Pushing Up Daisies

by Jamise L. Dames

  “Do you mean ‘the last resort’?”

  Kenneth nodded and patted his briefcase.

  The Stevenses’ lawyer closed with how much they’d be able to provide financially for Jay, topping it off with a list of the colleges they could afford. Daisy looked around. There must have been some mistake. They didn’t call anyone to testify on their character or suitability as parents. I guess they do believe that their money talks.

  Kenneth asked permission for counsel to approach the bench. Daisy couldn’t hear what was going on, but she could tell from the Stevenses’ lawyer’s expression that whatever it was, he wasn’t too happy about it. She heard him ask the judge not to admit it as evidence. Then the judge said loudly, “This is not criminal court. It’s not only my job, but the state’s job, to make sure that the child is in the best care.”

  Daisy sat back and watched Kenneth work. He called Camille to the stand first. She testified that she’d witnessed Jay being mistreated. Camille then gave her credentials as a doctor of psychiatry and urged the court not to let Jay wind up in an office like hers later on in life because the wrong decision had been made. She looked at Daisy and smiled, then pointed to her. “She’s his mother, the one he belongs with.”

  Mrs. Tompkins testified next. She reaffirmed what Camille had said. “And I should know,” she added, “because I’m a supervisor for Social Services. I’ve been a social worker for twenty years.”

  The Stevenses’ lawyer had no questions.

  Daisy looked at Mrs. Stevens, who shot her a dirty look. Daisy continued to stare, until she won the stare-down. No way was she going to let some old, stuck-up, no-good grandmother intimidate her. She could show her what to do with her money. She’d raised Jay almost his entire life, and they were the ones who were after her son, not the other way around.

  Jasper’s stepfather sat up and glared at her. Daisy winked at him politely and turned her head. She wouldn’t give Chester-Chester the Child Molester a chance to ogle her. It was bad enough that he’d treated Jonathan coldly because he’d heard a rumor of his secret, but he had treated Jay the same way. Daisy admitted that the only reason the man was still breathing was because he hadn’t touched Jay. I’m not your wife, Daisy thought. I’d kill you dead first.

  “Any other witnesses?” the judge asked Kenneth.

  Ming Li stood.

  “Yes, four,” Kenneth replied, and accompanied Ming Li to the stand.

  Ming Li told her story. Guilt washed over the Stevenses. Their once brown complexions turned gray.

  “And Jonathan told you this directly?”

  “Yes,” Ming Li said as tears ran down her face. “And he cried when he told me.”

  The court fell silent.

  The judge stared at the Stevenses’ lawyer as if urging him to speak out in defense of his clients. But he didn’t. He sat stiff as a corpse.

  Kenneth paused, running his fingers through his hair as if thinking. “Your Honor, I’d like to call someone to the stand that can testify against the Stevens household. Rather, against one Mr. Elwyn Cane, the step-grandfather of the child. Mr. Thomas Black, please come forward.”

  As Thomas walked toward the front of the courtroom, Daisy watched as uneasiness and guilt unmasked Elwyn. He shifted in his seat and dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. She smiled when she saw him whisper in his wife’s ear and quickly walk out.

  Thomas was sworn in. Without hesitation, he told how Elwyn had attempted to fondle him on several occasions, but he’d always managed to escape. Pain and anger rose in his voice when he said that Elwyn had threatened to kill him if he ever uttered a word. Relief filled his voice when he explained how his mother had caught Elwyn red-handed, trying to pull Thomas’s pants down.

  The court stirred, and the judge called for Elwyn Cane, who was nowhere to be found.

  The Stevenses’ attorney kept his eyes on the floor and never cross-examined.

  Kenneth maintained his professionalism. “Your Honor, I’d like to call Dr. Berkley from DNA Labs of America.”

  Dr. Berkley approached the stand and was sworn in.

  “Dr. Berkley, this is the birth certificate that the state has on file for Jonathan Jasper Stevens, affectionately referred to as Jay. It states here that Jonathan Stevens is his father. However,” Kenneth said, holding up the lab report, “this is the DNA lab report from your company, the result of a DNA test performed on Jasper Stevens and Jonathan Jasper Stevens. Could you explain this to the court?” He handed the report to Dr. Berkley.

