Julio – The Growing Years

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I put Matt down on his feet. “Well Your Honor, she would lace his food and water with Imodium. That is a prescription medication used for controlling someone with diarrhea.”

He just shook his head. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that son. Ms. Wells, hand me the subpoena and I’ll see to it he gets it.”

She handed it to the Judge then he left and went into his chambers. I looked over at Joyce and she was standing there with her mouth hanging open. “And this was the person you want to return this child to? 

Chapter 56

Barbara looked at her former boss as we waited for her to answer. “I swear I didn’t know.”

Barbara went nose to nose with her. “Come on Joyce, I heard what you two said before she started her tirade.”

She shook her head. “OK, I just didn’t know how bad it was.”

I stepped up. “Joyce, I know in a perfect world putting the family back together is what should be done but let’s face it, there are people out there that have no business being parents.”

Cindy came over to me. “Miguel, Mr. Tate is meeting with Martha now and she’s trying to fire him again. Do you want to come with me?”

I shook my head. “Yeah, let’s go. Matt, stay here with your Mom, I’ll be right back.”

I followed Cindy into the holding cells and could hear Martha’s mouth as soon as we opened the door. “Look you dumb ass; get me the hell outta here.”

We followed the screeching and saw Grace red faced from her shouting. Tate waited until she finally shut up. “Look lady, didn’t you hear the Judge, you’ve got no bond. You’re stuck here and there isn’t anything anyone can do.”

She stood up and the guards pushed her back into her chair. “You’re fired then.”

Cindy and I stopped outside the cell. “Oh no he’s not; you’ve pulled that stunt for the last time.”

She turned around and saw us standing there. “Well Miss Hoity Toity and Dr. Know it All. I have the right to a competent lawyer.”

The guard opened the cell door and we walked in. Cindy set her briefcase down then looked at Martha. “You’ve got a very capable lawyer here. It’s not his fault his client keeps sinking herself. Now, if you don’t want to be spending a very long time in prison, I’d sit down and shut up.”

After several more minutes of her running her mouth Martha finally closed her mouth. “I want outta here.”

Cindy shook her head. “That’s not gonna happen. You showed your ass yesterday at Dr. Sanchez’s and today here in court. You’ve sealed your fate lady; the only question is for how long.”

She stood again and the guards slammed her back into her chair. “I’m not doing a day in prison. I’ll make sure I get some woman judge and she’ll side with me.”

Cindy looked at Tate. “You wanna tell her or should I?”

Martha was dumbfounded. “What are you 2 talking about?”

Tate decided to come out with the bad news. “All the judges here are male and they don’t like it when parents hurt their kids, no matter what they seem to say. There’s nothing wrong with your son except he’s going through puberty.”

She started to stand up then remember the last time she tried. I looked at her. “Lady your actions at the hospital are on video tape. The tapes have been authenticated by the F.B.I. so the court will accept them.”

She just sat there with her mouth hanging open. It’s the first time she’s not had anything to say. Then Cindy took the lead. “Now, like I said before, you’re going to jail. We can do this the easy way or the hard way; it makes no difference to me. The easy way is you plead guilty to child abuse, child sexual assault, child endangerment and you sign over your parental rights. In turn, I’ll recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison with 5 suspended. After that, you’ll be on supervised probation for another 5 years.”

Martha just sat there letting it all sink in as she glared at her lawyer. He shook his head. “Don’t look at me like that Ms. Davis; you sunk yourself today in court when I was in the Judge’s chambers.”

The she got cocky again. “And if I don’t, what will you do then.”

I couldn’t believe she was that dumb but I guess it takes all kinds. Cindy pulled out the amended charge sheet and looked at the woman. “That’s easy, I’ll go for the max on every charge and I know I’ll get it. Then you’ll be going to do each sentence one right after the other.”

Her mouth dropped open. “She can’t do that can she?”

Cindy charged in again. “Oh yes I can and I will. Now lady, what’s it gonna be?”

Cindy reached into her briefcase and pulled out a form and slid it across the table. She then slid it across to her lawyer who looked it over then slid it back. She looked up at him. “I think it’s the best offer you’ll get.”

She looked over at Cindy who slid her a pen. She scribbled her name on the form then Harry signed it followed by Cindy. She put the form into her briefcase then closed it. “This will be filed with the court. You can still reject the plea but all that means is you’ll go to trial and I will pull all the stops out and ask for the maximum sentence on each of the charges.”

