Story Broken Yet Rising

Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
Chapter 34

The multiple county-wide lockdown stayed in effect until daylight because it ran into the curfew. Trust me the “whaaaa, whaaaa, whaaaa” was not a great way to wake up.

I had a raging headache and Mr. Musgrove found me in the kitchen fighting with the childproof cap on the Excedrin. He took it from me and after looking at it opened the bottle. “A migraine?”

“Getting there,” I muttered about as coherently as I was capable of being at that moment. When I said, “Eggs?”

“Uh … you okay?”

“Eggs. As in do you want some.”

He blinked. “Er … you don’t need …”

“Me, empty stomach, and emotional hangover do not mix well. I have to eat and take these stupid antibiotics so do you want some eggs?”

“Uh … sure.”

“Scrambled, over easy, anyway in particular?”

“Scrambled always works.”

So I fixed eggs, took my medicine like a good girl, and tried not to be the embarrassed grouch I wanted to be.

“You aren’t … freaking out.”

“Takes too much energy.” After a pause I asked, “What do you think I should be freaking out about exactly?”

“You had a man in your house last night.”

I blinked through the zagging pain of the headache and eventually put a few words together. “You were on the sofa. I was behind a locked door. I have security cameras that would have gone off if you’d come too close to the door or if the front door had opened. If you turned out to be a psycho-maniac I also had a gun. And a phone that works. Had you somehow gotten through the door and beyond my gun, I have a bat that thinks it is called Lucille. What did you think this was? Some kind of stupid horror flick from the 80’s?”

He just sat there looking at me for about five seconds then he started laughing. When I grabbed my head in pain, he tried to laugh into his elbow then got up and walked out of the room to gain control of his noise level. I gave him the evil eye when he came back.

“Sorry. Do you really have a bat named Lucille?”

“I have a bat that thinks it is called Lucille. I just call it a big bat wrapped with barbed wire and sharp pointy things drilled through it that has the potential for being lethal. Mitchell made it for me before he left for Basic. He’s the one that tattooed the name Lucille on it.”

He had to get up and walk away again, this time snickering and holding his stomach.

Next time he came back he asked, “How’s your head?”

“It’s been better. How do I help with Mr. Barnes?”

That took the laughter away. “You don’t. Not yet.”

“But …”

“Mina, Uncle James … look, you push him too hard, and he’ll go the opposite direction. Aunt Maggie is trying to get him to have the operation his doctor suggested in hopes that it extends his life. Since this is the third recurrence though, he doesn’t have a lot of time to make that decision.”

“Fine. But what do I say?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?!”

“Don’t even act like you know. Just continue being you. He values that. And I’m beginning to understand why.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you remind me a lot of Aunt Jean … his wife. She could be a firecracker too.”

“I’m not a firecracker. I’m me. And I’m aware that being me isn’t always comfortable for other people. I’m working on my mouth. Just after yesterday I’m not completely interested in watching my mouth the way I was. So … I’m sorry.”

“You’re human. And … being you has helped me with Daniel. The kid is a lot better than he used to be.”

“That’s just getting his diet straight.”

“It’s more than that but it also isn’t something we need to talk about.”

I sighed. “Is this where you think I am recovered enough to handle a lecture? Because if it is I’d be willing to act pitiful again.”

His mouth twitched. “I think at this point a lecture isn’t needed. That said?”

“Watch my p’s, q’s, and what they call my sixes at Sheepdog.”

“Yeah. And I’m also going to sound forward as hell.” I got a little wary. My mouth nearly fell open when he asked, “Would you consider letting me pull my trailer here and renting storage space for it?”

“’Scuse me?”

“It wouldn’t be until after the first of the year. Aunt Maggie is deeding her house over to her son from her first marriage. Taylor is a good guy but there’s history. I’ve got a place I can take Daniel and live … at least for a couple of months … but it is a garage apartment and there’s not room for much.”

“What kind of history?” I asked despite warning myself not to get involved.

“History called Felicia. Her husband was Taylor’s cousin from the other side of the family. It’s actually how they met. That side of the family has always questioned the paternity and … still do.”

“Oh. That kind of history.” I must have been suffering temporary insanity. That’s my only excuse. “Sure. Why not. And after I get more things cleaned out of the barn you can even pull it in there and out of sight. Valuables you can store in the carriage house apartment thingie that is over the garage.”

“Uh … you’re serious?”

“Was yours a serious enquiry?”

“Actually … yes it was.”

“Then just accept. Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield. This way neither one of us has to be either one, nor do we have to have people get in our business and make things harder. If you don’t want to store things in the barn you can maybe stick it all up in the apartment. C’mon.” My head wasn’t pounding quite as bad, but I still wasn’t happy about climbing the stairs. Then I remembered what I had stored in there. “Look, I’m still cleaning and organizing. The space is clean, but I have some … stuff … stored in the space. If we agree, I’ll get everything moved. And I’m not stupid, you’ll need keys and all the rest, like a clicker for the gates. But … um …”

“Well I’m not stupid either. I expect we’ll have to compromise as we go along. We can work that out as soon as we both see if this is something we can do.”

I’m certifiable. But to me it looked like a way to find an ally that was no more interested than I was in the sickly sweet fairytale … or soap opera … some people wanted us to be actors in. We talked and he said it might not be until the beginning of the year and I was hopeful by then of having full custody of the twins.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 35​


October and the pine straw harvest was well underway. I continued to try and act normal at work. I also tried to ignore anyone at church that tried to bring up the Johnsons or Frells. In fact, I tried to ignore everyone including the Johnsons and Frells themselves. The few that wouldn’t stop pushing I explained that I was under order not to discuss anything by the lawyers involved. Technically I’d only been asked to not talk about the particulars of the case, I hadn’t been ordered not to. It gave me an out that I took as often as needed.

Most of the fruit that was growing at the Homeplace was slowing down but the mature chestnut trees were giving 30 lbs. per tree and the weird tree tomatoes[1] had started producing. They are actually called tamarillos, but we never called them that. Mom had two container plants and initially they hadn’t liked the move to the hoop house but as time went on they regrew their leaves. This might be the last year because they don’t live long, usually about six years. I’ll be said, Mitch and I gave her the seedlings, but everything has its lifespan to live and sometimes all you can do is accept that.

The lime trees in the giant pots also gave a good crop. They weren’t key limes but they were the same size, about like a golf ball. I preserved them whole, the ones I didn’t squeeze and can for juice or turn into limeade. The elderberries were still producing but I never let the twins over at that particular pond after I saw what I thought was a moccasin. Shiver. And then there were the kiwis.

I don’t ever remember the kiwis[2] producing anything. They’d flower but never produce. Mom thought is was because she only had one type or another vine. You have to have so many males to so many female vines. All I know is that suddenly there were all these hairy little things growing and I had to figure out what to do with them beside bring them in and eat them fresh.

