Joan VS The State of Liberty
Chapter 8
Claire opened the door apprehensively. It was Ms Renforth from the child welfare agency. She was there to investigate the allegations that Joan Kinney had made about her daughter in seeking custody of her grandchildren. Claire knew the woman would be judging her, judging them as a family, and she didn't know whether she was ready for that. They had made progress, but they weren't there yet, and she wondered if this woman would figure that out, and it would cost her her kids.
"Please come in, Ms Renforth," Claire said.
Claire looked around. The house was immaculate. She and the boys had spent hours polishing and scrubbing. Even the fussy Joan would have trouble finding fault with Claire's housekeeping.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Claire asked.
"That would be lovely. We can chat while we drink it."
Claire led the way to the kitchen and put the kettle on. They sat at the kitchen table while Ms Renforth filled out the preliminary paperwork. By the time they had their mugs of tea the worker was ready to get down to the nitty gritty.
"So why do you think your mother wants to take your children away from you?"
Claire looked at the woman gauging how much she thought she could say. "There are many ways to answer that question."
"Such as?"
"She thinks the boys are out of control. She's delusional about how she could help them. She hates that we're getting our lives together and leaving her behind."
"Could you explain that last one?"
"I'm a single mother and my ex-husband is less than helpful or supportive. Until recently the boys were getting wilder and wilder. They wouldn't listen to me. They lied and stole. I couldn't seem to stop them."
"Is that still the case?"
"Not since a few months ago."
"What happened?"
"I went to my brother and begged him to help me."
"Is this the brother that John accused of molesting him?"
"Yes," Claire admitted, "and I believed his accusations, I'm ashamed to say."
"But your brother helped you anyway?"
"Yes, yes he did. Brian is a strange man but he has a heart that's … phenomenal. He got the boys into a camp for troubled children and got me counseling with them too. We've been going to counseling here in Pittsburgh ever since. Brian even comes with us sometimes."
"Brian must be a very understanding man."
"I never thought I would say so, but he is. He surprised all of us, and maybe himself most of all."
"This is the brother that's gay, that your mother wants to keep your children away from?"
"I only have one brother. My … mother thinks homosexuality is a sin. She thinks Brian will burn in Hell, and that he's trying to pull the boys down with him."
Ms Renforth's eyebrows went up. "I see."
Claire wondered what it was that Ms Renforth thought she saw. "Does that answer your question?"
"For now. I would like you to sign this form so that I can talk to the counselor that you're seeing." Claire nodded and picked up a pen. "I'd like to see the boys now."
"Um … sure," Claire said as she signed her name. "I should warn you that the boys are far from perfect, but they're so much better than they used to be. We've come so far. I hope you won't undo it all by taking them away from me." Claire felt tears building behind her eyes.
"That remains to be seen," Ms Renforth said carefully not wanting to give false hope or promise anything that might not come about.
"I'll call them down."
Claire went to the stairs and called the boys' names. They both knew how important this meeting was. They were supposed to be on their best behavior.
Ms Renforth introduced herself and asked the boys some basic questions. Then she inquired about school. John made a face.
"You don't like school?" Ms Renforth asked.
"No," John replied.
"Why not?"
"What's to like about it. It's boring."
"I see." Claire winced when the social worker said that. She was obviously thinking that the boys were doing poorly in school. "Are you passing your classes?"
"Yes."
Her eyebrows went up again. "What kind of grades are you getting?"
"Much better this year," John said. "I have a C average."
"And what did you have last year?"
"I … I," John hesitated and looked at his mother pleadingly.
"Tell the truth, John," Claire said.
"I almost failed. They put me on probation."
"And you're doing okay now?"
"I guess."
"I'll check into that," Ms Renforth said making a note on her pad. John grimaced. "What about you, Peter? Do you like school?"
"Not too much, but I like it better this year."
"Why is that?"
"Mom helps me with my homework and Justin is teaching me to draw."
"Justin?"
"Uncle Brian's partner. He's a really good artist. He thinks I have talent," Peter said proudly.
"Um, that's good. Thank you, Peter."
"Can we go now?" John asked itching to get away from this woman.
"One more question. How would you feel about living with your grandmother?"
