Until the Stars Fall From the Sky (19 page)

“Remember that I told you that I had some other scholarship applications out?” I ask
. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kiera nod, so I continue. “William told me
that I have been awarded a $500.00 scholarship from the Oregon State Bar.”

“Yes!” Kiera yells so loud that I almost over-correct the truck and steer it into the median. “I told you that you would get it. You rock! This means you won’t have to worry about covering school this year, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve got most of that covered now. I can use the money from my new job to get a new vehicle to cart you and the kids around. I’ll probably pick up some tutoring jobs to help pay the bills and I’ll sell Bar Prep Courses to cover the cost of my exam,” I respond.

“Wh
at about your grandpa’s truck?” asks Kiera softly, tears springing to her eyes.

“It’s lived a long and useful life. I have bigger priorities to consider now. I have to protect my girls and this rust bucket isn’t doing the job. My grandpa would expect me to step up to the plate even if it costs me his pride and joy
. I’ll use the trade-in value to help with the cost of the newer one,” I explain, shrugging. Kiera’s safety isn’t even a close call for me. I was considering this move even before the news about the girls.

Tears spill on to Kiera’s cheeks as she says, “Jeffery Charles Whitaker, you are an amazing man.
I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I love you.”

“I love you too, Pip. You are like my fantasy come to life, only better. Speaking of fantasies, we’ve got some real life issues to settle such as where I’m going to live if we’re forming a family.” I reply, kissing the back of her hand.

Kiera’s eyes flash with alarm as she cautions, “Jeff, you know this arrangement with the girls is only temporary. They aren’t really ours?”

“Maybe not,” I reply carefully, “but my relationship with you is until. As far as
I’m concerned, there is no end of us — ever. I’m a firm believer in the concept of things happening for a reason and if we’re only meant to be in those girl’s lives for a brief window of time, let’s make it the most solid, happy few weeks or months their little princess hearts could dream of.”

Kiera nods and sighs as she acquiesces, “You’re right. I need to look at it that way. Part of me is afraid of getting too attached, but that’s just not fair to the girls. I need to give it my all regardless of the consequences.”

“I’ll let Ty know he doesn’t have to move.” I reason. “He’ll be relieved because his place was nicer than mine. I’ll try to find a sub-letter for my place. I know some folks with some roommate conflicts already, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.”

“You can put your extra furniture in my basement, there’s plenty of room. I figure we can make the office into Mindy’s room and turn that little bonus room into a nursery for Becca,” she strategizes.

“I bet my mom still has all of Donda’s princess furniture — you know the white wicker kind with a canopy bed. Donda tried to get my mom to sell it in a garage sale a while back and my mom told her that she didn’t care if she made money on it, she was just waiting for the ‘rightful owner’. It seems to me, it anyone was meant to use that stuff, it’s Mindy,” I add, getting excited at the prospect of seeing the joy on Mindy’s face.

“That would be wonderful.” Kiera declares, “All I have for her is a basic mattress set.”

“Pip, you have no idea what forces you will have unleashed once you’ve given Gwendolyn Whitaker-Buckhold a decorating task. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll just move out of her way and watch the magic unfold,” I advise, chuckling softly.

“I don’t know how I’m going to get this all done. I don’t even have a crib yet. Somehow, I envisioned that I would have several months to prepare for this. What am I going to do?” Kiera says with a resigned sigh as she burie
s her head in her hands.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I caution, “We don’t even have a firm timeframe yet. So, let’s wait until we know more before we establish a game plan. I can wrangle up a decent sized work party for Friday night if we need it, okay? There isn’t anything we can’t tackle together. Don’t panic.”

Kiera’s phone chimes and she glances at it as she states nervously, “That was Joan. She wants us to go directly to the courthouse, because there is no need to talk to Mindy before we have more definitive answers. This is really happening in ten minutes,” Kiera fidgets and rolls her shoulders.