I didn’t go out much except to go to work and get supplies to can with. Or if I wanted to try a new bread machine recipe. I went to church on Sunday mornings but stopped going to evening services. Not that they were really having any. I kept to myself even more than I had up to that point. It was both a relief and made me feel lonelier than I already was. I did continue to go to farmer’s markets but more the ones outside of town rather than anywhere I might run into any church members or neighbors. I picked up Muscadine grapes, fuyu persimmons, Asian pears, bushels of different kinds of snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, a couple of pumpkins, tomatoes by the five-gallon bucketfuls, watermelons, mushrooms when I could find them, peanuts, squash, sweet corn, garlic, onion, and golden raspberries. I barely got everything processed before it was time to pick up the twins.

I was also lucky that I’m a fast healer and that the doctor said he’d just go ahead and take out the staples after a week. He did put in a dissolving stitch in my earlobe that looked pretty disgusting but I came up with a story in case my hair didn’t hide it enough and Tessa noticed. Apparently I caught my earring on my shirt when I was pulling it over my head and well, I’d let them decide what happened.

I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved when Tessa wasn’t there for me to pick up the Twins. She had a job interview and Doug was at work. Doug’s mother was there instead. Tweaked the lawyer a bit but since they’d let him know that morning, he gave it a pass. He still had his paralegal to mediate the exchange. I hadn’t been notified which was Tessa’s way of putting me in my place for some reason. To let her know I got the message I didn’t pick up the fruit off the ground, but more because the twins had already done it so we could make a quick getaway.

As we drove off I noticed they seemed relieved. “Okay, what’s up?”

Nat shrugged but Knox asked, “Are you sure we can come with you when you turn 18?”

“That’s the plan. Are you hearing otherwise?”

The twins looked at each other then Nat said, “We heard them talking last night.”

“About what?” I asked casually.

“That if Doug has to have counseling that you should have some too. To make sure you are … um emotionally mature enough.”

“They said that did they?” It didn’t take a genius to hear I was upset.

“Don’t be angry. We just heard them talking.”

“Nat, if I’m angry it certainly isn’t at you and Knox. I’m not going to be angry at you for something that isn’t your fault. You were being honest. That makes me proud of you, not angry.”

“Then why do we hide our plans from them?” Knox asked.

I sighed. “I know it sounds hypocritical for me to say I’m proud of you for being honest but ask you to hide our plans from other people. I’m not asking you to be dishonest. I’m … just trying to be careful.”

“Okay, but they can’t stop us can they?”

The twins were having some serious worry and that did make me angry, but not at them. “Nothing they can do right now can stop us. I’ll try and figure out what they plan to do and put the kibosh on it before it happens.”

That was a phrase our Dad had used so they knew what I meant and they grinned and relaxed. I only hoped that I deserved that kind of confidence.

[1] How to Plant and Grow a Tree Tomato
[2] 3 Steps To Preserving Kiwi Fruit
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 36​


Since there was nothing that I could do about it right then, I decided to focus on the adventure we had in front of us. It had been arranged months before so Tessa couldn’t make a stink now that she was in a foul mood at me. The lawyer had expected her to which was probably why she didn’t. Tessa can be her own kind of contrary.

We were first heading to Helen, GA to go to the Oktoberfest. On our way there we stopped at Jaemor Farms[1] where we bought enough fruit and fruit in jars that it would have made Mom and Memaw jealous. I also got a couple of pumpkins – one for the twins to carve – and a couple of gallons of peach cider so I could have peach tea year-round … or as long as the jugs lasted.

I know it sounds kinda crazy to take kids for Oktoberfest, but it was more of a pre-Christmas celebration than it was really about beer. First night we were there we simply walked around the town looking at all the Christmas lights, listening to the funny German music, and just relaxing after a long day in the van. The next morning, however, started with some business.

There were a couple of antique stores in the town, and I had several items I was going to try and sell. I wound up not having to go to either one as a lady saw me getting them out to make sure they hadn’t broken in transit and asked me about them. She crossed her arms and looked at her husband and he laughed. She wanted them … it was an entire set of two dozen Hummel figurines, the really old ones from the 1950s. The woman danced a polka she was so happy, and we went straight to a bank to make the monetary transfer onto a debit card. I decided that Dad had been correct and that really wealthy people have a completely different way of looking at money. Either way I realized that selling all the collectibles needed to be moved to the priority side of the ledger because who knew how long that kind of crazy was going to last with the world going the direction it was.

After that was over – and I praised the twins for being good sports and using great manners – we fooled around a little more at a nearby state park and then returned to town to go to the nightly Oktoberfest dinner and musical show. It was basically for their birthday, so I decided to be as silly as possible. O.M.G. the twins and I learned to polka. In front of everyone. Boy am I glad I had a camera to capture the moments. Nine years old. I wish … never mind. At least I can be confident they are watching from Heaven.

The twins were worn out and I was pretty tired as well by the time we left. I got them washed up and they were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow in the RV campground where we were parked. Then I got a call from Mr. Musgrove.

“Uh … hello?” I answered.

“Hello. And yes, I know you are trying to vacation with your brother and sister and I’m sorry to bother you, especially this time of night. Uncle James just won’t let it go until he knows you arrived at your destination safely. And he insisted that I call.”

“Oh. We’re fine. They’re just asleep a little early. We are polka’d out.”

“You’re … what?”

“Polka’d out. We’re in Helen, GA … and we danced to polka after eating a Triple Platter at the Troll Tavern. In case it isn’t obvious that means we ate bratwurst, knockwurst, and Wiener schnitzel.”

“Do tell,” he said.

“Just did. Now seriously, is that what you really called for?”

He paused briefly then said, “Yes.”

“But?”

“Are you still agreeable to me renting that space from you for my stuff?”

“We can get it in writing.”

He sighed. “No. No … I …”

“Did someone say something that I should be aware of?” I asked getting a little tense.

“No. I haven’t said anything to anyone, and I’d like to … keep it that way for now. I hope you understand.”

I relaxed. “I do and that isn’t a problem. Especially just in case something comes up that changes your plans. Can … can I ask you something?”

“You’ve earned it.”

I don’t think I asked what he was expecting. “Does Mr. Barnes plan on closing the law office?”

“No. He plans on bringing on another partner … before that is necessary.”

“Another partner?”

“Aunt Maggie’s son.”

“Er … the one that it is impractical for you to rent from?”

“Yes.”

“Oh boy.”

He chuckled, suddenly sounding less stressed. “Uncle James is a very talented lawyer and an occasionally blind patriarch.”

“Is this going to be a problem?”

