Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Nina

   Chapter 13

   Tuesday I got a phone call late in the afternoon.  My home number showed
on the display.  I picked up the receiver.  "Hey, baby," I said, a greeting
that should work for either Nina or Sandy.

   Nina's voice.  "Hey babe!  How's your day?"

   "It's been a normal day.  So far."

   "We had two visits.  One was a big truck with a piano on the back, and
the second was a nice black lady from social services."

   "How'd that go?" I asked.

   Giggle.  "I gave her the grand tour.  She had to ease around the guys
bringing in the piano.  I told her it was a medieval torture device and we
were going to chain Sandy to it."

   "Oh, baby, some of those people don't have a sense of humor."

   "She did.  Actually, after the piano guys left, she sat down and played
on it.  She's GOOD!  Plays at her church.  Knows our piano teacher." She
paused.  "I don't think we're going to have a problem with her report."

   "Good!" I said.  "That's a load off my mind."

   "You coming home at the regular time?"

   "Yeah, sweetie," I said.  "You started cooking?"

   "Not yet," she said.

   "Good!  Let's go out and get something."

   "'Kay," she said.  "Me an' Sandy'll talk about it."

   "Do I get a say?"

   Giggle.  "You get a vote.  But we'll outvote you, ya know..."

   "'Kay, baby doll.  I'll see you in a bit.  Love you!"

   "Love you too!" click.

   I leaned back in my chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

   Harvey walked past my door and saw me with my eyes squinched shut.

   "Somethin' wrong, Dan?"

   "No ...  well, yeah, if you've got a minute." He sat.  I related the
story.

   "Is the woman crazy?" he asked, incredulously.

   "Deluded, I think," I said.  "Like Sandy needs more turmoil."

   "And the hearing is Thursday?  Look, just take the day off.  You've
racked up enough comp time to more than cover it."

   "Thanks, Harv.  I appreciate it."

   "You need all the help you can get, buddy.  You got a new wife and a
full-time kid now."

   "Yeah, it's been interesting since the middle of May," I admitted,
sighing.  "And you know, it's been pretty good, until Jennifer ...  I mean,
I was over her, but I didn't wish her dead, and now this..."

   "You'll do okay, Dan," Harv said.  "Nobody in his right mind..."

   "We're talking' about the courts, Harv...  'Right mind' has nothin' to
do with it."

   "Oh, I know, but this is waaay past crazy ...  anyway, do what you need
to do.  We got you covered."

   "Thanks, buddy!" Yeah, okay, 'boss' but we were engineers and he was
first among equals.  "I appreciate you lettin' me cry on your shoulder."

   Four o'clock came and at four fifteen I was walking through the gate to
my car, chatting with my co-workers.

   "Having your daughter around kinda cuts into your nookie time, don't
it?" one said.

   "Nina and I get our time, buddy.  Sandy knows people need time alone. 
It's not like she's gonna walk in on us."

   Another piped up, "Yeah, goofy!  He's an engineer.  He knows all about
door locks and all that high tech stuff!"

   Laughter.  I got in my car and drove home.  I pulled up in the driveway
and got out as our front door opened and Nina and Sandy came out to meet
me. My neighbor was in his front yard and he waved at us.  We waved back
and went inside.  New piano.

   Sandy said, "You should've seen that lady, Mizz Sheffield, play, Dad. 
It was something."

   Nina agreed.  "She gave it a workout!  Said it's a good piano but we
need to get it tuned."

   "Yeah," I said, "The guy at the music store said we needed to do that
since it's been moved.  We need to make an appointment to have the guy come
do it."

   Sandy slid onto the bench and uncovered the keys and tried to do
something.  Didn't work.  She turned to me.  "Mizz London's coming
Thursday, and we'll get started."

   "Okay," I said.  "But you have to remember, it's going to be long time
of doing things that might not be exactly enjoyable before you get to where
you want to be."

   "We know, Dan," Nina said.  "and we're going to encourage each other."

   I eased into my recliner and kicked the foot rest up, sighing.

