I got a few muffled chuckles as I threw each publication out at them after I tore out the articles. Munching on my meal between articles.
“Welcome back to the real world,” someone mumbled from the other side. I don't know which guy said it, I'll just put them all on the 'head on a pike' list. Serves them all right for not telling me, even though I threatened their lives if they ever spoke of her. This was getting exciting again, seeing what my girl has done.
One newspaper had a web address to a video of her epic confrontation with the city council. This was the most exciting thing so far, I could hear her again! I put the now empty plate on the table and then looked at the curtain with a mischievous grin. “Internet! Give me Internet! I must have the three W's!” I spoke to the air. Darryl's hand appeared from behind the curtain, with a tiny wireless keyboard, pointing at the entertainment console in the wall by the table. He tossed me the keyboard blindly and I almost dropped it.
I stood and leaned forward and grabbed the curtain then yanked it open. Causing startled looks to appear on the guys as they turned toward me. I intoned “Pay no attention to the girl behind the curtain!” and stuck my tongue out at them. I looked around like I was about to share a secret then quietly whispered to the amused guys “Who wants to watch my girl kick a city's ass?”
The guys stood up and walked back and jockeyed for position around the screen. I typed in the web address to the Deaf American Project website into the browser, then selected the video link. I couldn't stifle a laugh at the name of the person who posted it, David Rand. The subtitled video jumped to life. My heart fluttered seeing this tiny redheaded goddess standing at the podium in front of the city council, with a standing room only crowd behind her.
I recognized the councilman speaking and connected it with the name I read in that article, Jim Pratt. Realization dawned on me, he was the man we spoke with at the library on that day I hold locked in my heart. He smiled warmly at my unflinching pillar of beauty, looking radiant in one of her signature sundresses. “The council cedes the floor to the lovely Miss Anabella Marie West. You have fifteen minutes ma'am.” My heart fluttered at the mere mention of her name.
I watched as she smiled back at him sweetly, then started signing as she spoke, her hands moving gracefully. “Thank you councilman Pratt. I would like to ask that the city council rescind the ban on me volunteering at the underprivileged children's shelter and the Story Time program at the public library. On the grounds that it is discriminatory and violates public, city, and state statutes. Not to mention the fact that it is morally repugnant.” I was impressed by her eloquence and confidence. Feeling a loving smile twitching at the corners of my mouth.
I found myself shifting nervously from foot to foot and raised a hand to start chewing on a fingernail as I watched this unfold.
The chairman of the council, Ben Ellington, according to the subtitles on the screen, addressed her. “I find it offensive that you would question our authority on this matter.” She smiled sweetly and spoke on an even keel. “And I find it offensive that you did not provide an American Sign Language interpreter at these proceedings. As is required by the persons with disability laws of this very city. Forcing me to read your lips through the left over egg salad you had for lunch and the toothpick hanging from your mouth.”
More than one of us snorted out loud on the plane, along with the crowd in the video applauding, it seemed they were on Bella's side. I covered my face with my hands, embarrassed by my own snort, the guys didn't seem to notice as their eyes were glued on the screen in front of us.
The chairman blustered sitting up straight and leaning out toward her, glaring. “I think we have heard enough, young lady. Moving on to other new business.” She responded in a dangerously measured but melodic voice, locking his gaze and narrowing her eyes, “I think not, Mr. Chairman. I have not ceded the floor, you are required to follow parliamentary procedure within these walls.”
She narrowed her eyes further. “Do not add that to the list of rules, regulations, and laws that were broken when you removed me from my volunteer positions. You WILL NOT take my children from me!” There were shouts of support and clapping from the crowd at that statement. She tilted her head slightly and challenged him with a slight raising of her eyebrows. “I love the children I work with, with all of my heart, and want nothing but the best for them.”
I caught Nick nodding in my peripheral vision and Darryl and Terry exchanging quick smiles before turning their attention back to the screen.
Bella was holding herself with such maturity and grace, it belied her young age. I was in awe. Her head was held high, with no indication of the nervousness she must have been experiencing.
