Babs’ New Year’s Resolution 70 © Beverly Taff

List of Characters.

Lola Smith Bab’s adopted trans daughter.
Callista Denton (Callie). Transgendered Duchess of Denton.
Margaret Denton (Maggie). Callie’s wife.
Molly Denton Callie’s grandmother
Ellie Denton Callie’s mother.
Bab’s Barbara Smith. Lola’s adoptive ‘Nana’
Olivia Smith Bab’s adopted daughter. (Excellent Artist.)
Angela Smith Bab’s newly adopted daughter
Erica Bab’s foster daughter.
Sergeant Bridie Davies Lady Police detective protecting the girls.
Sergeant Brian Davies. Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation.
Gareth Jenkins, Police office trained in firearms and protection.
Belinda Harrington Lola’s university girlfriend.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to –
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
Mickey Talbot Aaron and Shirley’s oldest son.
Jessica Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s middle daughter.
Bianca Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s youngest daughter.
Henry Denton Callie’s only son.
Charlotte Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull
Louisa Wendy’s Daughter
Griselda & Mia Wendy’s younger twin daughters.
Susan Harvey Prosecution counsel advocating for Erica in court.
Han’s The German policeman’s son whom Erica really fancies .

Chapter 70

Hans frowned as he realised he had to be scrupulously honest. It was absolutely no use telling the smallest white lie to a damaged individual who was on the razor edge of self-destruction.

‘Possibly even suicide!’ He mused.

Carefully he chose his words.

“I don’t honestly know what my parents would think or the rest of my family. As you say, I’ll have to run it by my family.”

“And?” Erica challenged. “What happens if they reject me out of hand?”

“I don’t think they will.”

“I’m not asking whether you think they will or won’t; I’m asking what you will do if they reject me; -out of hand, - kaput as you Germans say.”

Hans fell nervously silent before answering in a small, choked voice.

“I, - I don’t know. I would still love you.”

“Enough to forsake them?”

“That’s not fair,” Hans tried to protest. “ you’re putting me on the spot. I don’t know. I could never know until I find out exactly how they would react. I just can’t be certain.”

“Now you know what it’s like to be uncertain. That’s my position for the rest of my life; - uncertainty! If you’re not certain right now, how can I be sure you’ll stay by me forever.”

“Well okay then, I’ll say it right now! Even if my family rejects you, I will stay with you.”

“How can you say that when you’re only eighteen?”

“Dammit! I can’t win can I? I can never be that certain if you say I’m too young. If those are your terms there can never be any certainty.”

“Welcome to my world Hans.” Erica replied softly. “Go and speak to your parents. If you come back, I’ll know your answer, - and theirs.”

Caught between a seeming rock and a hard place, Hans turned and trudged down the corridor to the restaurant. He had secretly wished that Susan the lawyer would have been still waiting by the door to give him encouragement but she had already gone in to speak to the adults. He paused at the door, took a deep breath and stepped towards the table as all faces turned.

“Mum, Dad, can we speak privately?”

The turmoil was plain in Hans’s face so his mother rose quickly while his father got up at a measured pace, wisely allowing for his wife to give a reassuring hug.

The judge in her wisdom suggested a side room where customers usually waited for their table. Being half-way through the evening, it was empty. The family entered it and both parents turned expectantly.

“Well Hans’ what’s the problem?” Asked the superintendent.

Hans drew yet another long nervous breath before revealing the facts and then he fell silent.

“Well at least she’s been honest darling. How do you feel about it?”

“I know exactly how I feel, what I want to know is your feelings. She makes no secret of her past.”

“Well it was none of her making.” His mother sympathised.

“Well she’s a bit stuck on that. She reckons if she’d had a proper mother she wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.”

“But that’s still not her fault,” his father added.

“Kids like her always think that somehow, they’re to blame.” Hans replied. “There’s a couple of kids in school and they’re really off the rails. They blame themselves for their parent’s divorce and so on. It’s like that with Erica. She thinks that just being born set her parents apart.”

“Well it will be up to you to show her that it’s not. We’ll do what we can but if she’s that fragile, you’ll have to work doubly hard. She will always be testing you and looking for reassurance. It’s hard for a kid to live with that degree of rejection. We see it every day in the juvenile courts.”

“Has she got anybody who she can turn to? A mother figure or something.” Hans’ mother asked.

“Oh yeah. She’s got somebody she calls ‘Nana Babs’; an eighty-year-old trans-sexual who has a house full of dysfunctional kids. They live in a cottage in England.”

“Where-abouts?”

“She won’t say, she can’t say. Dad will explain why. That’s what this case is all about.”

His father briefly elaborated as Hans’s mother bit her lip. Finally she asked.

“Is all this violence likely to come to our door if she becomes part of the family?”

