Legal Stuff: I don't know NSYNC or any other celebrity mentioned. While real people are the basis of characters, they are characters here and do not represent the real lives, thoughts, or feelings of the real people. Again, these are characters based on them, not the real people themselves. If you are too young, or live in a location where it is illegal to read stories that include love between men, read no further! Like that would have ever stopped me...
It's Never Easy Chapter 10
Tuesday dawned bright, clear, and hot. Waking up in the bedroom at Nanny's brought a sense of peace to me, almost as much as the man who held me in his arms. James was already awake, I found when I rolled over inside his arms and faced him. We were sleeping on one of the old single beds Nanny kept in this room, and were sandwiched together tightly.
"So, your cousin Chris was the first guy you had sex with, eh?" James said, reminding me of the story I'd told him about my first time. He'd met Chris since we arrived and remarked that he must have been a real handsome guy before drugs had ruined him.
"Yeah." I said with a smile. "Um, actually it was right here in this bed, too."
"Oh?" James said, arching his eyebrows and smiling. His hands reached into my underwear and he quickly had me panting. "I think we'll break this bed in again, except this time it'll be with the love of your life."
"Oh yeah." I murmured into him before covering his mouth with mine. That was when Nanny banged on the door and told us to get up and get breakfast.
"You have no idea how many times we got interrupted that way, growing up." I giggled into James' shoulder. He just sighed, pushed me off of him and started to get dressed in a loose t-shirt and sweats. I joined him in dressing and we were soon in Nanny's kitchen as she finished piling our plates full of homemade buttermilk biscuits (I'm talking made from scratch here!), eggs, and bacon. Nathan was already chowing down, as was Whitney. Nathan had started to form a friendship with her, but she had to leave today to get back to college in San Diego. I was surprised that Aunt Fran had already shown up with Josh and his wife, as well as Tiffany and her husband. Their kids were eating cereal at the kid's table while Nanny was asking Tiffany's husband how he liked his eggs.
Tiffany was just sitting there with wide eyes. Of course I was as well. None of us ever thought to see Nanny cooking breakfast for a black man in her own home, but here she was. Let that be a lesson to you: No bigot is ever too old too change.
Most of the breakfast conversation focused on yesterday's funeral and how nice everyone thought it was. I was even thanked by Tiffany and Josh for the limo ride. Fran just commented on how Paula had cleared out the mini-bar in the limo to make sure that I was charged a lot of money for it. I just shook my head.
Some people won't change.
Nanny had always been one for lounging around the house most of the morning in her robe, not getting dressed many times until early afternoon, but this time we were dressed and out the door by 9:30. The limo was waiting for us and took us downtown to the courthouse. I was glad this wasn't a regular hearing in the courtroom. I'd been in too many of those recently.
Whitney had packed her bags and the limo took her to the airport after dropping us off. We went inside the old building and met our lawyer waiting for us in the main lobby. He shook everyone's hands and then took Nanny aside for a short conversation with her. She did a lot of nodding, then they rejoined us and he led us upstairs.
The room was packed as I entered with Nanny and Fran. James waited outside with Josh and Tiffany. The six adult children were all there now that Fran joined them, but I was the only grandkid. I managed to receive dirty looks from Phil and Billy, while getting neutral looks from Priscilla and Christine. Paula just glared at me. Junior gave me a small nod and an even smaller smile, but I knew that was meant to be supportive.
Nanny was dressed meticulously, and sat down in a chair immediately in front of the judge's desk. Our lawyer sat next to her, and I joined Fran in standing behind her. Judge Morgan looked up at Nanny and smiled at me.
"Mrs. Barrows, it's a pleasure to meet you, even under these circumstances." He said, smiling at Nanny, then looked up at me. "Mr. Young, it's good to hear you've done so well for yourself. I almost wish Todd and you had hooked up. At least then I wouldn't still be loaning him money every couple of months!"
"Gee, thanks, Henry." I said with a short laugh. "Then I'd be the one that was broke all the time!"
"Excuse me, your honor?" Billy's attorney interjected. "If you're a friend of Mr. Young's, shouldn't you pass this case to another judge to prevent conflict of interest?"
"Mr. Deans, who is and is not my friend is frankly none of your business." Henry replied. "No where in any of these documents is Mr. Young mentioned. As I understand it, the only reason he's here is that Mrs. Barrows wants him here and that he's named as an heir on the will in the place of his deceased mother. Is that correct?"
"That's correct." Nanny's lawyer stated firmly.
"Good, then there's not even a shade of conflict of interest in this case for me. Let's proceed."
I ended up being involved as Henry questioned the different lawyers. It turned out that I, of all the kids and grandkids, had most kept in contact with Nanny, and had even been in her company more over the last two years than most of them. Of course most of that contact was in LA and Orlando when she had come out there. Didn't matter though, I had more direct knowledge of her mental and physical abilities than anyone else there.
Within two hours, Nanny and I joined James, Tiffany, and Josh outside the room. Nanny was ecstatic at the vacating of the previous order and her declared competence to manage her own affairs. We went to lunch and then returned home.