  Dr. Berkley put on her glasses and studied the document in her hand. “Oh, sure. I remember this case, because it was the first of its kind at our facilities. We tested it three times just to be sure.”

  “Yes, Doctor?”

  “Well, there was no way to genetically determine who fathered Jonathan Jasper Stevens, because the potential fathers are identical twins and, therefore, have identical genes.”

  The judge sat up and stared at the doctor. “Can you repeat that?”

  “Sure. There’s no way to prove who fathered the child in question. While the birth certificate lists one brother as the father, the DNA test states that the other brother is the father. Even if both men were alive, there’d be no possible way to prove conclusively who fathered the child.”

  “So,” Kenneth said, “let me make sure this is clear. You’re saying that either man could be Jay’s father—that both men could legally be his father?”

  “Well, it’s not for me to determine the legal status of the child. But both Jasper and Jonathan are his fathers genetically, because we can’t tell them apart by their DNA.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. That will be all.”

  A smile appeared on the judge’s face. “Well, that’s a first for me too. I assume there’ll be no cross-examination?” He looked at the Stevenses’ lawyer, who declined. “Well, then, let’s take a five-minute recess.”

  Daisy sat at the table feeling victorious, even though the court hadn’t yet ruled in her favor. She patted Kenneth’s hand in appreciation.

  “Here,” he said, sliding a blank envelope in front of her. “I forgot to give this to you. It came to my office yesterday sealed in a package addressed to me. That’s why it’s blank. Open it,” he urged.

  Daisy opened the envelope. As she carefully unfolded the papers, her mouth dropped. “Oh, no!” she breathed in disbelief as she stared at the insurance policy in her hand. She’d never thought about Jasper’s 401(k) and death benefits from work.

  Kenneth smiled. “Oh, yes.”

  Daisy’s ears were ringing. Jay was set for life. “I’m so happy that Jasper did this for him.” She hugged Kenneth.

  Kenneth patted her on the back and whispered, “Look on the next page…see what he did for you.”

  Daisy swallowed and turned the page. “Oh, shit!” she said out loud at the sight of all the numbers. She looked around and saw that everyone was staring at her, but she didn’t care. Tears ran down her face, and she closed her eyes, smiling. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.

  “Sometimes these things take time to clear. That’s what took so long,” Kenneth chuckled, squeezing her hand. “And ‘the last resort’ that Jasper wrote about is a video tape. While you can’t view it—neither can I—Jasper assured me it could save Jay if it ever was needed. Would’ve told you sooner, but I couldn’t.”

  The bailiff told both Kenneth and the Stevenses’ attorney that the judge would like to see them in the viewing room.

  Daisy sat as patiently as she could, but it took everything she had in her not to jump up and shout for joy. But she was sad too, thinking of all that she’d had to go through, most of which would have been avoidable had she and Jay received their money sooner. But a person had to suffer to grow, she admitted to herself. She wouldn’t be half the woman she was today if she hadn’t.

  Kenneth hummed on his way back to the table. The other lawyer kept his eyes downcast as he walked.

  The judge returned to the bench and banged the gavel, annou
ncing that court was back in session. “Ladies and gentlemen, I want you all on your best behavior. Jay is coming out to testify, and he’s nervous. He’s a good kid, and I can see why everyone wants him.”

  Daisy composed herself. She couldn’t wait to tell Jay that his father hadn’t forgotten him, that even though he was gone, he’d still managed to make sure that Jay was taken care of. She looked over at Mrs. Stevens and held up her papers. Take that, bitch. He doesn’t need your money.

  Jay emerged from the judge’s chambers. Daisy smiled at him as their eyes met. It’s going to be okay, she mouthed.

  He nodded and said, “I know.”

  “What did you say?” the judge asked him.

  “My mom told me that it’s going to be okay, and I said I know.”

  The judged smiled. “Your mom’s right.”

