Daisy Lane (24 page)

“You could adopt her yourself, Maggie,” Claire said. “You and Scott don’t have to rush into marriage just for Grace.”

“Bite your tongue, Claire,” Bonnie said. “Don’t talk like that when we’re this close.”

“But doesn’t she need a father?” Maggie said. “I’ll admit my dad was nowhere near the roll models Uncle Curtis and Uncle Ian were, but I always knew I had a dad to go to if I needed him.”

“He never was one bit of help,” Bonnie said. “They were his children when they did right and mine the rest of the time.”

“I think a child needs two parents,” Denise said. “Whether that’s two moms, two dads, or a mom and a dad. It helps split the work, like a tag team.”

“I don’t think children necessarily need a father,” Elvis’s mother said. “As long as there are healthy male role models in her life, she will probably be just fine.”

“But isn’t it exhausting to do it all yourself?” Denise asked her.

“Yes,” Elvis’s mom said. “Yes, it is. But it’s also exhausting to live with someone who is no help, or whom you don’t get along with.”

“Amen to that, sister,” Hannah said. “Sam’s a good dad, don’t get me wrong, but he doesn’t do anywhere near what I do for Sammy. He just doesn’t. He was raised that the moms took care of the children while the dads mowed the lawn and watched football.”

“Or drank themselves silly every evening,” Bonnie said.

“Your father never changed a diaper,” Delia said to Claire. “Plus he worked all hours of the day and night. It was sometimes very lonely even with a husband.”

“There’s no perfect recipe for successfully raising a child,” Delphie said. “We all just do the best we can and hope for the best.”

“Scott will be heartbroken if this doesn’t work out,” Maggie said. “And he’s still grieving his mother’s death so hard.”

“Scott can be in her life even if he’s not her father,” Claire said. “So can you.”

“But this is an opportunity for him to be a father,” Maggie said.

“Scott can’t father children,” Delphie said to someone.

“Is this common knowledge?” Maggie asked.

Delphie said, “You know there are no secrets in this town.”

“Oh,” Elvis’s mother said. “I didn’t know that.”

“The bottom line is Scott wants to do it,” Maggie said. “And it’s not that I don’t want to do it. I’m just scared I’ll screw it up.”

“You’ll be fine,” Delia said to her. “We’ll all help you.”

“Just what Maggie loves,” Hannah said. “A whole town telling her what to do.”

Grace’s mind was reeling; Scott and Maggie wanted to adopt her? Now there was even more information swirling around in her head. She felt tears start to well up and her throat closed a little. Why couldn’t everyone just slow down?

Grace finally slept, and woke up only when she heard Kay calling her name from the doorway.

“Grace,” she said. “Maggie’s brother Sean is here. He needs to talk to you.”

Grace dragged herself out of bed and down the hall.

“I’m going to run down to city hall for a bit,” Kay said. “If you’ll call me when you’re through, Sean, I’d appreciate it. Grace, be thinking about what you’d like to eat; I need to go to the grocery store and I’ll get anything you want.”

Sean Fitzpatrick was tall, with the same dark hair and bright blue eyes as his brother, Patrick, and cousin, Claire. Grace thought he might be the handsomest person she’d ever seen. She was instantly embarrassed about her shabby clothes and messy hair. After the funeral, she had carefully hung up her new clothes and changed back into her regular clothes. Her hair, which Claire had so carefully braided and pinned, had come undone as she slept.

Sean stuck out his hand and shook Grace’s, but compared to the other lawyer she had met today his grip was firm but gentle. Her hand didn’t feel crushed afterward.

He sat down across from her in the kitchen nook, and took a sip of the coffee Kay must have prepared for him. She’d left a glass of cold milk on the table for Grace along with a plate piled high with leftovers from the funeral reception. Grace sipped the milk but didn’t feel like eating.

‘That’s a first,’ she thought. ‘All this food and I don’t want any of it.’

“I’ve received a lot of background information on your situation from Scott and Kay,” Sean said as he smoothed out the top blank page of a legal pad and raised his pen. “Why don’t you tell me what you would like to have happen?”

Grace’s mind went blank. What did she want to have happen? Honestly? She wanted to disappear, go somewhere she could be left alone to think.