I squeeze her hand as I proclaim, “Pip, you are exactly what those girls need. The judge would be crazy not to see that.”

As we pull up into the parking spot, there is a hulking guy wearing a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. hat. There is no doubt that he is Kiera’s dad. If his identical smile and freckles didn’t instantly confirm the connection between them, his bright red hair would. He watches with a look of speculation as I carefully situate Kiera’s chair and gently place her in it, tucking her suit around her so that it doesn’t get caught in her spokes. I gather her files and my briefcase. I extend my other hand towards her dad, “Jeff Whitaker, it’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

“Dennis Ashley, but my friends call me Denny. Any man that treats my daughter with that much care has earned that designation,” he announces as he turns to Kiera, “What took you guys so long? You’re on the schedule in a half an hour. Does that give you enough time to meet with your lawyers?”

Kiera rolls her eyes as she teases, “Well Dad, not everyone can drive like a trucker. We got here as fast as we could. We were in bed when we got the call.”

The look on Denny’s face would have been comical had it not been on the face of my future father-in-law. “I’m sure I must have heard that wrong
— ”

“No, Daddy, you did not hear that wrong. I’m 27 years old for Pete’s sake. However, in this case, nothing happened,” she states boldly. She flushes a deep shade of red as she remembers all the things that almost happened
— that would have happened — if it weren’t for a fateful phone call. She quickly amends her statement. “Oh Daddy, a whole bunch of stuff happened and it’s all good. But, we can’t even start to explain all of it right now, okay?”

“If the smile on your face and the light in your eyes is anything to go by, I can pretty
much guess the nature of your news.” Denny counsels his daughter, “There is a time and place for all of that and this is not it. We’ll celebrate later, Pipsqueak. For now, you need to get your game face on.”

“Okay, Dad.” Kiera agrees, reaching up to hug her dad.

As Denny steps back, I lean down to softly kiss her temple and whisper, “Come on, Pip, let’s go slay some dragons for our princesses.” I move behind her chair to push her chair. Denny catches my gaze and gives me a tight nod of approval. I feel like I’ve been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. One challenge down, countless others to go.

After meeting with the state’s attorney and signing a flurry of releases, Kiera and I are brought back into the courtroom to wait. It is awkward because there’s no place for Kiera to park her chair where it’s not intruding into unwanted spaces and I was not able to sit beside her. I try not to let my agitation show
— but really? How hard would it be to remove a portion of the fixed seating so that she can pull her chair in comfortably? Churches and movie theaters do it all of the time.

Kiera and her dad were talking about her van when I got my head back into the conversation. “…and Jeff says he thinks it’s my alternator. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to even give it a second thought,” Kiera explains.

“Well, I can look at it, but these arthritic hands don’t get into tight spaces quite so well anymore, so it might take me awhile to fix it. You might be better off taking it to a shop,” Denny says, regarding his swollen fingers with a grimace.

“Sir, my grandfather taught me about engines when I was younger; I don’t know everything there is to know, but I follow directions well. I’d be honored to help,” I offer, looking back and forth between them to gauge the reaction.

“We might as well get you started working on it,” he replies. “Kiera’s baby is a temperamental thing. The ramp, air conditioning or other whatnot are always breaking on that thing. I swear one guy she went out with couldn’t even find his way to the gas tank. He would have never survived Kiera’s life. What’s your schedule look like tomorrow?”

“I have to be at the law school until 3:00. I want to stop by my parents shed and pick up the sprayer because Pip mentioned that she wants to redo the rooms. I should be able to be there around 4:00,” I answer.

“Great. If you’ll bring the beer, I’ll throw some steaks on the grill for supper,” he offers with a grin and a slap on my shoulder.

I hate to break up my newfound camaraderie, but integrity is more important to me at this point, so I reply as diplomatically as I can under the circumstances, “Sir, I’d be happy to bring you whichever brand you prefer, but I don’t really drink.”

