Legal Action - Box Set

by Kimball Lee

  “Got it, let’s see now if I can just figure out this measuring part,” Dr. Hollon said loudly, he was older than Charlotte and Finn expected and a bit odd, but he was well respected, “We have you listed at seventeen weeks gestation but I believe you might be a bit further along. Yes, let’s just say closer to nineteen weeks. One last look then, I’m sure you want to count the fingers and toes, am I right?”

  The wand moved over and around her abdomen and various parts of the child flashed onto the screen, a tiny torso with arms that moved and hands that seemed to wave as the doctor and parents watched. The legs were pulled up against the body and then one leg kicked with its tiny foot and Charlotte began to cry.

  “I felt it!” she smiled through her tears, “I felt that kick!”

  Finn leaned to kiss her and rested his cheek against hers; the doctor smiled and let them have their quiet moment.

  “Ah yes, a very accommodating baby indeed,” Dr. Hollon said finally, “Would you like to know the sex? I don’t like to say before twenty weeks normally, but I’d be willing to go out on a limb if you like.”

  “No!” Charlotte and Finn in unison and then laughed as the doctor moved the wand away and switched off the computer screen. “Everything is quite well my dear, I believe we’ll be expecting this little one a bit sooner, let’s reset your due date to the middle of May, the fifteenth, how does that sound? Now let’s just clean you up and you’ll have some lovely pictures to take home.”

  Jude arrived for the weekend after he finished at the hospital, and he couldn’t wait to see the sonogram images.

  Finn sat on the sofa showing him the pictures and voiced some concern that the doctor was a bit of an old eccentric.

  “The baby’s perfect, Finn absolutely perfect. Tell me the exact due date and I won’t schedule anything that week. I’ll be right there in the room if I’m needed and I’ll see to it that nothing goes wrong.”

  Charlotte had gone upstairs to take a nap and Finn made a fire to warm the bedroom for her, then sat in the living room with Jude watching the Manchester United game on TV.

  “I’ve looked at countless sonogram images,” Jude said, “none quite as heartwarming as seeing my own niece or nephew.”

  “I hope I’ll be a good dad, we didn’t have the best role model, after all,” Finn said quietly.

  “Dad got sober toward the end, and he hated himself for what he’d been. Mum’s forgiveness meant everything to him but he regretted that the two of you never worked things out,” Jude said, being careful with his words.

  “Yeah well, regret’s a real bitch isn’t it?” Finn said, as he watched the game, “I suppose Mum’s heart is softer than mine or maybe being beaten by him wasn’t as bad for her as it was for the son who had to stand by and watch it happen.”

  “Finn, I didn’t know how bad it was after I left home, when I was growing up he yelled and broke dishes or furniture, I never saw him hit her.”

  “Well I tried to tell you once or twice didn’t I? I’m sure the bright lights of London and all the diversions of medical school and fucking nurses nonstop was much more interesting than the terrors at home,” Finn said, and the venom in his voice made Jude look away.

  “I should have paid more attention, I shouldn’t have been so wrapped up in my own life that I never came home again, is that what you want me to say?” Jude asked.

  “I want you to care about turning your back on your family. I want you to fucking give a shit that I finally had to beat our drunken father within an inch of his life before Mum got up the courage to leave him. I want to know why you took that sorry bastard in and forgot about your own mother and why that fucking drunken wife beater meant so much to you.”

  “Alcoholism is a disease, Finn, and he was still our father, I had to try and help him. I swear I didn’t know he was beating Mum; you were seventeen when you nearly killed him, why didn’t you ever call me before it came to that? Don’t you remember any of the good times? He wasn’t always a drunk, when you were little you worshipped him and we had a decent family life. I’m ten years older than you, his drinking got worse but I’d already left home and I suppose I didn’t care to know what was happening, so I stayed away,” Jude rested his head in his hands, he had a pounding headache.

  Finn stood and stalked around the living room, his mind wouldn’t be still so he started to pour a drink of whiskey then he stopped and put it away.