Martha just sat there in silence as Cindy stood. She didn’t say anything so I got up and we left the holding cell. After we left and returned to the courtroom, I looked over at her. “I guess she didn’t think you’d really go for the max.”

We walked over by a table where she sat her briefcase down. “She doesn’t know me very well.”

Barbara and Matt came over and looked at us. Matt hugged me then I reached down and picked him up. “Is everything alright?”

I kissed him on the cheek then set him back onto his feet. I nodded my head as Joyce looked on. “Yes son, everything is fine. Your mother has agreed to a plea arrangement.”

Joyce interrupted but with a much different attitude. “So she will be getting her son back then?”

I heard Matt gasp as Cindy stepped forward. “I’m afraid not. As part of the plea bargain, she will be relinquishing her parental rights.”

Matt looked happy until Joyce interrupted again. “Then I’ll be requesting that he be put into a group home until a suitable family can be found.”

Barbara just glared when Cindy went back into her briefcase. “Oh I don’t think so Ms. Davenport.”

Joyce got really snooty then. “And just why not? I am still the Director of Social Services.”

Cindy pulled a stack of files out then set them on the table. “If this is how you want it, our office can proceed with criminal charges against you.”

Joyce’s face lost all its color. “Criminal charges, you can’t be serious. I’ve done nothing wrong; I was merely following state policy.”

Barbara lost it. “You mean to say returning a child to a parent that didn’t have a verifiable address was in accordance with state policy? How about when you returned a child to his parents who then started beating him again and, I might add, ended up being hospitalized and the parents arrested. I told you they were still addicted to drugs but you didn’t listen.”

She just puffed her chest out. “I did my job. I put the family back together again.”

Cindy pulled some more papers out of her briefcase. “At what cost Ms. Davenport? The child who was returned to the mother who was living in her car ended up dead when the mother took off drunk and wrapped her car around a light pole, killing them both. Had that child remained in foster care, she’d be alive today.”

She waved her hand. “Her mother should have known better than to drive drunk with her kid in the car.”

Cindy nodded her head. “Yes she should have but the child had no business being with her in the first place and that’s what we will be charging you with. Now, you have a one time offer here and I suggest you take it or other wise I’ll be filing these charges against you right now and you’ll be taken into custody.”

Barbara was staring at her former boss as Joyce was dumfounded. She stood there for a few minutes then looked at Cindy. “What do you want?”

Cindy pulled a legal pad out of her briefcase then slammed it on the table. “Your formal letter of resignation, right here and right now.”

She went over and sat down at the table and started writing. After several minutes she handed the pad back to Cindy. “There, are you happy?”

Cindy started reading the letter. “Hold it lady. No way am I accepting this. You’re not going to retire, you’re going to resign.”

She stomped her foot onto the floor. “Now just wait a damn minute.”

Matt looked up at me. “Oh what she said Papa Doc.”

I had to giggle as she glared at him. I wrapped my arms around Matt as if to say, “Don’t EVEN think about it.”

Cindy tore the paper off the pad then tore it into pieces. “You’re NOT retiring. If you want to push this, I’ll just file the charges and THEN when you’re convicted, you’ll lose those retirement benefits.”

I looked at Joyce and I could tell the idea of her going to prison did not sit well with her. She stormed back over to the table and sat back down. She grabbed the pad and started writing again. After another several minutes, she almost threw the pad at Cindy. “There and I hope you choke on it.”

She showed the letter to Barbara. She held her hand out looking at Joyce. “I’ll take your ID card please.”

She grabbed her purse then snapped at Barbara. “I don’t have it.”

Barbara still had her hand out then Cindy stepped forward. “Give her your ID card now.”

Joyce dug into her purse and pulled it out and slapped into Barbara’s hand. “Are you happy now?”

Cindy looked at Barbara. “Has she turned in all her other things?”

Barbara nodded her head. “I’ve already gotten her keys but just to be safe, I’ve ordered all the locks changed on the doors.”

Joyce glared at her and I picked up on that right away. I was about to speak when her head snapped towards Cindy. “Is that all?”

Cindy nodded her head as she put the files back into her briefcase. “Yes Ms. Davenport, that’s all I have for now. A word to the wise, stay away from DSS and Barbara Miller and her family.”

She then glared at Barbara. “I suppose you’re going to want to adopt HIM.”

