Chapter 68: You Are a Terrible Son!

November 22, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"Have you heard from your grandmother?" Mom asked.

"No. Have you?"

"A card, but I didn't write back at her suggestion."

"The fundamentalist brainwashing is ridiculously effective," I replied, shaking my head. "That said, his actions are consistent with his belief system. I just don't understand how someone can live that way and consider themselves 'good', even if the system is self-consistent. That said, raging hormones appear to be an effective cure!"

Mom, Mitchell, Violet, Bianca, Deanna, and Nicole all laughed, and Chelsea fought not to smile, but I could see it in her eyes.

"You are a terrible son!" Mom declared mirthfully.

I chuckled, "No, I'm an excellent son who is fully aware of how and why he came into existence! Had Bev and I not been lucky, the family would have been three for three in unintended pregnancies! We are three for three in out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and given I don't plan to marry but want to have another child, it'll be four for four!"

"You are a real brat!" Mom declared.

"If that's news to you, Mrs. Kane, you haven't been paying attention!" Bianca declared.

"It's Linda, please! I was simply reaffirming something I've said to my son many, many times!"

"I can confirm that," I said with a grin.

"«¡Mami!»" Sofía exclaimed.

"I believe someone is hungry," I said.

"I'll take her up to the loft," Bianca said.

That was out of the ordinary, but I was sure she was respecting Mitchell's sensibilities. I handed my daughter to her mother, who then went up the stairs to the loft.

"Are you teaching Sofía Spanish?" Mom asked.

"No, but her maternal grandmother, whom we call «Abuela», is. Bianca asked if it was OK for Sofía to use «Mami» and «Papi», and I didn't see any reason to object."

"May I be 'Nana'?" Mom asked.

"I'm OK with that," I said. "Mitchell, what kind of cases do you hear?"

"I was just assigned to felony court," he said. "I'll begin hearing those cases after the first of the year."

"What kind of cases are you hearing now, Judge?" Violet asked.

"Misdemeanors, fines for permit or building code violations, and traffic offenses that rise above the usual speeding tickets."

"May I ask what kind of law you practiced?"

"I was a prosecutor for about twenty years before being appointed to the bench to fill a vacancy just over ten years ago," Mitchell replied.

"Did you become a prosecutor right out of law school?" I asked.

"No. I spent two years in private practice as a generalist, but didn't like it. I applied to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's office and was accepted."

"Where's that?" Violet asked.

"It's the next county over from where I lived," I interjected. "Cincinnati is in Hamilton County; Goshen is in Clermont County."

A timer rang, indicating I needed to take care of some things in the kitchen, and because Bianca was feeding Sofía, Violet assisted me. That was how the rest of the day went, with Bianca helping as well, until 3:30pm, when we served our Thanksgiving feast, which was a mix of traditional American and Mexican dishes.

"This is very good," Mitchell observed about the rice dish Bianca had made. "I can't say I've ever had spicy food on Thanksgiving."

"If you expect anything in this condo to be normal, you're going to be VERY disappointed!" Violet tittered.

"She's not wrong," Deanna declared.

"There was another girl living here, wasn't there?" Mitchell asked. "A blonde?"

"She's in California," I said. "I arranged an internship for her with a major Hollywood director working on a potential blockbuster movie that should be released next year. Because of the shooting schedule, she couldn't fly back for Thanksgiving. She'll be in Hollywood until Spring, except for a week or so at Christmas."

"You can't say the name of the director or the film?"

I shook my head, "No, but the director is a household name. I can tell you once they start advertising. And because it's hush-hush, I can't invest in the studio's stock."

"Insider trading laws?" Mitchell asked.

"Correct. I've had half a dozen situations where I had information I couldn't use without running afoul of securities regulations. Some investors try to skirt the rules or play fast and loose, but I report all of them to Compliance."

"Don't judges know the law?" Chelsea asked.