It was when we tried to reclaim her purse from Paula that we found some things had indeed gone wrong. Some fifteen thousand dollars had been removed from her different accounts, and another twenty thousand in CD were transferred in ownership. James was on his phone immediately and asking Nanny if she wanted Billy and Paula put in jail.
She sat there staring at the table for the longest time, then studying her hands even longer. Finally she looked up at me and smiled wanly. My knees shook at the dead look in her eyes.
"Davey, does that offer of moving down to LA still stand?" She asked me in a hoarse whisper.
"Of course, Nanny." I replied immediately. "You can come down for a few days, a few months, or forever as far as we're concerned."
"You mean that as well, James?" she asked my man.
"Yes, Nanny." James said, smiling at her. "I'd strangle this bastard if he didn't mean what he said."
"Okay, then I want to move down there and sell this house." She said firmly.
"Do you want to keep the furniture?" James asked softly. "There's a lot of stuff here that you can bring with you, and if you are especially attached to anything, we can find room for it."
"I'd like to take as much as I can." She admitted. James was on the phone a few minutes later, arranging for movers to come and do an estimate. Grandma came over with April, the kids, and the guys. While the kids were tearing up the house under Nathan's watchful gaze, the rest of us adults sat in the dining room and discussed the future. Grandma admitted she was tired of living alone as well, and asked if we had room for her as well. James answered before I could that she was more than welcome. Chris and Justin muttered that the house was filling up fast. Both of them were staying with us for the foreseeable future. That meant that with William coming in a few days we were down to 3 open bedrooms. Of course I commented that there was room for Josh and Joey, who both shook their heads.
Joey muttered something about not wanting to live in a zoo. Grandma popped him in the back of the head and he wandered off to check on Briana. Kelly just laughed.
James called the movers back and told them we'd need two estimates. That was when we decided to take the kids somewhere, and FunWorks was chosen. James called the driver and our limo showed up, taking the whole group out for a late afternoon/early evening of fun. When we returned, we were dismayed to see reporters there. James and I handled them, giving brief statements. It seemed Uncle Billy had leaked a negative story of how we were `taking over' the affairs of Nanny. We corrected the allegations as best we could and returned inside.
That night, James finished what he started that morning, and commented the bed was moving to LA with Nanny. I had no idea he got frisky thinking about furniture I'd first learned to have sex on. I also had no idea that it would get me just as frisky.
Wednesday, April returned to North Carolina with her kids. I hadn't spent much time with them, or her, and was left with a feeling of wanting more. I loved my nieces and nephews, and my sister. I just wish she'd get her act together. She hadn't had a single drink or any drugs while out here and she seemed so much better without those things. She had made some mention of confronting her husband about the excessive drinking, but I'd believe it only when it happened.
James also returned that day, as did all the guys. That left me with my Nanny and Grandma, helping them pack things up and get ready for a move. One thing I made sure of was that all the pictures that adorned both family rooms would be put up at our home. Those pictures reminded me of my childhood and having them there was comforting.
Tears were shed as the houses became packed. Relatives were constantly dropping by now, and I wondered how much of it was to spy and how much of it was out of real concern for Nanny. I got a call from Judge Morgan on Friday saying that a colleague of his had received a motion for an injunction to keep Nanny from moving or selling the house, but assured me that it was going to be rejected. I didn't tell Nanny. On Friday afternoon I went down to the courthouse to have lunch with Henry Morgan and his son when I saw something that made me really think.
There in the lobby was Uncle Billy, Aunt Paula, their lawyer, and a woman who looked vaguely familiar. They didn't see me, and I maneuvered into a position where I could hear them without really being seen. The strange woman spoke with a twang in her voice that set off alarm bells, but I couldn't quite place where I knew her. She was berating the lawyer about how much money she'd spent on him for Billy and Paula with no results.
"Look, Diane," the lawyer said after a moment. "I have done everything I could. Unfortunately, Mr. Young is just too well connected in this town."
"You lawyers always have an excuse." She fumed. Hearing her name, and a little more of her accent helped me recognize her. Diane Bass, James' mother was this mystery women who had paid for an attorney for Uncle Billy. I quickly went into the bathroom, claimed a stall and sat down with my head in my hands, my brain churning in reaction to what I had seen and heard.
There were several things that I had to consider here. First and foremost was James' relation to his mother. She had objected vehemently to our relationship, and they had not been in contact for many months. I knew this had hurt James, and I had tried to stay as far from that conflict as possible. However, there had also been a lot of recent legal activities that were putting stresses on our relationship.
Could she have been at least partly responsible for them? If she was, she was also partly responsible for Nathan's kidnapping. For that alone, I would want to tear her apart, but how would James respond. I needed answers to these questions, and to find out just how extensive her involvement had been in our recent problems.
The best way to do this would be to hire a private detective. There was no doubt in my mind a confrontation with her would do no good. The question was: Do I tell James now or after the private investigator had completed his investigation? Either a yes or no was going to impact James. I didn't like the idea of hiding something this big from him, nor did I like the idea of him brooding about it for a few weeks or months. Both options seemed to create major problems in our relationship.
I was now late for my lunch with Henry and his son. I got up from the bathroom, totally unresolved about what I was going to do, and met them in Henry's office. We went across the street to a deli and were eating there. It was during that lunch that they noticed my preoccupation and got me to tell them what was wrong. Henry's advice was so different from my line of reasoning, and offered me some hope that there could be a possible solution without creating a wall between James and I.