  “Pour myself a glass of whiskey and bitch about my drunken father fucking up my life, that makes sense,” he said, he was agitated as he sat and faced Jude. “I don’t know why I didn’t call you when things got bad, I was struggling to keep the girls out of his way and not let them see what was happening. I put myself between Dad and Mum, to let him hit me instead of her. Finally I was stronger than he was and I lost control,” he let out a long sigh, having at last given voice to his demons.

  “I hid behind healing the sick in London and although you went with Mum to America you hid, too. You killed for a living, Finn. Yes, they were deranged psychopaths, terrorists and murderers of women and children, but it must take a lot of rage to do that kind of work, don’t you think?” Jude asked, hoping he wasn’t pushing too far.

  “I’ve considered that, but no, I don’t believe that’s the final reason I did what I did. I was incredibly good at my job, as terrible as that might seem. I joined the Navy so I could go to college and when I finished SEAL training I was number one on my team, I’m excellent at being deadly accurate as a sniper and stealthy and… tough. For me it’s unfucking-believable to jump out of an aircraft, swim a dozen miles and take out a target. I get really calm under pressure and lose all fear and I don’t believe in backing down. I left official government service and became an ‘unknown’ operative, I was hired and paid well to rid the world of a few of the countless radically cruel thugs who use murder, rape and torture as a means of control and care nothing for any human life. Maybe I am crazy, but I’m one of the reasons you live a comfortable life and sleep soundly at night, you’d be shocked to know how many men like me exist and everything we do is to make the world a little safer.” Finn leaned back against the sofa then; he rubbed his eyes and was weary from the entire conversation. “How about we try to be friends, Jude? I can’t tell you how much I idolized you when we were kids, my brilliant big brother; you always looked out for me and let me tag along with you. It sort of broke my heart when you left and then it all went so wrong after that.”

  “Mum’s coming to stay this summer; we’ve talked every week since Thanksgiving. Can you imagine, Mum coming back to the U.K. after being away for ten years? We’re both excited; of course she’s really coming so she can spoil your new baby, but I think it’s great.” Jude’s eyes were merry as he told Finn his bit of good news.

  “Really? That is great; I can’t believe you two have been talking! You definitely have to share her with us, the both of you are welcome to stay at the cottage as often as you like. We’ll work out the sleeping arrangements and Charlotte’s panicking a bit, she’s never handled an infant, and honestly, neither have I. Mum can show us ropes… but I’m not trying to hi-jack your guest or anything,” Finn said, smiling a true-blue smile.

  “No, no it’s all good, we’ll work it out… and Finn, I do sleep better knowing my ‘not so little brother’ has made the world a safer place.”

  *

  Winter was a very cold, snowy affair turning into a very cold, rainy spring, then finally clearing up by the first of May.

  Henrietta had been invaluable at helping Charlotte and Finn pull the nursery together. She drove with Charlotte to all the shops and helped assemble the necessities as Charlotte stood oohing and aahing over one tiny outfit at a time. They bought whisper soft nighties and blankets and nappies (as diapers were called in England) and all the requisite baby furniture. Henrietta knew a woman who painted murals and she did the entire room with scenes from Peter Rabbit. The two women stepped back to admire the adorable nursery and just then there was the sound
of bumping on the stairs, they turned to look and Finn stood holding a big wooden rocking chair.

  “It’s from my coworkers in the law office, they asked what we needed and it was the only thing that came to mind.” He said and Charlotte and Henrietta couldn’t say a word, “Do you like it, my love, I hope you do, I imagine babies need cuddling.”

  When he placed it in the nursery, Charlotte wrapped herself around him as best she could with her very pregnant belly between them. After a few minutes they heard the front door close and Henrietta was gone.

  “It’s perfect, I didn’t think of a rocking chair, but it’s my most favorite thing in the nursery.”

