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- 02/20/2022
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Timothy - 107. Chapter 107
Randy started at our university as a freshman, and Aunt Clara came to live with us. I asked John and Eva to keep an eye on the farm. Stephen suggested that we might consider renting it, Donnie said no.
Mom and Stephen’s mom were often visitors. As I knew it would happen, I lost my favorite seat at breakfast, and I really couldn’t complain. Elizabeth now occupied Stephen’s lap, and Donnie was occupying my lap. With Aunt Clara living with us, the days of naked breakfasts had to end.
We continued to run in the morning, only now it was much earlier, we had to be home to give the children their morning bottle.
There were times when I wished we had our old lives back, but one look at those little faces and the smile on Stephen’s face, I knew deep down, I didn’t want that old life back. Stephen walked around with a smile on his face, and I think I did as well. Donnie often visited with his smile. I knew that our Donnie would be the imp that Donnie was when he was alive.
Randy kept in contact and also let us know how Tom was doing. He said that Mrs. Kenner remembered him and Tom was helping him with Mrs. Kenner’s lawn and gardens. When I told Stephen, he wondered if Tom had a boyfriend.
Aunt Clara seemed to come alive. She had made significant progress from the first time I saw her, but now, she has come into her own with the children. We heard stories about how much the children reminded her of Randy when he was a baby. We would smile, looking at each other.
Our weekends were never quiet. Stephen’s mom and dad would visit, Mom and Dad would visit for the weekend. Alex and Ann Marie would drop in. The only ones who didn’t drop in were John and Eva. The company was welcomed, but our wallets took the hit. Gramps was smart, he would walk home with us doing the week.
We agreed to have the children baptized the week before Thanksgiving. Randy and Ann Marie were asked to stand with them.
When everything was set, the bomb landed. The father of the children’s mother had a subpoena delivered. He was challenging our guardianship. I showed the summons to Stephen. At first, he was scared until I pointed out that he challenged the guardianship, not the adoption. “Stephen, relax. I next expect a letter saying for a reasonable fee that he would drop the challenge.”
As if words from my mouth to his ears, I received a phone call that the girl’s father would like to meet with us. I arranged a meeting at the restaurant where we had lunches and dinners with Alex and Ann Marie. I told Alex about the subpoena and phone call, and he said to tape the conversation. When I mentioned that to Stephen, he got a wicked smile on his face.
The evening at our meeting, Stephen gave me a watch to wear. “Stephen, I have a watch.”
“Wear this one; It’s a special watch for tonight.”
At the restaurant, the father showed up. I remarked that I expected his wife to be here as well. He said she wasn’t feeling well, but I knew she was dead. The owner of the restaurant acknowledged us, Stephen, and I had eaten there often. When we went to sit down, our guest requested a table in the corner. Stephen readily agreed. It didn’t matter where we sat since our conversation would be recorded wherever we sat.
As soon as we gave our waiter our order, our guest made his pitch. “I want the guardianship of my daughter’s children.”
“I don’t understand. It’s our understanding that you had disowned your daughter.”
“That was a mistake, and I hadn’t realized she was pregnant when she left us.”
“Are you saying that she left your home willingly and not because you told her to get out?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“When I spoke to her in the hospital, that isn’t what she told me. At her request, I drew up the guardianship papers.”
“No, she must have been mistaken.”
“Well, in that case, you must be willing to reimburse me for her funeral costs. You can send me a check to cover the expenses of 10,000 dollars. There is a bill from the stonecutter of 500 dollars for the headstone.” Saying that I passed my copy of the bill to him.
He looked at me as if he went into shock. I knew he thought I would pay him to drop his efforts to get custody of the children, and he ended up with the costs of burying his daughter.
When our food came, Stephen and I began to eat as if everything was settled. “Sir, you aren’t eating, and this food is delicious.”
He just looked at us, got up, and left. I told the waiter we would take his dinner home, Aunt Clara will enjoy it.
We did go before the judge. I showed him the adoption papers and a tape of our conversation at the restaurant. The judge had him arrested on charges of extortion. Donnie came and smiled, holding the hand of the children’s mother.
Now to focus on the children’s baptism.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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