John's eyes opened wide. His mouth moved as if to speak and then he blurted out, "No fucking way!" and ran from the room.
Ms Renforth looked shocked but didn't say anything for a minute. "What about you, Peter?"
"I … I want to stay here with Mom. I don't want to live with Gran. Can I go now?"
Ms Renforth nodded and Peter made a beeline for the stairs. Claire watched him run to his room and wondered how many more times he would be able to do that.
"I'm sorry about John's language," Claire said as the social worker packed up all her papers.
"I've heard worse," Ms Renforth said icily.
"When … when will you know what's going to happen?"
"I'll be in touch. There are other people to talk to first."
"Um … sure."
"Good day," Ms Renforth said as Claire closed the door behind her.
Claire leaned against the door and the tears started to fall. She had no idea what Ms Renforth must think of them, but she was pretty sure they hadn't exactly impressed her.
"Boys," she called wiping her eyes. "Come give your mother a hug. She needs one … bad."
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It was approaching Thanksgiving and Ms. Renforth's investigations were anything but what she expected. She did expect that the Kinney family would be unusual but not this unusual. The matriarch was a church going woman who kept to herself. She had no close friends. Her priest thought well of her, but Ms. Renforth got the impression that two pre-teen boys would not do well in Joan Kinney's charge.
Ms. Renforth interviewed the boys' teachers, guidance counselors and principal. They all agreed that whatever happened over the summer was nothing short of a miracle. The boys started the school years with a better attitude. Homework assignments were completed and their class participation had improved. If there was anything amiss at home, it certainly wasn't apparent to the school, just the opposite it seemed.
The investigator also spoke with their counselor. Actually she knew their counselor. As part of her job, Ms. Renforth frequently recommended family counseling and this particular counselor was one of her top five. Karen was in her mid thirties and had seen it all. She was good with kids and empathetic with parents. She had a wonderful reputation with families. All sorts of families, traditional and not so traditional. She was one of the few counselors that gay and lesbian families could trust. It wasn't surprising that Claire, her boys and Brian responded well to her.
Brian Kinney had also given Ms. Renforth his permission to speak with Karen. She could tell that he wasn't very happy about anyone digging into his past but it was to his credit that he did it for his sister and his nephews. Whatever problems Brian may have had with his nephews, he had become their greatest ally and supporter.
Ms. Renforth even contacted Steve and Bill from the Farm. The Farm was closed up for the winter but Karen was in contact with Bill. Bill was happy to send his reports to Ms. Renforth.
She had to conclude that even though the boys were at one time out of control, they and their mother were forming a close family bond. It would be a disservice to break them up and would probably cause more harm than good.
Concluding her investigations a day before Thanksgiving, Ms. Renforth would not be able to present her report to the court until the Monday after the holiday. She knew it was going to be a long anxious time for the family but it couldn't be helped. She just hoped that they could hold on for the next few days.
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Joan Kinney picked up the phone. She looked at the receiver and then set it back in the cradle. She had been waiting for days to get her invitation from Claire for Thanksgiving dinner. None had come.
She had figured that Claire would be angry at her for seeking custody of the boys, but she always spent Thanksgiving at her daughter's house. She wanted to see her grandsons and begin making it clear to them what life would be like when she got custody of them. She would try to mend fences with Claire, maybe hold out an olive branch about visitation. All she wanted was what was best for her family. At least that was what she had convinced herself that she was doing.
Once again she reached for the phone. She had to find out what was going on. Maybe she could invite Claire and the boys to her house. She could still get a turkey and the fixings, but she needed to call now.
She dialed the familiar number.
"Hello," Claire said.
"Claire, it's your mother."
"I don't want to talk to you," Claire said about to hang up.
"Wait, Claire, it's Thanksgiving."
"I'm well aware that it's Thanksgiving," Claire said icily.
"I called to see if we are going to spend it together … like we always do."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Claire blurted out.
"Claire, language. Why would you think I'm kidding?"
"You're unbelievable, Mother!"
"Claire, what are you talking about?"
"You petition the courts to take my children away from me and then you want to celebrate Thanksgiving with me? You're nuts!"
"Don't speak to me that way, young lady."
