Cracks in the Sidewalk(70)

I can’t imagine what Judge Brill was thinking when he awarded Jeffrey custody of the children. Only someone who’s evil through and through would say the mean things Jeffrey said. I wish I’d recorded that conversation with Elizabeth. If Judge Brill got an earful of JT saying those things, I bet he’d make some pretty different decisions.

Jeffrey told Judge Brill it’s not revenge. He said he just wants to get on with his life. If so, why doesn’t he let me watch the kids and he can look for a job? Because he doesn’t want a job, that’s why. He just wants to make Elizabeth as miserable as possible. After JT left, Charlie said he was gonna ask Dudley if it’s possible to get a court order to prohibit him from talking to Liz. Liz never mentions a word of what’s transpired, but I see the hurt in her eyes. Let me tell you, there’s no pain on earth worse than watching your daughter’s heart be broken.





A Man of Defiance


On the second Sunday of scheduled visitation, Jeffrey brought Christian but claimed the other two had the sniffles. When Jeffrey arrived an hour and forty-five minutes late, Elizabeth’s father opened the door and growled, “You’re supposed to be here at nine o’clock, and you’re supposed to bring all three children!”

“You ought to be glad I’m here with this one,” Jeffrey answered and shoved the squirming baby into his grandfather’s arms.

“Where’re David and Kimberly?”

“They’re home sick, and I’m not going to drag them out in this weather so they can get worse colds.”

“They’ve both got colds? Like Christian had a cold last week?”

“Yeah. Just like that.” Jeffrey started down the walkway. “I’ll be back at noon.”

“Don’t bother,” Charlie said. “Liz has three hours visiting time, so I’m not answering this door until one-forty-five!”

~

Charlie parked Christian on Elizabeth’s lap, then called Dudley. “He got here late again,” Charlie said. “I did as you suggested.”

“Good,” Dudley answered. “Was there any problem?”

“Not yet, but I’m betting there will be.”

“I’ll be there within the hour,” Dudley said.

~



When Charlie returned to the living room, Elizabeth was on the floor with Christian.

“Good grief!” Charlie exclaimed. “What happened?” He bent to help Elizabeth up.

“No, no,” she said happily. “I want to stay here. We’re building a tower.”

With her back braced against the sofa, she handed the baby another bright red block as he squealed with delight. “Go ahead,” she said, guiding his chubby little hand. “Put it right here on top of the yellow one.” He waved his hand back and forth eventually bouncing himself into the stack of blocks, which sent it tumbling and caused Christian to burst into giggles.

“How’d you get down there?” Charlie asked.

“Mom helped me.”

Claire gave a guilty shrug and smiled.

A look of concern appeared on Charlie’s face. “Do you think she should be doing this?” he asked Claire.

“I think it’s the best medicine in the world,” Claire whispered back. “Look how happy she is.”

Elizabeth smiled and laughed as she had not done in many months. Every time the baby laughed or squealed, her smile grew brighter. And if Claire watched closely, every so often she could see a slight bit of lift on the left side of Elizabeth’s face.

Charlie lowered himself into a chair and watched as the baby scampered back and forth across Elizabeth’s legs retrieving blocks, stacking them, and then happily squealing when they tumbled.

“Give the block to Mama,” Elizabeth coached. “Give it to Mama.”

“Eeeeeeeee,” Christian answered and handed the yellow block to Liz.

“Ma-ma,” she repeated. “Say Ma-ma.”

“Liz, just look at how he’s taken to you,” Charlie said. “He already knows you’re his mama.”

After almost an hour of stacking and tumbling, Christian crawled into Elizabeth’s lap. He leaned his head against her stomach and stuck his thumb in his mouth.

“Somebody’s sleepy,” she said. With her right hand she began to rub his back in tiny little circles using the same motion she’d used when Christian was still inside of her. Minutes later he fell asleep.

“Are you comfortable?” Charlie asked.

“Very.” Elizabeth smiled and continued to rub the baby’s back. They remained that way for a long while until the chime of the doorbell woke Christian and he started crying.

~

“Am I in time?” Dudley asked.

Charlie nodded. “He’s not back yet.” Just then Charlie spotted Jeffrey’s car turning the corner. “That’s him now.”

“You go back in,” Dudley said. “I’ll take it from here.”

Charlie returned to the living room and snapped on the television. “Maybe,” he said with a forced joviality, “Christian would like to see some cartoons!” He began flipping the channels until he finally came upon a trio of dancing pigs. “This looks good. Want to see this, Christian?”