Page 99 of Pooh

“You know how I’ve went on a few dates with that social worker from CPS? That doesn’t matter, I guess, but because she knows me and your situation with Craig, she just called. Katrena was at their office and she wants to see Craig. She’s making a big fuss about it. She mentioned your adoption application, so she is aware that you are trying to adopt him.”

“Oh God. No. Please. No,” I quietly say. “We’re so close and he’s doing so well!”

“This is bullshit! She abandoned her own child and now she thinks she has the right to see him? For what? To abandon him again? To mess with his life?” explodes Trigger.

Pooh’s arm tightens around my shoulders and I lean more of my body weight into his strength. I’m scared and it’s down to my bones. Can she, as the biological mother, take him back from me? Does the state consider her rights over the welfare of the child?

“She didn’t say exactly why she wants to see him and you, Pippa. I hope you don’t mind, but before I came and got you, I called your attorney from New Horizons. She doesn’t think Katrena has a leg to stand on, but she wants you to call her. She said it may be better to meet with Katrena, with your attorney present, and find out what she wants before the courts have to step in and make hard decisions. If you do, it shows you only want what’s best for Craig, and not just what you want for yourself. Please, honey, call your attorney,” Rex says.

Tammy steps up next to me and places her hand on my hip. We make eye contact and I can see the calm determination in hers.

“Call your attorney and then we’ll make plans, baby girl. You have a lot of support here, as does Craig, but we need to know what she wants before we can plan our strategy. We may be worried for nothing. We can’t put the horse before the cart. One step at a time, Pips. Just like we’ve done with everything else life has thrown at us, one step at a time and together. Let’s go make that call.”

Our group quietly enters Gunner’s office and I make the call. The decision is made for our attorney to contact Child Protective Services and set up a meeting with Katrena, Pooh and me. We’re not exposing Craig to her until we know why she wants to see him. Craig will be with Trigger and Tammy during our meeting. We won’t know when the meeting will be for a day or so. The wait is going to suck but there’s no way around it.

-*- -*- -*- -*-

The appointment is set for Tuesday at nine am and that day has arrived. Everyone is on pins and needles but trying to hide that from Craig. I’m positive we’re not completely successful at that because he’s been giving all of us funny looks and has gotten very clingy to Pooh and I. It breaks my heart knowing this could end up hurting him.

Walking into CPS’s office, I spot Katrena instantly. She looks exactly how you expect an addict to look. Thin, ragged hair and clothes, desperate look in her eyes. When she sees me and Pooh, she smiles a little and then drops her head. We’re all taken to a conference room and we take seats on the opposite side of the table from Katrena and the social worker. I sit between Pooh and our attorney.

“I want to see my son.”

“Why? You didn’t want him before and he’s doing so well now, Katrena. You seeing him could set him back miles. I just don’t want to see him hurt needlessly,” I respond to her softly spoken statement.

“I get that I’m not mother material. I know he’s much better off with you. I’m not here to try to take him from you, Pippa. I want you to know that. I just want to see him one more time to say goodbye before your adoption is granted.”

I feel the breath leave my body and I slump a little in relief. I was so scared she was going to fight the adoption and drag Craig through hell.

“How much damage would this meeting do to Craig, though? He’s doing great, he’s thriving and is a happy little boy right now. Will this set him back? Will this bring back the nightmares?” Pooh says directing his questions to the social worker.

“I would be willing to have a discussion with his counselor, and maybe together, she and I can have a sit down with Craig to gauge where he’s at mentally concerning his mom. I’m not any more willing to threaten his well-being than you two are. If he’s not in a place mentally where I and his counselor think he could handle a meeting with his mom, I’ll be the first to go against this idea,” she answers, firmly.

Pooh looks at me and nods his head. We’ll allow the two counselors to speak with Craig first and get their thoughts before we proceed with Katrena’s request. With all eyes on her, she slowly nods her head in agreement to the plan.

-*- -*- -*- -*-

“That’s one happy, intelligent little guy. He apparently loves you two to death and he loves where he’s living and his life now. After speaking with him, I have to admit that I’d love to meet Axel and Chubs. They sound interesting, to say the least,” the social worker tells us with a smile. “His counselor and I both feel confident that Craig will have no long-standing issues by having contact with Katrena. He may be a little upset for a few days, just because it’s a big deal, but I believe he can handle it. My suggestion is to let them have their meeting, with both of you present, get her to sign off on the adoption and continue loving this little boy you’ve taken into your lives.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much. How do we tell Craig about this meeting? How do we bring it up?” I ask.

“Don’t make it a big deal. Be casual and confident about it because he’ll feed off of your emotions. Just tell him that Katrena would like to see him for a few minutes. Reassure him that you will be there too. You two have become his support system and he needs to know that he’s not doing this alone. This actually may be a good thing for him. He may need the closure as much as Katrena does. He most likely needs to know that his place with you is no longer tentative, but solid and permanent.”

-*- -*- -*- -*-

We’re back at the social worker’s office and today is the day. Craig took the news fairly well but was a little quieter the day we told him about the meeting coming up. Pooh, me, Tammy, Trigger and everyone else kept the mood light and fun the last few days so he wouldn’t think that any of us are worried. While I wanted to just sit and cuddle with him every minute until now, I forced myself not to treat him any different than any other day.

After telling Craig the news about seeing Katrena, the only outward sign that he might be scared was when he spoke with Trigger. He asked Trigger that if Katrena tried to keep him, would he please help Pooh steal him back. He said he needed that promise because Pips needed him with her. Brought tears to my eyes when I heard this and Trigger admitted it did the same to him.

While waiting for Katrena to arrive, Craig starts giggling. I look at him and see that he’s staring out the window of the second-floor conference room we’re in. Pooh and I get up and walk to the window to see several club members leaning against their cars and trucks. Craig’s family is here to support him. Ava, Trudy and Bailey are holding up a handwritten banner that reads: ‘Love you Craig!’ And Chubs has a pizza box and a taco bag in his hands while grinning up at Craig.

“He’s going to have an amazing future,” the social worker says quietly to me and Pooh when she stops next to us and looks down into the street.

“Yeah, I am,” Craig says. “I have the bestest family ever.” And the “bestest” hearing ever!

The meeting with Katrena and Craig goes exceptionally well and he showed no signs of being agitated or of anxiety. I was so proud of him. He is an exceptional little boy and I’m the lucky one for having gotten the opportunity to have him in my life. Looking at Pooh, I see the same thoughts on his face and in his eyes. At the end of the meeting, Craig proved to everyone just how cool of a kid he is.

“I hope you don’t hate me too much, Craig. I just wasn’t ready for the responsibilities of being a parent. I’m still not,” Katrena says to him.

---