"You can't intimidate me anymore, Mother. I've had enough of it, and no, you will not be spending Thanksgiving with us. If I never see you again, it will be too soon!" Claire slammed the receiver against the base.
Joan yanked the phone away from her ear as the noise reverberated through her head. "Ungrateful wretch!" Joan said aloud. "I'm just trying to do what's best for those boys."
Joan made her way to the cupboard and took out the bottle of whiskey that she had stashed there. She poured a drink and sipped at it. She couldn't believe how Claire had treated her. She was trying to help them and they didn't appreciate anything she was doing. Claire had been downright rude. That must come from hanging around Brian all this time. He was the most insolent and ungrateful creature she had ever met.
All their troubles seemed to stem from Brian. Jack had not wanted the child and after he came along the family was never the same. Jack had doted on Claire, but he had no time or interest in Brian. The boy had become more and more belligerent and arrogant as he grew older. He thought he was better than the rest of the family. He couldn't wait to escape from the house. And he was smart. Too smart! He had earned scholarships and bursaries so that he could go to university. He wanted to be nothing like any of the rest of them. He thought he was too good for them.
And Brian was successful, but at what cost? He rejected the church and the word of God, made fun of it whenever he could. He lived a loathsome lifestyle, and seemed proud of it. Now he had sucked Claire and her children into his evil ways.
Joan had always been able to rely on Claire for help and companionship. She could always go to Claire's if she felt lonely. She went there for special occasions. She could count on the fingers of one hand the times she had been to Brian's home. It was so cold and modern and impersonal, just like Brian. Claire's house was always a mess, but she could always go there and feel somewhat comfortable. Now she couldn't even do that. But Claire would have to come to her once she had the boys.
Joan frowned. That Renforth woman had been there a few days ago to interview her. She had seemed to like the house and of course it was spotless. However, the woman had seemed skeptical that Joan would be able to handle two boys, one of them entering his teenage years. Joan didn't know whether she had been able to convince the woman that she could handle them or not.
But why was she worrying about that? She would have made a much better impression than Claire. She had told the woman that she would make sure that the boys went to church each Sunday. She had shown her the list of church related activities that she would enroll the boys in. That had to impress Ms Renforth.
Joan detested anyone who called themselves Ms. What did that stupid word mean? Was she married or not? If she wasn't, what did she know about families? Why should she be making the decision about where her grandchildren would live? Well, technically she didn't make that decision, the court did. But her recommendations carried a lot of weight. Joan wished she felt more confident about what Ms Renforth would recommend. Surely she would find Joan a more desirable guardian for the boys than Claire.
When she got custody then she would be the one in control. Claire would have to come to her. If Claire wanted Thanksgiving with the boys she would have to come to Joan's house, she would have to ask Joan's permission. Joan couldn't help herself from smiling. Claire would be at her house all the time to see the boys, and maybe Brian would be too. Joan would be generous with visitation. She could afford to be generous when she had all that money and the boys.
Joan poured another drink. She pulled a pad of paper over and started making a list of things she needed to get for tomorrow. She better leave soon if she wanted to get anything from the market. It would be picked over. Maybe she would get one of those stuffed turkey breasts that she had seen. They weren't too big, but were big enough that if Claire and the boys decided to come over, she would be able to feed them.
She wondered if Claire would relent. She had sounded so angry on the phone. It was supposed to be a time of giving thanks after all. What did Joan have to give thanks for? Not much this year. She would probably be alone, but it wouldn't be the first time. Next year she would hold all the cards and everyone would have to come to her.
Joan stood up a little shaky on her feet. She downed the rest of her drink and went to get her coat. She wondered what Brian and that boy, Justin, would be doing for Thanksgiving. She had no idea how homosexuals celebrated Thanksgiving or Christmas or anything else. They probably had some sort of weird or depraved rituals that they followed. She shuddered.
She was disappointed about Claire's reaction. She didn't want to spend Thanksgiving alone, but sometimes you had to make sacrifices for the bigger good. She would be fine. She would get her turkey breast and have a nice meal alone. Her children wouldn't be any happier than she was, of that she was sure.
And next year! Next year she would have everything. Ah, next year!