Rollercoaster Ride
Part 1
Family Court—2 years, 6 weeks and 5 days after the birth of Abraham Novatny Marcus
“All rise.”
The 50 something, grand fatherly Judge Matthew Levy enters the courtroom.
Once again the bailiff addresses the gallery. “Please be seated.”
Judge Levy survey’s the court over his old fashioned half glasses. “I see that all interested parties are present. Well let’s get to it.”
The fifteen people in the courtroom all fidgeted waiting on pins and needles for the judge’s decisions.
“Mr. Kinney. I hereby reinstate your parental rights over the minor currently known as Gus Peterson-Marcus and thereby terminate the guardianship of Melanie Marcus over said minor….”
Melanie’s response is immediate and venomous. “You can’t do be serious? He’s a self-centered, egotistical, drugged out child-molesting whore! His so called partner was only 17 when he started having sex with him and he was 29.”
The reaction from the gallery and the bench are immediate. Brian’s family and friends all react with a mixture of outrage and sadness because for the past year Brian has proven what Justin, Lindsey and Gus have always known—Brian Kinney has an unlimited wealth of unconditional love and devotion and is willing to do anything to keep those he loves safe and sound..
“Order, order in the court. Mr. Harris control your client or I will have her charged with contempt and removed from this courtroom…Now for my second ruling. I also hereby award full custody of the minor to Mr. Kinney. I also grant the name change of said minor from Gus Peterson-Marcus to Gus Peterson-Kinny. As for visitation…”
Brian interrupts the judge before he can continue, “Your honor, that’s not the correct name.. His name is Gus Peterson Taylor Kinney, no hyphens.
“All right Mr. Kinney. The name change of the minor will be so noted. Ms. Marcus per the recommendation of the Department of Family Services I will grant you 2 supervised visits per month with Gus Kinney. The schedule for which will be set by DFS. We will…”
This time it is Brian’s lawyer that interrupts the judge and as he stands so does a slender, 30 something, blond woman in the gallery.
Their words are spoken at the same time. “Your honor…”
The judge recognizing the blond as the DFS social worker whom testified earlier. “Miss Young is there a problem?”
“Yes your honor. Since my original assessment I have had several more visits with Gus and I feel that it would be best if he had no contact with Ms. Marcus at this time. Just the mention of her name sends the child into histrionics and/or a near catatonic state that can last for hours. And on one occasion required medication.”
“Mr. McKay is that also what you wanted to address?”
“Yes your honor it is. I would also like to remind your honor that my client has a restraining order against Ms. Marcus that extends to him, his home, his business, vehicle and family. Visitation would present a conflict with the RTO.”
Contemplatively nodding his head the judge takes a deep breath and then begins to speak. “I’m sorry Ms. Marcus, but the duty of this court is to protect the welfare of the child and therefore I will honor DFS’s recommendations…”
Mr. Harris immediately objects and ask the judge to reconsider his ruling. “Your honor this is outrageous. My client’s rights are being trampled. For almost six years she has been mother and provider for this child and now you are totally removing her from her son’s life.”
“Mr. Harris your client’s actions have brought us here, not me and her actions are dictating my rulings. As for being mother and provider, numerous witnesses including Ms. Marcus herself have testified that not only did Ms. Peterson give birth to Gus, but was also the primary caregiver for the minor. As for being provider, I have canceled checks from Mr. Kinney totaling…”
Judge Levy searches through the papers on his desk. Finding the correct document he once again addresses Melanie’s lawyer. “…one hundred thirty-eight thousand dollars. More than eighty percent of which were written after Mr. Kinney signed over his parental rights. In my opinion it has been Mr. Kinney whose rights have been trampled. I seriously considered ordering Ms. Marcus to repay all funds paid after the dissolution of parental rights.”
Sufficiently chastised Mr. Harris sits down.
“Now as I was saying. There will be no contact between the minor and Ms. Marcus. We will revisit the issue of visitation in 6 months.
“Court adjourned.”
One hour later Brian enters the home he now shares with Justin, Gus and Lindsey. Often Justin and Gus greet him at the door, but he knows that today he won’t receive his traditional homecoming welcome. Today his boys are away. They are spending the day at their lakeside house away from the stress of today. His boys aren’t the only things that are gone.
Gone is the airy open
Who ever thought that the King of Liberty Avenue would become one of
Ted’s “A-List”
Queers.
Mr. Kinney, net worth $100 million dollars, now lives in an eight
bedroom Georgian, for lack of a better word mansion, set on 405 acres complete
with tennis courts, 6 car garage, 3 bedroom guest
house, a duck pond, and stables complete with horses and a pony for
Gus. The Taylor/Kinney estate
is located in one of the toniest and most exclusive
neighborhood in the metropolitan
Greeting Miss. Davis, their housekeeper of 2 years, he walks straight up to the second floor and to Lindsey’s suite of rooms.
Greeted by the pleasingly plump and dedicated nurse Mrs. Shepherd, Brian cautiously sits on the chair beside her bed careful not to disturb the myriad of wires, takes her hand and whispers, “He’s all ours again Lindz and I swear she’ll never get near you or our son again.”
He knows that she can hear him, although with the exception of her eyes her body no longer works of its own accord her mind is still sharp and alert.
Lindsey blinks her eyes once, meaning yes, to let Brian know that she has heard him and then a single tear slides from her right eye. Taking her unfeeling right hand Brian adds hundreds of tears to the single one that is sliding unmolested down the side of her face.
Exhausted Brian rests his head on the bed and thinking about how all this got started. How love turned to obsession, then to rage and then to violence. How Melanie turned Lindsey into a vegetable and put his son in a wheel chair for 3 months. Just think the rollercoaster ride all started with the birth of a 6 lb. 4 oz. little boy named Abraham…
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