Before I knew it, the houses were packed, and the furniture that was remaining was covered. I had gotten Nanny and Grandma to agree not to sell the house immediately. I realized I loved those houses too much and wanted to be in a position where I could buy them. They both would have protested and tried to get me to pay less than they were worth so I didn't tell them that. I needed to set up a dummy corporation to handle the actual purchases at a fair price.
I wasn't going to jip my grandmothers out of a single penny, even over their objections. In the meantime, a contractor would be coming in for both homes and doing a lot of the repair work that was needed, and a landscaper would also be coming in to maintain the yards. Nanny's backyard had about 8 fruit trees that were absolutely wonderful. Their cars would be shipped down to LA with their furniture, so we once more took the limo to the airport. The flight to San Francisco was short and uneventful, as was the flight to LA from three. Both of them loved flying first class.
Nathan met us in James's SUV and drove us to the new house. Both of them loved it immediately, especially the elevator to their second floor bedrooms. James was busy at Free Lance, and Justin was doing his new gig as a broadcaster for TNT covering some football game. Chris was also out taking care of some business somewhere. Nanny and grandma settled quickly into their rooms. We had temporary furniture in there until their own stuff arrived tomorrow. I also introduced them to our maid/cook Carmen.
Both of them reacted the way I had to having a maid/cook. Very unsure of how to act around her. It would take time for them to get use to it, but I hoped they would.
James arrived home soon after and greeted them warmly. We were all sitting on the back patio when the office phone rang. Carmen answered it and brought it out to me. The voice on the other side of the phone was very serious sounding and I groaned internally. I also wondered just how much more crap I would be able to take before breaking.
"Mr. David Young?" the voice said. "This is Lieutenant Aaron Renault with the Cary, North Carolina police department."
"Yes, Lieutenant," I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. Everyone was immediately staring at me. "This is David Young."
"Mr. Young, I work in the narcotics division here in Cary. I've been informed that you are the owner of the home at 1984 N. Spring Drive here in town?" The voice on the phone asked me, and I groaned aloud. The address was the home I had bought for my sister.
"That is correct, Lieutenant." I said after my groan. Now everyone was staring at me. "I rent the home to my sister and her family."
"Are you aware of the activity that has been going on at that address, sir?" The Lieutenant asked me, and I let out another audible groan. Both Nanny and Grandma had stood up and had their hands on my shoulders.
"I've not been informed of any illegal activity." I answered after a moment, wondering if I was going to be ending up in court sometime soon, once again. "My sister was just out in California and she didn't mention anything when I asked her."
"Mr. Young, I'm afraid I must ask you if you would be willing to come out here and help us with an investigation we have going. I want you to know that you are in no way, shape, or form a suspect in our investigation, but we would appreciate your assistance."
"Can you tell me what is going on, officer?" I asked, suddenly very, very nervous.
"I think that you might prefer to hear it in person...hold on Mr. Young." The officer said, and I could hear him talking to someone then starting to curse loudly.
"Mr. Young?" his voice was definitely agitated now.
"Go ahead, Lieutenant." I said, trying to stay calm.
"Sir, I'm sorry to have to tell you like this, I prefer to relay bad news in person whenever possible, but I'm afraid circumstances are demanding otherwise. I recognized your name immediately when it came up, I'm a fan of your show, and I tried to keep a lid on things that have been happening, but I'm afraid a Raleigh T.V. station has gotten wind of things."
"Thanks for your...concern, but please spit it out!" I nearly growled.
"At 7:48 this morning 911 received a call about a domestic disturbance at your sister's residence. A unit was dispatched to investigate. When we arrived at the home, your brother-in-law answered the door and said that the caller, his wife had left for work. Our officers asked to enter the home, but were refused entry. They felt they didn't have probable cause at that point to enter since it was the fourth domestic disturbance call to that address in the last six months, and all other times involved simple shouting matches."
"I wasn't aware of that." I murmured, interrupting him.
"It's reasonable that your sister probably didn't want to drag you into her marital problems. From everything in the papers, you've been having a rough enough time as it is."
"You got that right." I snorted into the phone.
"Well, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to add to the problems. Are you aware of where your sister has been working?"
"Yes, a Country Kitchen convenience/gas station." I replied.
"That's right, sir." Lieutenant Renault continued. "Well, one of the officers remembered her nametag at the store and figured it was probably the same woman, so they stopped by the store to talk with her. When they arrived, she wasn't there and they asked the manager about her. The manager was upset and informed them that April had not shown up for her shift."
"Oh fuck." I groaned, while Nanny and Grandma tightened their hands in comfort on my shoulders. They didn't even chide me about my language. They were waiting patiently for me to relay the phone call.
"Our officers immediately returned to the residence at that point."
"I sure as fuck hoped they did." I whispered, and then felt stupid. This cop was being polite and professional. He didn't deserve me cussing at him.
"This ain't Florida, Mr. Young." He said, a bit of laughter in his voice.
"That's true. You folks actually know how to use your brains most of the time." I replied, trying to let him know I was appreciating his efforts to be nice.
