Tailspin

by Karen D. Badger

  Tara hung up the phone before the woman could say anything else, and lay on the bed, stunned. Numbness began to spread through her legs. She pulled the covers up over her head. "Oh, my God," she said. She scanned her memory for what the word 'oncology' meant. It was a word whose meaning was burned into her brain forever. She heard the word so many times when Skylar was ill with leukemia, she could spell it in her sleep.

  Cancer? Does that mean Mama has cancer? Now what did the lady say...oh, yeah, call the Breast Center Oncology Unit for her test results, she repeated to herself again. Tara closed her eyes tightly and tears escaped between her lids. Oh, God, no! Don't let her have cancer!

  ***

  "Shannon, Julie, I need to talk to you before we go into the courtroom," Billie said. She ushered the two women into an interview room and closed the door behind them. "Please sit." She motioned them into the chairs on one side of the table and proceeded to pace back and forth in front of them.

  "Look, is there anything you know about Gary, or his family that you haven't told me?"

  Both women replied by shaking their heads no.

  "Good. Okay. You need to know that whatever happens in there, and no matter what I say or do during the course of this trial, I am doing it for your benefit, and I expect you to be supportive. No unsolicited comments, no sensational reaction...at least not until it's over. You hired me, you're paying me a lot of money, and you've got to trust me. Any questions?"

  Shannon stood and extended her hand to Billie. "You've got our total support, Billie. We are counting on you to come through for us."

  "And that's exactly what I aim to do. All right, it's nearly nine. We'd better get in there." Billie once more ushered the women to their next destination.

  Billie noted that Gary, his parents, several supporters, and his lawyer were already in the courtroom when they entered. John Mercier sent a sly, knowing look in Billie's direction. She made herself comfortable at her table and ignored his obvious attempt to make eye contact. Instead, she neatly placed her papers and notes on the table in front of her before she sat stiff-backed in her chair and looked straight ahead. She was the picture of professional confidence. Shannon and Julie on the other hand sat beside her, holding hands and looking nervously at each other.

  Finally, the bailiff entered from a door to one side of the judge's bench. "All rise and come to order. The court of the Honorable Judge Jonathan P. Williams is now in session," he announced. Everyone in the courtroom rose to their feet while the judge entered and sat himself comfortably behind the large wooden bench. Judge Williams looked first at John Mercier and then at Billie. "Mr. Mercier, Ms. Charland, I am familiar with your case. Ms. Charland, you may begin with your opening statements."

  Billie rose to her feet. "No opening statements, Your Honor."

  Shannon gasped audibly beside her.

  Judge Williams raised his eyebrows. "Very well," he said. "Mr. Mercier?"

  John Mercier rose to his feet. "I too would like to waive opening statements, Your Honor," he said. Again, he looked slyly in Billie's direction.

  Judge Williams sat back in his chair and narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Charland, Mr. Mercier, approach the bench please," he ordered.

  Billie and Mercier both rose and approached the bench, and looked at the judge expectantly.

  "This is highly unorthodox," he remarked. "I trust we are not going to raise a circus tent over the proceedings again today?"

  Billie smiled. "No, Your Honor. My clients and I are well prepared to make this as short and uncomplicated as possible."

  "And you, sir?" Judge Williams said to Mercier.

  "I agree with Ms. Charland, Your Honor. Short and sweet."

  "Good. Then we may proceed." He sat back in his chair as Billie and Mercier returned to their tables. Once both lawyers were seated, the judge spoke. "Ms. Charland, you may call your first witness."

  Billie stood and sorted through her papers. Finally, she found what she was looking for. Holding the paper in front of her, she announced. "I call Shawn Bennett to the stand."

  Gary Crawford instinctively stood and started walking toward the stand, and then stopped half way across the room when he realized what he had done. The entire courtroom fell silent. He looked at Billie with a 'deer in the headlights' expression on his face.

  Billie waved him on toward the stand. "Please continue, Mr. Bennett," she said.

  John Mercier shot to his feet. "I object!"

  Billie looked at the judge.