Matt buried his face into my chest and broke down crying. “Joyce you’ve done MORE than enough, now I suggest you just leave and I totally support Barbara Miller and her husband adopting Matt.”

Joyce snatched her purse off a seat and stormed towards the back of the courtroom. Barbara moved behind Matt and started rubbing his back. He looked up and saw her then wrapped his arms around her. She then looked up at me. “Miguel, Casey and I have to go out of town for a couple of days and the boys are heading off to college.”

I smiled at her. “You know you don’t even have to ask.”

She giggled. “I know and Matt would be beside himself if I asked anyone but you to watch him.”

“Schools here don’t start until Tuesday. When will you and Casey be back?”

She was still rubbing Matt’s back. “We’ll be back Monday afternoon but we hadn’t planned on sending Matt to school that day.”

Matt looked up. “Why not Mom?”

I knew Tuesday was Joyce’s trial and Cindy had the deal in place. Barbara got a devilish look on her face. “Oh, I don’t know. I was wondering if a young man might want to be adopted.”

Matt’s face lit up. “Are you serious? You know I do Mom.”

Cindy was giggling. “Once her case is on the record, I’ll put a motion before the judge. I don’t think there will be any problem.”

Matt was jumping up and down in excitement. “I can’t believe it. It’s finally going to happen. Thank you Barb I mean Mom.”

Barbara got the jumping bean under control. “Miguel, I know this was short notice. I hope you didn’t have any plans.”

I smiled. “I’m going to Durham to see Jay and Ronnie. There’s plenty of room at the boys’ house so I was going to ask if I could bring him.”

Matt gasped. “Please Mom, I’ve never met Jay and Ronnie. I’ll be good for Papa Doc.”

She smiled. “Of course you can go and I know you’ll be good.”

We headed for the back of the courtroom then outside. “We’ll follow you over to your house so Matt can pack some clothes.”

After the drive over to Barbara’s house, we headed home. As soon as we walked into the house, there went my naked son heading towards the laundry room. “Steven.”

He froze in his tracks. “Umm, hi Dad.”

Matt was standing there. “Whoa, nice body Uncle Steven.”

Steven covered his crotch then hurried into the laundry room. He came back out in his boxers carrying his laundry. “I’m sorry guys. I put everything into the wash and didn’t leave anything to put on.”

I had to giggle at that. Just then Angel came out carrying his bathrobe. “Do you need this love?”

Steven blushed even deeper. “I don’t need that now.”

The kids went back into their room while I took Matt’s bag down to my room and set it on the bed. I thought Matt was still outside until I felt him hug me. I turned around and held the boy. “Papa Doc, are you upset with me?”

I knelt down and kissed him on the forehead. “On no son, why would you think that?”

He looked down then back up at me. “When I said Steven had a nice body.”

I drew him into my chest then gently kissed him. “Heaven’s no son. Steven is a very good looking man.”

Matt tried to look down again but I held his chin. “Papa Doc, do you remember when I said I liked boys?”

“I remember son and Steven won’t have a problem with it. Jay and Ronnie are gay and they are boyfriends.”

Matt was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. Matt turned around and saw Steven standing there. Matt buried his face into my shoulder then I saw Steven come over. He put his hand on Matt’s shoulder startling him. He knelt down then kissed him on the cheek. “I’m pleased you think I have a good body.”

Matt turned around and looked at my son. “I, I’m sorry I stared at you.”

Steven giggled. “It’s cool man, Jay and Ronnie used to do it.”

Matt managed to put a little smile on his face then turned back to look at me. “Papa Doc, there was a friend I really liked. He lived near my old house and I was wondering if I could see him.”

I thought for a moment. “I don’t know if we’ll have time when you’re here but I know if you talk with your parents, they’ll let you.”

Steven picked the teen up then kissed him. “Dad’s right Matt, they’ll see to it you two can spend some time together. Dad, when are you and Matt heading to Durham?”

I looked at the clock and it was 2. “I was thinking of leaving this afternoon. When are you and Angel heading back to Blacksburg?”

Steven set Matt back on the floor. “We’re leaving tomorrow after breakfast.”

I was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. I looked up and Angel was standing there. “Steven, did you get everything out of the dryer?”

He turned around and looked at her. “Yes I did love, are you missing something?”

She shook her head. “No not that I’m aware of. I’ve finished packing everything that’s why I asked. Daddy, when are you leaving?”

