Chapter 43: Holy God!

March 5, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"They what?!" I asked in surprise.

"Bev and Glen Rodgers were married in November last year," Mr. Chojnicki said. "I'm looking at an Illinois marriage certificate. I take it from your reaction that you had no idea."

"I didn't. They had talked about it, but I had no idea they'd done it. How does that affect the situation with Heather?"

"It complicates it because Glen is challenging the guardianship document."

"It was created before they married," I countered.

"Yes, it was, but it was after she'd acknowledged he was the father. He's claiming the guardianship document was created under false pretenses because she didn't have his permission."

"What is it you aren't telling me?"

"Nothing, at least at this point. This is complicated because Bev had registered her car and changed her driving license to Missouri, and the documents were created in Missouri, so the validity may turn on Missouri law with regard to the offspring of unwed couples. And that is complicated by Glen's offer to pay child support and her adamant refusal to accept it until much later. Then add in the fact that Heather was in North Dakota when she was placed in your custody, custody was transferred to Jim and Julie in Illinois, and Heather was brought back to Ohio. It is, to put it mildly, a mess."

"Is Heather still with the Newtons?"

"Yes. They have temporary custody, and that won't change because it's in Heather's best interest, and she's with family. The affidavits Gwen Meyer is preparing will ensure that remains the case until the status of the guardianship document is determined."

"How long is this going to take?"

"Months."

"You may not know, but how is Bev paying her expenses, including for an attorney?"

"Glen Rodgers received a large insurance payout when his wife passed, and given he and Bev married, she has access to those funds. That's how they're paying for Glen's attorneys, from what I understand."

"What's the bottom line? Could I be in any trouble?"

"I don't see how, given the FBI and Border Patrol initiated everything, and we have statements from both of them in that regard. Everyone acted in good faith based on the best knowledge they had at the time, and Heather is exactly where she would have ended up without your involvement."

"Bev would never have agreed."

"That's true, but if North Dakota had taken Heather into emergency care, they'd have contacted her nearest relatives and made arrangements for them to take Heather. That's how it works in the majority of cases such as this."

"What do you think will happen?"

"I honestly can't handicap this one for you in any reasonable way. If Glen is convicted or pleads guilty to statutory rape, terminating his parental rights will be fairly straightforward. If that happens, his challenge to the guardianship document is moot. Ultimately, it will be up to Family Services and the judge to decide what is in Heather's best interest.

"If Bev had no resources, it would be a slam dunk for Jim and Julie to retain physical custody, and Bev likely would have visitation rights. Because Bev appears to have enough resources to cover her expenses for the foreseeable future, it's complicated because Bev has to somehow convince Family Services and the judge that she didn't aid and abet Glen's attempt to flee arrest. Bev's attorney is working hard to get those charges dismissed, and if they are, she has a shot."

"You're right; it's a mess. Gwen Meyer is going to fax a proof copy of the affidavit to me this afternoon for review. I'll visit her office tomorrow to sign it, and you'll have it on Wednesday via Federal Express."

"OK. I'm going to call her and ask her to insert a statement that you had no knowledge of their marriage. I assume that's OK?"

"It is because it's the truth."

"Thanks, Jonathan."

"You're welcome."

I hung up just in time to have lunch with Bianca and Violet in the break room. I explained what Mr. Chojnicki had told me.

"She lied to you about that, too?!" Violet said, shaking her head.

"Maybe it's better to say she omitted that vital piece of information. What's odd is that Glen didn't tell the Border Patrol."

"Maybe he did, and Bev denied it and showed the power of attorney documents and guardianship documents, and she told the Border Patrol you were Bev's father. Or confirmed what the FBI said when she was asked."

I nodded, "That makes sense because she thought I'd bring Heather to my house, not give her to her grandparents. I think it fits, given Mr. Chojnicki said in cases such as this, the default is for Family Services to place the child with their closest relative, at least temporarily."

"I think you did the right thing, Jonathan," Violet said.

"Me, too." I agreed. "I just wish I had a way to stay completely out of it, but it appears that's not possible."

"Could she try to throw you under the bus?" Bianca asked.

"She could, but all the lawyers agree that everyone from the FBI to Border Patrol to me to Jim and Julie all acted in good faith, based on what we knew. Hopefully, the affidavits will be the end of it, and I no longer have to worry about it."

We finished our lunches, then Violet and I went to the gym, but Bianca was too far along in her pregnancy to work out, even lightly. The fax of the proposed affidavits from Gwen Meyer was waiting, and I took the time to review them. I made a few minor corrections, then faxed them back to her.

I had a productive afternoon, and at 5:00pm, I left to have dinner with Deanna at Bacino's.

"So, ready for the BIG reveal!" Deanna smirked.

"You do realize that you're making me think twice, right?" I asked, pretending to be annoyed.

"You always handle teasing really well," Deanna said nervously.

"And give back as good as I get!" I chuckled.

"You actually had me worried for a second there!"

"In all seriousness, I have had second thoughts, but I gave my word, so I'll do it."