“If it is, it isn’t your problem.”

“It could be.”

“No. It won’t be. Taylor … is a smart man. He won’t rock the boat, at least not in the beginning and I’m sure you’ll prove your worth in short order.”

I snorted. “Which means that you and Daniel might not. Which is what I mean by potential problem. But until it becomes my business, I’ll keep my nose out of it. Just keep me in the loop if there is something I can do.”

“You’d … do that?”

“Yes,” I told him, and I meant it. Dad taught the importance of loyalty and my life had already taught me the consequences of disloyalty, even when it was someone else’s and not mine.

# # # # #

[1] Fresh Produce Farm in Georgia | Jaemor Farms
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 37​


There was no available boondocking anywhere near the Ellijay Apple Festival, our next stop, so I had to pay for a hotel room. It wasn’t cheap but the room we got was huge with three beds in it and it might not have been luxurious, but it was more comfortable as there was an early cold snap. And it was within walking distance from downtown which meant saving fuel and the cost of parking which was pretty doggone outrageous.
Picture11.png
The first couple of days we just went from apple orchard to apple orchard and loaded the van down. The festival rings in the close of apple harvest so the farms were pretty well picked over, but you could still buy plenty in their stores. I had a plan despite us looking crazy. Apples by the bushel in Florida were more than a little expensive. Yes, we were growing some of our own but they weren’t big or pretty like the ones at the apple festival. They weren’t cheap at the festival, but they were cheaper than in Florida. And it wasn’t just fresh apples we bought.

We got apple doughnuts, caramel apples, fried apple pies, deep fried chicken pot pie, every kind of fudge imaginable, all natural apple syrup which meant no red dye, freeze dried apple pieces, apple cider and apple cider mixes (peach and blueberry) that had been canned like soda pop, apple cider and apple juice in big gallon jugs, as well as come other “nectars” and “ciders” bottled up the same way. And not a single thing had red dye in it which thrilled the twins to no end.

We had one last stop that was an extra big surprise. It required a long ride and even the twins figured out something was going on. When I pulled into the boondock all they could do was stare with their mouths hanging open.

“M..M..Mina?”

“What? You guys don’t want to go to Legoland?”[1]

I got about as dogpiled as you can get by ecstatic nine-year-old twin sibs that are Lego crazy. It was the off-season so the park wasn’t open as long as usual the next day but by starting as soon as the park opened and taking advantage of the low crowds, they were able to do everything they wanted, and some things multiple times; even the themed areas like for fall/Halloween and some areas where they were already putting Christmas up.

It was a magical week but eventually it was time to head back. On the way back to Tampa I stopped at some of the best of the farmer’s markets that I’d gotten used to stopping at and we picked up tangerines, myer lemons, satsumas, navel oranges, tangelos, red grapefruits, avocados, carambolas, and guavas. I could barely find room in the van, but I didn’t let that stop me. The twins were a little too wired when I dropped them off. They ran to Tessa and said, “We brought you a surprise!” Then handed her a candied apple.

She played nice with them. I said goodbye, and we followed through with our code words. Rather than let me see they were sad, they ran inside to put their stuff away and show Doug they’d gotten all 100’s on their schoolwork. That’s when Tessa turned on me.

“Did you have to bring them back so wound up?!”

“Whoa. They’ll settle down. They already are.”

“Oh honestly Mina, you never learn. And thanks for bringing sweets into the house. You know I’m trying to lose the baby weight. Try for a little more consideration.”

“You know, I think I liked you better when you were preggers,” I said using a word I knew would irritate her. “Just watch using your witch routine on the twins. You won’t like what happens. I’ll leave the apples I brought you by the gate. You can take them in or not. It’s up to you.”

Doug followed me and I was waiting for him to dump on me. Instead he said quietly, “She’s just upset. She didn’t get the job.”

“There’s a lot of that going around. Besides, I thought she liked her virtual therapy job.”

“It means she’s stuck at home. Mom said she would watch the kids so she could get a better job.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the job she has.”

“No, but my sister …”

I took a breath and then decided just to be honest. “Doug, tell your sister to find her own husband instead of competing for you with the wife you already have. And same for your mother.”

He looked at me and blinked but I saw a light go on. I just hoped it didn’t blow a fuse before it illuminated a few things in his life.

[1] LEGOLAND Florida | Official Website | 3 Parks to Explore
 
W

workhorse

Veteran Member
Kathy in FL said:

Chapter 37​


There was no available boondocking anywhere near the Ellijay Apple Festival, our next stop, so I had to pay for a hotel room. It wasn’t cheap but the room we got was huge with three beds in it and it might not have been luxurious, but it was more comfortable as there was an early cold snap. And it was within walking distance from downtown which meant saving fuel and the cost of parking which was pretty doggone outrageous.
View attachment 467762
The first couple of days we just went from apple orchard to apple orchard and loaded the van down. The festival rings in the close of apple harvest so the farms were pretty well picked over, but you could still buy plenty in their stores. I had a plan despite us looking crazy. Apples by the bushel in Florida were more than a little expensive. Yes, we were growing some of our own but they weren’t big or pretty like the ones at the apple festival. They weren’t cheap at the festival, but they were cheaper than in Florida. And it wasn’t just fresh apples we bought.

We got apple doughnuts, caramel apples, fried apple pies, deep fried chicken pot pie, every kind of fudge imaginable, all natural apple syrup which meant no red dye, freeze dried apple pieces, apple cider and apple cider mixes (peach and blueberry) that had been canned like soda pop, apple cider and apple juice in big gallon jugs, as well as come other “nectars” and “ciders” bottled up the same way. And not a single thing had red dye in it which thrilled the twins to no end.

We had one last stop that was an extra big surprise. It required a long ride and even the twins figured out something was going on. When I pulled into the boondock all they could do was stare with their mouths hanging open.

“M..M..Mina?”

“What? You guys don’t want to go to Legoland?”[1]

I got about as dogpiled as you can get by ecstatic nine-year-old twin sibs that are Lego crazy. It was the off-season so the park wasn’t open as long as usual the next day but by starting as soon as the park opened and taking advantage of the low crowds, they were able to do everything they wanted, and some things multiple times; even the themed areas like for fall/Halloween and some areas where they were already putting Christmas up.

It was a magical week but eventually it was time to head back. On the way back to Tampa I stopped at some of the best of the farmer’s markets that I’d gotten used to stopping at and we picked up tangerines, myer lemons, satsumas, navel oranges, tangelos, red grapefruits, avocados, carambolas, and guavas. I could barely find room in the van, but I didn’t let that stop me. The twins were a little too wired when I dropped them off. They ran to Tessa and said, “We brought you a surprise!” Then handed her a candied apple.

