Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 2

It was a beautiful spring day on the bayou. The frogs were mating and expressing themselves with their chirping. The sun's rays were peaking through the moss-covered cypress trees when a loud knock on the front door interfered with the serenity. So began a series of events leading to a perfect storm of tragedy that would affect lives for years.

The yard was full of cop cars. The man in the suit seemed ten feet tall. A woman carrying a clipboard followed. She spoke first and identified herself as from social services.

"What is the matter, mama?" Jasmine asked.

"Just a minute, sweetie," Constance replied.

"Your daughter must come with us," the woman said.

It turns out Leslie and Jim, the ex-husband, filed a rape charge against Edmund. Earlier that day, Jasmine had visited them, and she said that Edmund had done something to her the previous night when she and her mother visited Edmund. So they immediately took her to ER for a rape kit sample. At a later date, Jasmine told her mother that Leslie slapped her and forced her to say to the law that Edmund raped her. She recanted, but the rape kit disappeared. However, the charges against Edmund were still pending. Leslie now felt she had grounds for a custody suit.

Constance was having a bad day. She was coming off one of her more frequent drinking binges.

The day she finally arrived. The court would decide who would gain custody of Jasmine. To make matters worse, things were piling up. Jim, her ex-husband, is suing her for relief of the five hundred per month she receives for Jasmine's support even though she forgave two thousand dollars per month that the divorce court allowed.

She forgave the amount when she was having a nostalgic moment. She now was having regrets because Jim was supposed to be providing a life insurance policy and gifts during Christmas and birthdays. He was doing neither. Since the rape allegation, she was allowed visitation for Jasmine by Jim and Leslie; however, Jasmine and Leslie did not get along since the slapping. It got so bad Leslie packed up Jasmine's clothes, put her in the car, and took her to a police station near Constance's house and dropped her off. The suitcase opened, and the contents scattered on the street. That ended the voluntary visitations. For some reason, Jim is going along with whatever Leslie wants, overriding any responsibilities he may have regarding his daughter.

To make matters worse, Constance is having alarming financial difficulty. Remember the money Bob left her? She went through that like a drunk sailor. In her mind, Constance had a right to spend it. She has not filed a tax return in four years, and heaven knows how much she owes for the sale of the inherited properties. Oh! Yes, there are lawyer and rental fees for all the inventory she was still hanging on to for the retail store. Did I mention that the five properties she still had were going into sheriff's sales for delinquent property tax.? No wonder she contemplated suicide. In addition, the family wants nothing to do with a needy young adult who has gained substantial weight because her mother does not cook and feeds Jasmine fast foods regularly. The daughter does not drive and pleads for food when her mother is on a drunken binge. Constance would not answer Jasmine's calls.

One thing at a time. The court is at one o'clock, and she needs to be presentable. Due to the slapping and drop-off incidents, the court may disallow Jim and Leslie's custody.

Defendants packed the courtroom. The district has a shortage of judges, and the court settled many cases in the back room in hallways with lawyers negotiating and giving the court clerk the results for the judge to sign. Many days, the judge may be off the bench. Today, the judge was there and will hear arguments from both sides. Jim and Leslie are claiming Constance is an unfit mother for putting

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Jasmine in harm -way with Edmund as well as allowing massive weight gain and other extra charges.

Constance's defense rests on Leslie slapping and mistreatment of Jasmine by dropping her off. She also mentioned that Jim is not in compliance with the divorce decree. The judge seemed to be irritated.

Maybe he is not having a good day. He was in a hurry and wanted the case over.

Jim became upset about how things played out before retiring to chambers. He had an outburst.

"Constance is a psychopath and a drunk, and she should not continue with custody."

"Any further outbursts and you will be found in contempt and escorted out of the courtroom."

He frowned and looked directly at Jim and Leslie's lawyer. "Please control your client."

"Yes, your honor."

After hearing arguments by both sides and calling all parties to testify, he retreated to chambers for lunch, and his decision was pending. Incidentally, Leslie, on the stand, denied slapping Jasmine but admitted dropping her off at the police station. Jim did not have much to say, almost as if he did not want custody, but he was going along with Leslie. Constance's lawyer asked Jim if the only reason they wanted custody was to get the government checks so he would not have to comply with the divorce decree. The lawyer also quizzed Jim regarding gifts and other things a normal father would do with his daughter. He denied wanting the government check.

The opposition lawyer asked Constance how much she drank, but her lawyer immediately objected to her. She held her own and felt good about the outcome the judge may decree. She also was asked why she befriended Edmund when he was stalking her. She responded that she trusted him. She admitted spending all night with him and Jasmine but denied a sexual relationship.

After the recess, the judge made his decision. He put on his glasses and began to read: "During lunch, I gave this case a lot of thought. Here is my decision. A daughter is better off with her biological mother. Considering the riff between the daughter and stepmother, I am allowing Jasmine to live with her mother under the following conditions: I am decreeing adult guardianship for Jasmine and am appointing a temporary guardian until which time the charge against Edmund is expunged either by conviction or acquittal. Additionally, her mother, Constance, must complete a twelve-step program with AA. Constance and Jasmine must move outside Edmund's 50-mile perimeter, and neither party shall have physical or phone contact. Jasmine is now a ward of the court.

The verdict was a compromise decision, and no one was happy. All the problems Constance is having are just adding to the complication. Now, she has to prepare to move.

In the meantime, Edmund is still under investigation for sexual assault and is awaiting word regarding the rape kit. It is now approaching a year without a word.

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