"Well, anyway, our officers returned and had to bang on the door before a young boy answered. I believe it was your oldest nephew, Tyler. He let the officers inside, and they immediately noticed he was crying. When they asked what was wrong, he told them `mommy doesn't feel well'. They asked him to take them to her, and were led upstairs. The door to the master bedroom was locked and the officers knocked. They heard a crash and immediately broke the door down."
"Oh, no." I whispered.
"I'm sorry to have to relay this over the phone, Mr. Young, but you need to know now. The crash was your brother-in-law jumping through the window. They also immediately noticed your sister. She was nude, partially wrapped in a sheet, and had been stabbed multiple times. She was still alive. One officer called for an ambulance and additional units. The other officer began chasing your brother-in-law. He had been injured during his egress from the bedroom and the officer soon caught up to him. He was armed and moved as if to shoot at the officer, so the officer shot him. He died immediately."
"Good." I murmured, my voice full of hatred and pain. I felt a pit opening in my stomach, and my shoulders start to shake. A deep breath and a moment of concentration fixed me so I wouldn't break down yet. "He saved me the trouble of killing the bastard myself."
"I can...sympathize with your feelings, sir." Lieutenant Renault replied, and I realized I was going to like this cop. "Well, the ambulance arrived, and transported your sister to a nearby hospital. She went into emergency surgery."
"Is she alive?" I asked. Both Nanny and Grandma tightened their grips even more.
"That's why I'm talking to you now, sir. I'm sorry, but she died about twenty minutes ago. The press found out she's your sister and their broadcasting live. I am very, very sorry sir."
"Fuck." I said, and a sob escaped my control. I totally zoned out everyone around me and focused on something so I could continue. I wasn't going to break.
"Sir, we do need you to come out. We found...some things that you need to be aware of and I'm sure you will want to make...ah arrangements."
"What things did you find?" I asked.
"We found a new meth lab half-assembled in the garage. From what the children have said to the social worker that was the reason for the fight this morning. Your sister found it and demanded that it be removed or she was leaving. When she threatened to take the kids with her, he stabbed her."
"Are you sure he's dead?" I asked, absolutely serious. "Maybe he can be revived so I can kill him slowly?"
"Sorry, sir." The Lieutenant said, chuckling softly. "You really are a vicious man."
"You don't know the half of it, Lieutenant. Where are the kids now?" I asked.
"Social Services have them in a shelter at this time. His family in the area has already refused to take them."
"Ann's refused to take the kids?" I asked in shock, referring to Charlie's mother.
"As has all their Aunts and Uncles out here." The officer replied. "Can I assume you will want to meet Social Services about custody when you get out here?"
"I'll make sure the case manager is ready for when you arrive. Words of advice, sir, leave your foster son and partner there if you can. I know the case manager involved and the fewer...abnormalities in your situation that is presented here the better off things will go. The case manager is more open minded then some, but there are some things in North Carolina that will prevent a placement with you no matter how open minded the case manager may be."
"Thank you Lieutenant. I have your number on caller id, here. I'll let you know when my plane arrives."
"Thank you, Mr. Young, and I'm sorry I don't have better news for you." He said before hanging up.
I stayed in control as I repeated the events the officer had told me. Nanny and Grandma both started wailing when I told them my sister was dead, and I almost lost it then, but I brutally repressed the surge of grief that welled up inside me. James had already called the airlines and found a flight that left in an hour and half.
"James, Nathan, I have something else I need you to listen to first." I said after taking a deep breath. "Her kids, they are in a shelter now. I want to bring them home with me."
"Of course." James said, putting his hand on my leg while Nathan nodded his agreement.
"North Carolina is a lot more conservative than California." I began. James immediately got a stricken look on his face.
"You...you want me to move out?" He whispered, tears falling immediately. That's when I lost it completely and started bawling. He took me into his arms and comforted me.
"Oh god no!" I finally managed to gasp out. "There's no way you're leaving me!"
"Then what are you saying?" He asked me softly.
"Can you and Nathan stay here?" I asked him. "If you aren't out there, in front of Social Services, they think I stand a better chance of getting custody."
"Will you be alright?" He asked me, concern for me, and relief on his face.
"I think so, if Nanny and Grandma will come with me." I said, and both women nodded immediately.
"Good, then I'll make the flight arrangements and get you a hotel." James said.
"Get the Embassy Suites, two rooms." I told him. I'd stayed there on every trip out there and found the location to be convenient.
"Got it." He said, releasing me so he could make phone calls.
"Davey, what are we going to do?" Nanny whispered to me, her throat raw and eyes red.
"The best we can." I answered her firmly.
"Do you want to bury her out there or out here?" Grandma asked.
"How about in Ceres next to Dad and Mom?" I said. I think I remembered that plot as being unoccupied.
"That's good." Nanny said. The next half hour was spent packing some clothes for the trip, and then driving to the airport. Nathan and James both gave me hugs for the longest time before we went past the security area. I missed having James at my side immediately, but I was flanked by my grandmothers, and that helped.