   Sandy stood by me.  "Too tired for your daughter to sit in your lap?"

   "I get 'im next, Sandy," Nina said.

   "Come on!"

   Squeal!  "Dad, that lady was nice.  The one that visited.  We showed her
the house and the yard an' your office an' my room an' everything."

   "She was interested in our bookshelves and your video and CD library,"
Nina said.  "I would've been, too.  She said you had too much good stuff to
be faking."

   "Well, I hope she's on our side," I admitted.

   "I think she's s'posed to be on MY side," Sandy said.

   "Smart kid," I answered, kissing the top of her head.

   She wiggled and bounced up, turning to Nina.  "Your turn!"

   "Just a little while, and then we'll make him take us out for barbecue,"
Nina said, sliding into my lap with smooth familiarity.  Her kiss was
rejuvenating.

   Wednesday morning I called the lawyer.  "Dodd," I told him, "A social
worker came by yesterday to check out the place."

   "D'you know who it was?" he asked.

   "A Mizz Sheffield," I said.

   "Oh, good!  She's completely fair, Dan.  Who'd she talk to?"

   Sandy and Nina.  She got there while our new piano was being delivered.
Nina says she seemed satisfied."

   "That's a big plus for us," Dodd said.  "Now, look, the family court
business is strange.  You need to be there at eight, you and Sandy, and
Nina, and prepare to wait.  They have you on the list, but there's no
telling where you're at, and they won't give you a time to show up.  You
just have to be there when they call."

   "My tax dollars at work, no doubt." I snorted.

   "Uh, yeah.  But that's between you an' me.  Don't say that out loud," he
laughed.

   "I'll be good," I said.

   "When they call you, I'll be there, and so will our sleazy friend.  I'm
assuming that Mizz Garrett will be there also.  She'll be waiting like you
folks.  Do NOT confront her, Dan.  That wouldn't be good."

   "I will be the epitome of self-restraint and grace."

   He continued.  "Now these family court things are kind of informal.  The
judge will review the stuff on the case and might ask questions." He
paused. "And then the judge'll pronounce his decision.  I think we'll be
happy.  I will petition for our Mizz Garrett to pay attorney fees and court
costs, and from that sum I will take you and your delightful family out for
dinner."

   "Isn't that..."

   "Crooked?  Dan ...  Dan ...  Dan...  ," he laughed.  "I'm an esteemed
officer of the court.  Would I do anything crooked?"

   I laughed.

   "No, actually, I want to pick your brain about another lawsuit I'm
involved with."

   "Then that makes it fair," I said.

   "Good!" Dodd said.  "I'll see you and your bunch tomorrow!"

   I snuck out at lunch and met Nina and Sandy.  I repeated much of Dodd's
conversation.

   "So it looks good," Nina said.

   Sandy's eyes watched me closely.  "Yes," I said.  "It sounds good for
us. Remember, if your grandma is there, we're NICE."

   "I know," Sandy said.  "But I wonder why she's doing this..."

   Nina handled that one.  "Baby, people are complex things.  Very often
they don't do things that make sense from where we're sitting, but that's
because they have things on the inside that we can't account for.  We don't
know what your grandma is thinking, baby."

   "I know, Nina," she said.

   We finished our meal.  "Ya'll're doing the library today?" I asked.

   "Uh-huh," Nina said.  "I talked to them and they said they'd be glad to
have Sandy with us, any time they have the program."

   Sandy smiled.  "I read to little kids.  One of the library ladies stays
with me, but she says I read good enough to help." Her eyes rolled.  "Dad,
they're little kid books.  Easy."

   "Well, show 'em how much fun it is to read, baby."

   I paid the check and kissed each of them and went back to work.  Very
much routine, the afternoon was.

   Thursday morning we rolled into a restaurant for breakfast and then
showed up at the courthouse.  Cursing, I returned to the car with our
cellphones.  Not allowed.  I locked them in the car and returned to the
waiting room.  I found Sandy sitting between Nina and her grandmother.

   I did greet her politely.  And her husband, who looked a little off
kilter this morning.