  "This had better be good, Ms. Charland," Judge Williams warned. "Overruled,"

  Mercier sat tentatively on the edge of his seat, a very worried expression on his face.

  Billie smiled and waited for the bailiff to swear the witness in. She approached a very nervous looking Gary Crawford and rested her hands on the railing in front of him. "Please state your name for the court, if you would," she said.

  "Gary David Crawford," he replied.

  Billie took a step away from him, and then turned back. "Mr. Crawford," she said, "Could you tell the court who Shawn Bennett is?"

  Crawford shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Shawn Bennett is my alias," he explained.

  "Alias? Why do you need an alias, Mr. Crawford?"

  "I object," Mercier exclaimed once more. "I fail to see what this testimony has to do with this trial."

  Billie looked at the judge. "I promise this will all make sense in a few minutes, Judge."

  "Overruled!" came the judge's reply. "You may continue, Ms. Charland."

  "So, Mr. Crawford, why do you need an alias?" Billie asked again.

  Crawford cleared his throat. "I'm a writer. Shawn Bennett is my pen name," he explained.

  "A writer?" Billie repeated. "Have you been published?"

  "Well, no, but..." he stammered.

  "Mr. Crawford, how many children do you have?" came Billie's next question, completely changing the subject.

  Gary Crawford looked dumb struck. "Ah, one. I have one. Kandy. Julie is her mother," he replied.

  Billie smiled. "So, Mr. Crawford, how do you intend to support your daughter if you should win custody?" she asked. "Are you counting on your writing skills, or do you have other employment?"

  Billie could see from the expression his face, that Crawford was totally unprepared for these questions. She was sure his lawyer assured him that the trial would be over before it could begin.

  "We'll...we'll live with my parents for a while...until I'm published, that is, and then we'll buy a house," Crawford answered.

  "I see." Billie walked back to her table, turned around, and leaned her backside against it. She crossed both her arms and legs in front of her. "One more question, Mr. Crawford. Where have you been for the past seven years?"

  "I have been Shawn Bennett," he replied. "I have been suffering from amnesia from a car accident, and I truly believed I was a writer named Shawn Bennett. I regained my memory about a month ago," he explained.

  Billie stood and once more turned her back to the man. "That is all, Mr. Crawford...oh, except for one thing. Your daughter's name is Kaleigh."

  Mercier lowered his head into his hands on the table and Crawford turned ten shades of red. Loud murmurs came from the audience. Shannon and Julie looked at each other and grinned. Billie simply returned to her seat and sat stoically.

  Judge Williams did his best to keep the grin from his face. "Your witness, Mr. Mercier," he said to Crawford's lawyer.

  Mercier reluctantly rose to his feet. "I have no questions at this time, but reserve the right to recall this witness," he said.

  "Mr. Crawford, you may step down," the judge said and made notes on the pad before him.

  Crawford was quite angry as he sat down next to his lawyer. The proximity of the defense and prosecutor's tables was such that Billie was easily able to hear his rasp to his lawyer, "I thought you said she would settle."

  "Call your next witness, Ms. Charland," the judge instructed.

  Billie once again rose to her feet. "I
call Marie Wentworth-Bennett," she announced.

  "Oh, my fucking God," Gary groaned and sank down into his chair as a beautiful redhead entered the room. Dressed to the nines, she walked sexily toward the witness stand. She stopped by the prosecutor's table along the way. "Hello, Shawn," she said.

  From her peripheral vision, Billie could see the excitement build in Shannon's and Julie's body language. She squeezed Shannon's hand to remind them to remain composed.

  Billie approached the stand after Ms. Wentworth-Bennett had been sworn in. "Please state your full name," she said.

  "Marie Wentworth-Bennet," she replied.

  "May I ask how you know Gary Crawford?"

  "You mean Shawn? He's my soon to be ex-husband," she replied. A loud rumble spread throughout the room.

  Mr. Mercier jumped to his feet. "I object, Your Honor!"

  "Mr. Mercier, I fail to see where you have grounds to object. Overruled!" the judge said.

  "Ms. Wentworth-Bennett, how long have you been married to Gary...I mean Shawn Bennett?" Billie asked.

  "Six years. Six years too long to tell you the truth."

