Tailspin Page 13

  Cat shook her head. "I don't know what it is, Billie." She looked directly at Billie with tears and desperation spilling from her eyes. "I can't tell you if I don't know myself."

  The look on Cat's face broke Billie's heart. She pulled Cat into the circle of her arms and held her tight while cooing words of assurance and love.

  Finally, Billie held her at arm's length and spoke to her once more. "Cat, I want to help you. I want to you look at me and our children and see hope, joy and love, not dread, heartache and anxiety. I know life hasn't been easy of late. The kids have been difficult, and I know I have made life difficult at times over the past several months, but I am not willing to give up. I won't allow us to lose what we have. Sweetheart, I am going to call your dad tomorrow and ask for the name of a good doctor. Someone you can open up to. Someone who can help you, and I will be there with you every step of the way. Okay?"

  Cat nodded as new tears coursed down her face.

  "Good," Billie replied. "Now, let's go to bed. We're both tired."

  With great care, Billie removed Cat's clothing and slipped an oversized T-shirt over her head, then tucked her into bed. She extinguished the light and climbed in beside her then gathered her into her arms. Billie hummed softly, the tune of a newly released song that Cat loved to listen to, until she felt her relax in her arms and drift off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 12

  Billie encouraged Cat to stay in bed and rest over the next two days. Cat enjoyed writing, but with precious little time with their busy lives, she rarely had the opportunity to do so. With time on her hands that weekend, Billie encouraged her to write about their lives and about the things that were bothering her. It was her hope that by putting her thoughts on paper, they might gleam some clues to help them through this troubling time.

  On Saturday morning, Jen let herself into the kitchen. Billie stood by the counter, making a cup of coffee.

  "I'll take one of those, big guy. Decaf, if you would," Jen said.

  Billie smiled when she saw her friend. "Good morning, Jen. Wanna grab the creamer from the fridge?" Billie inserted a new pod into the coffee machine and pressed 'go.'

  "Where's Cat this morning?" Jen asked.

  Billie carried the coffee mugs to the table and placed the decaf one in front of Jen. "Still in bed, I'm afraid."

  Jen glanced at the clock on the wall. "At ten o'clock? Seriously? Is she okay?"

  Billie wrapped her hands around her coffee cup. She stared at the dark liquid swirling around inside it.

  "Billie? Is Cat okay?" Jen asked again.

  "Yes…and no. Physically, I think she's okay. I mean, she doesn't appear to be sick, but something else is wrong that I can quite put my finger on. She's depressed or something."

  "Have you talked to her about it?"

  "I've tried, but she doesn't seem to know what's wrong either, so she's having a bit of a problem explaining it to me."

  "Maybe she'll talk to me. I'm not as close to the situation as you are."

  "Maybe." Billie was a bit taken aback by Jen's persistence. "As much as I hate to admit it, you might be more impartial than I would be."

  Jen covered Billie's hand with her own. "Don't worry, love. We'll get her through this."

  Billie struggled to hold tears back. "Thank you, Jen. You're a good friend. I don't know what we'd do without you."

  ***

  At one point during the weekend, Billie called Doc and filled him in on Cat's behavior. She agreed with his advice to schedule a full physical as well as a visit to a counselor. She was able to secure the physical for Cat on the following Wednesday afternoon and a session with the counselor on that Friday. Billie immediately rearranged her own schedule so that she would be able to accompany Cat to the appointments.

  When Billie called Cat at work to inform her of the scheduled visits, Cat was reluctant to go and claimed that her melancholy was bound to be 'just a phase' that would pass with time. Unwavering, Billie insisted.

  Wednesday morning rolled around, and as usual, Cat was reluctant to get out of bed at the sound of the alarm. It took several nudges by Billie, both verbal and physical, to get her moving that morning.

  "Cat, sweetheart, it's getting late. They'll start your first surgery without you if you don't get your butt into gear," Billie warned as Cat sat on the edge of bed, eyes closed, and her head resting on her right shoulder.

