, who plays with dolls and has tea parties. Mom said they just want me to be me. She fought with the school to let me be included in the shop classes. Dad's hired a private tutor who comes out a couple of nights and we've worked on a car, a blender and Uncle Sean's water pump. It's in really bad shape and should be replaced. But Uncle Sean is stubborn." Happy told him.
"Happy, are you happy living with the Dineens?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Yes, your honor. They treat me just like family. Paige has even let me go once with her and her boyfriend to the bowling alley." Happy told him.
"Do you like bowling?" Judge Atherton asked.
Happy nodded.
"I got a 235 on my first game. I might have gotten a little higher but Paige and Walter kept kissing." Happy made a face much to the amusement of everyone but Paige who blushed.
"A 235 your first game? That's amazing, Happy. I think my best was about 185. I've got a slight hook in my back when I throw and it throws me off." Judge Atherton told her.
"You should get a Dr Scholl's shoe pad to put in the shoe of your dominant foot. It will help with that." Happy told him.
"I'll try that, thanks. Happy, you've only been with the Dineens a couple of weeks, are you sure?" Judge Atherton asked.
Happy nodded.
"Before them and my foster Mom, the longest I'd ever been with a family before is a day or two. Except around Christmas time when the fosters would get extra money. They'd keep me for that and then send me back without buying any gifts for me. But my family constantly engages me not only in their lives but they are vested into mine. Paige's boyfriend Walter is always willing to help me with anything but school is actually a bit easy for me." Happy explained.
"Ms. Teague, do you have any questions?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Your honor, if you don't object I'd rather wait until all questions are asked so I may properly address anything that might need a better explanation." Danielle told him.
"Very well. Mr. Smith?" Judge Atherton asked.
"Thank you, your honor." Mr. Smith stood. "Happy, I want to just touch on what you said first, you do realize we're not seeking to remove you from the Dineens, only to ensure they are appropriate as your custodians."
"As Uncle Sean said, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck." Happy told him much to the general mirth of everyone present.
"Amusing anecdotes aside, we need to know you understand." Mr. Smith pressed.
"I know why you claim you are doing this. I don't know what your motives are. My Daddy is a very respected, very public official. If you want me to speculate I would surmise that perhaps someone, you or the orphanage knows, is using this to arrange some kind of political situation concerning my Daddy." Happy told him.
"I object, your honor." Mr. Smith stated.
"Why? You opened the door. Perhaps we need to call you and your client to the stand and investigate this child's observation. Because to be quite honest, that is a good observation." Judge Atherton told him.
Mr. Smith turned and spoke quietly with his client for a moment before turning around.
"Your honor, my client feels that with what has been presented here so far, warrants allowing the Dineens to retain custody of the minor as a foster family until a full background is completed so a ruling could be made concerning adoption." Mr. Smith told him.
"So ordered, this case is hereby postponed until such time as a full background check is done. When the case is called back up Ms. Teague your client won't have to be present, but if ruled against them, they will have to surrender custody of the minor within a week of that ruling. We stand adjourned." Judge Atherton said as he gavelled.
Happy ran out and jumped into Ralph's arms and he hugged her tightly while kissing her cheek.
The family and their lawyer moved out of the courtroom and to a side chamber where they spoke quietly.
"That went amazingly better than I thought it would. With the last minute switch of the judge I was worried we were in trouble." Danielle told them.
"I thought they'd call me to the stand." Paige spoke up first.
"I thought they would too, but I guess the judge was satisfied with yours and everyone else's depositions. But this was definitely a win today guys. Congratulations. I'd estimate about a month before they complete the background check, depending on how slow they move. Then a week or so to get it back in front of the judge for a ruling and then, you young lady, will officially be a Dineen." Danielle grinned at Happy.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! I've been taking it really easy the last couple of days. Haven't really written anything. lol
Railman - Thank you! Glad you are still enjoying it! Yep, as you see the orphanage was back in the US. Looks like smooth sailing at this point.
Margaret - She has indeed. And it looks like things are on track for her to join the Dineen family permanently. But who knows what evil lies lurking in the heart of man? hehe
To the Adventure! -Tim