“Really?” he asks, drilling me with his amber stare, “You got issues with that, son?”

“No, sir. But, I have family members that do, so I’m being cautious,” I respond, swallowing hard. I don’t want him to reject me based on Donda’s past issues and my mom’s problems.

“Good for you. I don’t like a man who hides from his past. Feel free to bring root beer. I like it better anyway,” he comments with a wink.

Just as I was ready to breathe a sigh of relief, the bailiff comes in and calls the court to order. Since Kiera can’t stand, she sits poker straight with a somber expression. I can feel her anxiety level rising. I reach around the end of the wooden pew to grasp her hand. It’s ice cold.

The attorney for the state starts by outlining the case in broad strokes, pointing out that this is the third time that there have been allegations of child abuse against family members and the second time that it resulted in hospitalization. She displays pictures of Mindy’s burn that are so graphic that I have to turn away. Large tears slide down Kiera’s face. I hear Denny muttering things that sound remarkably similar to real cuss words under his breath. She highlights the fact that Mindy and Becca’s most basic needs aren’t being met and, they have been completely abandoned by not only their own family but their prospective foster family, as well.

Judge Thomlinson listens carefully and responds, “I’ve reviewed the application and the addendum in my chambers. I understand congratulations are in order
, Miss Ashley.”

Kiera blushes beet red and she stammers, “Thank you, your Honor.”

The Judge chuckles and continues, “The paperwork seems complete and Mr. Whitaker has been through the process before. Since he is currently employed and has glowing recommendations from both his current employer and his past employer on file, I’m inclined to waive the home study requirement for two months given the exigent circumstances of this case and the fact that he has passed with flying colors every time he has been evaluated. I am concerned about what you drive though, Mr. Whitaker. Have you and Ms. Ashley worked out a way to share the minivan?”

I clear my throat before I speak into the microphone at the counsel’s table, “No, your Honor. I just received a scholarship, freeing some of my finances for a more appropriate kid-friendly vehicle. I hope to have it by next week.”

“Very good Mr. Whitaker,” she comments. “Is there anything else I need to consider before making my final decision?”

Our attorney cued up the computer to a simple Power Point presentation that outlined our academic and professional accomplishments. I was surprised to see the video of me changing Becca’s diaper embedded in the presentation. Of course, I remember the pus filled, bleeding blisters and her soaked clothes. I don’t remember singing nonsensical songs or dancing until she fell asleep against my shoulder. The video transitions to hospital footage of Kiera holding Becca close to her breast as she fed her a bottle. She was swaying gently and crooning softly. I was standing behind her massaging her neck.

The slide changed again. This time the star was Mindy. First, was the store surveillance video showing Mindy’s tackling greeting of Kiera. Next, was the makeover scene in the hospital, followed by our impromptu pizza and popcorn party where I made up several extra verses to
Wheels on the Bus
because Mindy was trying to postpone bedtime. The slide changed once more and cut to me reading Mindy Good Night Moon. As I finished, Mindy candidly said, “I wish you and Miss Kiera could be my dad and mom. I’m not ascared and hungry when you’re here. I like you.” The video faded to black and the courtroom lights came back up.

At first,
I’m embarrassed by my raw emotional state, but as I glance around the room, I realize I am not the only one affected. Denny is so disturbed by what he has seen that he has to leave the courtroom. Kiera is wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. Even the bailiff is dabbing away some tears with a well-worn tissue. Judge Thomlinson clears her throat lightly, “Sometimes big fancy words and lengthy explanations are not helpful and this is one of them. Mindy has made her feelings clear and, in her own way, so has Rebecca. Since these kids have clearly been abandoned and no family has been located to care for them during the past few months, I am inclined to make this order for the term of six months to guarantee that the girls have some stability over the holidays. They will remain wards of the state so that they remain covered by insurance and you will get a stipend to help offset the cost of caring for them. I will reevaluate everything then. Any questions?”