Mitchell smiled, "Yes, but I'm a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County, Ohio, which is a State court. The laws Jonathan and I are discussing are Federal laws. It's also the case that a judge at my level is mainly responsible for ensuring that proper procedures and the rules of evidence are followed, and that the defendant receives a fair trial. It's the prosecutor's responsibility to present evidence showing that the defendant committed a crime, and he presents the case showing the necessary elements as defined by the statute. Interpretation of law generally comes from appeals courts and the State or Federal Supreme Court. The best analogy is that my job is to be a neutral referee to ensure everyone follows the rules."

Everyone enjoyed dinner and dessert, and, over my protests, my mom offered to do the dishes, and I helped by drying and putting them away. That gave us a chance to talk, while the others sat in the conversation pit.

"You seem quite happy," Mom said.

"I am," I replied. "It's taken some time, obviously, but I've mostly come to terms with what happened with Keiko and Bev. Keiko still affects me, and will for the rest of my life."

"I can't imagine how it wouldn't, given how much you loved her," Mom observed. "You've truly sworn off the idea of marrying again?"

"Yes. Keiko is my wife, and I cannot diminish that in any way. When my time comes, I'll be cremated and have a Buddhist ceremony, and be interred with Keiko. I made that promise to her, and I will not betray it in any way. That pretty much precludes marrying again."

"Do you have a mother in mind for your second child?" Mom asked.

I chuckled, "You know the answer to that because she told you! Well, at least indirectly."

"Violet?"

"Yes. She's comfortable with my outlook on life, and with having a child without being married."

"Will she move in?"

"Eventually, but for now, we're trying to avoid causing trouble at work."

"Is there some problem?"

"Only with the attitude towards women," I replied. "Bianca is the only woman who is not a secretary, except for the Head of Personnel and the mailroom supervisor. It's common in the industry, just as it is in banking and law. That leads to, shall we say, bad behavior."

"Ah," Mom observed. "You don't want people to think you're sleeping with your secretary."

"Executive Assistant," I corrected. "I want to differentiate her from the others."

"But..."

I chuckled, "Yes, but I had a relationship with her before she came to work for me. I met her in January 1982; I didn't meet Keiko until a year later, in January 1983. Of course, you know about Violet's history, which, in the end, is how I ended up with Keiko. Let me turn the question — are you happy?"

"Ecstatic! I wish my son and granddaughter lived closer, but otherwise, things are wonderful with Mitchell, and I enjoy my job. I also have true retirement savings because my son is so generous."

"I'll continue to add to it," I said.

"You know you don't have to do that," Mom said. "You should keep your money."

"First, I'm not doing it because I have to, but because I want to. Second, next year, I'll make well over $2.5 million."

"Oh my gosh! You're joking!"

"No joke, Mom."

"That's unfathomable!"

"And yet, it's true."

"I don't even know what to say! I knew you were successful, but how can one person make so much money?"

"By making fifty times that, at least, for my clients. I'm only the third-highest paid at Spurgeon."

"What will you do with all that money?"

"Enjoy it! Most of it will be invested, but I plan to take an around-the-world trip in a few years, and remember, I have a huge mortgage on the condo as well as the apartment buildings and the house I own."

"Do you realize you'll make more in three months than I've made in my entire life?"

"Yes, though what you made before 1971 isn't really comparable to what you made from then until now."

"1971?"

"Nixon taking the US off the gold standard is what caused the economic mess of the 70s, which led to price increases and even higher interest rates. But I suspect you don't want an economics lesson!"

"I find it fascinating how much you've learned, especially given your approach to High School."

"That was less about a distaste for education and more about focusing on work, and on finding a place to get my foot in the door."

"Will you do this forever?"

"No, because at some point, I'll die."

Mom rolled her eyes, "You know what I meant!"

"I figure mid-forties is the time to think about finding something else to do, but what that might be, I have no idea. Ask me again around 2005."

"That's so strange to say! The year 2000 seems like so far in the future, but it's only fifteen years away."

We finished the dishes, then rejoined the others. Mom and Mitchell stayed until about 9:00pm, then left with Violet to return to her house. After they left, I read for a bit, then watched CNN. When it was time for bed, I elected to decline any company, though Misty was not to be denied, and followed me up to my room.