The flight over was the longest flight I'd ever taken in terms of emotions. I suddenly felt so alone sitting there in first class, while Grandma and Nanny dozed in across from me. Luckily I had no one next to me. Tears dribbled down my face as grief and anger warred inside for my attention. It was halfway through the flight that I realized everyone in my immediate family was now dead. Mom and Dad were long gone, and now my sister was gone as well. I looked at the two older women across from me, the last of the family I grew up with that I really cared about deeply. I picked up the airfone in front of me and called James.
Talking to him and Nathan helped, and I could care less how much it cost. Hearing their voices, hearing the love in how they talked to me filled in the void that my sister's death had created. It didn't fill it completely, but enough for me to relax. I wasn't alone, I did have family who cared about me and loved me.
I had never, ever been so grateful for James as I was when I hung up. I picked the phone back up and called a 24 hour florist in LA. I ordered twelve dozen red roses to be delivered to Free Lance tomorrow. I wanted him to have no doubt about how much I appreciated him.
Okay, I wasn't thinking all that well at that point. I tended to overkill when I was in this state.
It was midnight by the time we landed, and we barely made it to the rental car place before they closed. I rented an SUV and three car seats (only Tyler was old enough to not need one). We drove to the Extended Stay, checked in, and then I called Lieutenant Renault to tell him we had arrived. He agreed to meet us there the next morning. I lay in the bed for a half hour before realizing the loneliness in the room would keep me awake.
Nanny answered the door of the room she shared with Grandma. Her smile told me she knew why I was there. I fell asleep between my two grandmothers, bawling like I was five years old again. Their gentle comforting took me to the land of sleep gently, my sore heart aching, but not alone.
When I woke up, I felt like I was 10 years old again for a few moments. Looking at my two grandmothers sleeping gently in the early morning brought tears to my eyes. My heart thumped in my chest as I realized I wasn't ten anymore, and that of all my family, everyone that I was closest to, except them, was now dead. Tears threatened to trickle down my face, but they receded as Nanny woke and smiled at me.
"Little Davey," Nanny whispered, rubbing my head like she used to when I was little. "I have no idea how you grew up to be so strong."
"I inherited it from my grandmothers." I said, and almost laughed as grandma jabbed me in the back.
"It's a good thing you remembered me, brat." Grandma muttered and I was suddenly engulfed in a three hug with these two women who played such an important part in my life. Thirty minutes later, I came back from showering and dressing in my room to find them arguing in the kitchen over what to make for breakfast. I ended up being sent down to the nearest Harris Tweeter for some food items and came back to find them both dressed. Forty minutes later, we were eating eggs, sausage, Nanny's buttermilk biscuits, and Grandma's chocolate gravy.
I was hoping they wouldn't be fixing breakfast too often at home. I'd be wider than the doorway in no time. Then again, if I added two hours of exercise to my daily routine I might be able to hold my weight down with their cooking. It was too damn good!
Lieutenant Renault showed up right in the middle of breakfast with a woman from Social Services. He introduced her as Carol Carlson. She was middle-aged and seemed very pleasant. Nanny and Grandma immediately got up and started preparing plates for them. They tried to say they'd already eaten, but you know how grandmothers can be.
"Ma'am," Detective Renault said after a few bites. "I don't know who made what, but can you possibly teach my wife how to make this chocolate gravy and these biscuits?"
"Well, the biscuits are mine." Nanny said with a smile.
"I did the gravy." Grandma said, also smiling.
"I hate to say this, but my mom never could get either of these this good." Carol said.
"Thank you." Both Nanny and Grandma said at once, then began detailing the recipes they used to Carol. The woman actually took notes in her notepad! She even promised to share them with Renault's wife. I was shaking my head in disbelief, then realized that what effect this had. The butterflies in my stomach were long gone and I was no longer as worried about meeting with these two people.
"Well, I guess we should get down to business." Carol said as they finished their plates. The mood settled into a little more serious mode, but it wasn't a negative mood at all.
"Yes, I guess we should." Lieutenant Renault said with a slight frown. "I'm afraid the stories been picked up by a lot of media despite our best efforts to keep a lid on it."
"It was bound to happen." I assured him. "As much as we've been in the news lately, anything involving my family is likely to wind up on the television."
"I still don't have to like it." Renault said with a half-smile. "I wish I had some good news for you in this matter, but I really don't. We've been able to confirm that the motivator for your brother-in-law's attack on your sister was in fact the meth lab he was setting up. Apparently he ran afoul of some major dealers and owed them money. They offered him the lab as a way of getting out of debt. We figured this out from some papers we found in the house. According to Tyler, your sister was fighting with him and telling him to remove the stuff from the house. He refused and your sister started to pack the kids' stuff to move them out. That's when he attacked her."
"At least she was trying to do the right thing." Nanny said, patting my arm as I struggled to keep tears down.
"I'm afraid I've got some more bad news." Renault continued. "There's more than enough evidence that you had no way of knowing what they were doing, so as the property owner, our office will not be filing any charges against you. However, the Drug Enforcement Agency has moved in on our investigation and they will be pushing to seize the home as it was being used to manufacture drugs. Federal law allows them to do this regardless of whether the property owner was aware of such use or not."
"I could care less about the house." I muttered. "Right now, my only interests are seeing my sister buried back home, and seeing to the future of her kids."