“I know a lot has happened,” Sean said. “You’re probably feeling overwhelmed right now. We wanted to get this scheduled quickly so you wouldn’t have to go into the larger foster care system, but that puts a lot of pressure on you to decide where you want to be.”

“I don’t know,” Grace said. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Do you want to pursue a paternity claim against Mr. Clark?”

“No,” Grace said. “I know for sure I don’t want to do that.”

“I looked over the paperwork they sent and I’m not happy with it,” he said. “We’ll do our own paperwork and have Mr. Clark sign it.”

“Okay,” Grace said.

“Doc and Doris Machalvie have expressed a desire for you to live with them,” Sean said. “Maggie and Scott would love to have you with them as well. It sounds like a lot of great people care about you, Grace. Either of those placements would be good ones.”

He hadn’t mentioned Kay, Grace noticed. She thought that must mean Kay did not want her. Grace was so disappointed by this. She loved this little house and Kay made her feel so safe.

“Does Kay not want me?” she finally asked, fearing the answer.

To her mortification she felt tears fill her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, I should have said that first,” Sean said, reaching out and putting his hand over hers. “I thought that went without saying. Of course she wants you. She’s crazy about you.”

Grace couldn’t stop the tears from falling. They had started from sadness but now fell from relief.

At the courthouse Maggie’s brother Sean sat next to Grace at the long table in the conference room; behind them Scott, Maggie, Kay, Doc and Doris Machalvie sat on hard chairs along the wall. Other than them there was no one in the room. The clock on the wall showed 9:00 a.m.

Grace realized she was jiggling her leg up and down and stopped it by crossing her legs. A few moments later she realized she was jiggling her foot the same way. The braids Claire had woven in her hair were pretty, but one particular hair at the nape of her neck was pulled so tight it hurt. She was afraid to reach up and pull on it for fear the whole hairdo would fall apart. She clasped and unclasped her hands in her lap; her palms were sweaty so she wiped them on the sides of her skirt. The tag in the back of her new shirt was scratchy; her new panties were riding up. She felt like a mess.

“Relax,” Sean whispered in her ear. “Judge Feinman is on our side.”

Grace nodded, wondering what that meant. Did that mean he would let her decide where she would live or that he would choose what he thought was best for her? She really wanted to live with Kay, whom she felt truly understood her and what she needed (and didn’t need); but being a single person, and older, Grace worried it might be a strike against her.

Doc and Doris would be good to her, albeit in a smothering but well-meaning way. Maggie and Scott were nice, and they would probably be good parents, but the situation between them didn’t seem that stable to Grace. Besides, Grace wanted to be more to someone than a good deed they were doing just because she was so pitiful.

The door opened and Judge Feinman came in with the woman who had earlier brought them in the room. The judge didn’t have on a long flowing robe; just a business suit. He looked irritated, but when he greeted Grace and shook her hand he winked.

“Good morning, everyone,” Judge Feinman said.

He sat down across from Grace and the woman sat next to him. He then put on his reading glasses and opened a folder that the woman placed before him. After a brief silence, during which he scanned the documents before him, he addressed those assembled.

“We are here today to decide on the fate of Miss Grace Branduff, who is fifteen years of age and without a legal guardian.”

He looked up at Grace over the glasses, perched far down on his prominent nose, and said, “You have my deepest sympathies on the death of your grandfather, Grace.”

His voice was warm and his eyes were sincere in their empathy. Grace felt her eyes fill with tears and looked down, blinking hard to drive them back.

“Your aunt, Lucille Branduff, has also recently passed away. It seems Mr. Clark has no interest in pursuing any paternal rights and neither are you interested in establishing paternity. Meanwhile there are five good people here who know how lucky they would be to have the privilege of raising you.”

Judge Feinman scanned the faces of the adults, one by one, nodding as he did so.

“Not a dud in the bunch,” he pronounced. “Does anyone here have anything they would like to say before I make my decision?”

Kay jumped right in with, “I have plenty of room in my house and would love to have her. I had put my name forth as a candidate for mayor but I would be willing to withdraw from the race if necessary.”

Grace was startled to hear this declaration. She turned and looked at Kay but Kay just winked at her and smiled.