“I have the right to know what laws, rules, or regulations I have broken to merit my removal. Can you clarify for me?” That left it dangerously open for him, the crowd was silent. I could almost see her feeding the rope out that he was about to hang himself with. I grinned and glanced at the guys, who were leaning forward, eyes still glued to the screen.
“Members of the public have voiced concern about a homosexual being in contact with the children of our community, putting them at risk. My office took steps to rectify that, and protect the city from liability.” he said, almost smugly, clasping his hands on the desk in front of him, a slight sneer on his face.
Bait taken, Hook! Bella smiled with a predatory grin. “So your reason is that you wish to discriminate against my sexual orientation because a minority of bigots asked you to? Why would the children 'be at risk' because I simply kissed my girlfriend?” She turned, speaking more toward the crowd. Then she appeared to stand up even straighter, regarding the council with an almost sideways glance as she did so.
She then turned fully toward the crowd, breaking out of her regal demeanor, smiling and addressing them directly. “And Miss Harris is a good kisser by the way, let me tell you.” She got the room chuckling, and me blushing as she turned back to the front, regaining her composure. My toes were curling and I felt a warmth spreading inside me. The guys beside me couldn't stifle their snickers, glancing between me and the screen, embarrassing me even further.
“Those 'bigots', as you refer to them, are the voters of this city and state. By kissing that woman in public you showed your low moral fiber and deviant sexual tendencies, that have put into question your motives in working with young children.” he sneered, leaning forward in his chair like he had just won the confrontation.
Line! Her eyebrow quirked slightly and I could tell she was fighting back a smile as the corner of her mouth twitched. “These voters are the same MAJORITY that voted in the anti-discrimination and anti-hate laws that you are flaunting? Or the same sex marriage law of this wonderfully marvelous state? This seems to contradict your assertion that you are doing it for them, if the majority are not bigots.” Bella paused, the crowd laughed and shouted support.
I smirked, God I was proud of her. I glanced over at the guys, they turned and shared a smile with me before we all turned back to the spectacle on the screen.
“Let me ask Mr. Chairman, have you ever kissed your wife outside of your house?” Anabella raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. I tilted my head, anticipating his response just as Bella had. He huffed, thrusting his chest out “Of course I have.” I squinted an eye and formed my lips into a silent “oooooo” in fake pity for the man. She was skillfully leading the man to the slaughterhouse and he just wasn't aware of it.
And Sinker! “So does that not mean that by kissing your wife in public, you show your low moral fiber and deviant sexual tendencies? Are the children around you in danger? Should we question your motives around them?” There was more chuckling from the crowd and I had to raise a fist to my lips to stop myself from joining the crowd's reaction. The guys didn't show that much restraint as they all snickered beside me. I placed both hands flat on the table and leaned in closer to the screen.
“Of course not!” he blustered. “I'm married!” Bella mocked a look of underst
anding, nodding her head “Oh, I see. So you were only a danger to the children BEFORE you were married.” Everyone was outright laughing and clapping in the crowd, some council members looked to be fighting back smiles as well.
I was so flipping proud, watching this video, she just tore this man down while defending not only herself but a half a dozen other causes like it was nothing.
“You will not make a mockery of these proceedings!” he snapped at Anabella and then glaring at the crowd. Bella suddenly looked fierce, snapping her eyes directly at him in a glare and stepping in closer to the microphone. She pulled herself up to her full 5'-3” stature, but looking two hundred feet tall to me, her voice suddenly frigid, the melody gone and venom dripping from every word. “No, I leave that to YOU sir. I believe a vote is in order! I cede the floor back to councilman Pratt!” Dismissing any argument that Ellington may have had as she turned and smiled sweetly at Mr. Pratt.
She took two steps back from the podium and the room went wild. In my mind it really did rival the roar of the crowds at my concerts. Cheering and whistling and shouts of support continued, with the chairman pounding his gavel, his face red and his other hand clenched in a fist. “Order! We will have order in this chamber!” I snickered, thinking it looked like steam was going to blow out of his ears at any second.