  She led him to their bedroom and she slowly removed her clothes as they went, then she climbed into their big bed. She lay back and watched him undress, something she never grew tired of. His hair had grown much longer in the last nine months, and the glossy waves spilled over his shirt collar. She knew he’d never do it, but she thought he’d be truly beautiful if he let his hair grow as long as Jude’s. He had such masculine features, the longer hair suited him, she’d noticed women giving him increasingly appreciative glances and it was obvious they couldn’t help but stare. She didn’t blame them, they’d been married for nine months and they were friends long before that, yet she felt she would never have her fill of looking at him.

  “I know I need a haircut desperately, it’s getting a bit shaggy and doesn’t fit well with the business suit,” he said, tucking a strand behind his ear. He stood naked, admiring his wife stretched out across the bed. His heart beat wildly at the sight of her, she was glowing, and he thought it must be a mixture of happiness and hormones causing her to look like an earthbound angel. He lay down beside her, his hands and wonderful lips caressing her belly, he marveled at the perfect smooth roundness of it. The child moved within her and he thought it was the most astonishing miracle that his baby was alive and safe inside the woman he loved more than his own life.

  They made love more carefully than usual, lying on their sides, her back to his front. His hand kneaded her full breasts as he kissed her smooth neck and shoulders; she pushed her firm little ass against him and used her hand to help him enter her. He groaned at the feel of her silky, wetness as his cock pushed to open her. His hand moved to her swollen clit and she pulled her knees toward her chest so he could thrust more of his incredible length into her. As she quivered on the edge of orgasm she reached behind her and took his heavy balls in her hand, he gasped, his mouth hot against her neck. He felt her begin to pulse around him and they both fell over the edge of ecstasy.

  *

  On the twenty eighth of May, Charlotte had been in labor for almost twenty hours and Finn was in worse pain than she was.

  “Will someone please help her?” he shouted at the nurses and the obviously inept Dr. Hollon, “where is my brother, something’s wrong here can’t you see that?”

  Charlotte had been examined on Friday by Dr. Hollon and he announced she was nowhere near ready to give birth. He apologized for miscalculating her due date, saying next time he would call in the technician, so Jude had gone on to a medical convention in Geneva and his phone was going straight to voice mail.

  “Listen you ignorant bastard,” Finn hissed, grabbing the doctor by his lab coat, “I don’t want to hear ‘the baby isn’t in’ one more time, she is in distress and I want you to do something NOW you fucking imbecile!”

  “Finn, what’s going on? Dr. Hollon, how long has she been in labor?” Jude was there suddenly, and as he washed his hands and spoke to the nurses, he watched Charlotte over his shoulder. “The baby’s heartbeat?” he asked, and the nurse told him it had been steady but was now beginning to show signs of distress and Charlotte had been laboring for a day and a half with very little progress. “What are you thinking, Hollon, letting it go on like this? Are you insane?” he asked, he could tell Charlotte was in bad shape and he couldn’t believe the obstetrician had allowed her labor to continue so long.

  “I think possibly her pelvis is a bit narrow, but you know I’ve been accused of rushing to perform C-sections in the past, she’s a strong girl, I thought…” the doctor rambled until Jude cut him off.

  “Get out, you inept fool. You’re off the case, I’m taking over from here and I’ll see your license revoked if you’ve caused any damage.” Jude moved his gloved hands over Charlotte as she lay exhausted and defeated. “Alright Charlotte, we’re going to get you prepped and deliver this baby by cesarean, do you understand? It’ll all be fine shortly, you’ve been very brave and you’re about to a mother so take some deep breaths and try to relax.” He turned to Finn who looked as shell shocked as Charlotte, and said. “Wash up, little brother, and get a surgical gown on, I’ll have this baby out in a few minutes.”

  Jude held the scalpel above her abdomen and asked, “Can you feel that Charlotte, do you feel any sensation at all?”

  “No, “she whispered, “I’m just so tired.”

  Finn brushed her damp hair away from her face and held his cheek next to hers, he’d been in some rough situations but he’d never been as frightened as he was at that moment.

  “You’ll feel some pressure now, almost there, here we go, it’s a perfect little boy!” Jude said, and his voice was jubilant as he handed the baby to a nurse, “Finn, Charlotte, congratulations.”