   She returned my greeting perfunctorily, her lips tight.  She stroked
Sandy's hair, that is, until Sandy slumped sideways against Nina.  She
looked at Nina with thinly veiled anger.

   Nina just smiled.  I knew my Nina, and she was pretty good at reading
people, and I imagined that she didn't miss the look.  She patted Sandy's
shoulder.  "Like my little sister," she smiled.

   A bailiff called for us.  I entered the courtroom last.  Nina, Sandy and
I stood with Dodd.  Glenda stood next to the sleazeball who was her
attorney.  The bailiff read the case off and then swore the whole bunch of
us to oath.

   "Mister Smythe," the judge said, "I have serious question as to why you
see fit to bring this question before the court.  What do you say..."

   The smarmy bastard played his best card.  "Your Honor," he said, "my
client has limited knowledge of the suitability of the father to provide a
proper home for the child, having had little contact with him since he and
her daughter divorced.  She is petitioning to insure the best of homes for
the welfare of the child."

   I cut my eyes to Dodd, who was just barely smiling.

   "Do you have evidence that her father is NOT a suitable parent, or that
his life circumstances preclude him from giving her a proper home
environment?"

   I sensed that we had a judge who'd perhaps seen a little too much of the
sleazoid lawyer.  I kept my thoughts to myself.

   "He has recently married an extremely young girl, Your Honor..."

   The judge raised his hand.  "Smythe, don't go there.  Last week you were
in my court claiming that a kid needed to stay with her single, seventeen
year old mom, no daddy known.  And Mister uhhh ...  Gleason here's her
natural father, fully employed, and legally married." He paused.  "I have a
visitation report from social services.  Very favorable.  I have a
background check on both Mister Gleason and his wife, Nina Sayers Gleason,
and I'd have 'em babysitting my great-grandkids." He directed his comment
to Mrs.  Garrett and her husband.  "Folks, I question your judgment in
undertaking this quest.  You would be advised to reconcile with your
grand-daughter's father if you wish to remain in her life.  I find no
reason for awarding custody to you."

   I felt Sandy tug my hand, barely suppressing a squeal of glee.  Nina
touched my other hand.

   "Mister Gleason, Miss Sandy, Miss Nina, "I'm sorry that you had to even
show up her today.  Mister Gleason, did you incur any charges for retaining
the services of Mister Grantham?"

   "Yes, Your Honor," I said.  "I haven't got an amount, though."

   "Mister Grantham, I see where you've counter-sued for fees and costs. 
Mister Smythe, you are advised that if I have to pass judgment on that
issue, I will find for the Gleasons, and I will attach substantial costs to
it.  I recommend that you settle with them in an expeditious manner. 
Custody remains with Dan Gleason.  This case is closed."

   "Thank you, Your Honor," Sandy said.

   "You're welcome, Miss Sandy," he answered.

   We got out of the building as soon as we could.  On the courthouse
steps, Dodd laughed.  "Boy, that's as close to a public butt-chewing as I
ever saw from THAT judge.  Smythe would've been better off just dropping
the issue before we walked in there." He bent over to Sandy.  "Miss Sandy,
you don't have to worry about anything now, baby!"

   "But I do have to worry.  If I don't learn to play piano, he's gonna
chain me to it." She smiled sweetly, eyes sparkling.

   "Good kid there, Dan," He laughed.

   We walked towards the parking lot, the three of us, hand in hand.  I
heard a voice call my name.  I turned and saw Andy Garret hustling toward
us.

   "Dan," he said.  "Look, I'm sorry about all this.  I mean, we lost our
only daughter, and that's hard enough, but Glenda kinda went off the deep
end.  I'm tryin' to get her to go see a doctor or somethin' but she can be
hard-headed.  All I'm askin' is that you still let us visit Sandy, okay?"
All in one breath.

   "We'll visit, Paw-paw," Sandy said.  "I won't forget you." And she held
her arms out for him to hug her.  Glenda was nowhere in sight.

   "We'll work something out, Andy," I said.  "Kids need grandpas and
grandmas, too.  But she lives with us, okay..."