She played nice with them. I said goodbye, and we followed through with our code words. Rather than let me see they were sad, they ran inside to put their stuff away and show Doug they’d gotten all 100’s on their schoolwork. That’s when Tessa turned on me.

“Did you have to bring them back so wound up?!”

“Whoa. They’ll settle down. They already are.”

“Oh honestly Mina, you never learn. And thanks for bringing sweets into the house. You know I’m trying to lose the baby weight. Try for a little more consideration.”

“You know, I think I liked you better when you were preggers,” I said using a word I knew would irritate her. “Just watch using your witch routine on the twins. You won’t like what happens. I’ll leave the apples I brought you by the gate. You can take them in or not. It’s up to you.”

Doug followed me and I was waiting for him to dump on me. Instead he said quietly, “She’s just upset. She didn’t get the job.”

“There’s a lot of that going around. Besides, I thought she liked her virtual therapy job.”

“It means she’s stuck at home. Mom said she would watch the kids so she could get a better job.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the job she has.”

“No, but my sister …”

I took a breath and then decided just to be honest. “Doug, tell your sister to find her own husband instead of competing for you with the wife you already have. And same for your mother.”

He looked at me and blinked but I saw a light go on. I just hoped it didn’t blow a fuse before it illuminated a few things in his life.

[1] LEGOLAND Florida | Official Website | 3 Parks to Explore
Click to expand...
Went by Helen and Jaymore on the way to Gainesville yesterday for my wife’s doctors appointment.
 
Lake Lili

Lake Lili

Veteran Member
I took a breath and then decided just to be honest. “Doug, tell your sister to find her own husband instead of competing for you with the wife you already have. And same for your mother.”

:lkick: Now that is a classic line! Known a few of those... the mother of the groom even showed upin a white dress at the wedding...
Thanks Kathy! Lili
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 38​


November was a rough month for a lot of reasons. First off, the Johnson family doubled down and tried to file three different civil cases against me. Each one I was able to get dropped (with prejudice) but I shouldn’t have had to do it in the first place. I certainly made an enemy of the lawyer that was helping them. I wouldn’t have bothered until I learned he was doing it pro bono which means he was doing it for some other reason. And then I found out what his reasons were.

Yeah, apparently his wife was a Musgrove and his in-laws thought they should have inherited Martin Musgrove’s land and not my grandparents or Dad. Had they had a legitimate beef? Nope. They were 2nd cousins by marriage – a Musgrove/Musgrove marriage – and my grandparents were much closer heirs and had kept in touch with the uncle and looked after him towards the end. Those people hadn’t been able to get anyone to take the case back then and this time only because someone thought there was money to make. That particular line were also people that kept the KKK alive and thought it was wrong that my paternal grandmother was half Cuban and that my mother was a quarter Seminole. I mean could you be more stupid about stuff that doesn’t matter? I did a little pro bono work of my own by giving an assist with some old documents to the lawyer on the other side of a case he was on, and it made Lawyer Buttinsky’s life a little busier with less time to get into my business.

Then the mother, Denise Johnson, got VOP’d and then arrested for delivering liquor to underage drinkers. A couple of kids had gone to a party thrown by her daughters and then smashed their car up on the way home, winding up in the ICU with permanent damage. The parents of the kids were looking for deep pockets and they thought the Johnson’s had them. At least until it was discovered that the Johnson/Frell property was deeply mortgaged and had multiple liens on it as well. The Frell sisters - Denise was their mother - got busted selling drugs at school [from one of their stepfather’s contacts] to try and come up with money to help their mother. The older sister was charged as an adult and the younger sister went to Juvie and family court, and from there she went to relatives in Tennessee. And how do I know this? Because some people thought I wanted to know, I guess.

It happened so quickly because the family had T’d the wrong people off and they were watching for any excuse to arrest them. When I figured out that part (was informed of it via Deputy Duff) it made me concerned that someone thought I was usable, so I stayed, and remain, as off the radar as I can.

The way I laid November out, or after I dropped the twins off in October until I picked them up in November, it seems all a condensed story where bits came one at a time. The truth is more like everything just kept falling on me. I got to handle none of it one thing at a time, it all happened at the same time. And that’s not all that happened.

Another kick in the teeth I found out about was that Tessa and Doug were reconsidering buying us out of the house. They had until after Thanksgiving to decide and were cutting it as close as the judge would allow. I had been counting on that money to start the year off with the twins in a more secure position. And Tessa wouldn’t even discuss it with me. She and Doug both let the lawyer do the talking.

“As soon as your sister makes her decision, I’ll get the paperwork started.”

I asked, “What if that decision is that they do not want the house? Getting a realtor involved will cut into the amount each beneficiary is supposed to receive.”

“Be honest with me Mina, are you having money problems?”

I answered honestly. “No. There’s still plenty in the kitty as my dad would have said. It’s just that the property taxes, insurance, and all the other stuff like that is due between 11/30 and 12/31. When that comes out of the account … I just don’t want the Judge to be able to use the bank account as a way to deny me full custody.”

“About that …”

“Oh no.”

“Actually this isn’t bad news. The judge asked my opinion of whether you would be ready to take your brother and sister before the end of the year.”

“Yes! Um … I mean, what did you tell him?”

“To be honest I have had my reservations. Custody of two young siblings will be enough of a burden, but finding the resources for economic stability is another layer. However, your concern for paying the property taxes and insurance has alleviated my concerns. You’ve met and exceeded every mandate from the Judge’s office and mine. Some of these despite what was set against you. I wanted to see if you looked beyond immediate needs to long-term issues. I was going to recommend a year of some type of supervision, but I believe we can dispense with that. I do know the Judge seems to be anxious to close this case out. He’s retiring and I don’t think he wants to turn it over to anyone new.”

“Retiring? A new judge could basically start the entire process all over again,” I said in real concern.

“Yes, or at least to a certain extent. Are you aware that your sister has enquired about full custody?”

“She what?! No. Not happening. That’s not what we agreed to.” I stopped and tried to moderate my voice, so it didn’t sound like I was whining. “When … when did she make the enquiry?”

“August is my understanding. Thus far they are representing themselves, but they are obviously getting legal advice from someone.”

Hating the thought as soon as it entered my head I asked, “Do … do you think it is so they can get control of the twins’ portion of the estate?”

He nodded. “I think it is possible. I’m not sure if they are aware that the Judge is sharing their legal forms with me or not. I suspect not. That said, I have made enquiries of my own. There was no way, given how much your brother-in-law is paying in student loans, that they were going to be able to come up with the market value to buy the rest of the estate out. And with their debt-to-income ratio - you understand what I mean? - they can’t qualify for a loan.”

