Box of Crackers - 14. Chapter 14

It took six months to get the apartment finished. Fred did get Paul’s signature relinquishing all rights to Alex, Alex was enrolled in the same school with the boys, Jimmy was happy therefore, I was happy.

Now with more room, each of the boys had their own bedroom, but many mornings I’d find Bobby and Butch in the same bed. I invited Evie and her family to join us for New Years and they accepted.

Jimmy was happy, his new kitchen was state of the art. Soon he was cooking and sending it downstairs to his dad. There were always someone in our home, Jimmy’s family, our friends and friends of the kids. I was happy and in love with my family. Work was going very well, I did hire a young college graduate to fill the legal position. He was married, his wife was a nurse.

Why is it when everything seems to be going well, all hell breaks loose? Paul decided that he wanted Alex to come home. That’s the last thing Alex wanted. I guess Paul forget he signed away his rights to Alex, he was notified that I had filed for his adoption. Now he wanted Alex, not for Alex’s sake, but to further harass me. In the mean time, our wonderful Child Services told Alex he had to go home until the case was settled. There was no way that would happen. On the day Alex was to leave, we where in the Judge’s courtroom. Fred produced the documents giving me custody of Alex, which had been on file at the court house. The judge asked the attorney for Child Services why they wanted the child to be returned to his parents.

The attorney for Child Services said the child’s father missed the child and regretted agreeing to grant custody to his brother. The Judge asked how long ago had the custody agreement been signed. The Child Services attorney said it was signed nine months ago which could be attested by the date on the signature.

“This was signed nine months ago, where you aware of this letter?”

Child Services attorney, “Yes your Honor, a copy was delivered to our office.”

"Did you follow up on this or consider the case close?”

"Since the custody was granted to a family member, we had no reason to interfere. Everything looked legal and appeared that the child’s father willingly gave up his custody of the child.”

“In view of the petition for adoption, did that have anything to do with the child’s fathers request.”

“Not to my knowledge”

“When was the father given notice of the pending adoption and by whom?”

“The notice was sent to the father from my office. As you are aware Child Services would be required to investigate the home and make a recommendation.”

“Isn’t that only when a child was placed in the Agencies care?”

“Normally yes, but this was an unusual case.”

“In what way was this unusual?”

“The child was placed with Mr. Atwood outside of the Agency.”

“Because the father relinquished his rights directly to his brother.”

“Yes, your Honor”

“Then I see no reason for this child to be sent to his father. Alex, I’d like to see you in my office, alone.”

The attorney for Child Services demanded to be present to protect the interest of the child. The judge looked at him, “Are you serious or just incompetent? I’ll see the child in my chambers, alone.”

Alex followed the Judge, we sat in the court room and waited and waited. Forty-five minutes, Alex came out of the Judge’s chambers with a big smile. He handed me a paper, signed by the Judge that approved the pending adoption. “Uncle Pete, er Dad, I didn’t have to change my name since we are both Atwood’s.”

The judge was smiling when he entered the court room. “There was a petition for adoption of Alex Atwood which I have approved. Mr. Atwood, you may pick up Alex’s birth certificate in five days from the Clerk’s office.”

The attorney for Childs Services stood and objected to the approval of the adoption. The Judge looked at him, “If you wish to pursue this in my court, you better have a brief quoting chapter and verse of the law that was violated today. Court adjoined.”

That was the end of Paul’s attempt at getting back at me. He didn’t want Alex back, but when he realized that Alex wanted to be with me, he couldn’t stand that. Alex was now my son, not his, I was glad and Alex was glad so we celebrated at Luigi’s. Fred had to tell all my friends and they teased us relentlessly. Billy wanted me to adopt him, Fred said he needed a new dad, and so it went. Luigi was very pleased and we had a fantastic dinner. The whole restaurant was into the spirit of Alex becoming my son.

Evie and family didn’t make it for New Years, but plans were made for Easter. The boys were excited and if truth be known, so was I. Except for seeing the gang at Luigi’s, I had very little contact with them. But every time I saw them, I encouraged them to adopt a child. I’m not sure who was first, Billy or Al but by Easter, they were escorting a young man. I wanted my friends to meet my sister and family, so we had a big Easter dinner, cooked by Jimmy. The house was full. Don hit it off with my friends and by the end of the evening they were planning hunting trips. Evie was Jimmy’s sou chef and the boys were busy entertaining Donnie. I noticed Donnie checking out some of the waitresses that worked for Luigi.

Luigi had a daughter the same age as Donnie. I noticed the eyeing of each of them when they were together. I told Jimmy to watch them, he looked at me and smiled. “Don’t worry about them, he’s a nice boy and he couldn’t do better. Look at his Uncle.”

The next morning, I pulled Donnie aside and asked him to go to the office with me. We stopped at the kiosk, grabbed a coffee and a bagel, took the elevator to my office. I introduced Donnie to Mrs. Marlow, she made a comment about him being a nice looking boy. Walking into my office, I shut the door. “Donnie, I couldn’t help noticing that you were looking at Angela most of last night. She’s a nice girl as well as a beautiful girl. But, you have to be careful, Luigi is Italian and if he thinks you are taking advantage of Angela, he might do things that you wouldn’t like. I don’t think it should go that far. I like you, I like Angela and I think you make a cute couple. Nothing would make Jimmy and me more proud, if you and Angela end up together. I’m telling you this so you understand and won’t make any mistakes.”

“I do like her Uncle Pete, she’s very pretty and very funny. I enjoy being with her. You aren’t telling me to not see her are you?”

“No, I’m telling you to respect her and no is no.”

Donnie blushed, he knew exactly what I was referring to. “I’d never do that to her. I think I have fallen in love with her and I think I’d want to possibly marry her when I finish college. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that possibility.”

“When do you finish college?” I knew he was enrolled but I wasn’t sure what level.

“I’m currently a junior, I have three more years because I want my MBA. I took accelerated courses in high school so when I started college I was ahead of my class. That allowed me to take sophomore classes and the freshman classes I didn’t have in high school. So this year, I had the junior classes I need and two senior classes. I plan to go to summer school and then I’ll be able to finish in two more years.”

“That’s a pretty ambitious schedule. Have you talked to Angela about her plans?” I knew that Angela was in college but didn’t know what level.

“No, not yet but I want to do that before we go home.”

We chatted a little more. “Let’s go to Luigi’s for lunch.”