Cracks in the Sidewalk(38)

Judge Brill looked to Noreen.

“Not so, Your Honor,” she said. “The grandmother exhibits a tendency toward violence. That became obvious when she attacked my client’s house with a sledgehammer.”

Judge Brill gave an impatient huff and rolled his eyes. “Is there any chance that these people can reach an out-of-court agreement through mediation?”

Both lawyers shook their heads.

“My client adamantly refuses to allow visitation,” Sarnoff said.

Dudley Grimm added, “My client feels equally strong about her right to spend time with her children.”

Seeing no hope of settlement, Judge Brill mandated a psychologist’s examination of all parties involved as well as the attending physician’s report on Elizabeth Caruthers’ medical status.

“Let’s find out exactly what we’re dealing with here,” he said. He rose and left the room.





A Summer of Madness


On the hottest day ever recorded, a day when most people did nothing but gulp down glasses of iced tea and wait for the weather to break, Claire and Charles McDermott trekked across an asphalt parking lot in Newark, New Jersey.

“I still don’t see why the judge is making us talk to the psychologist,” Claire grumbled. She fanned the sheet of directions in front of her face, but the small breeze it gave off hardly made a difference.

“You ought to get rid of that attitude before we go in here,” Charlie suggested. “That’s the sort of negativity the psychologist is going to be looking for.”

“Whose side are you on?” Claire started fanning herself again.

“It’s not a question of sides,” Charlie replied. “Remember, we’re not doing this for ourselves. We’re doing it for Elizabeth.”

“We shouldn’t have to do it at all.”

~

Doctor Belleau’s office was on the third floor but because of the extreme heat the elevator, like most everything, had stopped working. After trudging up three flights of stairs, both Charles and Claire arrived at his office red-faced and soaked with perspiration.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” Doctor Belleau apologized, extending a cool, air-conditioned hand.

Despite the clamminess of her hand in his, Claire forced a smile.

“These things happen,” Charles gasped, still red-faced and trying to catch his breath.

“And at the most inopportune time.” Doctor Belleau laughed.

Although he had a pleasant enough smile, Claire thought the doctor seemed terribly young. He had the appearance of someone she’d expect to find jogging through the park, not delving into a person’s innermost thoughts.

“Have you been in this business for long?” she asked, trying to sound friendly and not overly critical.

Doctor Belleau laughed again.

“Thirteen years. But I get that question often. I should be thankful for looking younger than my years, but in this profession a youthful appearance can be a detriment.”

Claire smiled. It was going to be more difficult to dislike Doctor Belleau than she’d originally anticipated.

“What I’d like to do,” he suggested, “is speak with each of you individually. Afterward we’ll all sit down together.” He led Claire back to his office, leaving Charles to wait in the reception room.

Once in his office, Doctor Belleau sat Claire in a high-backed leather chair and placed himself across from her. “Are you comfortable?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Okay then. I’m going to record our session. Why don’t we start with you telling me a little bit about yourself?”

“Well, um,” Claire stammered. She wasn’t prepared for this—she’d figured on questions about Liz, about the children, even about Jeffrey, but she’d not anticipated telling her life story.

“There’s not all that much to tell,” she finally said. “I’m a wife and mother. I live for my family. Elizabeth, she’s my only child, and I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if someone had taken her from me the way Jeffrey has taken the children from Elizabeth.”

“Are you angry with Jeffrey for keeping the children away from your daughter?”

“Yes, I’m angry. Wouldn’t you be if someone took your kids?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any children,” he answered, which, as far as Claire was concerned, was not much of an answer. She began to feel less inclined to like the young Doctor Belleau.

“Why do you think Jeffrey wants to keep the children away from their mother?”

“Does it matter why? It’s wrong!”

“Would you still feel it was wrong even if he were doing it for their good?”

“He’s not! He’s doing it for the good of himself. So, yes, it’s wrong.” Claire hesitated just long enough to gain control of her anger.

“No one has the right to take children away from their mother. Jeffrey is not just keeping them away from Liz. He’s also keeping them away from me and their grandfather.”

“How would you feel if Jeffrey agreed to allow the children to see their mother but not you?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Claire snapped. “I’m their grandma. Why would he do a thing like that?”