I grimaced. “Do you think this has been a … I don’t know what to call it … a play or gambit or something all along? Like they were expecting me to fail, and they would step the rest of the way in and get the twins and use that as a way to stay in the house?”

“There is no way for us to know their intention and I’m not sure it matters.”

“It matters to me.”

He gave a slow nod. “I’m sure it does under the circumstances, but don’t let it control your current and future actions. I don’t get the sense that the judge looks kindly on any of their filings. As you point out it appears mercenary no matter how it is dressed up.”

We covered a few other things during the meeting and let’s just say I had a hard time controlling myself when I went to pick up the twins.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 39​


I was stressed when I arrived to pick up the twins and having Doug’s sister and mother there didn’t help. Seeing the panic hiding in the eyes of the twins was way on the other side of not helping. I made sure they gave Tessa a goodbye hug and then I sent them out to the van.

“Okay, what’s up?” I asked.

“Don’t start anything Mina.”

“I’m not. At least I’m not the one starting anything. I get that you and Doug may have changed your mind about the house.”

Whoops. It appeared that wasn’t something that Doug’s mother and sister knew anything about.

“Mina. When we’ve made our decision, we’ll notify the lawyer.”

“Who has already told me the same thing,” I responded. “But I’m also talking about the song and dance just now about how awful it is the twins are going to miss Thanksgiving with their family. And yes, I got the message.”

Tessa got a sour look on her face. “I am aware of what the custody arrangement is.”

“I know you are. You also know that I’m not against some flexibility. If it was really an issue of the twins being here for Thanksgiving, I could have brought them on that day even if it meant me not being here. No one asked. It never even came up as a possibility. So again, I’m asking what is going on?”

Doug’s sister tried to say something, but Tessa talked over her. “Nothing. It is just a misunderstanding.”

The woman refused to give up and tried again but both Tessa and I chose to ignore her. “Tess, look, I don’t know why things are going sour again but do me a favor. Think. Why did things mess up in the family to start with? Even Dad admitted it was a breakdown in communication. It feels like that is happening all over again.”

“You are too young to understand.”

I just shook my head, refusing to be drawn into a conversation where no one was going to win and nothing constructive got done.

“Whatever it is Tess, you know how to reach me when you want to talk about it. I’m not looking for a repeat of what happened with Dad and Mom.”

“Will you stop bringing that up?” She snapped. “And stop bringing it up with the lawyer and judge.”

“News for you Tess. I’m not the one who brought it up or is bringing it up. I mentioned it once in the beginning to explain the situation when I was asked by the Judge’s office why you weren’t on anything else and what was the state of the family relations. Beyond that I haven’t mentioned it to anyone. Here’s an idea, instead of always assuming the worst of me, why don’t you ask the lawyer how they know and why they are asking. Any filing on the matter will be in the discovery attached to the family court and probate court records. There is no such animal as an anonymous filing. Even correspondence between parties must go through the lawyers or the judge’s office.”

“God, stop acting like you are a lawyer. You got a paralegal degree and just out of a community college at that.”

I wanted to roll my eyes but saw that Doug’s sister was recording the exchange. I turned to her and said, “You do realize what you are doing is illegal, right?”

When Tessa saw what I was talking about I took two steps back. Tessa didn’t normally show an explosive temper, but I had seen her do it a few times.

“That. Is. Enough,” she growled. And I was really glad she wasn’t directing it at me. When she did turn to me it was bad enough. “Just go. There are things going on you wouldn’t understand. I don’t want my children upset any more than they already are.”

I didn’t jump at what she was saying, which I am pretty sure she meant me to. Instead I said, “Then when you are ready to explain why I won’t understand, you have my number. Until then, me not understanding is not my fault. Ball is in your court Tessa. I know you need to blast someone, but I refuse to be a stationary target this time. I’m not Mom. And I’m not Dad … or Mitchell. I’m me. So, either talk … or don’t. But if you make the choice to leave me in the dark, that’s on you, not me. Do you want me to text when I get the twins to Live Oak?”

She sneered, “Not particularly. I’ve had enough of you and need a break.”

So be it.

I walked back to the van, made sure Knox and Nat had everything and were buckled up.

Knox is the one that asked, “Are you mad?”

“Not at you two and I’m sorry if you think so.”

He shook his head. “Hah. Tessa and Doug were mad.”

“At me?”

“I don’t think so. I think Doug’s sister makes Tessa mad. Tessa and Doug have been fighting, or it sounds like they are fighting.”

Nat shook her head. “They aren’t fighting with each other. I think they are mad at other people. They … um …”

“One of these other people me?”

“Uh … kinda. But only because you are doing stuff that makes the other people they are angry at do stuff that makes them more angry. It’s really confusing.”

“Sounds like,” I agreed. “But, try not and listen to adult conversation if you can help it. It will only make you feel bad and not know what to say when you get asked about it.”

Knox said, “I know what to say. They’re stupid.”

Nat looked at Knox and said, “Don’t.”

“Why not? Doug needs to tell the Princess to shove it.”

“Knox!” Nat and I said in concert.

“Just because Doug and Tessa call his sister The Princess and his mom The Queen … that’s bad Knox. What if you accidentally forget to mind your mouth and wind up calling them that to their face?!”

I answered for him. “A huge unnecessary mess with the wrong communication happening to make it worse.” I sighed, though I was hoping they didn’t hear it in my voice.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 40​


“Look, we need to talk about what is going on, but I have some errands to finish before we head out of town. I need to stop by a delivery locker and finish picking up some stuff before it gets sent back. I also need to stop at Bravo and the warehouse clubs. I know it isn’t your favorite thing to do …”

“Do we have to stay in the van?” they asked.

“No. Why would you think that?” I asked confused despite how simple the question was.

“Because if Tessa has to go to the store and has to take us, she leaves us in the car so there isn’t five kids following her around and getting in the way.”

“She … leaves you in the car? What about her kids?” I asked, already not liking the direction my brain was heading.

“They’re too little to stay in the car so she takes them with her. Most of the time she leaves us at the house.”

“Alone?”

“No. Mostly Doug is there but sometimes it is Doug’s sister. She’s weird.”

“Weird in what way?” I asked deciding that the conversation took priority over the other stuff.

“We have to sit still in the family room watching stupid school stuff and she takes pictures of us. That’s the part we don’t like.”

“What kind of pictures?” I asked really starting to get wiggy feelings.

“Just sitting and watching those shows. They’re for babies. And we have to dress up like it is school time and stuff.”

“Okay, that’s stopping now.”

“Don’t say anything to Tessa.”

“Why forever not?! It is happening on her watch! She’s not doing her job!”

“That’s what Doug said that people would say if we complained which would get him and Tessa in trouble.”

“So they know about the pictures and stuff?”