   "I never wanted this," he admitted.

   "I figured that, Andy.  We'll see you later.  And Sandy'll call, okay?"

   "Okay, son," he said.

   He turned and walked away.

   "Wow," Nina said.

   We got in our car and headed home.  It was lunchtime now, so we stopped
and fought the crowd for a bite to eat, I dropped them off at the house and
then went in for a short day at work.

   Harv saw me walk in.  "You get things taken care of?" he asked.

   "Yep.  I am the proud possessor of a ten year old girl.  Just like we
wanted."

   "Great!" he said.  "Good for you!  We need to get together at my house
soon.  Bring the bunch.  Pool party!"

   "We'll do that." Good people.  I worked with some.  A crew of them was
swapping out a transformer the size of a pickup truck in the plant, and I
took my golfcart over there to check on progress.

   One of the electricians saw me coming.  "Uh-oh," he said.  "Look busy.
Here he comes!" When I got closer, he laughed at his own joke.  "Hi! 
You're smiling!"

   "Yeah, I'm smiling," I laughed.  "Because that's the first time I've
seen you in a month that you weren't sitting down with a coffee mug in your
hand."

   "He's got YOUR number there, Brody," one of the other electricians said.

   "We didn't expect to see you here, Dan," Brody said.  "Ol' Harv said you
had to go to court."

   "Yeah, kid stuff," I said.  "Got it taken care of."

   "So you an' that young girl are keepin' your kid?" Everybody knew of my
ex-wife's passing and my marriage to eighteen year old Nina.

   "Yep!"

   "Ain't that a kink?  I mean, If I had an eighteen year old wife..."

   The guy standing behind him said, "Brody, if you had an eighteen year
old wife you'd have to spoon-feed 'er because she'd hafta be brain-dead to
marry you..."

   "And she'd STILL be your intellectual superior!" somebody else tossed
in.

   "Wow!  That conversation went downhill fast..." I laughed.  Good crew.
Insensitive and ribald humor was part of the schtick.  "Since everybody's
smiling, I assume that this swap is going good?"

   "Yeah," Steve-o said, straightening up.  "All we have left to do is open
the manhole an' stuff Brody inside."

   "Don't do that," I chuckled.  "We'd have to change the oil, an' that's
ecologically irresponsible."

   I hopped back in my cart and rolled the perimeter of the switchyard,
then returned to my office.  Jannie stopped me.  "Harv says ya'll came out
okay over Sandy?"

   "Yeah.  Judge ruled in our favor.  She lives with us."

   "You're her dad, Dan.  I don't know why Glenda did that." Jannie knew my
ex's family.  Cousins or something.  Who knows these things?

   "I don't know either," I said.  "No reason for it.  Y'know, without that
maneuver, Sandy'd be spending nights and weekends with 'em.  But now, I'm
kind of scared to let her go over there unsupervised."

   "Oh, I don't think she'd, like, kidnap 'er or something like that. 
That's why she got a lawyer.  'Sides, Andy WILL get fed up after a while
and put his foot down.  I've seen it." She sighed.  "SO how's this sittin'
with Nina?"

   "Nina acts like she's got a little sister now.  They're starting piano
lessons together.  First one's this evening.  She's good with it."

   "She seems like such an angel, Dan.  Everybody who knows her..."

   "She is, Jan," I smiled.  "I must've rescued puppies in a previous life
to get this kind of Karma."

   She laughed.  "And now you got Sandy.  I hope ya'll are happy."

   "Thanks, Jan.  I'm sure we will be." I returned to my office and ran
through some email and a couple of voicemails, and it was time to go home.
I called.

   "Hi, sweetie," Nina answered.  "We're celebratin'.  Grandma told me how
to make chicken pot pie."

   "Yum!" I said.  "I'll be there in a minute.  This has been a day."

   "Oh, I know.  I was straining myself.  But it's over.  Here's Sandy!"

   "Hey, daddy!" she said.  "ILOVEYOUSOMEBODY'SATTHEDOOR.  Bye!"