  Once Jay was sworn in, he took a seat and kept his eyes on Daisy. Tears were still running down her face, but for a different reason now. She hated that Jay had to sit on the stand and testify. He was too young to go through something like that. But according to the court, he was old enough to express his wants and tell the truth.

  Daisy kept her eyes on her lap while he spoke. She didn’t want the judge to think that she was influencing his answers. When Kenneth asked Jay how the Stevenses were treating him, Daisy’s eyes shot up.

  “Okay, I guess.” Jay shrugged. “I don’t really know them, and they don’t really know me. Sometimes I feel like I’m in the way. But my nanny likes me.”

  Daisy winced.

  “What about your mom—Daisy? How does she treat you?”

  Jay looked at her and smiled. “Are you kidding? My mom’s the best. We do everything together. She knows all about me, and she doesn’t make me eat oatmeal. I still have to eat broccoli and stuff like that, but not oatmeal. When I got to visit her, she even took me to see my dad’s grave. Grandma Stevens wouldn’t.”

  Kenneth approached the witness stand and leaned casually against it. “Jay, I’m going to ask you an important question, okay? I know you’re an honest boy, and I want you to tell me the truth. There is no wrong answer. It’s no trick question, and no one’s going to get mad at you. Who would you like to live with? Your grandparents, or your—”

  “My mom!” Jay interrupted him. “She said she’d never leave me, and I promised her that I’d never leave her. And I don’t lie to my mom.”

  Daisy nodded, blinking back her tears. Yes, baby.

  “That’s all, Your Honor. We rest our case.” Kenneth walked away.

  “Cross-examination?” the judge called out.

  “We rest,” the Stevenses’ attorney replied.

  The judge looked down at his podium and flipped through some papers, then cleared his throat. “Well, based on the testimony heard today and the sealed legal videotape that I’ve watched, my decision is made. Jasper Stevens spoke from the grave today and asked the court to save his son, Jay. He was thorough with his story, giving just about every detail spoken in this room. And because the court or doctors cannot dispute his paternity I will uphold that he is Jay’s father. I will also uphold his request as to where Jay shall be placed. The great thing about this case is that it proves that a person doesn’t have to be biologically related to love a child. A lot of the information revealed here was sad and enlightening. The DNA test taught me something I didn’t know. However, there was one thing that the DNA test didn’t need to reveal: no medical document or court can dispute where this child needs to be. Jonathan Jasper Stevens needs to be with his mother, Daisy Parker. Daisy Parker, I grant you full custody. Jay, you can go to your mother now.”

  “Come on, baby. Let’s go home.” Daisy held her arms out and embraced him.

  “Forever?”

  “Forever. I told you I’d never leave you.”

  Daisy sat at Ms. Christine’s kitchen table and watched through the window as Jay and Lani played outside. She was smiling so hard that her face hurt. Seeing her children playing together was magical, even if she was pretending to be an aunt to one of them.

  “They’re something else, hunh?” Ms. Christine said as she peeled an orange.

  “Yes, they are. They get along so well. Like brother and sister.”

  Ms. Christine shot Daisy a don’t-you-start-that look.

  “Don’t worry, Ma. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Good. Have you talked to Brea? She said she was going to call you.”

  “I just got here last night, Ma. When did she tell you that?”

  “This morning, when she dropped Lani off. Right before she went to work. You know she lost her baby?”

  Daisy shook her head. “No. I didn’t know. How is she?”

  “When you talk to her, ask her. I’m tired of being y’all’s go-between.”

  Daisy bit her lip.

  “And straighten your face before I warm your behind.”

  Daisy laughed. “Do you know how I can reach Calvin? I want to talk to him about dropping his custody suit.”

  Ms. Christine smiled. “Yes, I have his number around here somewhere.” She got up from the table. “Let me go find it for you.”

  Daisy got up and walked outside onto the side porch. She leaned against the rail and watched the kids play softball. “You two be careful not to break your grandmother’s window. I don’t want to hear her mouth.”

  “Okay, Mom,” Jay said as he held the bat and waited for Lani to throw.