“That’s one of the things they’ve started complaining about. Tessa … um she said she no longer trusts Doug’s sister, and all of this is just one big headache they don’t need. Especially if they don’t get the house.”

“This is not something that I can overlook guys. That weird stuff is just too weird. Like I don’t even know why she would be doing anything like that. Has anyone said whether they are being posted some place?”

They didn’t know anything beyond what they’d told me. I still notified the lawyer. It took a few days but apparently Doug’s sister is going for her Ph.D. in education and was using the pictures for illustrations or something like that in her doctoral thesis. The lawyer informed the university that they needed to check her media permissions. However, I found out that it didn’t get connected back to us but the homeschool groups she’d been visiting. The parents of the other kids she took photos of were irate as none of them had given permission in writing or otherwise no matter what Doug’s sister claimed.

That same night I got a call from Tessa. “You didn’t text like you were supposed to.”

“I asked, you said you didn’t want to hear from me.”

“I said I didn’t particularly want to hear from you, that wasn’t me telling you not to text.”

Oh my gosh. “Fine. I’m not fighting about this. Now, regardless of what comes out of your mouth, I will text.”

“And you can stop complaining about the twins having their pictures taken by Doug’s sister.”

“‘Scuse me? What pictures and why is she doing it?”

There was a prolonged silence before Tessa changed tactics. “Never mind, it sounds like it wasn’t you complaining.”

“Tess … what pictures? Because while I haven’t complained about them up to this point, I may start complaining if you leave me to assume anything.”

“It’s nothing I’m telling you. The twins were at a homeschool event and pictures were taken and some of the parents were upset. Doug’s mother thinks it was you.”

“Why would Doug’s mother say anything like that? I didn’t even know about … look, what kind of pictures? Nothing that can be edited to look … inappropriate, right?”

“Gawd Mina, of course not. Someone is writing a thesis and were using them as illustrations. It is a mole hill being turned into a mountain.”

“Maybe for the other kids but you and Doug have known up front that wasn’t allowed. It was in that paper that we all signed in front of witnesses that the twins wouldn’t show up on social media or anyplace else without all three of us signing a permission slip and only for a very narrowly defined …”

“I said of course not,” she snapped. “You really think I would allow …”

“No. I don’t think you would. I don’t think Doug would either. Doug hates social media platforms. It is about the only thing he and Dad had in common.”

Another prolonged silence and then she said, “The situation is being taken care of.”

She rang off shortly after that and the conversation replayed in my head. Tessa lied. Maybe by omission, which I couldn’t really call her on because I’ve been doing the same thing and I’ve been encouraging the twins to do. Not the best and brightest I’ve ever had, and it looked like there was good reason to avoid it from there on out. All of it was going to have to come out if there was a fight over who was getting custody.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 41​


On one of my November days we went to one of the bigger towns in the area and hit up the big box stores. I go through a lot of eggs when the twins are at the Homeplace, and I was hoping to shave some pennies off the price while I did some other shopping. So much for that. They had the limits out and you could only buy two cartons of eggs. It didn’t matter what size carton, so I got two of the 36 eggs cases which made 72 eggs. But I got them at SAMs, Costco, Walmart, and Aldi all of which had their own limits in place. Some of those I’d be making pickled eggs[1] with and the rest I hoped would last a while because I needed them to feed the twins and for other things like the breads I made. If I could restock sooner than the next month, I planned on putting them on the freeze drier and making my own powdered eggs. The freeze dryer takes about 72 eggs to fill all four trays which was no small thing to do with things the way they were. I would have to be careful of trying to buck the limits because they were starting to cross connect your purchases between vendors so that no one could exceed the limits of “essential products.”

I also picked up the giant tubs of NIDO and shelf stable milk. Between driving and shopping it was a full day affair and we were barely able to get to the Homeplace before dark. And who should meet me at the gate?

“Mr. Musgrove …”

“Derek. And I’ve come to beg a huge favor. Can Daniel and I crash in the Carriage House until after Thanksgiving?”

“Let’s … look, just follow me in. You’re kinda stuck here at least tonight because curfew and …”

I turned to see the three caballeros saying hello to each other. “Have you eaten?”

“Uh …”

“I need to feed the twins.”

“Um … what I mean is I came with a bribe. I got burgers from the Brown Lantern. Enough for everyone.”

So that’s what we did. I made home fries and heated up some green beans to go with the burgers and we ate at the dining room table like civilized people do. The twins - and Daniel - helped me to clear the table and get rid of the trash (we used paper plates) and all I had to do was wash the utensils. Derek looked a little lost so I told all three kidlet’s, “You can drag out the lego’s in the family room but if I step on one of those things because you forget to pick them all up …”

The twins laughed and dragged a willing Daniel away and I turned to the man who seemed a little out of it.

“So …”

He sighed. “Taylor showed up to Aunt Maggie’s a month early to surprise her.”

“Oh, I bet it was a surprise,” I said in the red level snark not too many people around town knew I was capable of.

He gave me a look and then said, “Yeah. And when I say Taylor, I mean his wife and kids as well. They’re teens.” He winced. “Closer to you’re age than Daniel’s. I told Aunt Maggie I would vacate early, that I just needed a little time to finish packing. Taylor’s wife and kids decided it was only right to help me.”

“And Mrs. Padfield thought that was ‘right’ or whatever?” I asked, more than a little concerned.

“She was pretty much shook. I don’t know if she’d thought through the reality of what she put in motion. I was going to stay with Uncle James, but I didn’t want to put him in the middle. He knows where we are … meaning here … but he’s had a bad couple of days and needs to stay stress-free.”

“So let me get this straight, I’m not supposed to have a problem with people I think highly of doing something as mean as this?!”

“Shhh. Daniel hasn’t figured out what is going on and I want to keep it that way. He’s got enough self-esteem problems from the way Felicia has just abandoned him.”

“Fine, but nine will get you ten he’s already figured it out and is just holding on to the fact that you won’t abandon him.”

He admitted, “Possibly. God bless, this is a mess. And I’m dragging you into it and … this is just a God blessed mess. My friend won’t be ready for me until after Christmas though he’s already said for definite we can move there. In return I’m helping him and his parents set up their estates, including a medical trust for his sister who is intellectually challenged – it keeps her from having to go to a group living situation which they’ve tried already but didn’t work – and it also keeps another brother from getting his hands on anything because he has a gambling problem he refuses to get help for. And sorry for the TMI though you’ll probably see the paperwork in the office anyway. Gawd this is a mess.”

“Pretty much,” I told him. “But if you promise to keep it quiet until after I get full custody of the twins, I might be able to help you with some of the mess.”

“I feel … like I did right after I lost my eye. Like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. And my gawd I’m using a seventeen-year-old girl as a safety line.”

