Gen. 5.20-Matthew

Dad tried to convince me not to do this. With everything that had happened yesterday and this morning, he told me I’d had a panic attack and passed out. He didn’t think I could handle any more stress, but I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t even know why I had to be here, they knew it was Kia, she was found in her room, but they said it was procedure. That same word Ms. Logan stated when she showed up. Everything was procedure. They needed her next of kin to make a positive ID, so here I stood looking down at my wife. I kept hoping this was a bad dream, that at any moment I’d wake and the nightmare would be over. She was gone. She’d spent the last few hours of her life probably scared and angry, thinking she was unwanted. Her father had abandoned her and then I sent her here. Why didn’t she believe I would come back for her? Why did she do this?

I felt a hand on my shoulder. “They need you to sign some papers.”

I followed Dad over to the desk area then signed where I was instructed. The doctor muttered his condolences as he handed me a plastic bag labeled patient belongings. Inside were Kia’s clothes. He then handed me a smaller bag that held her wedding ring.

“She never took it off. Why did you take it off?”

“Um, the patients aren’t allowed jewelry or any personal effects. She would have gotten it back when she was discharged.”

“Put it back on.”

The doctor looked over at Dad first before replying. “Sir, that’s not our policy…”

“I don’t care!” I yelled interrupting him. “She needs to have it on!” I continued, taking a step towards the man.

Dad stepped between us. “Matt, we’ll take it with us and make sure it’s put back on at the funeral home. We don’t want it lost or stolen in transit.” The doctor looked grateful for his assistance. I stuffed Kia’s ring in my pocket before walking out the cold, metal doors. I needed out of this place.

“Mr. Solo.” I heard being called out behind me; I turned to see a man hurrying our direction. “Mr. Solo, I’m so glad I caught you,” he said, stopping to catch his breath. “I’m Mr. Owen, hospital administrator. We are all so deeply sorry for your loss.”

I looked at the man. He had beads of sweat pooling on his wrinkled forehead. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. I didn’t know why he was looking for Dad and I didn’t care. I only wanted to get home and go to bed.

“Sir, if I could have a moment of your time,” he called out to my back as I walked off. Dad said something about it not being a good time before catching up to me.

We didn’t talk on the car ride home. Dad was always good about not pushing conversation. When we got home, Mom was waiting, but she wasn’t alone. I didn’t want to entertain guest, even if it was my family. Pops and GiGi were there along with some stranger.

“Oh honey, your mom told us about Kia,” Gigi said as she walked over to hug me. “We are going to help you get through this.”

“I thought you two were on triplet duty.”

“We were,” Pops answered, “until Wolfie and Abby showed up this morning. With her,” he finished, pointing in the direction of the stranger. “This is Rayne Bryant, she’s a family law attorney. Wolfie says she’s the best; she got him custody of his grandchildren a few years back. He contacted her when he heard what was going on, we were lucky she was able to move somethings around on her schedule to come. With her help, we’ll get Cameron home in no time.”

The woman walked over to shake my hand. “Sorry we aren’t meeting under better circumstances. My condolences on the loss of your wife.”

So news of my failures had already spread through the family network and beyond if Pops’ friend even knew what was going on.

“I…I’m tired.”

My attempt to head upstairs was stopped by Mom. “Sweetie, I know today has turned out to be as terrible as yesterday. You have to make arrangements for Kia, your father and I will help with that. You need to sit and talk with Ms. Bryant.”

“There’s nothing to talk about!” I snapped.

Dad was in my face instantly. “I am going to give you a pass just this once because I know you are dealing with a lot…just this once,” he finished slowly, putting emphasis on his words. “But you will never yell at your mother again. Do I make myself clear?”

I dropped my head in shame. I couldn’t even respond. Here I was, a supposed adult, being reprimanded by my father like I was a child. One…two…three…four…I nodded my head slightly before turning to pull out a chair. Ms. Bryant walked over and took a seat. I sat in the chair to her left, keeping my back to my family. I dutifully sat and recounted everything that happened yesterday. I filled her in on Kia’s condition, the treatments I’d been trying to get for her. I answered every question she asked of me while doing my best to ignore the anxious feeling in my stomach.

