Nineteen

 

 

 

 

 

Outside, the warm sun drilled through the clouds with a promise to ward off another thunderstorm. It wasn’t exactly Christmas weather, but Naomi wanted them all to enjoy their Friday before Tibby landed the final blow that might ruin the entire weekend.

On Wednesday, Jordan had offered her a twin bed and mattress for Maddie. She needed to drive out to the B&B and pick it up. She hoped the mermaid blanket she’d ordered online would be here sometime today, so that Maddie would stop asking about it every fifteen minutes.

She also had to bring in the boxes of Christmas ornaments she’d been collecting all the way back to her college days. Then there was the unpacking and unwrapping of each one individually. Tibby would do just fine with that chore, but Maddie might have a difficult time handling the more delicate baubles.

“How about taking the girls over to the rescue center to see those seals? I’d like to stay here and sort through the Christmas decorations. I haven’t done inventory on any of it since I bought most of that stuff.”

“Is that a polite way of saying you need time alone?”

She sent him a smile. “You read me too well. Yes. I need some time to clear my head. You could take them for lunch at the diner later. Deke and Ginger can stay here with me.”

“Sure. It’ll give me some extra time to drop a few more hints around Tibby. Take all the time you need to sift through your ornaments, but it won’t change the fact that we still need to push Tibby for those few critical details she’s holding back.”

“I know that,” Naomi snapped. “I’d just like to draw this holiday out a little longer, enough that we get to enjoy most of our weekend before it explodes in our faces.”

“Again, great sentiment, great idea. Not arguing with that strategy at all. But the clock is ticking. I get the feeling we’re simply postponing the inevitable.”

Those words kept ringing in Naomi’s ears the entire morning she ran her errands. Once she got the bed back home, she found it easy enough to assemble by herself. Adding clean sheets and the mermaid blanket, the room began to take shape.

She dragged in an old dresser and matching nightstand from the garage that she’d meant to refinish at some point. But it would work for the few things Maddie had brought with her. To continue with the theme of the blanket, she hit gold on Craigslist, snapping up a print picturing a mermaid. The framed art went over the bed. For five bucks, she’d found a mermaid lampshade and it looked perfect on the old white block lamp she’d discovered at a garage sale, a decade earlier. After adding a string of twinkle lights around the framed art, she deemed Maddie’s room finished and moved on to Tibby’s.

The room Tibby occupied was less of a problem. It was already a functioning guest room, minus the clutter, with a full-size bed. But it needed upgrades more in line with what a pre-teen girl might like. God knows, the girl had dropped enough hints this past week without making outright demands.

Naomi didn’t have time to paint, so she decided a mini-makeover would have to do. She had most everything on hand already in the boxes of stuff in the garage. She just had to locate what she wanted.

She ended up switching out a boring brown comforter for a quilt in patches of creamy white and warm gold. She changed out a table for a desk and then hung a colorful bulletin board centered over the top. She brought in a bookcase and filled the shelves with some of the old books she’d collected, stuff like Nancy Drew and Harry Potter.

Proud of her work, she stood back and admired the finished product. It really did look like it belonged to a girl.

 

 

Across town, the girls were excited to get out and about. Colt walked them through a rolling gate, open now to the public for a festive event to raise money for the Fanning Marine Rescue Center. The non-profit had been founded by Keegan’s grandfather, Porter Fanning, to rescue and rehabilitate marine wildlife.

Today, the place was like a carnival atmosphere. They headed to a giant gazebo near the main entrance where a kiosk told the backstory.

While Tibby read the words off a plaque, Colt boosted Maddie up on his hip to get a bird’s eye view of the layout.

Back in the early ’90s, Dr. Fanning had taken a rundown motel, gutted the place and remodeled the facilities, turning it into the finest marine animal hospital in Central California. It rivaled those in bigger places like Laguna Beach and Sausalito. They rescued and rehabilitated seals, dolphins, turtles, and any other type of marine animal that needed help. Now it offered a state-of-the-art nursery with heated concrete floors, a clinic that doubled as an operating area, a business office, and a much-used laundry facility.

Once inside the fence, the concrete area led to a modern compound complete with roomy outdoor cages. The cages were equipped with doggie-door type flaps that allowed the animals the freedom to access the in-ground pools any time they needed exercise.

“Wow, look at this place,” Tibby said in awe. “There’s a tide pool with sea lions. Let’s go look.”

Colt could tell the girls were fascinated with the animals. Maddie and Tibby watched them for hours, along with a slew of other kids, applauding when the seals splashed and swam in the tide pool.

Even when hunger took over, Keegan and Cord had thought of everything. They’d set up tables where people could eat right on the grounds.