"Well, as to your sister," Renault said after nodding. "I have to tell you that in cases like your sister's death it is required for the coroner to do an autopsy. That should be completed today and you will be able to take custody of her after that is completed."
"Good" I said.
"As for the kids, that is why I'm here." Carol said, somewhat hesitantly. "We initially contacted their paternal grandmother about taking the kids yesterday, but she said she didn't have room. We found out that her oldest son and his family is living with her at this time and verified that placing the children there would violate too many rules regarding foster homes for kids. The other family members all said they had too many kids to take care of right now, and I agree that it would not be in their best interests to be placed in those homes."
"So they had to stay at a shelter?" I asked, my voice a little harsh.
"Just for the night." Carol said a little defensively. She calmed down as I nodded. "We felt that it was best until we could contact April's side of the family. Normally in a case like this, there would be absolutely no problem in placing them with you, Mr. Young, if you were willing."
"I am willing." I said a little fiercely.
"I know that, sir." She said, smiling. "I've read about your recent court cases and I must say that your dedication to your foster son is admirable, and a trait I wish more foster parents carried. If it was my choice, you'd have custody of your nieces and nephews right this moment."
"But it's not up to you?" Grandma asked.
"Not in this case." Carol said, looking at her hands for a moment before continuing. "North Carolina has a law that was passed by the State Legislature that forbids the placement of minor children in the homes of homosexuals. I don't agree with this law, but I'm required to abide by it in my official capacity. That's why I recommended to Lieutenant Renault that you come out here alone. Unfortunately, I received a phone call from my Director this morning reminding me of this law and ordering me to not place these kids with you. I'm sorry."
"What about them." I asked, pointing to my grandmothers.
"That's what I'm thinking right now." Carol said with a smile. "It's very obvious from my visit here this morning that both women are healthy and capable of taking care of the kids. Do you mind if I ask you two what your living arrangements are?"
"Well, we've lived right around the corner for years and are good friend." Grandma said.
"Right now, we're living with Davey in LA." Nanny added.
"That won't be a problem as long as it's one or both of you that have custody." Carol said. "I think that it would be best since you're both at the same address that we split the kids between the two of you for temporary custody. Normally we have to do a home inspection but I'll defer that to my counterparts in California as long as you can tell me that you'll have at least two rooms for them."
"We do, and each room is about 500 square feet." I said.
"Wow, that's a pretty big space." Carol said, writing that down. "Now, I know that both of you ladies probably do not want to look at permanent custody of the kids at your age. If you have any desire to seek permanent custody arrangements for the children, once they are in California their custody or adoption would be handled through California's laws, not North Carolinas."
"Meaning that..." I said, pretty sure what she was implying.
"Well, I do know that California allows adoption by same-sex couples who have a registered domestic partnership with the State whereas North Carolina does not. Just an example, mind you, not a statement on my part advising you of what to do." Carol said with a smile.
"Carol, I must admit you are restoring my faith in Social Services." I said with a smile matching hers.
"We're not all bigoted bitches, Mr. Young." Carol said, still smiling. She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a bunch of papers. "Now, if you ladies don't mind, let's get these papers filled out."
For the next forty minutes, Nanny and Grandma filled out paperwork. About ten minutes before they were done, Carol received a phone call on her cell phone and stepped outside to take the call. She came back in smiling. When all the paperwork was done, she picked the phone up and made a short phone call. Five minutes later there was a knock at the door. Nanny answered it, and four miniature tornadoes swirled into the room, heading unerringly for me. I nearly fell to the ground as Tyler, Kali, Jordan, and little Cindy all hugged me and startled babbling ten miles an hour. With smiles on their faces, Renault and Carol left the room, both handing Nanny their cards before they left.
Social Services dropped off plastic bags full of their clothing and some of their toys before leaving. Nanny and Grandma looked at them with distaste and announced that I would be taking them shopping. We all piled into the rental, making sure the younger kids were in their car seats, and took off. Tyler immediately started demanding to go to Fun Works, and ended up pouting when I told him no for the fifth time. Then he demanded to go see his mommy, which set all the kids off crying.
I ended up having to pull off the freeway and park in a parking lot while all three of us adults tried to calm the kids down. It took a lot of reassuring them that everything was going to be okay and that they weren't going to be split up. When Tyler asked if they were going home with me, I went ahead and told him `yes.' I was very surprised at the smile on his face when I said that. I pulled out of the parking lot and got back on the freeway, turning the radio on. All the kids were singing along to the music before long, and I laughed when I realized it was an NSYNC tune.
James would get a kick out of that when I told him. Which of course meant that my thinking about him would generate a phone call from him. I answered it, and smiled as he made a joke about my taste in music improving. We talked for a few minutes until I drove into the mall's parking lot, then he returned to work, thanking me for the flowers.
I love that man.
As we entered the mall, I could see the sly looks Tyler and Kali gave the more expensive clothing stores. The looks full of longing but grudging acceptance that we weren't headed there. Tyler tried to lead us towards the discount store, but I steered him over towards the more expensive ones. The light in his eyes as I told him we were shopping there made my heart ache for these kids. Here they were, related to me by blood, but the only they'd ever been treated to good things in life was when I was around.