It’d been with me since the cop showed up at the store and it was only getting worse. When she was done grilling me, Pops and GiGi offered to drive her back to her hotel. My car was still at the hospital, so they were going to pick it up on the way back. Dad and Mom weren’t downstairs and I knew I needed to go apologize to her. Klutz came over, nudging my leg. He’d seemed just as restless as I felt, like he knew something was wrong. Grabbing his leash from the hook on the wall, I took him out for a walk. The fresh air and exercise would do us both some good. I knew I couldn’t overdo it since I was still sore from yesterday, but a short walk wouldn’t hurt. It would also give me time to work up the courage to face my parents.

  

The air was cold; I could clearly see my breath on each exhale. I counted each time my feet nosily crunched onto the snow covered ground. Shoving my free hand into my pocket, my fingers came in contact with the small plastic bag that contained Kia’s wedding ring. I closed my fist around it. Twenty-four hours ago I was a husband and father. The difference a day can make.

When I got back home, everyone was downstairs. Mom was busy making sandwiches. Pops was on the phone, and from the sound of things he was talking to Aunt Hope. They were flying in tomorrow.

“Are you hungry?” Mom asked, holding a plate out towards me.

Slowly I walked forward, I could feel Dad and GiGi watching me. “Not really,” I replied, taking the plate and sitting it back on the counter. “I’m sorry.”

Mom smiled then pulled me into a hug, “Oh Sweetie, it’s fine. I’m sorry you have to go through all of this. We all loved Kia and my heart aches for you.”

“I…I should start making the arrangements.”

“Do you want us to help?”

I shook my head. Keeping busy, keeping focus on something was what I needed. Klutz was on my heels as I headed upstairs to my room. I loved my family, but right now I wanted to be alone. Klutz again ran forward, this time scratching at Cameron’s now closed door.

“He’s not there, boy.” He whimpered, then let out a bark before scratching at the door again. “I said he’s not there!” His ears went back and his tail was tucked between his legs. Klutz slowly followed behind me as I walked towards my room, I slammed the door behind me before he could follow me in.

*

There was a knock at my door. “Matt we need to get going,” Dad called out.

I flushed the toilet before stumbling over to the sink to rinse out my mouth before brushing my teeth. I counted, making sure I did an even number of brushes on all sides. My stomach ached; I’d already thrown up three times this morning. Checking the sink, I made sure all the knobs were off. One…two…three…four…five…six.

Six steps from the bathroom to the bed. I pulled the covers, making sure the comforter was wrinkle free. I hadn’t been able to really sleep since Friday night. I’d toss and turn, the bed felt too big for just me. I finally ended up getting a few hours when I’d moved to the floor. The clock read 8:15, we needed to leave to be at the courthouse before 9. This had been the longest weekend of my life. Ms. Bryant had been back yesterday to prepare me more for the hearing.

One…two…three…four…five…six…seven… Seven steps to my bedroom door. I expected Dad to be on the other side waiting, but he wasn’t. He and the others were probably all downstairs waiting, anxious to get this over with and have Cameron come home.

One…two…three…four…five… Five steps to Cameron’s room. Opening the door slowly, I peeked in. Today. He had to come home today. His blankey still lay on the floor where I’d dropped it. I thought about bringing it with me, but it’d been on the floor. I needed to wash it first. Hopefully he could wait a few more hours before having it again. Ten steps to the stairs. Thirteen steps to go down. Two steps from the landing into the living room.

Eighteen eyes looking at me. Mom walked over and straightened my tie. It wasn’t crooked, but she had been extra maternal all weekend, so I let her, even though all I wanted was to be left alone. Everyone had converged on my house. They all kept asking me how I was doing, if I needed anything, what the arrangements were for Kia. A knot grew. It got tighter and tighter each day and I felt like I had no outlet. Counting wasn’t helping, nor was cleaning, or even running. I was trapped. Everything was chaotic and out of my control. I hated this feeling.

“Ready?” GiGi asked. I nodded. They all filed out of the house.

I should have been thankful that they were all here, but I wasn’t. They were all here because I was incapable of taking care of my family. Ten steps to the front door. Check the lock to make sure the house is secure. Down three stairs. Eight steps to the car.