  Finn took his swaddled son from the nurse and looked at his tiny face, the nurse said, “what a lucky boy, he has your beautiful mouth! I can’t remember when I’ve seen such a lovely newborn.”

  Finn held him for Charlotte to see, she was feeling better with the pain of labor finally gone.

  “Oh, he does have your mouth exactly!” she said, smiling at last. “A boy, oh he’s wonderful, he’s almost too pretty to be a boy!”

  Finn kissed her and looked deep into her eyes, he felt they’d arrived exactly where they were always destined to be, “congratulations Mummy,” he said, and they smiled and cuddled their brand new son.

  Days later as they prepared to leave the hospital, a nurse asked impatiently, “name please, we must have a name for the birth certificate before you can go home,” she looked from Charlotte to Finn, tapping a pen against her clipboard.

  They had talked about it for months while Charlotte was pregnant, comparing family names and popular names. They’d considered naming him John after John Paul or Henry which was Jude’s middle name. Charlotte had gotten her way, of course, being the expert at pleading her case. He would have only one name, Finn’s middle name, Atticus.

  “Atticus,” she said, peering down at her seven pound two ounce son, “a good name, after a fine lawyer in Southern literature.”

  *

  It amazed her to see her son sleeping on Finn’s chest; they were in the middle of the big bed, napping. Finn came home for lunch every day, and instead of eating, he curled up with the baby and slept. Charlotte loved to open the windows to the warm summer breeze and sit cross-legged on the bed just watching them. They were so alike, looking at their plump red lips made her weak with love. She knew if they had a daughter someday she probably wouldn’t have the good fortune to inherit Finn’s gorgeous mouth, but Atticus had, and she couldn’t stop looking at her adorable son.

  Finn’s mother, Georgina, would be arriving with Jude in the afternoon and Charlotte couldn’t wait for her to see Atticus. Jude already spent all his spare time at Dovecote Cottage, rocking his nephew and instructing Finn and Charlotte in the fine art of baby washing and feeding and diapering.

  The baby stirred on Finn’s chest and began to wiggle around searching for his lunch.

  Finn handed him carefully to Charlotte, and said, “He requires his mum, I believe.”

  She rocked and comforted him as she unbuttoned her blouse and lifted him to her breast. His pretty little mouth went to it instinctively and he was happy and content.

  Finn brushed the top of the baby’s head, it was covered with fine dark hair and it seemed his wide eyes would be sapphire blue like his mother’s. �
�He knows what makes him happy, I’ll give him that,” Finn said watching his son at Charlotte’s breast. “It breaks my heart into a million little pieces when I see you with him like this, but in a good way, I mean. It’s like when I fell in love with you in the very beginning and I knew my heart had broken apart and your name was tattooed there, now his is, as well.

  *

  When Jude drove up to the cottage, he barely had the car parked before Georgina hopped out and rushed inside.

  “Mum, come in,” Finn said, but she wasn’t interested her son, she was looking for her grandson.

  Charlotte walked down the stairs with the baby in her arms and Georgina took him and peered down at his face.

  “My heavens, it’s like looking at Finn and Jude when they were babies all over again! Oh, he’s beautiful, Charlotte, do you see that perfect red mouth, it’s a hallmark of the Hale men. Oh, you precious angel!” she said as she carried him upstairs, some kind of grandmotherly homing device leading her directly to the rocking chair.

  *

  The summer passed so quickly, with the family together and everyone gaga over little Atticus. Georgina loved his name and told them, in fact she had used it as Finn’s middle name because of her love for the book To Kill a Mockingbird. JP came to stay for only a few hours, he just wanted a glimpse of his God son, he said, but he had to get back to some pressing matters. Charlotte saw a look pass between Finn and JP and goose bumps rose on her arms despite the warm August air.

  Henrietta basically kidnapped Georgina from Jude, the two women were close in age and even though they had different temperaments, they became good friends. By the close of a weekend one or both of the women would have a valid argument as to why Georgina should spend the rest of the week in Surrey. They were two hens fussing over Atticus, rocking and spoiling and pronouncing him the finest baby who ever existed.