   I pulled into the drive and walked in to meet Mizz Lester, the piano
teacher.  She showed them some fundamentals and some exercises and then
smiled, pushing her glasses up on her nose.

   "You have to see to it that they both practice, now.  Otherwise you're
wasting your money and their time.  But they both seem eager.  I think
we'll do well, and have fun." She turned to the girls.  "Practice. 
Practice.  Practice, until your fingers learn.  Don't be afraid to close
your eyes and let your fingers do what they know how to do.  And I will see
you Tuesday."

   "Yes ma'am, thank you," Nina answered.

   "Thank you, Mizz Lester," Sandy added.

   Mizz Lester left.  I flopped into my chair and wiggled my feet.  Nina
started taking my shoes off and Sandy slid onto my lap.

   "Dad, we're a family now!" she said.

   "You and your dad were ALWAYS a family.  And then I married 'im and now
WE'RE a family.  Even before..."

   Sandy turned to Nina.  "I love you, Nina.  You make my dad happy.  And
that makes me happy.  But the judge says we're OFFICIALLY a family!"

   "Yeah, cutie pie," I said.  "Just remember how happy you are right now
when you get mad because I tell you to pick up your clothes and clean your
room or help out in the yard."

   Sandy turned to Nina for support.  "Nina, don't I help out?"

   "You do, sweetie," Nina said.  "That's how this works.  We all do a
piece of it."

   "That's fair," I said.  "And a lot of life isn't.  Now let's see what
Nina can do for chicken pot pie!"

   Nina did pretty good, actually.  I said so.

   She smiled.  "We can't eat out or order pizza EVERY night," she said. 
"And with you working and me an' Sandy staying home, we can cook.  Now I
wish I'd paid more attention to Grandma.  And she invited us over for
dinner tomorrow evening."

   "Great," I said.  "How're they doing?"

   "Happy as can be," she said.  "I told 'er about Sandy and the mess an'
everything.  She wants to meet my daughter."

   Sandy giggled.  "I get to adopt grandparents," she chirped.

   "How can they NOT adore her, Dan?"

   Sandy's eyes twinkled.  "Yeah, Dad!  I am adorable, you know..."

   "I know," I said.  "And almost too old to tickle!" I scooped her up and
tickled her ribs, holding her as she dissolved into a giggly mess.  Two
cats came running to view the commotion.  Nina sat and patted her lap and
Sam, the big mooch, jumped up to be petted.

   Sandy caught her breath.  "Dad, Sam never got in YOUR lap.  Look!"

   "I know," I said.  "That's 'cuz Nina's part cat herself."

   Nina smiled at me, blue eyes and freckled perfection.  I reached down to
stroke MY cat, and all I got for the effort was his "leave me the hell
alone" look.  I plopped down on the sofa beside her and the stupid cat
left, an event noted with a giggle from Sandy.  Mister Mittens sauntered
over.  He was everybody's cat, a big ol' fluffball, and he gave me my kitty
fix.

   "So did we practice today?" I asked.

   "Uh-huh," Nina said.  "both of us.  I can feel muscles in my arms that I
didn't feel before."

   Sandy flipped the cover up on the keyboard.  "This is what we're s'posed
to do, Dad!" She tried, tentative notes punctuated with "Oops!" and "Not
like THAT!" She turned to me sheepishly.  "It's not as easy as it looks,"
she admitted.

   "It doesn't look that easy, baby," I said.  "But it's first steps."

   "Make me stay at it, Dad," Sandy said.  "I WANT to learn.  But if I ...
just don't let me give up."

   "We won't, Sandy," Nina said.

   Saturday was Helen and Ed's wedding, a little more formal than mine and
Nina's, but still at the Baptist church.  They made a lovely couple, too,
very nicely dressed and obviously very happy and we were happy for them.

   Helen had Nina and Sandy ("My new grand-daughter!") stand in as informal
matron of honor and bridesmaid.  I stood on the front row as Ed's oldest
son stood in as best man, and Ed's grand-daughter stood with Sandy as
bridesmaid, too.  They made a cute pair, and I took as many pictures as I
could of the proceedings.