 

Ms. Bryant was waiting for us when we arrived. She seemed pleased at the show of support I had for the hearing, she again commented on her confidence that Cameron would be released back into my custody. The need to vomit got worse the closer we got to the courtroom. I tried to focus on my steps but Ms. Bryant was still talking to me, trying to make sure I knew to not react since she thought Ms. Logan would attempt to get me to based on what I’d told her. It felt as if I was in a tunnel, I couldn’t focus on what she was saying. I concentrated on not throwing up on the marble floors.

Ms. Logan was already in the courtroom when we entered. She was talking to a couple that sat behind her; they all turned to look at me. I stopped. Were those the people that had my son this weekend? I wanted to go over there, but Ms. Bryant came up and led me over to the other table. Ms. Logan’s eyes took on a brief look of shock as my family all took seats, but then her normal pinched features returned as she focused on the empty seat beside me. The judge walked in, he too looked momentarily surprised by the amount of people in the room.

One, two, three, four.  One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. I counted over and over as I tapped my fingers quietly on the table. As soon as the judge sat down, Ms. Logan stood up.

“Your honor, before we take up too much of the court’s time, I would like to move that the minor child remain in the county’s custody until a full investigation can be completed. Mr. Solo’s wife is absent from these proceedings…”

I started to jump up, but Ms. Bryant put her hand on my arm as if she were a mind reader. The judge put his hand up at the same time to stop that hateful woman from speaking.

“Ms…” he paused to look over the file in front of him. “Bryant, where is Mrs. Solo?”

She looked over at me, patted my arm before standing. “Your honor, it’s with great sadness I have to tell the court that Mrs. Solo passed away over the weekend.”

My hands balled into fists, my knee bounced uncontrollably. I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I didn’t look back to see from who. I kept my eyes focused on the wooden table, counting the lines in the grain.

“Oh my. Condolences to you sir and your family. Ms. Bryant you could have asked for this to be rescheduled given the circumstances.”

“I understand sir, but my client, and his family are eager to get Cameron home so they can grieve as a complete family.”

“That’s who has filled my courtroom?”

“Yes Your Honor. My client comes from a very close knit and supportive family that extends way beyond what’s represented here today.”

Ms. Bryant took a seat while the judge looked over the file. “Ms. Logan, why was the minor child not placed with family? He clearly has more an enough options from what I can tell.”

Ms. Logan cleared her throat before speaking. “Well, sir, given the seriousness of the situation, I felt it was best to get the minor child…”

“Cameron!” I said, interrupting her.

“Excuse me?” she inquired.

I turned to look at her. “You keep calling MY son ‘the minor child’, he has a name. Cameron.”

The judge gave orders to my attorney to control her client, but she was already feverishly whispering to me to stay quiet until spoken to. I was only giving her more ammunition.

Ms. Logan narrowed her eyes at me before a ghost smile appeared on her thinned lips. “As I was saying, given that the minor child’s mother abandoned him in the park, tried to kidnap another child and I had a worry over Mr. Solo’s temper,” she paused to look over at me when she said that. My attorney’s hand tightened on my arm. “My first priority was to make sure the child was safe.”

“Your Honor, if I may,” Ms. Bryant said standing as she spoke. “I realize I’m from a different jurisdiction, but it is my understanding that Ms. Logan broke procedure by not asking my client or his late wife, or even the nurse that was with them about any possible family member that could have been able to take Cameron.”

“Did you ask either parent if there was family that could take the child as per procedure?”

“No sir.”

“Did you try and find out on your own if there was family?”

“No sir. I knew there was an available and caring foster home and since it was just for the weekend and not a long term arrangement I just had him sent there.”

“That seems to always be the case when it involves children under the age of one with you Ms. Logan,” Ms. Bryant stated.

“I beg your pardon.”

I watched as my attorney gathered sheets from a file folder. It took her four steps to reach the judge’s bench. She smiled at me as she walked back to our table.

“As you can see, Your Honor, of the cases Ms. Logan handled last year, ten of them involved children under the age of one. Six of those are in the process of having their rights terminated so that the loving foster homes Ms. Logan placed them in can adopt them. Most of those six are lower incomed families that…”

“I am not on trial here!” Ms. Logan interrupted. “I’ve been a social worker for more than twenty years. My first priority now and always has been the safety of the children.”