The girls didn’t need or want to leave to have lunch at the diner. For a donation, Colt could buy food from a variety of vendors, which proved handy when the girls wanted cotton candy or hotdogs or ice cream.

By three that afternoon, Maddie had fallen asleep on Colt’s shoulder. “It’s time to head home, Tibby.”

“Do we have to go? Mrs. Bennett said I could feed one of the baby seals.”

“We’ll come back another time.”

“What if there is no other time?” Tibby pointed out in disgust, crossing her arms over her chest. “What if I can’t stay here with you and Naomi?”

“We have these things called lawyers.”

“But I’m just a kid.”

“I’m not.”

“Can you afford a lawyer? Because they’re expensive.”

Colt let a little smile escape his lips. “I think I’ll be able to scrape up enough money to get you out of this mess you’re in.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But since I don’t have all the facts at hand, obviously I can’t promise one-hundred percent.”

“See, that’s just it. Coming clean about everything is so risky. I feel like if I do, you won’t like me anymore.”

“It’s riskier if you keep it all to yourself. Trust me on that. Now come on, let’s head home. We have a tree to decorate. And Maddie’s heavier than she looks.”

 

 

As soon as Naomi heard the truck pull up in the driveway, she put Perry Como on the old turntable and adjusted the volume. As her crew came through the door, she made sure “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” rang out loud and clear.

“I have leftover turkey and dressing for supper,” Naomi announced. “We can eat before we start on the tree.”

But their faces told her something was wrong. “Maddie, I got your room all set up. You can go check it out if you want. You too, Tibby.”

The excitement Naomi expected flatlined. “What’s up? Didn’t you have fun today?”

“It was awesome,” Tibby stated. “Until Colt reminded me that we have to talk.”

Maddie dropped her head to her chest and studied her feet. “Tibby’s in trouble. And she might have to go away if we don’t fix it.”

Naomi’s unease broke through. The impatience that had built up over the past week turned into full-blown agitation. “Tabitha Rene Porter, I want you to look at me. This has gone on long enough. Tell us everything. Right now. Get it off your chest. None of us deserve this hanging over our heads any longer. It’s full disclosure time. Take a seat and spill.”

Tibby plopped down onto the sofa cushions, but she didn’t start talking.

“Well? Okay. Fine. Let’s begin with something simple. Colt and I want to know how far you traveled to get here. Was it from out of state?”

Tibby looked down in her lap and studied her hands. “It was Boise. Idaho. I’m from Boise.”

“Idaho?” That made Naomi take a seat across from her. She glanced up at Colt. “How does a…? How old are you anyway? None of this ‘I’m almost thirteen’ crap either. We know you’re not even close to thirteen.”

“I’ll be twelve next July.”

“So, you’re eleven.” Naomi and Colt traded worried looks. “How does an eleven-year-old make it roughly seven hundred miles from Boise to Pelican Pointe?”

Colt took a seat next to Tibby. “Did you take a bus out of town? Where did you get the money to travel?”

“I stole money, okay? I stole enough for a bus ticket. When I got to the station, I picked out an old lady from the crowd. I pretended she was my grandmother and I was traveling with her. I told the ticket agent she’d forgotten to buy my ticket. Then once I boarded the bus, I gave the driver the same story about traveling with my grandmother. I picked out another older woman. This time one who had grayish hair who was already sitting in the back. I pointed to her and told the driver that was my grandma. I sat down next to her and no one bothered me the whole way. We struck up a conversation and it was all fine until I got to San Jose. That’s when she got off the bus and I had to get off with her.”

Colt tried to keep his voice calm, but inside his gut was churning. “So, you started walking from San Jose to here?”

Tibby nodded. “I got this idea to hitchhike but no one would pick me up.”

“Good God,” Naomi burst out. “Do you realize what could’ve happened to you anywhere along the way?”

“I got here, didn’t I? I set up house in the keeper’s cottage. I’d been there for probably three weeks before that creep showed up and spoiled everything.”

“Three weeks?” Colt asked in wonder. “So when exactly did this journey begin back in Idaho?” He was afraid of the answer.

“Right before Labor Day, before school started.”

Naomi’s jaw dropped. “I’m…speechless. I don’t know what to say to that. Wait. I do. That story about leaving school after lunch, that wasn’t true?”

Tibby shook her head.

“On second thought, I have a long list of questions. Why? Why did you leave this place, Tibby? How bad was it?”

“Look, it was bad, okay? This couple took in twenty kids in a three-bedroom house. Some of us, like me, had to sleep in the basement with no heat. It got freezing cold down there in the winter. I don’t know how they kept getting these kids, but they did. Little kids just kept coming. I have pictures to prove what I’m saying is true. The pictures are in my backpack.”

“How did you get these photos?” Colt asked.