“Thank you,” Judge Feinman said. “So at Kay’s house Grace would have space aplenty and, if necessary, Kay’s undivided attention. I would hate to see you withdraw from the race, though, Kay. A change of city administration might be the best thing for Rose Hill. Anyone else?”

Doris Machalvie cleared her throat, and said, “Sean and I would love to have Grace live with us. We would see to it she has everything she needs to grow into a healthy, happy, productive member of the community.”

“Well said,” Judge Feinman said. “You have anything to add, Doc?”

“I would be proud to call her my own,” Doc said, which brought tears to Grace’s eyes.

“I bring this up only because I have to,” Judge Feinman said. “You and Doris are not spring chickens, and Grace will need many years of parenting. This is a concern for me.”

Doris fretted but Doc nodded in agreement.

“And what about you, Miss Fitzpatrick?” the Judge said. “I’m not going to vote against you because you can’t seem to tie the knot with the Chief, here, but I am a little concerned about how many irons you have in the fire, so to speak. You have the bookstore, plus you are often called upon to work in the Fitzpatrick family’s other businesses. I understand you are currently enrolled in Eldridge College as a part-time student and also serve on several church and community committees. All commendable activities, but I don’t see how you have time to sleep let alone raise a teenager.”

“Scott and I have talked it over,” Maggie said, and Grace was surprised to hear her voice tremble a bit. “I’m going to make it plain to my family that Grace is my first priority, and that I need to refrain from working in the evenings so I can be available to her. If I need to, I’ll stop taking classes; I want Grace to have as much of my time as she needs.”

This was the first Grace had heard of all these sacrifices people were willing to make on her behalf. She had been so focused on her own problems that she hadn’t considered what other people would have to give up in order to take care of her. Kay was willing to give up her dream of being mayor and Maggie was willing to give up going to college. She didn’t want anyone to lose anything because of her.

“Chief Gordon?” the Judge said. “Do you have anything to add?”

“This is kind of personal,” Scott said, “but I’m among friends here so I’ll share it. I’m not able to father children; biologically, that is. So this is an opportunity for me to be a father. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be there for, as a father, more than Grace. She’s a great kid, and she’s going to be an amazing woman. Maggie and I are committed to seeing her through.”

Grace couldn’t stop the tears that fell. Sean gave her his handkerchief and Judge Feinman looked at her with compassion.

“This is quite a testament to the belief these people have in you, young lady,” he said. “Now I’d like for all of you to excuse Grace and me; we need to take a walk and have a talk.”

Grace looked at Sean and he nodded. She didn’t look at anyone as she left the room with the judge. She was so overcome with emotion she thought she might break down if she did. Judge Feinman took Grace to his office down the hall, in a room that overlooked Pendleton City Park through large arched windows that were ten feet high. The sky was cloudy but a few rays of light shone on the worn, oak floor and the massive wooden desk behind which he sat. Grace sat down across from him, looking around at all the books, files, and mementos that were strewn about.

“Please excuse the mess,” he said. “Every night my secretary straightens it all out and every day I undo all her hard work.”

Grace smiled.

“You’re at a crossroads, Miss Grace,” he said. “This is one of those momentous decisions that will set you on a course for the rest of your life. I’m sorry I can’t give you more time to decide, but I want to avoid making you a ward of the state if there is an alternative. If you decide today we can put the machinery in motion and you’ll only have to move once. The sooner your life achieves some sense of normalcy the better.”

“I understand,” she said.

“You need to be completely honest with me,” he said. “You can’t worry about people’s feelings being hurt or how they’ll react if they’re not chosen. There are five great people in there and you would do well with any one of them. The question is where do you think you would do best? Who do you think would give you what you need?”

“Kay,” Grace said, without hesitation. “Doc and Doris are so nice, but I would probably wear them out. I think Maggie and Scott need to be married awhile first before they take on a kid. Kay and I get along so well, and I already feel at home in her house. I don’t want her to give anything up, though.”

“I agree,” Judge Feinman said. “I think you’ve chosen well. I’ve known Kay Templeton for many years. She has a big heart, but also a backbone made of steel. She’ll give you good guidance and a place to call home. I’m glad to see it work out, for the both of you. Since she’s already a foster parent that will make the process much easier as well; less paperwork.”