Three strikes of his gavel silenced her. They both take their seats. Ms. Bryant straightened the papers in front of her, hitting them four times on the table to get them in line. I focused on the papers being flipped as the judge read through whatever my attorney gave him.

“Mr. Solo,” the judge stated breaking the tense silence in the room. “Your wife had a medical condition?”

My attorney tapped my arm, indicating I should speak. “Yes. She has…had Harts Syndrome.”

“Yes, I see. Her doctors sent letters explaining her condition.”

I looked over at my attorney. When did she have time to contact Kia’s doctors? Maybe she really was as good as Pops was trying to tell me.

The judge read more before speaking again. “I’ve sat on this bench for nearly thirty years and never in all that time have I ever seen a defendant come to my court with this much family support. Mr. Solo I am dismissing your case and ordering an immediate return of your son. There is nothing I’m reading in this file to indicate the child would be at further risk.”

“Your Honor,” Ms. Logan called out, standing again. A loud bang of his gavel made her take her seat instantly.

“Ms. Logan, while you are not on trial here, the information provided by Ms. Bryant does warrant further investigation. As you stated, you’ve been doing this job long enough to know what procedure is, yet you had no problem breaking it. I will be passing this information along to your supervisor and the state review board. All actions on your current cases will stop until they can be reviewed for any possible misconduct on your part. Mr. Solo, again I offer my condolences on the loss of your wife.” With a final bang of his gavel, it was over.

It was over. I was getting my son back. I heard my family behind me all happily chatting. They all came up to hug me, happy that at least this part was behind us now. They thanked Ms. Bryant. I did as well, and I made a mental note to thank Wolfie and Abby as well.

“Matt.” I turned to see Shannon.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to be here in support of you and…I heard about…about Kia. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you for coming today. I appreciate your help, my parents told me what you did for me when I lost it at the hospital.”

“Thank you isn’t needed. I just wish it would have never gotten to this point.” She gave me a quick hug before saying her goodbyes. 

Everyone else walked out of the courtroom. My legs felt wobbly, so I took a seat, resting my head on the table.”

Heels clicked on the marble floor. Six steps, I looked up expecting to see someone other than that hateful old hag that tried to take my son.

“I guess congratulations are in order Mr. Solo.”

“You are a vile woman Ms. Logan and I am thankful to never have to see you again.”

“You may have gotten yourself a high priced lawyer to pull some fancy tricks, but I still see you as unfit. You won sympathy because of your wife, that judge is too soft in my opinion.”

“Because of my wife…you think I’d used the death of my wife as…as a legal tatic?”

The doors opened and Pops walked in. I looked at him, then back at Ms. Logan. I smiled at the horrid woman before hitting her with the same trick I’d pulled on Claudia. “Goodbye Ms. Logan.”

“It’s an improvement if you ask me,” Pops whispered as we walked out of the courtroom together.

Ms. Logan walked out of the courtroom, all eyes were on her, there were a few laughs from people as she walked by. Others stared in shock. Both Mom and Dad frowned at me, but I just shrugged. Mom was holding Cameron, she looked happy for the first time in days. Tomorrow we’d drive to Sunset Valley to lay Kia to rest next to her mom and aunt. I’d thought about having her buried in Barnacle Bay next to Mom’s grandmothers, but in the end with how she always felt alone even with my family, I thought she’d be happier buried with hers. We weren’t doing anything fancy, it would be just a small graveside ceremony.

“You must want to hold him,” Mom said walking over to me.

I looked at Cameron, sleeping peacefully in my mother’s arms. I hoped he wasn’t too scarred from his ordeal.

“No, you keep him.”

**A/N**

Thanks again to Daijah for the use of the Fremont Police Station and Mercy General Hospital. Those lots are getting lots of use in my game. :)  Again both lots received minor edits to fit my needs. Since I already linked the lot once, just check my CREDITS tab to find them if you need.

Honorable mentions: Wolfie and Abby Landgrabb.

The beds in Matt's house were working overtime, or at least all those couples tried to make them work overtime. Too many couples, not enough beds. I have to say Davis and Cora were the worst. LOL every interaction that popped up with them was woo-hoo, but Jonas and Grace were a close second. 

Now for the lovely Ms. Logan after her make over. :)