But Why Daddy?

Chapter 11

By: Lizzie

©Lizzie 2002-2004

            The next morning Randy searched through the drawers for a phone book of some kind. Once he found it he flipped through to the legal aid section. ‘Family court…family lawyers…anything.’ he thought to himself. He pointed to one, Friendly Family Aid. ‘That’s the one.’ He thought. He picked up the phone and dialed the number. It rang three times before someone picked up.

            “Friendly Family Aid, this is Tina, how may I help you?”

            “I need some advice about a legal document that was given to me.” Randy said

            “What kind of document is it?”

            “Some papers about signing over rights to a child that may or may not be mine.”

            “Let me get this straight, you have papers to sign over rights to a child you aren’t sure is yours?”

            Randy sighed, “Yes and I have to have them back to my cousin, who is also the lawyer who gave me the papers.”

            “Sir, you can come in and we’ll try and help you the best we can.” Tina said, “It’s also best that you have a paternity test done before you sign anything.”

            “Okay, I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” Randy hung up the phone, grabbed his jacket and walked out of his hotel room. He walked out of the hotel and down to the parking structure and to his rented car. He got in the car, pulled out the paper that he scribbled the address of the Friendly Family Aid building and set it on the seat next to him. He started his car and pulled out of the structure.

Fifteen minutes later he was pulling into the parking lot and searching for a place to park. Once he found a place, he parked and walked to the building. The bell rang alerting the person at the front desk that someone entered.

The lady looked up and smiled, “Welcome to Friendly Family Aid, how may I help you?”

“Umm, I called about twenty minutes ago needing some advice about some legal papers…”

“Oh, Randy?” the lady asked, “I’m Tina, we spoke on the phone.”

Randy walked to her and shook her hand; “I really hope you can help me out here.”

“Let’s got to the office and we’ll look those papers over.” Tina said standing up and leading the way to the back office.

+*+

            JC was up at the crack of dawn. He made his way down from his room and stopped in the kitchen. He was surprised to see Liz, Cynthia and Paula sitting around the breakfast table looking over some papers.

            “What are you girls doing up so early?” he asked as he kissed the tops of Cynthia’s and Liz’s head and gave a nod to Paula.

            “Just going over these papers that Liz brought over.” Paula said

            “Doing work before ten?” JC joked, “I’m surprised.”

            Liz laughed, “Early bird catches the worm,” Liz said, “Besides, if I know Randy, he’s gone in search of a lawyer who will interpret the papers that I gave him.”

            JC poured a cup of coffee and sat in the free chair next to Paula, “What exactly did you give him?”

            “In plain English, I stated that he would see the outside of a courtroom if he didn’t sign over the baby.” Liz said, “If his lawyer is smart, they will have no doubt found the many loops holes that I left.”

            “If you knew they would be found, why did you leave them?” Paula asked

            “If this goes to court, which it probably will, then I want to have fun with it.” Liz said with a smile, “Ya’ll get to do your thing singing and writing, and battling in court is my thing.”

            “Remind me not to piss you off.” Cynthia said with a laugh, “I’d love to be in that courtroom when you nail Randy.”

            “The only person I’ll be nailing is my husband.” Liz said with a smirk

            “Liz! Come on now!” JC and Paula said

            Liz looked at the innocently, “What?”

            The group laughed then stopped when Karen walked into the kitchen. Karen looked at them, “Don’t stop enjoying yourself on account of me.”

            JC stood up and offered his mother his seat, “We weren’t. I was just about to head to the studio.”

            “So early?” Cynthia asked, “I thought you didn’t have to be in until noon?”

            “Final touches are done today.” he said, “Then it’s picking the album cover and first single.”

            “Ohh, can I come?” Cynthia asked, “I’ve always wanted to see you hard at work.”

            Liz laughed, “You girl, you need to work on your flirting skills.”

            Cynthia flipped Liz off and looked at JC, “So can I?”

            “I don’t see why not.” he said, “We shouldn’t be more than three hours.”

            “I’ll be here.” Paula said

            JC looked at his mother, “What are you going to do?”

            “Liz and I have plans.” Karen said

            “We do?” Liz asked, “What were we doing?”

            “You asked me to help you with the things for the baby shower.”

            “That’s right.” Liz said, “Nobody make plans for tomorrow night. That means you too Josh. Lance has planes for you as well.”

            “Oh joy.” He said sarcastically as he and Cynthia walked out of the kitchen through the side door connected to the garage.

+*+

            Tina and the other lawyers of the small family practice spent and hour looking over the documents that Randy had. They were very perplexed as to why there were so many obvious loopholes in it.

            “Either the person who drew these papers up made some big mistakes, or they want you to fight this so you can go to court.” Tina said

            “Do I have any choices?” Randy asked, “I don’t want to give up any rights I may have over this child.”

            “From what I can see, all this rests on your girlfriend’s shoulders.” one of the other lawyers said, “Convince her to change her mind of things.”

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