I snorted. “Don’t go masochistic on me Mr. Esquire. You are a tough as nails attorney and …”

“Uncle James helped me with that.”

“And you’ve more than paid him back and don’t tell me otherwise because I’ve seen the books. Mr. Barnes may still handle the big cases, but you helped him to clear a backlog of serious proportions that was two years in the making.”

“That was right around his second round of cancer.”

“And where was Taylor Padfield during this time?”

He opened his mouth then slowly closed it. After a moment he answered, “He and his wife were going through a rough patch. Things are better now. And it isn’t Taylor Padfield, it’s Taylor Barnes. Uncle James and Aunt Maggie married siblings that were also shirt tail cousins to them.”

I shrugged and filed the info for future use. “Well as long as no one is their own grandpa. So … how am I supposed to … or … oh heck.”

“Mina, Taylor is a good guy and a good lawyer. We’ll be able to work together, it’s the family stuff that might get a little sticky.”

“So does he expect to take over the senior partner position?”

“Probably, but that is up to Uncle James.”

“I’m not saying it isn’t, but it still sounds like a mess in the making.”

“Actually Taylor is going to get a surprise next week that Uncle James just told me about today, and to keep it quiet. His cousin’s son is also going to be brought into the firm. He’ll keep his offices in Jacksonville and Tallahassee but put in an appearance with Uncle James’ office, like a satellite office set up.”

“Do you … uh … know this cousin or whatever he is to you?”

“I’ve met him a few times over the years at family reunions. He’s been in practice almost twenty years which would make him the senior partner after Uncle James. I’m not sure how often he’d be working out of the office here. I don’t know why Uncle James is doing things this way. I could guess but Uncle James has his own way of making decisions.”

It was a lot to think about. What I didn’t have to think about was Daniel being okay staying with the twins. And I rarely saw Mr. Musgrove … er, Derek … unless the caballeros were there or very close by. It was break time for Daniel’s school and the law office was slow so I didn’t go in those three days. And I found ways to keep everyone busy so no one would ask questions. An older lady at church asked if I could come clean up her persimmon trees and for that bit of work I got fuyu persimmons to make a mess with.

Thanksgiving was about the same as Christmas last year. Rather than have a big Thanksgiving dinner on our own, we volunteered to help as the church served a community dinner to those that might not otherwise get a thanksgiving dinner. Some families and adult singles with no real family came as well and brought side dishes or something for the “stone soup” that everyone was givien as their leftovers.

Derek Musgrove was as good as his word. His friend made it so he and Daniel could move in a month early. Junior (home on school break) and I provided some physical labor … and wasn’t Junior surprised that I could teach him about fixing windows, doors, and stuff like that … and then the twins, Daniel, and I did a little interior decorating and I also donated a few odds and ends that helped them to have pots and pans to cook with and dishes and stuff to eat off of without having to untape and search through all of Derek’s stuff that had been in storage for so long.

I took the twins back to Tessa and Doug, but it was even harder than it had been in the past.

[1] Make Flavorful (and Super Pretty!) Pickled Eggs at Home with These 4 Easy Recipes
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 42​


I turned eighteen the first of December and immediately asked the lawyer overseeing the custody to apply for full custody on my behalf. I didn’t mention a thing to Tessa and Doug on the subject. If they could keep their own counsel then so could I. I needn’t have bothered. It wasn’t just that they’d seemed to forget my birthday, which was no big deal to be honest, it was how things started moving incredibly fast behind the scenes.

I was nervous about picking the twins up for Christmas. I refused to let anyone see me sweat, however. When I got there Tessa was out, Doug preoccupied, and his Dad was basically there as mediator and witness for just in case. I just played it like it was a normal pick up except for the fact I had the twins take all their remaining stuff since they’d be gone for the two weeks back-to-back.

And this is the point where my anger started making me feel all jacked up and why I’m writing this all out of my system.

What I didn’t know at that time was that Tessa and Doug had their own things going on … and apparently, they hadn’t let Doug’s family in on it. Had I known at the time I would have been both less worried and more. Since I had assumed that nothing would happen during the holidays when the court normally shuts down, I planned those two weeks similar to what had been like last year. But the day we came back from running to Jacksonville for some of the holiday activities to be had there, I got a call from Derek Musgrove that there was a FedEx delivery for me at the law office. Whooooboy was I nervous. I even waited until we got back to the Homeplace and I had some privacy to open it in case it was something bad.

It wasn’t. In fact, just the opposite. The judge had signed off on the custody arrangement and had transferred the twins’ custody to me 100% starting immediately. I didn’t tell the twins until I heard it from the custody lawyer’s mouth during a phone call first thing the next morning.

He said, “I’m as surprised as you. As I understand it, this was one of his last acts before leaving office. He isn’t hearing anything else and is reportedly coming in the first week of January to clear the last stuff from his desk.”

“Has my … um … sister been notified?”

“That’s my understanding. Have you heard from her?”

Bottomline is nope. At least not directly. I got a few calls from people at the old church asking me what I was thinking and letting me know that everyone had assumed that Tessa and Doug were the ones that were going to get full custody.

I haven’t wanted to turn everything sour with Tessa, but there’s just not a whole lot to work with no matter how I have been trying to look at it. As mad as I was when I first started writing this drama llama out, and make no mistake part of me is still angry, I hope that I’m mature enough to get a grip on my temper to set an example for The Twins if nothing else, and maybe to leave a door open for my arrogant (and other adjectives I refuse to record) sister to stick her hand through on occasion. Gah.

I’m all but finished with the custody lawyer when I get a call from the estate lawyer informing me that Tessa and Doug have decided to not take the house. I won’t record the conversation for posterity, but I immediately called Tessa for confirmation. Tessa coldly told me that they just want their cut of the sale so they and their kids can, and I quote, start over, and not have to have any memories of our parents or anything else “unpleasant.” Ouch.

During that conversation I also found out that Tessa and Doug are leaving the area. Doug has been offered a job with higher pay and I suspect they are moving away from his parents at the suggestion of his counselor, but I won’t bring that up. I mean hurray for them and all that. If they couldn’t stand up to them at least they were getting out of what was obviously a toxic situation. It even gave me hope that my nephew and nieces could escape some of what I had been forced to live with life throwing at me. I can admit that. I would have even helped them. It was the rest of it that … just let me finish explaining things.

What really fried me, besides how cold Tessa was being, is that she more than just insinuated that they were still deciding whether to appeal the judge’s decision on the custody arrangement. They claim to have enough evidence that I’m unfit. I am not spending the rest of the twins’ minority worried about something like that happening.