“I stole a phone from the girl who lived down the street a couple of days before I took off. I started taking pictures of everything. The filthy conditions, what was in the fridge to eat for the grownups, and what we got to eat instead.”

Naomi pulled her in for a hug and Colt did the same. But then he went over and shut off the record player. “Here’s what we’re gonna do first. I’ll call that lawyer. Let’s meet with her, organize our strategy, before we get in touch with the social worker.”

Instead of trimming the tree, Colt and Naomi sat down with Kinsey Donnelly at the kitchen table. Each one took turns laying out the story. Colt provided the photos Tibby had taken as proof of her accusations. “She’s a damn smart kid to have taken it upon herself to get the goods on these people like she did. Obviously, this couple is running some type of scam on social services that also includes the state. Somebody keeps letting them take in foster kids when they don’t have the resources or the space for the ones they already have. Tibby was there for almost three years. Look at how skinny she is.”

“Malnourished is what she is,” Naomi added. “Not only that, we don’t want her going back to that place. Not ever. We want Tibby permanently. We don’t even want her to have to see Idaho or those despicable people ever again. Can you make that happen?”

Colt crossed his arms over his chest, leaned back in his chair, and waited for Kinsey’s response.

Kinsey bit her lip. “Okay. Here’s what I’m thinking is the best way to go. First, I’d like to file an emergency petition here in California to sever all ties with the state of Idaho as the entity in charge of caring for Tabitha. We should win that round because, thanks to Tibby’s photographs, we can prove Idaho hasn’t done such a great job in that regard, thus far.

“Second, we use the fact that you want to adopt Tabitha as the basis for the brief. Out of state adoptions happen all the time. There’s no reason we can’t get the court to deem Tabitha Rene Porter as an adoptable eleven-year-old from Boise. Once the court rules on those two things, we bring the two of you along to file another petition to make the situation permanent. Two adults, who’ve already been approved as emergency caretakers in the eyes of the court for one mystery child shouldn’t be a problem. Add in that they also approved you to take care of Maddie and we have a double win for our side. I’ll get this in front of my favorite family court judge, run the details by him, and see what he says in a preliminary.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Naomi said. “Is it?”

Kinsey began to pack up her notes and gather the twenty-some photos for her argument. “No. This is not a simple case. I’m sorry if I led you to believe that. But we’re going to make it one. Naomi, I want you to call Carla Vargas. Now. Let me do the talking because Tabitha Rene Porter has rights. And the state of Idaho has let her down now for three years. We want to make sure that Carla is on board with helping us correct this grave error in judgment.”

Less than an hour later, Naomi greeted Carla at the door, all smiles. “Maybe we got off on the wrong foot.”

“I see. I wasn’t sure from your phone call why I’m here on a Friday afternoon so late. Would you like to apply to be a foster mother to Maddie? Is that it?”

“Absolutely, if that’s the first phase. But what I’d rather apply for is something more permanent, like adoption.” Naomi stepped aside so Carla could see Colt and Kinsey settled in at the kitchen table.

Kinsey walked over to greet and shake hands with the social worker. “We meet again. Sorry to bother you on a Friday like this, but we thought you should get apprised of the entire situation now that we know the identity of our mystery girl.”

Kinsey whirled around to the child in question, who had ambled up to stand next to Colt for emotional support. “Carla, I’d like you to meet Tabitha Rene Porter, Tibby for short. I’m Tibby’s attorney now.”

Carla looked shocked. “Do we know…?”

That’s as far as Kinsey let her get. “Have a seat, Carla. And I’ll try to make this as quick and painless as possible. It’s a rather long story that started out with the state of Idaho handing over an eight-year-old child to really bad foster parents. I won’t go into the fact that I’m looking at an excellent case for suing the state of Idaho.”

Carla listened and was intrigued by what she heard. But it was the photographs showing the deplorable conditions of the house along with the sleeping arrangements in the basement that sealed Carla’s commitment to keeping Tibby here for good.

After Kinsey left, Colt and Naomi followed Carla to her car, making sure the social worker wouldn’t change her mind as soon as the going got tough.

It was Colt who pushed the hardest. “We know this may take some time to get a victory out of the court system. Just so we’re all on the same page, we understand that. We want you to understand it, too.”

“I want what’s best for Tibby. But the fight will get tougher if someone steps forward in Idaho…and wants to adopt her there. I don’t want anyone getting their hopes up.”

“Hope is all we have right now, Ms. Vargas,” Colt said.  “And a tough attorney. Tibby’s been in the Idaho system for three years now. Don’t stand there and tell me you really believe people will be lining up to adopt a biracial child who’s already eleven years old.” Colt shook his head. “You’re talking to a seasoned skeptic here. Where I come from, that just doesn’t happen.”