  Cat dragged herself out of bed and headed for the shower. "I'm moving...I'm moving," she complained.

  Billie watched Cat move sluggishly across the room. Worry etched her brow. Cat was never an early bird and frequently required a nudge or two to get her moving in the morning, but this was different. This was more than Cat wanting a little extra sleep after the alarm went off. This was a serious reluctance to enter the human race. This was fueled by a strong desire to seclude herself from the world, and for someone as social and outgoing as Cat, Billie had reason to be concerned.

  Billie leaned her backside against the bathroom sink and kept Cat company while she showered.

  "Cat, don't forget that you have a physical scheduled for two o'clock this afternoon."

  Billie could see Cat's silhouette through the shower curtain. Her heart sank as she watched Cat's head fall backward in exasperation.

  "Billie, I really don't want to keep that appointment," she whined.

  "You have to, Cat. Honey, we need to understand why you've been feeling out of sorts lately. Being a doctor, you should understand that."

  Cat groaned.

  "I'll pick you up in front of the hospital at one-thirty. That should give us enough time to reach Dr. O'Brien's office before two," Billie offered.

  "Billie, I think I can make this appointment by myself. I am a grown woman after all."

  "Yes, you are," Billie agreed, "but you are a grown woman who tends to put her needs last, and in this case, that won't do. I'll be there at one-thirty. I don't want to hear an argument about it, okay?"

  Billie waited several moments for Cat to answer, to no avail.

  "Cat?"

  "All right! All right! One-thirty. I heard you," Cat said sharply.

  Billie lowered her face into her hands and sighed just as Cat shut off the water and slid the shower curtain aside. Billie looked up.

  "Cat, I don't want to fight with you. I just want to help. I'm concerned about you, and I'm scared to death of losing you. I will do everything in my power to prevent that. Going to this appointment with you is more for me than for you. Can you understand that?"

  Cat stood there naked, covered with tiny drops of moisture and with streams of water running down her face from her soaking wet hair. She furrowed her brow and looked at Billie. After several moments of silence, she held out her hand. "May I have a towel?"

  Billie grabbed Cat's towel and enveloped her in its white fluffiness and then pulled her into an embrace. Billie breathed in her freshly showered scent. Tears filled her eyes as her heart and mind acknowledged how right it felt to be holding the woman she loved. A shudder of fear and uncertainty shook her body as she released Cat and began to towel dry her skin. Sorrow pulled heavily at her heart while Cat stood there, relatively unresponsive.

  A short time later, Billie stood on the back porch and watched Cat pull her car out of the driveway. Billie continued to wave until the car was out of sight...never once having received a wave in return.

  ***

  Billie sat distractedly at her desk for most of the morning and tried hard to concentrate on the folder before her. She had a court appearance that morning to present Shannon and Julie's case before the judge, and had to make a supreme effort to keep her mind on business rather than on Cat as she prepared for the hearing.

  Billie felt particularly confident about winning this case based on legal merit alone however, if the attorney for the prosecution—or the judge for that matter—decided to turn this into a case about the morality of homosexual adoptions, then she would have her work cut out for her. Luckily for her, she had fought and w
on her own case years earlier for the right to same-sex marriage, and subsequently, her adoption of Tara and Skylar, and Cat's adoption of Seth. She had the law on her side and she planned to use these events as precedents if necessary. What bothered Billie is why this case had progressed as far as it had. With the legal precedence already established, it should have never made it to court.

  She looked at the clock on her desk and uneasiness settled in the pit of her stomach. She closed the folder in front of her and prepared to leave for court.

  ***

  "All rise and come to order. The court of the Honorable Judge Jonathan P. Williams is now in session."

  Billie watched a distinguished looking gentleman in a black robe enter the courtroom from a door adjacent to the bench.

  Shannon and Julie shifted nervously in their seats beside Billie. Billie gave her clients reassuring glances. She looked at the opposing attorney and was met by a smug grin. He knows something I don't.