Well, I was going to be around a lot more now.
Yes, we stopped at Fun Works after spending three thousand on clothes and toys. Tyler was big enough now that he could ride the go carts by himself, but he surprised me by demanding I take him with me in the two-seaters. All the kids had to take turns with me since neither Grandma nor Nanny would get in the things. So, for the next five hours I went round and round the little course in the go cart. Each time I had a different niece or nephew riding with me. Our fun didn't end because the kids kept on getting Nanny or Grandma to buy them junk food while I occasionally got a soda and five minute break before one of the kids demanded it was their turn. I was actually relieved when my cell phone rang and it was Renault telling me the coroner was releasing April's body.
The kids pouted all the ways home until I told them if they didn't cheer up we would never go back. Nanny told me to stop at KFC for dinner before I dropped them off at the hotel. Then I drove down to the morgue to sign some papers. I also met with the local funeral director there and we made arrangements for them to prepare my sister's body for a memorial service in two days, then for shipping it back to California.
Of course, that's where the press caught up to me as I exited the morgue. I spoke briefly to them and then got into my SUV. I drove around for a few minutes, tears in my eyes when a question occurred to me. Why did Ann and her family refuse to take the kids? I mean what was the real reason? There was only one way to get the answer to that, so I drove to her home. She lived in a decent double-wide trailer, and I shuddered as I realized it was surrounded by reporters. Unfortunately, they saw me before I could turn around, so I went ahead and pulled up in the driveway. I ignored them as unlatched the fence and walked up to the porch. I didn't even have to ring the doorbell before the door opened and I was face to face with Charlie's older brother.
"Get in here before they start yelling more questions." He said with a slight smile on his face.
"Hi Donny." I said a little unsurely. I wasn't certain how I would be received here.
"Hi Dave." He said, shutting the door behind me as I walked into the living room. Ann was sitting there on her recliner and she stood up as I entered. I was surprised when she hugged me close.
"I am so sorry about April." She said as we hugged.
"I'm sorry about Charlie." I said, and was surprised I meant it. She had loved her son, and I couldn't demean her or her love for her child.
"He got what he deserved." She said coldly, much to my surprise.
"Ann?" I asked, unsure of what to say.
"Don't be so surprised, Dave." Ann said. "I loved my son but this last year he just kept getting worse and worse. I told April she should call you and have you fly her and the kids out there four or five times but she wouldn't listen. It was only a matter of time till he fucked up like this."
"Oh." Is all I could think to say.
"I didn't like your sister for a long time." Ann went on. "But in the last year she really tried to get her act together. She quit doing drugs, she quit drinking for the most part. We spent a lot of time talking and I could see her actually becoming a better mother. I was getting to the point where I was proud of her. I'm really pissed that my son had to take it all away."
"I don't know what to say." I said.
"Tell me you're taking the kids back with you." She said firmly. "They love you to death and April said over and over again how if anything happened to her she wanted you to have them. I happen to agree with her. You'll make a good parent.'
"Ann, is that why y'all refused to take them?" I asked in astonishment.
"Exactly." Ann said, smiling. "I knew if we didn't take them you as next of kin would be able to get them easier. I hated having to let them stay in a shelter but it was only for the night so I figured they'd be okay. If we kept them here at all, those assholes in the government would try to keep them from you because of who you sleep with and I won't have any truck in that."
"Well, it almost didn't work." I said, sitting down on the couch. Donny brought me a glass of sweet tea and both lit up cigarettes. I broke my year long record of not smoking and bummed one off of Donny as I told them of our meeting with Carol earlier this morning. She approved of how we were handling things, then asked me if I would be upset if they attended April's memorial. I told her I'd be upset if she didn't attend. Then she told me they were having Charlie cremated and would only have a private service at their church.
"Ann," I said after a few minutes. "The kids have all grown up with you as part of their daily lives. I really hate the idea of you not seeing them because we live on different coasts. Would you object to making arrangements for them to spend a few weeks, and some holidays here?"
"That's one thing I've always liked about you, Dave." She said with a smile. "You're always thinking about other people and looking out for them. I'd love to have the kids out here a couple times of the year. I hope they will always be able to know they have family out here as well."
"Good then." I said, smiling. It was getting late. "We'll talk more after April's buried and work out some arrangements."
"Thank you Dave." Ann said.
"There's something I should tell you about as well." Donny said, his face grim. "We had a visitor this morning. Here's her card. She said she would pay us $20,000 if we would try to keep the kids. We told her to get out, but she gave us her card in case we changed our mind. Don't worry, we've talked to all the family out here and no one is even willing to accept her offer. Mom said she'd disown anyone who did."
"Thank you, Donny." I said, looking at the card with the name of James' mother on it. My stomach turned over at this further proof of her involvement in trying to make our lives more difficult. I put it in my wallet. We talked a little more before I decided to leave. I'd see them again at the Memorial we would hold here for April. I also told them I'd speak to the press and try to get them to leave Ann's home. I hugged Ann before leaving and shook Donny's hand. When I reached the gates, the lights of the television cameras shone in the darkening night and I almost squinted. I stepped up to them and spoke into the microphones that reporters thrust into my face.