  "Six years. Do you have any children with Shawn Bennett?"

  "Two boys, ages 3 and 4," the witness replied.

  Billie smiled and pointed to Julie. "Were you aware when you married him that he was already married to Julie over there?"

  Marie sent a hateful look in Crawford's direction. "No, I didn't. In fact, I didn't find out until you came to see me yesterday."

  Mercier looked at Billie with a shocked expression on his face.

  "Ms. Wentworth-Bennett, you said Gary Crawford was your soon to be ex-husband. I assume then that you have begun divorce proceedings?" Billie asked.

  "The divorce will be final in about a month...none too soon," she replied sternly.

  "Will Mr. Crawford receive alimony, a separation allowance or assets?" Billie probed.

  "That deadbeat asshole will not receive a red cent from me, or my family," she replied. "I was smart enough to insist on a prenuptial agreement before we were married."

  "I understand your family is wealthy," Billie commented.

  "Daddy is the CEO of one of the Fortune 500 companies. We are very comfortable to say the least," she admitted.

  "So is it fair to say that Mr. Crawford's life style is about to change dramatically?" Billie asked.

  "That is an understatement," Wentworth-Bennett said smugly.

  "Thank you, Ms. Wentworth-Bennett. That is all," Billie returned to her table.

  "Mr. Mercier," the judge said to Crawford's attorney.

  Billie noticed that Mercier been whispering to Crawford during her questioning of Crawford's soon to be ex-wife. Mercier now stood to address the court. "Your Honor, Mr. Crawford withdraws his bid for custody, but retains his parental rights," he stated.

  Billie felt like she had been punched in the stomach. If Crawford refused to give up his parental rights, it meant that Shannon could not adopt Kaleigh. She decided to play her last card.

  "Ms. Wentworth-Bennett, you may be excused. Ms. Charland, do you have any more witnesses to call?" the judge asked.

  Billie rose to her feet. "Your Honor, I do not have further witnesses, but I do have one more piece of evidence that I will ask the court to consider in Shannon and Julie Nash's bid to request the termination of Gary Crawford's parental rights."

  Billie approached the bench with a neatly typed one-page letter. She handed the letter to the judge and then walked back to the table and stood behind it while Judge Williams absorbed its content.

  When he finished, he placed the letter on the desk in front of him and looked at Billie. "Continue, Ms. Charland," he said.

  Billie picked up a copy of the letter from the table in front of her. "For the benefit of the court, the letter in question is a proposal from Mr. Crawford, delivered to me by his lawyer yesterday afternoon, with an offer to relinquish his parental rights for a sum of $500,000. Your Honor, Mr. Crawford is in effect offering to sell his child to Shannon Nash. I urge the court to consider this cold-hearted proposal during deliberations and to rule in favor of terminating Gary Crawford's parental rights. We further urge the courts to grant an adoption of Kaleigh Crawford by Shannon Nash. Thank you, Your Honor. My clients rest."

  Billie returned to her seat and let out a long sigh. Julie cried softly beside her, protected in the circle of Shannon's arms. Shannon caught Billie's eye and smiled reassuringly.

  Judge Williams sat back in his seat and for long moments said nothing. An uncomfortable silence settled over the courtroom. Finally, he leaned forward and rested his weight on his forearms. "Mr. Crawford, to your feet, sir," he commanded. "Sir, it is clear to me that you willingly deserted your wife and child seven years ago, and contrary to your claim of amnesia, I tend to believe you found a wealthy woman to take care of you, and settled in for the ride. Now, you return, in the throes of a divorce, just days before your biological daughter is about to be adopted by another, and propose a trade—your child for a half-million dollars—money you will certainly need once your divorce leaves you penniless. In addition, it is also clear that you have committed the crime of bigamy, having married Ms. Wentworth while still married to Julie Nash."

  Gary Crawford stood before the court with his chin lowered to his chest while the judge continued.