  “Yes, Aunt Daisy.” Lani wound her arm as if she were pitching for the big leagues. “You ready, Jay? ’Cause I’m going to dust you.” Her reddish, shoulder-length ponytail bounced with the movement of her head.

  “Because, Lani. Not ’cause.”

  Lani smiled. “Okay, Aunt Daisy. I’m still going to dust him, though.” She giggled.

  “You wish,” Jay said.

  Ms. Christine tapped Daisy on the shoulder and handed her Calvin’s number. “Here you go. Use the phone in my room, in case you want to show out again,” she teased.

  Daisy sat on her parents’ king-size bed and propped herself up on the many pillows. Well, here goes nothing. She dialed.

  A woman, whom Daisy assumed was Calvin’s wife, answered on the second ring.

  “Hello, this is Daisy Parker. Is Calvin in? I’d like to speak to him about Lalani.” Daisy figured she’d give his wife all the information up front. She wouldn’t want some woman calling her house and just asking for her husband. She wanted to show her the same respect that she’d want to receive if it were her on the other end of the line.

  “Just a second,” the woman said cordially, and put Daisy on hold.

  “Yeah?” Calvin said.

  Daisy cleared her throat. “Calvin, would it be possible for us to meet and talk about Lani? I’ll be here until my son’s spring break is over.”

  Calvin was silent for a moment. “Just a second.”

  Daisy could hear him relating her request to his wife. She smiled when she heard his wife tell him to meet Daisy.

  “Where do you want to meet?” he asked when he returned to the line.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  She heard the phone fumble on Calvin’s end.

  “You can come over here and talk,” his wife offered.

  “Thanks,” Daisy said. “When would be a good time?”

  “Now, if it’s okay with you. Write the address down. You and Calvin need to come to some sort of agreement.”

  Daisy rang the bell, stomping her feet to shake off the jitters.

  The door opened, and Calvin appeared. “Come on in,” he said, holding the screen open.

  Daisy stepped inside and looked around, admiring his wife’s taste and simplicity. Not a thing was out of place.

  Calvin gestured toward the sofa. “Sit down. Would you like something to drink?”

  “That’s okay,” Daisy said, wanting to make her visit as short as possible.

  Calvin sat down across from her.

  “Where’s your wife? She’s welcome to sit in.
I don’t want her to feel as if I’m disrespecting.”

  “She’s in the bedroom. She’ll be out to meet you when we finish. Lani’s our daughter. She won’t take part in any decisions, but she’ll support mine.”

  Daisy shook her head. “Okay. Well, you know I’m here to talk about custody.”

  “You want custody?”

  Daisy shook her head. “You know I’d love to have her. But, no, I’m not going after her. I’ve done a lot of thinking, and a lot of growing. It wouldn’t be fair for me to rip her from the only parents she’s ever known.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. I just got Jay back, and I realized a lot while I was fighting for him. It hurt both of us when he was taken away. I’m the only mother he’s ever known. Call it a revelation—a deciding factor.”

  Calvin scooted to the edge of his seat. “Daisy, let me ask you a question. How well do you know Lani?”

  Daisy swallowed hard. “Not too well. Hardly at all. I’d seen her a couple of times, but then I disappeared for a while. Personal reasons.”

  “So you understand how much it kills me not to know her.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m here to ask you to give up on the custody suit, but I’m not suggesting that you give up knowing her. I think I’ve come up with a solution. If we can convince my sister, then we should all be happy. Satisfied, at least.”

  “What’s the solution?”

  “Well, Lani doesn’t have godparents. I remember that much. Maybe you and I can be her legal godparents. That way, if anything should ever happen…”

  “I gotcha.” He paused. “As much as I’d like to say no, it may be a good idea. It wouldn’t be fair for us to disrupt her life. If we were her godparents, we wouldn’t be yanking her away from Brea, we’d just be adding to her circle.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, if it’s done legally, I don’t see why not.”

  Daisy sat on the swing next to her sister as Jay and Lani played on the park’s playground. She looked over at Brea and thought she was still just as beautiful as she’d been when they were teenagers. Her thick, sandy-brown hair still hung down her back, and her deep brown eyes were still as wise as if she’d lived a few times before.