I just set a bag on the bed to start packing. “It’s only a couple of hours to Durham so I was thinking on leaving this afternoon.”

Angel turned to Steven. “Do you want to try and leave today honey?”

I started packing while Angel and Steven discussed weather or not they were going to leave for Blacksburg. “We can love, but we’ll have to get on the road soon so we can beat the rush hour traffic around Richmond.”

Matt helped me pack then we got our bags into the car. I quickly sorted through the mail and took what needed my attention along with my check book. After locking the house and hugs were given, we hit the road. As soon as we got on the interstate, Matt looked at me. “Did you call Ronnie and Jay Papa Doc?”

I shook my head. “Nope, I thought we’d surprise them.”

Matt looked out the window then back to me. “Umm, how will we get in Pop? How will they know to be home?”

I reached over and ruffled his hair. “Not to worry son. I have a key to the house. We should be there between 5:30 and 6 and if I know Jay, he’ll be there. If he’s not, I know where to find them.”

Matt was totally confused. “You know where to find them?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, and we’re going there tonight if Jay isn’t home.”

I had Matt really thinking. “Come on Papa, you’re teasing me.”

I giggled as he was right. “Ronnie has a restaurant son.”

Matt’s eyes got huge. “Cool Pop. Can I get desert?”

I laughed hard at that. “Sure thing son and if I know Ronnie, he’ll give it to you.”

We chatted while I drove and it made the time fly by. At 6:40, I pulled into the driveway of the boys’ house. I saw Jay’s car there but I didn’t see any lights on. Matt and I got our bags then I unlocked the front door and we went inside. I looked around and saw a light from the boys’ room so I knew Jay was home. “Come on kiddo, let’s put our bags in our room.”

We walked down the hall and into the guest room tossing our bags on the bed. I hurried down the hall to the bathroom and Matt walked around looking the place over. I came out then went into Jay’s room then knocked on the bathroom door. “Come in baby.”

Matt was standing in the hall giggling. “I guess he doesn’t know who is knocking, does he Pop?”

I shook my head them cracked the door open. “Thanks son but I’m not your baby.”

Jay dropped his towel then came over to hug me. “God Dad, why didn’t you call?”

I stepped back so I could brace myself for the hug and as soon as Jay came out we were met with a chorus of whistles from Matt. “Woo hoo Papa Doc, you have two hot looking sons.”

Jay turned and looked at Matt standing there then turned red. “Umm Dad, you didn’t say you brought company.”

I giggled. “You didn’t really give me a chance. Jay, that’s Matt. You remember Matt and Joey don’t you?”

Jay walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of boxers then put them on. “The two boys we met in Florida?”

I nodded my head. “That’s them son. Their parents adopted this young man.”

Jay smiled then went over to the teen. “Wow, that’s cool. Hi Matt, I’m Jay. Dad adopted me too.”

Matt reached up and gave my son a hug. “I know, I’ve met Uncle Steven and Aunt Angel. You and Uncle Ronnie I haven’t met.”

I watched as the two of them hugged. “Barbara and Casey had something come up so I took Matt for a few days. Are you joining your other half at the restaurant?”

Jay set Matt back down. “How’d you guess and I bet you and Matt haven’t eaten yet?”

Matt grinned. “I’m hungry.”

Jay reached in and ruffled the teen’s hair then got dressed. “If you’re like me, you’re almost always hungry.”

Matt and I went into the bathroom and washed up while Jay finished dressing. “Matt, did I hear you call Dad Papa Doc?”

Matt dried his hands then came out of the bathroom. “Yeah, when I was in the hospital he treated me special and when he found out my mother was doing this to me, he made sure I was protected and she was charged.”

I came out and saw Jay smiling. “That’s Dad, he cares about kids. He took care of me when I was hit in the head and paid for my hospital bills. Then he adopted me, Ronnie and Steven. I’d never be where I am today without him.”

I wiped my eyes as I heard my boy talk. Matt saw this then came over and hugged me. “Papa Doc, if you hadn’t taken an interest in me, I don’t know if I’d be with Barbara and Casey and I owe that to you.”

Jay came over and held me while I got my emotions under control. “I care guys, it’s something I’ve always done. Now how about we head over to the restaurant and surprise Ronnie? I’m getting hungry too.”

To be continued...

Posted: 07/18/08