  "Mr. Crawford, I am appalled that you believe you still have the right to be a parent to Kaleigh Crawford. You gave up that right when you deserted her seven years ago. Never once, did you visit or contribute to her upbringing, yet you stand there and smugly deny a happy, healthy home life for your daughter in the adoptive custody of Shannon Nash and the child's biological mother, Julie. Sir, I am truly appalled. Therefore it is the ruling of this court that your parental rights are to be terminated immediately and permanent adoptive custody is awarded to Shannon Nash."

  The judge looked at the bailiff. "Mr. Keene, please take Mr. Crawford into custody, to be charged for the crime of bigamy and then to be released on his own recognizance until a formal hearing can be scheduled. This case is closed." The judge picked up the gavel and brought it down hard.

  Billie, Shannon and Julie all rose as the judge left. Shannon and Julie were about to explode with happiness. Billie looked at Shannon and grinned. "Congratulations, Mom." She extended her hand to Shannon, who brushed it aside in favor of an uncharacteristic hug.

  "Billie, we can't thank you enough," Shannon said.

  "My pleasure." Billie collected the folders and papers from her desk and re-packed her briefcase.

  "How about we take you and Cat to dinner tonight? I'm dying to know how you dug up all that dirt on Crawford," Shannon offered.

  Julie vigorously nodded her approval.

  "I appreciate the offer, ladies but now is really not a good time for Cat and me to commit to a date. Maybe next week?" Billie countered.

  "It's a date," Shannon said and extended her hand once more. "Once again, Billie, you have our undying gratitude."

  Billie returned the handshake. "Go home and spend time with your daughter. Be happy in your life. If you're happy, she'll be happy, and once more, congratulations."

  Billie continued to pack her brief case when Mr. Mercier approached her.

  "That was dirty pool," he said.

  "I warned you I play by the book, John. Producing Gary Crawford at the last minute was underhanded. You knew that child was better off with those two women. Why in God's name did you even agree to represent him?" Billie asked.

  "I'm not the bad guy here, Billie. Believe it or not, I had no knowledge of the other wife. All I know is that his parents contacted me and said they were representing their son in an effort to save his daughter from being adopted against his will. I was unaware of the dirty laundry behind all of this. You did your homework well," he said, extending his hand. "Congratulations."

  "Thank you." Billie picked up her briefcase and glanced at her watch. "Time to go," she announced. "I'll see you later, John."

&n
bsp; ***

  Cat and Billie arrived home nearly simultaneously that afternoon. After the custody trial that morning, Billie went back to the office and completed filing the paperwork associated with the case, and then worked to clear her calendar for the next two days. By midafternoon, she was ready to go home and informed her secretary that she was taking a four-day weekend and not to disturb her unless Art designated it an emergency.

  When Cat arrived at work that morning, she had a full schedule of surgeries that would take her well into the afternoon. As luck would have it, her last surgery was canceled, which was fine by her, since she struggled to keep her mind on her job. All she could think about was her test results. Her nerves were on edge all day as she waited for the phone to ring. By the end of the day, her nerves were frazzled. She would have even welcomed bad news at that point. Any news was better than no news at all.

  Cat pulled into the driveway just as Billie stepped out of her own car. She waited for Cat to meet her in the driveway and then embraced her affectionately

  "Hi, my love," Billie said. "You're home early. How was your day?"

  "It was fine. My last surgery was canceled, so here I am."

  Arm in arm, they let themselves into the back yard and headed toward the house.

  "Any news from the breast clinic?" Billie asked.

  "None," Cat replied. "It's starting to worry me."

  They walked past the gate into the back yard and noticed Skylar sitting in the sandbox, with an array of dolls around her. "Hey, rugrat," Billie called. She directed Cat across the yard to greet their daughter.

  "Mommies!" Skylar shrieked. She jumped to her feet and ran to meet them.

  Several hugs and kisses later, Billie set Skylar back onto her feet and asked her how her day went.

  "Okay, except for Miss Grumpy," Skylar replied. She crossed her arms across her chest and pouted.

  "Miss Grumpy?" Cat asked.

  "Yeah, Tara. She's been mean to me all day," the little girl replied.

  Billie ruffled Skylar's hair. "Well, maybe she's just having a bad day."

  Skylar immediately plunked herself back down into the sand and started playing with her dolls again.