Jim Pratt stood and the crowd settled. “I make a motion to rescind the ban on Miss Anabella Marie West's valuable volunteer work for our city.” Immediately a councilwoman hastily stood and chimed in. “I second the motion.”
The chairman looked like he was chewing nails as he said, “All in favor?” Five yeas chimed out. “All opposed?” The chairman and one other voiced their nays. With a swing of his gavel he conceded “Motion carried five to two, no abstentions. Will the clerk please make a note.” he croaked with a tone of disbelief and resignation in his voice. Anabella had a satisfied smile on her face as she breathed out a sigh of relief.
Everyone mobbed Anabella with congratulations as the video ended. If it was possible to fall even deeper in love with the woman, I think that watching this video just accomplished the feat. I was beaming with pride as I looked at the guys, raising a cocky eyebrow at them, inviting comments about my girl.
Nick shook his head whistling, hair flopping around. “So that is THE Anabella? She's what? Nineteen? And here I thought YOU were tough.” Darryl shuddered in mock fear. “Scary lady is scary! That was an awesome smack-down. That fool didn't even realize she was leading him around with a nose ring.” We all turned and looked at Terry for his reaction. He raised his hands in front of himself defensively “Why are you looking at me? I never pass up the chance to watch a hot chick.”
I rolled my eyes. Perv! We all started grabbing anything we could find laying around on the table and threw stuff at him “Eyes off my girl you!” I warned with a grin. He was almost funny there, old age dementia must be setting in.
I sat back down, leaving the curtain open for the rest of the flight, while practicing my sign language. Worrying immensely about my girl on this one day that she shouldn't be alone, yet I had left her alone. But my anxiety was tempered a bit by the display of strength and courage I had just witnessed.
Before I knew it, we were taxiing on the runway, rumbling into a hangar. My nerves were eating me alive. I took Bella's articles out of my neurosis box. Clutching the box to my chest as we departed. I walked to the doorway and looked down the stairs onto the tarmac at a waiting Sarina. I looked around but saw nobody else, my heart dropped a bit at the fact that Tammy and June weren’t there.
I walked down the steps, visibly afraid and ashamed, only glancing back and fourth between Sarina and the ground. As I approached Sar, I could feel her eyes searching me. Feeling tears starting to burn my eyes, I raised my hand and held out the articles to her, shaking them as if accusing the world of a cruel joke while cradling my box in my other arm. Then I broke down crying. “I really had no idea, no clue. She fought alone. While I hid.”
She quickly stepped to me and put her arms around me in a gentle hug, kissing the top of my head as I was wracked with sobs, leaning into her. “Shhhhh. It's okay Mandy. Shhhh. Welcome home. We love you.”
I choked back the tears and straightened myself back up, trying to regain some dignity. Then I backed up a step from her and slammed the clippings back into my shoe box in resolve. “I love you all too, and I have missed you so very much.” A half smile twitched on my lips. “Let's go get my girl.” The guys finished disembarking from the plane, looking uncomfortable and fidgety. “Ummm, I apparently have some baggage.” I snickered, tilting my head and motioning toward them with my eyes.
I made quick introductions as Sarina led us out to her van which was parked on the road behind the hangar. Lots of nodding and mumbling niceties followed as we walked. When I saw the van, I noticed Ham behind the wheel and I waved, then he shot a huge grin back at me and waved. I turned and suddenly my heart started beating double time, as I saw my car parked behind the van.
Tammy stood there leaning against it, with a tiny squirming bundle on her hip and a little redhead clutching her leg. A squeal that I'm positive could be heard for miles sounded out as a red colored lightning bolt zoomed over to attach itself to my leg screaming. “Mandy!” I couldn't help smiling ear to ear as she looked up at me.
“Hello precious Zoey.” I said, placing a hand lovingly on her little head and dragging myself, with her attached, to Tammy. I kissed Tams on the cheek and mouthed a silent “Hi.” to her as I retrieved my June from her. I cried tears of happiness, giving her kisses and hugs, and giggling back at her giggles, gurgles and squirming. Whispering to her, “I love you so much and have missed you baby.” I was filled with such warmth with my child in my arms. Is it possible to love someone this much?