   The reception was also slightly better than ours, but still in the
church's recreation hall, so we sipped lime punch and ate finger foods and
smiled and then watched two sixty-something year old people depart for a
honeymoon.

   Sunday was Sandy's day to try out her new kayak, and the three of us did
just fine.  Sandy's kayak floated on the water like a cork with her ninety
pounds.  She paddled along like a trooper, though, as we navigated the
sheltered waters of the slow-moving river.  A quarter mile from the
landing, on our return, I heard, "Dad, I'm getting tired..."

   "We don't have far to go.  Just around this bend..."

   "I'm really tired." Right on the edge of whining.

   "We'll make it, baby," Nina said.

   "But I'm tired.  Really.  Dad, can you pull me?"

   "Sandy, I could, but you can make it the little distance we have left,
and you will have done the whole trip by yourself.  In the new kayak YOU
wanted..."

   "But I'm still TIRED."

   And we kept paddling as we talked, rounding the bend, bringing the
landing in sight.

   "Okay, Dad.  I'll let you be mean to me..." and a heart-rending sigh. 
She turned her blonde head and looked at me with big blue eyes and I guess
I was supposed to melt.  I almost did.  Then I saw a paddle blade flash
downward.  "Race ya!"

   She had a head start, and I didn't pull too hard, and Nina paced her,
and we all hit the little beach simultaneously.  As we loaded the kayaks
onto the trailer, I told Sandy her arms were going to be really sore.

   "I can feel 'em already," she said.  She looked at Nina.  "You're used
to this, huh?"

   "Yes," Nina answered, "But the first time we did this, I thought my arms
were going to fall off the next day.  But it's good now!  Maybe we'll go
after your dad gets off work during the week.  There's a spot closer to
home that we could do before dark during the week."

   "But I'll be sore," Sandy said.

   "And that'll be the best thing for it.  Trust me," Nina said.

   We got home and grilled burgers for dinner.  Two weeks into her new life
with us, and Sandy had a handful of friends up and down the street, kids
her age, and they came over.  A smart dad cooks extra.

   I noticed that Sandy's two girl friends were running a bit toward
plumpness, one a little more than the other, and made a mental note to make
sure that we emphasized physical activities.

   After dinner, the five of us, me, Nina, Sandy, and her two friends
tossed a Frisbee around for a little while until it was almost dark.  They
went home and we went inside.

   After showers, the three of us, clad in nightclothes, were in the living
room playing cards.  I brought the subject up.

   "They're not FAT, Dad," Sandy said.  "Well, just a little, you know ...
I think they're cute, though."

   Nina cut her eyes to me, raising an eyebrow.  I plunged on.  "I know
they're cute, baby, but they're ten, uh?"

   "Uh-huh," Sandy admitted.

   "And if they don't do something now, it's much harder to do later. 
That's one reason why we swim and kayak and stuff.  I'm older, and putting
on weight at my age is worse than it is for your age.  So we do a lot of
outside stuff."

   "I know.  But I still like playin' my X-Box, too..."

   "And your piano?" Nina asked.

   "That, too!" Sandy grinned.

   After the card game, we retired to the sofa, me in the middle, Sandy
next to Nina, Nina next to me.  Sandy slumped sideways, laying her head on
Nina's lap.  Nina idly stroked the blonde hair.

   "We're a family, right, Dad?" Sandy asked.

   "Yes, we are, little one," I said.

   "Me an' you an' Nina."

   "Three of us, baby," Nina said.

   "I miss Mom," Sandy said.  It'd been a couple of weeks now, a month
since she last saw her Mom, two since losing her.  Nina was the one that
seemed to end up with Sandy in her arms when the memory came flooding back,
along with the tears, but I hadn't noted a breakdown in a couple of days
now.

   "I know you do, baby," I said.  "I know you do."

   Nina bent over and kissed Sandy lightly on the top of her head.

   "But Dad," Sandy said, "I love you an' Nina, and this is the family we
have now.  And it's gonna be good."