# # # # #
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________

Chapter 43​


It’s been a few days and I think I’ve finally written the anger out and gotten some balance by reexamining everything from start to finish. My conclusion? Tessa has a lot of unresolved issues and unhealthy personality “quirks”, but I’m done letting her choices stop the Twins and I from living our lives. I am more than done with Doug’s sister - who has been outed as the main culprit with a lot of legal maneuverings that I had to deal with. She’s backed herself into a corner from what I hear and has been named one of the primary reasons that Tessa and Doug are moving out of the area. Which, like I said, might not be that bad all things considered. But I’m putting a period - a sharp and pointy one - on any more shenanigans. People are looking at the way things went down and some of them actually seem to regret being part of what happened. There’s been some changes in leadership at the old church, including the lead pastor’s sudden retirement, and from my understanding some of it started when the custody lawyer involved leadership from the convention. I do know that Doug’s father is taking “a season” off from being a deacon and that Doug’s mother is stepping back from the children’s programs ostensibly to give other people a chance to volunteer. That came straight from the custody lawyer who I called when Tessa made her threat.

Doug’s sister also made a fool of herself - and Tessa and several others - by fabricating much of the “proof” that Tessa thought she had. It was a good fabrication, even the lawyer said so, but that is also what led to criminal charges being filed against her. Apparently, she manufactured some documents on state and county letterhead and used names of actual people. I mean how stupid or desperate do you have to be? And didn’t that shake some people up. I get no satisfaction out of it. Really, I don’t, even though the temptation is there. But she made her choices. I’ve done my best to keep the twins and I out of it.

I don’t want to know and wouldn’t if people would stop trying to drag me back into everything. Not even refusing to answer their calls helps when they leave messages or texts. For some reason the phone company says that since those numbers were in my contact list for so long, the AI programing used doesn’t want to respond when I put them on ignore or block. Or they’ll try and reach me from a number not in my contact list and I must start the entire process of blocking them over. It is frustrating as h-e-double hockey sticks. I’ve got to stop feeding into it. I have the Twins. I don’t want to do anything that makes it seem like they are a toy or prize in some battle. I need to model a healthier example for them. And if I am honest, for my own sake as well. Maybe those self-help books have been of some use after all.

I learned a few things going over it all again and being as honest and as factual as I can. I didn’t always handle things in a way that would have made it easier. I had my reasons, but I still need to be honest about the consequences. And looking further back I’ve come to understand some of the things that Mitch tried to explain to me. And it makes me understand why he tried to leave the door open for future reconciliation. I can say in all honesty that right now there is no room for reconciliation in me unless Tessa and Doug do some self-reflection of their own, and own up to some of the things they did that were destructive. I’m not sure either one of them can do that and I just have to accept it.

I’m still angry but I’m trying to let it go and move on. After the threat that Tessa made, I haven’t heard from her or Doug. Maybe they just embarrassed themselves too much or something. None of Doug’s family has reached out to me either. Not that I want them to. I’m being careful. Very careful. But I’m cheesed off again. Tessa changed her phone number. I didn’t know until I arranged for the Twins to call her and their kids to say Merry Christmas. I figured I was a target, I didn’t think that she’d do what she did to the Twins.

The next day I called the custody lawyer again and asked point blank if he thought Tessa had a case.

“No.”

“You sound … certain.”

“I’m not saying they may not try again at some point but I’m going to send you a file with some documentation that I want you to keep.”

“That … doesn’t sound good.”

He was silent for a moment before saying, “A lawyer claiming to represent them called my office day before yesterday. I won’t go into everything, but it appears that he was retained by your sister’s in-laws. The sister was the instigator and provided several depositions making claims.”

“Claims.”

“Yes. All fraudulent and lacking any basis in fact.”

“Seriously?!”

“Very serious. And I want you to take my words very seriously. Do not, under any circumstances, communicate or allow your siblings to communicate with that family. Based on what was confirmed this morning, both your sister, her husband, and your sister’s in laws … along with multiple other people … were taken in by your brother in law’s sister. However it occurred, it has been revealed that the woman was admitted to a residential setting overnight after she attempted to OD on some medication she’d been prescribed for an undisclosed diagnosis.”

“You’ve got to be …”

He didn’t let me finish. “And while that might, under normal circumstances, suggest that the other people involved deserve some sympathy, I’ve found that your sister has been asking around, trying to discover the value of your parents’, uncles’, and brother’s estates. I’m not sure how much they’ve been able to find out but a report with a lot of information they had no business having was found in their possession. They claim that it came from the other sister … your sister’s sister-in-law … but there’s no way to confirm that at this time and I’m not even going to bother.”

Horrified and angry at the same time I asked, “They’re after money? Doug is supposed to be making big bucks at his new job.”

“He also has big bills in the form of his student loans. He qualified for some student loan forgiveness, but not enough to make much of a difference. And there are also several medical bills they are struggling to pay. I’m not sure whether they are as avaricious as it makes them look, but until you find out whether they want to continue the relationship or not, you should be cautious.”

Trying not to cry I said, “Fine. I get that part. But what makes you so sure that they can’t get custody?”

“Because of their financial situation and the fact they are moving out of state. Plus, they already have three children of their own. And … both the Judge and I have added an addendum to the family law case giving you full custody … similar to a friend of the court brief … that any future lawyer or judge will take into account when deciding whether to allow a new case to proceed.”

Bottom line? Doug’s sister is well and truly in trouble. There’s the criminal case and as well as the mental health issues. I’m not saying she’s lying about being crazy, the suicide attempt was real enough they are monitoring her kidneys which are struggling after the amount of whatever she took, but all of it together has lost her a lot of the sympathy that she was being given at first; even inside her own family. People appear to still have compassion, but nothing else. Looks like Tessa and Doug decided to simply walk away rather than deal with the situation that they were at least in part responsible for. Just like with the gossip and all the rest that happened with Dad and Mom. I’m not going to say that I don’t ever have to worry again but … yeah … it isn’t likely so long as I keep my nose clean and don’t wind up in family court in some other way.

I don’t blame the lawyer, but it did chaff a bit that after a year he would still think me willing to act a certain way. The behavior? The lawyer warned me of some act of revenge. He encouraged me to be the better person. I can hear Mitch in my head saying the same thing. But man was I angry when I had to hold my little sibs as their hearts broke. Despite what had been building they still imagined some “long distance relationship” or similar. It wasn’t just Tessa and Doug they lost … we lost … but three little nephew and nieces that if things remain as they are, we’ll never know. Our family shrunk yet again. And it hurt.

We need to grieve. Again, those stupid self-help books make some good points. At the same time, I’m almost too angry right now to do it. And maybe that is part of the grieving. I’m not ready to commit one way or the other. All I do know right now is that it is New Year’s Eve and I have a resolution. I need to do better and be better … and be mentally healthier … not just for the twins’ sake but for my own as well.
 
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