"Why second thoughts?"

"Because the drawings will be displayed in public. It has nothing to do with being ashamed, just about my reputation. That would be my concern with CeCi taking photos."

"OK to be a smart ass?"

"Sure."

"I thought at work it was all about having bigger balls and a bigger dick!"

I chuckled, "It is, but the size of your assets under management and their growth are more important, and in most minds, translate directly to dick size!"

"I bet not!" Deanna declared mirthfully.

"Well, you can take it to the bank that I have no intention of finding out!"

"And the Swedish girl can't tell you, right?"

"To my knowledge, no."

"Ever bang any of the secretaries who would know?"

"Much to my regret, one. She left about six months ago when she got married, so I can't ask her even if I was inclined to, which I'm not."

"Regret?"

"It was a mistake to get involved in any way with any of the secretaries who participate in the shenanigans at work. It was different with Anna because she rejects that behavior the same as I do."

"Violet is your secretary..."

"I know," I replied, "and that presents its own set of potential difficulties, but our work relationship is clearly defined, even though we never directly discussed it. It's purely professional, with the exception that she eats lunch with Bianca and me three days a week. My relationship with Bianca is pretty obvious."

"I'll say!" Deanna declared. "Has anyone said anything?"

"Nothing negative to me, and Bianca quietly let it be known she was pregnant before Keiko and I married."

"It's going to be very strange having a baby in the house and then the condo."

"TELL me about it!" I chuckled. "I hope, eventually, you'll teach her to draw and paint."

"That'll be fun! I know neither you nor Bianca plays an instrument, but music lessons are valuable as well."

"That's something to consider, but it's down the road a piece. Finger paint is a lot easier than the piano! I managed fingerpaint in kindergarten!"

"I know this is way ahead of the game, but public school or private school?"

"That's not something Bianca and I have discussed, but we have five or six years to figure it out."

We finished eating and made our way to the Art Institute, where Deanna went into the studio while I went into Claire's office. A few seconds later, Alexa walked in and shut the door behind her.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked with a smirk. "Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?"

"Queen references aside, I'm as ready I'll ever be. Have you done this before?"

"No. My sister is the crazy, adventurous one in the family! I'm a communications major, not an artist! This is me stepping outside my usual boundaries. Deanna encouraged me to do it."

"Me, too," I chuckled. "Though only after the original model dropped out. We should probably get ready."

I turned my back and began undressing.

"Why turn away?" Alexa asked.

"Because watching you undress might cause a problematic reaction!"

Alexa laughed, "Can't raise or lower the main mast on command?"

"Not particularly, no. A girl undressing is erotic. A naked one depends on context."

"An interesting point I hadn't considered. I think we should see each other before we go to the studio. Turn at the same time?"

"Yes."

We both undressed, and when Alexa said she was ready, we turned to face each other.

"Holy God!" she gasped, her eyes wide.

"No, Jonathan," I replied.

Alexa laughed, "You're huge!"

"Sophie didn't tell you?"

"No!"

"When you suggested a preview the other evening, I thought it was because you wanted to verify her claims."

"I had no idea," she said, shaking her head.

We put on our robes and slippers, then walked to the studio.

"Tonight is simply a human figure drawing. Jonathan and Alexa, I'll simply have you stand next to each other, about a foot apart, holding hands. Just stand on the throw rug; no slippers, please."

Alexa and I removed our slippers, then shrugged off our robes, letting them fall to the floor behind us. I took her hand in mine, and she squeezed briefly.

"Jesus!" one of the female students gasped.

"Whoa!" another female voice said, slightly louder.

"Damn!" one of the male students uttered just barely audibly.

"Let's draw, please," Claire said, taking two steps forward so she could see us from the front.

She raised both eyebrows, and her lip curled, but she didn't react otherwise or say anything. Standing naked in front of a dozen people was an interesting experience, but weirdly, I wasn't self-conscious, uncomfortable, or embarrassed, which I understood to be the usual reaction to being seen naked. That drew my mind back to the conversation I'd had with Deanna about that, and I understood slightly better.

I also thought about Deanna's comment about how her fellow students would react. The three verbal responses had been both surprising and not surprising. They were surprising in the sense that I was sure every one of those students had seen members of the opposite sex naked; not surprising given the assurances of experienced girls that I was much bigger than the average guy.

The other surprise was Alexa's revelation that Sophie hadn't said anything to her, something I had assumed would have happened. Sophie had certainly told Ivy and later Deanna, and I found it slightly strange she hadn't told her little sister, especially given we were going to pose together. But as I thought more about it, the dynamic between sisters was different from the dynamic between friends, as evidenced by Allyson and Clara.

During the first break, Alexa and I put on our robes and slippers and sat on the small couch in the studio with cups of coffee provided by Claire.

"Hi," a blonde guy about my height said, coming over to us. "I'm Rick."

"Jonathan," I said, extending my hand,

"Want to grab a beer after class?" he asked.

Given what Deanna had said about three of the four guys being gay or bi, I had a good idea that his invitation was not just to have a beer.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm straight."