  "Now hearing the case of Shannon and Julie Crawford Nash vs. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crawford," the bailiff announced.

  "All right, Ms. Charland, Mr. Mercier, I have read the case, and I believe I understand the issues. I will however, interrupt you with questions if necessary. Is that clear?" the judge asked both attorneys.

  "Yes, Your Honor," Billie and the prosecutor responded nearly simultaneously.

  "Ms. Charland, you may begin with your opening statements," the judge instructed.

  "Thank you, Your Honor." Billie collected a few papers from the table and walked in front of the bench.

  "Your Honor, I am at a loss as to why this case had made it to this level. Based on State Statutes, Title 15A, Chapters one through seven, Shannon Nash has the legal right to adopt her partner's seven-year-old daughter, Kaleigh Crawford. Let me explain," Billie continued. "Chapter two, Adoption of Minors, subchapter one, Placement of minors for Adoption, indicates the following. First, the statute requires that a minor be placed for adoption only by a parent having legal and physical custody of the minor. In this case, that parent is Julie Crawford Nash. Second, that parent has the legal right to place a minor for adoption if the other parent's whereabouts are unknown and/or if the other parent has not exercised his or her legal visitation rights for two or more consecutive years. In this case, the other parent is Kaleigh's father, Gary Crawford, who has not been seen for the past seven years. Furthermore, the statute allows the parent with legal custody to place a minor for adoption if the other parent provides written consent, which Julie has done.

  "Our state statutes further indicate that the court may order a termination of rights if the other parent has failed or neglected to provide regular and substantial support for the child for a period of two or more years, or if the other parent has not visited, contacted, nor communicated with the child for a period of two or more years. I would like to point out to the court that because of his disappearance seven years ago, the court has already awarded Julie Crawford Nash a divorce based on desertion, and has awarded her full legal custody of her daughter, Kaleigh. Had it not been for Mr. Crawford's parents, the plaintiffs in this case, objecting to Shannon Nash adopting their granddaughter, it is highly probable that legal termination of Gary Crawford's parental rights, and a legal adoption would have been granted at that time as well."

  Billie paused and walked back to her table where she lifted a glass of water to her lips and drank sparingly. She returned the glass to the table, winked at Shannon and Julie and turned to face the judge once more.

  "If I may continue, Your Honor, Shannon Nash fully realizes the consequences of adopting Kaleigh Crawford. She has made a long-term commitment to Kaleigh's mother through legal marriage just three months ago, and is willing to make that same long-term commitment to Kaleigh. She understands that she will become legally, morally and financially responsible for this child until she reaches the age of eighteen. She fully accepts this responsibility, as she has done since Kaleigh was four months old, the age of the child when her biological father deserted her and her mother. Ms. Nash truly loves this child and already considers herself to be the child's mother. This adoption is merely a legal formality designed to protect the child's future.

  "As you know, Your Honor, this fine state of ours honors the laws of marriage equality. With a marriage certificate, Shannon and Julie Nash are legally entitled to all the rights of heterosexual married couples, including the right to fair and just consideration in adoption proceedings. I should point out that in adoption cases involving prospective heterosexual parents, sexual preferences are never an issue, so it should not be an issue in any cases involving prospective homosexual parents.

  "Mr. and Mrs. Crawford seem to be concerned that Shannon and Julie Nash cannot give their granddaughter a normal family life. Your Honor, gay parents express the very same feelings about what is necessary for a successful family that heterosexual parents do, specifically, love, care and respect. In other words, it is the quality of parenting which matters above all else, even above the gender of the parents.

  "For the past five years, Shannon and Julie Nash, and Kaleigh Crawford have been living happily as a family. It is not in the child's best interest for the court to turn her over to her fraternal grandparents when she has enjoyed a stable, healthy, and happy family life for many years. We encourage the court to consider the facts of this case, to immediately terminate Gary Crawford's parental rights, and to consider Shannon Nash's petition for the adoption of Kaleigh Crawford with legal, swift, and unbiased due process. Thank you, Your Honor," Billie concluded before returning to her table.