Hans’ father answered.

“If we get the result we want, the whole ring should be smashed, dead and buried. The girl’s evidence is crucial though and her conduct under cross examination will be crucial.”

“So she needs support.” Hans’ mother observed.

“She’s got lots of it but a bit more won’t go amiss.”

“Okay then, let’s do it. Go and ask her to join us.”

“What about the rest of the table?” Hans asked.

“They can wait. If she’s to be part of our family, now’s as good a time as any to set the ball rolling. Go and get her.”

Hans hurried past the table of judges and friends to collect a lonely Erica who was sitting on the settee in the alcove.

“Where’s Susan your lawyer.”

“Sitting with the judges I suppose” Erica shrugged. “Didn’t you see her just then?”

“Well never mind her, my mother want’s to meet you.”

“I hope you’ve told her everything. I don’t want to go through the whole thing again.”

“Yes, but she’s bound to ask more questions.”

“Yeah. I suppose she will. Well let’s get it over with.”

They hurried back past the judges table where Erica just caught a glimpse of Susan’s raised, curious eyebrows. She flipped her palms in a sign of resignation and followed Hans into the side room. Both parent’s stood up as Han’s burst into the room and Erica scurried after him. She came to a sudden halt as she nearly bumped into Hans. There was a momentary embarrassed pause before Hans took the initiative.

“Mum, this is Erica. My girlfriend. Dad of course; you’ve already met.”

“Hello Erica, I’ve hear a lot about you these past days. My son is besotted with you.”

Erica shrugged nervously and left her shoulder’s hunched defensively as she shrank her neck into her shoulders. Hans’ mother recognised the nervous, defensive gesture that paralleled Erica’s reticence. Another awkward silence ensued before Erica found her voice.

“Hello, - - - Mrs - - - Uuhm.”

Hans thumped his brow.

“Oh shit I forgot to give your name mum!”

He turned to Erica and apologised.

“My mum’s name is Hannah. Hannah Bayer.”

Erica looked up from under her brow and almost whispered,

“Hello Mrs Bayer.”

“Oh good gracious girl. If you are to be part of the family call me mother or Hannah.”

“Uuuhm, hello Hannah.”

“And I shall call you Erica, is that good?”

“Yes thank you.”

“So Erica. Have you had something to eat?”

“Yes, I was eating with Susan when you arrived.”

“So your food will have gone cold?”

“Mmm – no not quite. We had finished the main course and we – uuhm were going to the lavatory.”

“Were you going to have a dessert?”

“I’m not sure, Susan was treating me.”

“So you were waiting outside when Susan came to our table?”

“Yes.”

“Waiting alone?”

“Yes.”

“Hannah frowned at her son Hans.

“That was remiss of you. You shouldn't have left her alone. ”

"It's alright Mrs Bayer, I quite used to being alone. I've been alone all my life."

Hannah glared at her son.

"There! What did I tell you." She turned to Erica. "I'm so sorry that happened."

Erica shrugged slightly as to show it was no big deal while Hans protested his innocence.

“It was complicated mother. Erica was nervous and I had to break the ice while Susan sorted it with the judges. Erica does not want to be seen sitting with the judges in case it compromises the case.”

“The judges can decide that. Go and ask them if she can sit with us at the big table.”

“I’d rather not Mrs Bayer.” Erica intervened. “Best to err on the safe side.”

“But we need to talk, and my other children are still sitting at the table.”

“It’s no matter Mrs Bayer. Susan and I were considering leaving anyway.”

“Well if you must, but I insist you come to our home tomorrow. It’s Saturday.”

“I have no transport of my own. Are there any buses or trains.”

“I can send Hans with my car.”

Erica turned to Hans who smiled and nodded eagerly. After the arrangements were fixed, Erica emerged from the side room to catch Susan’s eye. A discreet nod signalled that she was ready to leave and Susan stood to make excuses for both of them.

“Do you not wish to sit with us Miss Smith?” The senior lady judge asked.

“I’d rather uhmm not , - your honour. I have to be getting back to my hotel.”

“So soon young lady?”

“Yes.” Erica answered somewhat abruptly whilst tugging at Susan’s arm.

When they were sitting in the car Susan asked.

“So why the impatience, you were a bit terse with the judge.”

“I can feel the crack calling. I could hardly lay my meds out on the table in front of a crowd of judges and coppers could I? Best I take the meds in my room, out of sight. No need to make it bloody obvious.”

“Is it that bad; still?”

“Only when I’m stressed it sometimes gets to me. I’m a bit stressed now.”

Susan nodded sympathetically as she mused.

‘The poor little sod had just gone through one of her biggest conundrums and fears. Meeting a boy with the potential to be a true friend, or something more, - the potential to be a boyfriend.’

ooo000ooo