"Oops! I thought ... never mind."

"Don't sweat it. I know the original model who dropped out was gay. Trust me, I'm not offended, but I'm also not interested. That said, I'm always open to new friends."

"Thanks. Where do you go to school?"

"Part-time at Circle. I work as a securities analyst for Spurgeon Capital."

"Without a degree?"

"Yes. I have two securities licenses and am working on my third."

"Now I really wish you were interested! You know the situation with artists, I'm sure!"

"Deanna is a close friend, so yeah, I do."

"That probably explains your attitude. Most guys in finance are anti-gay."

"Maybe so, but not me, given four of my five closest male friends are gay."

"There has to be a story there."

"There is. After class, hang back, and I'll give you my business card. Give me a call, and you can buy me a beer, but I won't be going home with you!"

He laughed, "I will. Thanks."

"Deftly handled," Alexa said. "You shot him down, but he walked away happy."

After our ten-minute break, we resumed our pose. During our second break, one of the female students, a short, dark-haired girl with brown eyes, came over to us.

"Hi, I'm Britney," she said. "Would you be available for some private modeling sessions? I need a subject for an independent study project."

"What's the project?"

"Multi-discipline — photo, sketch, paint, charcoal, clay, plaster, and bronze of the same subject."

"When do you need to know?"

"By the end of the semester. It's my Summer course."

"Let me think about it, please."

"I hope you will!"

She walked away, and a few minutes later, Alexa and I returned to our pose. When class ended, we put on our robes and walked to Claire's office to dress.

"You're going to be propositioned by at least two more girls," Alexa said once the door was closed and we'd started dressing. "They were seriously impressed by your equipment!"

"I have to ask, so long as the guy gets you there, does it matter?"

"Only a well-endowed guy would ask if size matters!" Alexa laughed.

"It was actually a serious question."

"Consider it like boobs — bigger is usually better, right?"

"Any breasts with which I'm permitted to play are the perfect size!"

Alexa laughed, "Wise! With dicks, I suppose it depends on the girl. Some might see it as a challenge, some might be afraid, and some might be more turned on by depth and girth."

"Not to imply anything..."

"Fascination," Alexa said. "Sophie told me you were damned good, and I was interested. Now I'm interested and fascinated. I didn't say anything before because Deanna told me about what happened with your wife, and I didn't want to seem insensitive. I'm fairly certain you find me attractive."

"I do."

"If you're interested, just ask. I don't want to push."

"Thanks. I'm still working through my emotions."

"I can imagine."

We finished dressing, and Alexa opened the door. Rick was waiting, and I handed him my business card. He walked away, and Deanna walked up to me.

"Ready to go?"

"Yes."

We left the building and hailed a cab to take us to the Hancock Center to retrieve my car.

"So, Rick and Britney?" she teased.

I laughed, "Rick did proposition me by asking if I wanted to have a beer. I declined but offered friendship. It was the polite thing to do, and I wasn't offended."

"Of course not, or you wouldn't have so many gay friends. And Britney?"

"Asked me to model for her multi-discipline independent study, which she said involved photography, sketching, painting, clay, and bronze. I said I'd let her know. I think I could only agree to do that if I agreed to CeCi's request to model for her photography class."

"My opinion is you should do both. There really isn't much downside. If nobody cares about your boss screwing underage girls, do you think they're going to care about tasteful nudes?"

"An interesting point."

"Especially given what he's doing is illegal and what you're doing is legal. So?"

"She said she didn't need an answer until the end of the semester. Do you know how bronze statues are made?"

"The method they teach at the school is called the 'lost wax' method and involves making a model with oil-based clay, using that to make a wax mould, then creating a bronze casting. I haven't done it, and I believe there are more steps."

"Is that something you have to do?"

"There are a number of different independent study programs. The one I chose for the Summer involves sketching scenes from different angles. It'll help me develop better perspective in my art."

"That doesn't really help your abstract art, does it?"

"There really aren't any classes in abstract art for what I think are obvious reasons."

"You can't teach it, but can't you teach painting techniques or whatever?"

"Yes, and I get those from my other classes. You've heard Claire critique student work in class, as well as make suggestions. The various media and techniques we're learning can be applied to any form of art. So even if I'm not going to sketch as my main form, everything I learn helps me improve."

"That makes sense."

"By the way," Deanna said with a smirk I could just see in the dimly lit cab, "Adriana did NOT draw you to scale!"

"The girl who sits next to you with the short-cropped bleach-blonde hair?"

"She affects the stereotypical dyke pretty well."

"Dyke?" I asked.

"A butch lesbian who affects something of a masculine demeanor. Think about how she dresses, her hair, lack of makeup, and so on."

I shrugged, "I didn't notice, at least in the way you mean."

"Because the lesbian and bisexual girls who you know act feminine."

"So you're saying she doesn't appreciate men?"

"She's an ardent feminist and is convinced men think with their dicks and have far too high opinion of them. One of her favorite jokes is about why straight females have poor spatial abilities."