I took a deep breath and scanned the motley crew around me, “Lets go get Bella.” I asserted loudly to everyone, “Yo, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Tweedledumber, ride with that statuesque redhead over there. I'm with the kid-mobile here. “Hey!” Tammy slapped my arm. I heard the guys arguing over who was Tweedledumber, shoving each other as they folded into the mini van.
Tams put June into the child seat with zero effort. Grrr. This nanny is so on my list! Then Zoey got strapped into a booster seat in the back. Without me even asking, Tammy threw me the keys with a wink and we were off to Harmony.
Chapter 16 – Transcendental
Tammy just kept smiling at me. “It truly, truly, is so good to see you again. Everyone here has missed you so much. You've done so much for that family, yet you've known them for such a short time.” And she reached over and placed a hand on my arm for a moment as I drove. I felt, I don't know (content?), when she said that, and I let a soft sigh pass my lips.
I glanced over and grinned, then turned my attention back to the road and offered “I've known them forever in my heart. Besides you were all with me every day, keeping me tethered and sailing into the wind.” I breathed deeply, then invoked Sarina's words, “If it weren't for the fact that you all weren't there, it would have been hard to tell you weren't.”
She reached up and placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. Then she looked down to my shoebox that was sitting on her lap. “What's in here?” She raised an eyebrow. I looked at her like it was completely obvious. “My heart.” I shrugged and shook my head like she should have understood.
I glanced upwards and did a double take and almost slammed on the brakes as I pulled to the side of the road. I opened the door, unbuckled my seat-belt and and slid out of the car, just standing there stiffly and looking up, not believing what I was seeing. I looked back as the van pulled up behind us, everyone watching me, but staying in the vehicles.
I looked back up at the large billboard, an advertisement for a LGBT gay rights campaign, with a giant picture of my Bella, the caption reading “You WILL NOT take my children from me!” My God she's beautiful. I pressed a hand over my heart, feeling it speed up.
I looked back at the van, at Sar and Dave as
I pointed at the sign in bewilderment. They all nodded in amusement. I took one last look at the billboard, tracing Bella's lips with my eyes. Oh how I miss those lips. I just shook my head in disbelief then tore my eyes from the sign as I turned to get back in the car. Moments after I closed the door and refastened my seat-belt, we resumed our quest. My fingers impatiently tapping on the steering wheel.
I looked at Tammy, still in shock, she tittered at me. Yes, she actually tittered! The wench! Then she said, “And you don't know the half of it yet.” Her eyes were sparkling with mischief and her smirk promised more to the story. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish gasping for air, trying to form a witty response, but I had nothing so I snapped my mouth shut and stared at the road ahead. Frustrating!
Then a random thought suddenly struck me straight out of left field, a thought that made me feel like the biggest idiot that has ever walked the face of the Earth or Mars. Though it was too late to help now. “Frank!” I whispered. I smacked the steering wheel.
I glanced over sheepishly as Tams looked at me, reading my face, hearing Frank's name. I could see realization dawning on her face too. To her credit she looked like she had just bought a ticket to walk beside me on Mars. She automatically pulled her phone from her purse by her feet and hit a speed dial, as I turned my full attention back to the road.
I once again found myself shaking my head. We could have got Sarina to Bella so much faster if we were capable of this single coherent thought earlier.
“Frank? Hi it's Tammy Shelton... Is Mrs. Wellington in your office today? In a few minutes? Yes. Could you please inform her that she is needed at Harmony immediately? Tell her it is Anabella, she will understand... Yes, thank you. Bye.” she hung up.
I could see Tammy shaking her head in my peripheral vision, “We are such idiots.” I shook my head in agreement. “Hey, speak for yourself chickadee, I'm on the fool train over here.” Tammy laughed shakily. “It will take her a couple hours to drive down. We'll be there in ten minutes.”
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