  Shannon and Julie greeted Billie with broad smiles as she approached them. Their expressions confirmed a sense of confidence in their lawyer and their case. As Billie sat, the judge called for the prosecution to make their opening statements.

  "Thank you, Your Honor. I will make this brief," John Mercier said as he approached the bench. "Quite simply, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crawford feel that their granddaughter's future would be better served if she were raised in a home with not only a loving mother figure, but a loving father figure as well. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford mean no ill will to Shannon Nash, nor do they mean to damage the reputations of either of these women, but the fact still remains that they are both women and cannot provide the type of balance seen in a normal, healthy family."

  "Mr. Mercier, you do understand that there is legal precedence in this state for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children?" Judge Williams asked.

  "Yes, Your Honor, we do understand that. However, we have ample evidence and testimony to prove that Mr. and Mrs. Crawford will be able to provide the type of well-balanced, healthy home environment children need to be raised in. I beg the court's patience, but I assure you, we will prove our case shortly," the prosecuting attorney replied.

  Billie eyed John Mercier suspiciously as Judge Williams allowed him to continue.

  "In conclusion, Your Honor, we believe that Shannon and Julie Nash have provided young Kaleigh Crawford with an adequate home to date, however, as she progresses through elementary school, and then into high school, it will become increasingly important that her father's presence is felt in her life. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crawford believe they can provide that for her, and we will strive to prove that point in the next hour. Thank you, Your Honor." Mercier once more shot a smug look at Billie and returned to his seat.

  "Billie, they can't do that, can they? I mean, it's sexual discrimination, isn't it?" Shannon whispered hoarsely in Billie's ear. Her tone clearly conveyed her agitated state.

  "Shannon, you need to calm down. We have the law on our side. This is a sure win for us, unless Julie's in-laws have something up their sleeve. If there's anything you haven't told me, now's the time to do it," Billie replied.

  The judge allowed the prosecutor to sit before he picked up his gavel and brought it down on the strike plate. "This promises to be an interesting case. Ms. Charland, you have the floor. Call your first witness," he announced.

  Billie's a
ttention was drawn from Shannon to the case at hand when the judge mentioned her name.

  She rose to her feet, straightened her skirt and placed her fingertips on the table. "Your Honor, I call Shannon Nash to the stand." She continued to look straight at the judge while Shannon took the stand and pledged to tell the truth.

  Billie walked around the table, and approached Shannon. She stopped directly in front of her and made eye contact. "Ms. Nash, how long have you known your wife, Julie?"

  "I've known Julie since we were in grade school. She was my best friend," Shannon replied.

  "How long have you been in love with her?"

  Shannon looked across the room to where Julie was sitting at the defendant's table and smiled. "I have always loved her, but I didn't realize I was in love with her until high school."

  "And did she return that love?"

  Shannon looked at Billie and frowned. She looked at Julie once more before she responded. "No, she didn't. At least not right away."

  "And why is that, Ms. Nash?"

  "For several reasons," Shannon began. "She had been dating Gary for a few months when I told her how I felt. I could see how he treated her, and I was hoping she would see my love for her as a way out of her relationship with him."

  "And just how did he treat her?" Billie prompted.

  Billie watched Shannon's knuckles turn white from gripping the top of the rail. "He beat her," Shannon replied.

  "Beat her?" Billie repeated. "Can you elaborate?"

  "Gary was a jock. He was full of self-importance and more concerned with his self-image than anything else. Julie was his trophy. She was—and still is—a beautiful woman, who was extremely popular with both the boys and girls at school, so of course, he had to have her. He did his best to win her over. He sent her flowers, arranged for her to have a special seat at the school football games, escorted her to the senior prom. By the middle of their senior year, she was committed to him. By the end of the school year, she was pregnant with Kaleigh, and he was trapped. He blamed her for the pregnancy and felt forced into marrying her," Shannon explained.