Celeste and Grant were put under a microscope and queried relentlessly by the judge about their relationship and their fitness as parents.
They stifled their tempers and spun a tale of former lovers who had separated for years, but who had just recently decided to reunite for the sake of their child.
Rhona trotted in the neighbors who had reported Jennifer, but Rhona was forced to admit that when she’d gone to the house, it had been spotless, and Jeffrey had not been left alone. She tried to argue that because Jeffrey had bitten her, he was clearly emotionally disturbed. However, Reynaldo successfully defended him, saying that his mother had taught him that as a way to defend himself. After all, how else could a six-year-old boy fight off an adult?
Then Rhona complained to Judge Fletcher that her sister had been viciously attacked by a wild animal at Grant’s house, and she demanded that Jeffrey be taken into CPS custody immediately.
It backfired when Grant’s lawyer complained about Rhona’s sister being sent to spy on Grant, and also pointed out that the police had visited the house and had not found a wild animal. He also forced Rhona to admit that the alleged “vicious attack” had merely been Marian getting piddled on.
Judge Fletcher angrily told Rhona off for sending her sister to the house, and told her that Grant had every right to file a complaint with the CPS office.
Finally, Rhona tried to insist on interviewing Jeffrey alone. If his parents were in the room, he’d be too terrified to talk about the abuse that he was suffering, she said in a deeply worried voice, her eyes as huge as saucers.
Judge Fletcher pointed out that there was no proof of abuse. He did remonstrate with Celeste about the lack of medical records for Jeffrey – Jennifer had never taken Jeffrey to the doctor.
Grant’s lawyers had prepared her for that. She told the judge that she was a religious woman who believed in prayer healing, but she would respect the wishes of the court and take Jeffrey to get his physical and follow doctor’s orders for him from now on. The judge ordered that they take Jeffrey for a checkup that afternoon, and give the results of the checkup to his office by the end of the week.
Finally, Judge Fletcher said that the CPS worker would interview Jeffrey without his parents present, which was standard procedure, but a court-appointed attorney, and Grant’s attorneys, would remain in the room.
After that, they had to agree to several drop in visits from CPS, and then the judge would re-evaluate the case in a few weeks.
The interview took an excruciating half hour. They’d prepped Jeffrey for it, but it was still nerve- wracking. Celeste and Grant sat outside in the hallway biting their nails and listening for the sound of screaming court employees. Fortunately, Jeffrey apparently kept his wolf under control.
Finally, the door swung open and everybody filed out, Pete and Reynaldo walking on either side of Jeffrey. He glared at the CPS worker.
“She kept trying to make me say lies about you, Mommy and Daddy, but they made her stop,” he said loudly, pointing at Grant’s attorneys.
Celeste winked at him. He had been beyond awesome today. The “Mommy and Daddy” had been an extra-nice touch.
“I did no such thing!” Rhona said indignantly.
“We have it on tape,” Grant’s attorney said. “You asked leading questions. You were extremely unprofessional. That will be included in the complaint we file with the state.”
“My friend Mandy has a name for ladies like you,” Jeffrey informed Rhona.
Celeste grabbed his hand. “Well, no need for that!” she said brightly. “Jeffrey, we’re leaving now. Okay, say bye to the nice lady.”
“Sure.Bye,” Jeffrey said. Then he muttered under his breath, “Basic bitch.”
Rhona gasped and hurried towards the judge’s chambers, no doubt eager to snitch on him.
“That’s my boy,” Grant said proudly.
“Grant! Do not encourage him.” But Celeste was fighting not to laugh. “And we’re going to have to have a word with Mandy about this when we get back to the house.”
Jeffrey turned to face Grant with a ferocious glare. “She was mean and stupid and you made me talk to her for all day long.Somebodyowes me a trip to Greasy Gus.”
Grant stifled a laugh. “Okay. I think somebody can arrange something right now.” As they walked out of the courthouse, he said to Celeste, “Only six and he’s negotiating like a lawyer. The pack calls me the rules lawyer, because I have every law in our pack charter memorized and I know how to work them. That’s my boy.”
As they drove to the pizza parlor, Celeste couldn’t help but notice that Jeffrey had a small, proud smile on his face.
Grant tried to call Mandy several times, but she didn’t answer.
“She must be really mad,” Grant said.
“Give me her number,” Celeste said.
Celeste sent Mandy a crabby text.