"On behalf of the Williams family, and my own family, I would like to thank you for the concern and sympathy expressed by you and by many people." I began. "There will be a Memorial service in two days for my sister, April. I have been informed that her husband's remains will be cremated and that a small, private ceremony will be held at an undisclosed location. I also beg the members of the press to grant the Williams family some privacy. They are not used to the attention you are giving them and it is making an already difficult time more difficult. The recent events have created no rift between our two families and will not do so in the future."
"What's going to happen to the children?" A reporter shouted out.
"Right now, the state of North Carolina has granted custody to my grandmothers. They will maintain temporary custody until a long term solution is found."
"Will you take custody of them?" Another reporter asked.
"I'm not sure yet. There are a lot of things that have to be discussed before we reach that point." Was my tactful response. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my hotel and check on how my grandmothers, nieces and nephews are doing."
I left them and went back to the hotel. The kids were all over me as I walked into the room, and I noticed how tired Nanny and Grandma was. That's why I took them back to my room and turned on the television. By 10:00 p.m., they were all passed out on my bed and I spent a good twenty minutes getting them undressed and tucked in. Just as I was about to sleep on the couch, Tyler woke up and pulled me into the bed, refusing to let me sleep anywhere else as he cried himself back to sleep.
The next morning I woke up to a camera flash going off. Nanny stood at the end of the bed with a disposable camera and was smiling. I was covered in kids arms and legs and couldn't help but chuckle. Waking them up was a chore. It seemed they'd inherited the family dislike of mornings.
While I watched the kids that morning, Nanny and Grandma disappeared to the funeral home to deliver a dress they had bought for April, pick out a casket and make arrangements for the memorial service. Of course they took one of my credit cards with them, at my insistence.
I took the kids to Ann's that afternoon and was grateful to see the reporters were all gone. Ann was delighted, as were the kids, to spend the afternoon together while I spent the time on the phone with James, the Studio, and the funeral home in Modesto. Transporting a body by air was a total pain in the ass with paperwork, but we eventually got that settled as well. Nanny and Grandma took a cab back to the hotel in the early evening, and I joined them with the kids for dinner.
That night we got out the clothes they had worn for Papa's funeral and got them ready for the next day. When it came time for bed, they all climbed into my bed after brushing their teeth and getting undressed. They all made it very clear I was expected to join them by leaving a place in the middle for me. As soon as I was settled, they all clambered on top of me so that they were all touching me as they slept. I laid awake for an hour silently wondering exactly how life was going to proceed from this point. While I loved them before, it was different now. I knew that when we returned to California, they would soon be mine by adoption. Unlike Nathan who only had a few years before he would graduate high school and leave as an adult, they would be around for a long time. It would be 11 years before Tyler reached 18, and Cindy the youngest would be in our home for fifteen years.
Talk about a life altering moment. I also realized that even after they were grown we'd still be their parents and have obligations and duties with them. Although I smiled at the thought of grandkids. With four of them, the odds were pretty good that they'd be straight and provide us with lots of grandkids.
Of course if they were gay we'd still probably wind up with grandkids. I mean look at the family James and I were building. I was so lucky that my man wanted a family.
The next day, our last in North Carolina, passed in a blur. We got ready for the Memorial Service and left early for the local funeral home. The service was beautiful, and packed with people. As we had requested, people sent donations to local women's shelters instead of flowers, so only the floral arrangements we had arranged were there.
The local shelter raked in over $300,000 from donations in April's name and even named a wing of their expanded shelter after her.
After the funeral service was over, I met with the director to sign some more final papers. Then it was time to head for the airport. We boarded the plane and were off on our way back home. A limo was waiting for us at the airport and it took us home. I was never so glad to see James as I was at that point. His hug was so comforting and I cried into his shoulder for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Nathan was busy getting acquainted with his new brothers and sisters. After leaning on James for a while, I looked up and saw that he was now covered in a pile of kids. The smile on all of their faces told me that things were going to be good.
James and I talked quietly all evening about everything that had happened. He surprised me when we began to talk about adopting the kids. Nathan's adoption hearing was scheduled for the next week, so we were scheduled to sign domestic partnership papers to legally adopt him together. He had the papers all filled out, waiting only for my signature. He'd also done some fast talking with the State of California and our lawyer. Next week, after we got done burying April, we would be having a hearing to adopt all five of them at once.
Since I was their uncle, a lot of red tape was being cut.
Bedtime came around and I was surprised once again. James, Nathan, Justin, and Chris had gone shopping and converted two bedrooms into heaven for kids. New furniture, new wallpaper, and electronic equipment and toys filled both rooms. The kids fell in love with their new rooms immediately and took another hour to calm down before they fell asleep. James and I retired to our own room and were just kissing when our door opened. It was Tyler, and he was crying.
James picked him up and put him in bed with us. Next thing I knew, the door opened again and the other three kids filed into the room, followed a few minutes later by Nathan. James and I smiled at each other as everyone got settled into bed.
We hugged our new family as we drifted off to sleep and I thanked God again for the man I was sharing my life with.
Here it is. I had to rewrite this twice because I failed to save it! I hope that nothing too much was lost in the re-writing. Take care!
DK