Carla huffed out a breath. “You’re right. If it hasn’t happened in all these years, it won’t now. I just don’t want that little girl disappointed. It’s a heavy burden for all of us to see this to a good conclusion.”

“We’ll take care of her emotionally,” Naomi promised. “We’ll see to it that she’s given the support she needs. But in addition to that, I was thinking about getting her into counseling.”

“And it wouldn’t hurt Maddie to go, too,” Colt advised.

“Counseling’s a good call,” Carla said in agreement. “Since Dr. Blackwood arrived in town, he’s shored up our mental health programs. He even persuaded a therapist from San Sebastian to come over here once a week to hold outpatient sessions at the clinic. I’ll take care of getting both girls into an age-appropriate therapy group. I think they’d benefit from it.”

“So things are on an even keel with us?” Naomi stated. “After all, we’ve put everything on the table for you. We just want to make sure we’ve cleared the air between us completely.”

Carla stuck the key in her car door lock. “You have. I’m grateful. I’ll be in touch about getting the adoption started for Maddie. It will look so much better to the judge for Tibby with one under our belt already.”

“That’s the plan,” Colt concluded.

They watched the social worker leave and started toward the house.

Colt put his arm around Naomi’s shoulders. “I’m glad that’s over so we can move on to other things.”

“Me too. Now we just have to convince the girls we’re calm, cool, and collected. We’re not rattled, are we?”

“No way. We’re warriors, remember?”

“That’s what I thought you’d say.” She stuck her hand in the back pocket of Colt’s jeans and let him tug her into the house. The air inside the living room was subdued as the girls sat in silence, a rare occurrence.

As had become her habit, Maddie broke the mood. “I wuv my room. I have three mermaids.” Grabbing Colt’s hand, she held up three fingers. “Wanna come see?”

Colt let her drag him down the hallway into her new room while Naomi went over to console Tibby.

Naomi put the girl in a hug. “Feel better? Doesn’t it feel wonderful to have all that weight off your shoulders now? You can sleep better tonight knowing everything’s out there. It is everything, right?”

“Yeah, but I’ll feel better when it’s all over,” Tibby said. “I love my room, too. It’s beautiful.” The minute Colt appeared back in the living room, Tibby wanted to know, “Did you really mean what you said earlier, that I was smart?”

“Absolutely. You figured out a way to outfox those people. Show me another eleven-year-old who could pull that off. You knew what they were doing was wrong and you didn’t give up trying to get out of there. Although…I don’t advocate you going on the run again. Or walking fifty miles to get there…by yourself. Or stealing anything like money or a cell phone. Should we be concerned about that type of behavior going forward?”

Tibby shook her head. “No way. I want things to be normal. I’m tired of worrying about stuff all the time, I’m tired of trying to figure out where my next meal is coming from, I’m tired of being cold and alone.”

“Good answer. No more alone time in this house,” Colt implied. “For anyone.”

Maddie, who’d been quiet up to this point, locked her arms around Colt’s legs. “Can we start the tree now? I’ve been waiting for two days to decorate the tree. Gertie’s getting tired of waiting.”

“Oh yeah?” Colt picked her up and swung her around. “That Gertie’s an impatient cuss, isn’t she?”

Maddie giggled, breaking the somber mood.

“Eat first or decorate the tree,” Naomi proffered.

“Tree,” Tibby bellowed, mimicking Maddie.

“Then let’s get this party started,” Colt said as he began to untangle the lights.

While the kids sorted through ornaments, Perry Como was back on the stereo. Colt danced Naomi around the room to the music.

“I didn’t realize you were such a good dancer,” Naomi remarked.

“Me? I’m the Apache version of Fred Astaire. Light on my feet. You? Not so much.”

“I know. I’m not very good, am I? But then, I’ve never been dancing before.”

Colt stopped his momentum just as he was about to send her into a dip. “What? You’ve never been dancing…at all…ever?”

“No. I told you I skipped going to the prom.”

“Yeah, but…come on, I don’t believe you. Not even in college? Kids go to nightclubs all the time.”

“Not me. I stayed home on Saturday nights and studied.”

“Naomi, that’s…sad.” He went over to the turntable and replaced Como with Otis Redding. As he took her hand, the pace changed. The pair started out slow dancing, curling into each other, feet barely inching a step or two. Colt got her to imitate his moves and loosen up.

Their audience, Tibby and Maddie, looked on, fascinated that the two grownups could have fun like that.

“You’re getting the hang of it, Naomi,” Tibby encouraged, clapping to the beat.

Maddie simply abandoned her box of ornaments and started twisting her hips in rhythm, doing her best to mimic the steps.

Soon, they were all dancing around the room to “My Girl.”