Grace smiled and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She felt a sense of relief she hadn’t expected to feel. There was a lightness inside; a sense of looking forward to something good happening. This, she realized, must be what happiness felt like when it was related to people, not books.

There was a knock on the door and the judge’s secretary came in with a note. Judge read it and frowned.

“Stay here,” he said to Grace. “There’s something I have to attend to and then we’ll give Kay the good news.”

Grace relaxed back in her chair and let herself imagine a future with Kay as her mother. Kay would have no problem giving her the boundaries and privacy that she needed, and she’d do her best not to make Kay worry. Would she be Grace Templeton after she was adopted? Grace Templeton. That didn’t sound bad at all.

The door opened and Judge Feinman came back in with Mamie Rodefeffer. Grace was surprised to see her. Judge gestured for Mamie to have a seat next to Grace. Mamie, who was out of breath, dropped heavily into the seat and then wiped her nose with a lace handkerchief. She wasn’t carrying her tote bags again today, and was even more dressed up than she had been when she came to her house before her grandfather died. She wore a moth-eaten velvet jacket over a wrinkled wool dress, and there was a cameo pinned at her throat.

“I’m going to let Miss Rodefeffer tell you what she just told me,” Judge Feinman said. “I’m going to need further proof of her claim, but we have to follow up on this before I can make a ruling.”

Grace was bewildered. What could Mamie Rodefeffer possibly say that had anything to do with who adopted her? It must be something about the house, Grace decided, while Mamie caught her breath. She must be trying to claim it still belonged to her family.

“I apologize,” Mamie said, still a little breathless, “for waiting so long to come forward. I have kept this secret for 70 years. You probably can’t even imagine that number of years, young lady, or what all has happened in that time.”

Mamie smiled at Grace, but her eyes seemed to be calculating the effect of her words. Grace nodded, and the judge sat back with his hand to his chin, and a troubled brow. Mamie continued.

“You may not believe it to look at me now, but when I was a young woman I was considered quite a catch. It wasn’t because I was pretty; I was rich, which is better, don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. I was 22 years old; considered an old maid at that time. My father and I could never agree on a suitor, and being stubborn, I just refused to marry anyone, period. Why should I? Just one more man telling me what to do and when to do it, as if I didn’t have the brains God gave a goose.”

Mamie had worked herself up, and took a moment to calm herself, smoothing her wrinkled dress, and touching her nose with her handkerchief before she continued.

“My father employed many foreigners who were very talented. One young man in particular made the most intricate, delicate glass animals you could ever imagine. His work is in museums all over the country. In my collection I have many of his pieces which are one of a kind. He was an artist, a genius, and a very handsome young man.

“I worked in the payroll office at that time because my father believed that only family members could ensure he wasn’t robbed blind. I took my lunches out back on the dock overlooking the railroad tracks, where the shipments of sand would come in and shipments of glass would go out. This young man went out there to smoke, and we got acquainted.

“I’ll gloss over the more scandalous details of our relationship in deference to your age. It’s impossible for you to imagine, I’m sure, that this bag of bones before you could have once been young like yourself, and in love with a handsome man who loved her, too. He was the love of my life. I never had another.

“I hid the fact that I was in the family way as long as I could, way past the point where a discreet medical intervention could be made. We had those then, too; I know you’re surprised. But we were good Catholics. They sent me away to a woman’s home in Pennsylvania where unwanted situations are handled discreetly in exchange for large sums of money. After I delivered the child, I was sent to Europe for a year abroad.

“Romantic fool that I was, I expected him to rescue me and the child. I received a letter instead. I won’t share that with you; some things are too painful to be borne more than once. Men, as you will no doubt find out for yourself, love anywhere it is convenient to do so. They are driven by passion; they have no loyalty.”

“Miss Rodefeffer,” Judge Feinman said.

“The sooner she learns it the better,” Mamie said.

“Please, let’s just stick to the facts,” the judge said.

“A couple who worked for Daddy agreed to raise the child in exchange for the house and a monthly stipend. I had no idea this child was living in the same town as I; I assumed the boy would be adopted out far away. In fact, he was brought up in the same house I was. In the same house you were.”