Soulmates

Rikki and Ginny Father's Voice

It seemed like it had been only a couple of days since the movie date before Rikki's dad was knocking on Rikki and her mom's door.

Jessica was surprised to be looking at her ex-husband, "Good afternoon, Gustav."

"Good afternoon, Jessica. May I come in?"

"Of course. To what do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit? Coffee?" It was obvious to Jessica that Gustav had a bug up his butt about something. Hopefully, she could pull it out before Rikki got home from school.

"Yes, please. Some disturbing information has come to my attention."

Jessica set a coffee mug in front of Gustav, "And that information would be..."

"That Rikki was seen kissing and holding hands with another young lady, a Jennifer Browning. Are they just friends or something more? Where did Rikki meet her?"

Jessica considered a moment. She'd anticipated that Gustav would object to Rikki's relationship with Ginny, just not so soon. "So you've stooped to spying on your daughter. Heaven help you if she finds out."

"Someone had to. I'm her father and I have her best interests at heart."

"And I don't?! Yes, you are her father, but there is a difference between being a father and being a dad. And remember, I warned you that you will regret it if she finds out you've been spying on her." Gustav's expression told Jessica that he heard, but did not heed.

In an attempt to begin to diffuse the situation, "To answer your second question first. Ginny is a classmate of Sarah's, who is the girlfriend of Allison, a teammate of Rikki's on the soccer team. They first met when Rikki and Allison got back after the state soccer tournament. They got better acquainted when they studied together for final exams."

"You said that Sarah was the girlfriend of Allison. Are they just friends or something more?"

"Something more, Gustav. The question you seem to have trouble asking is 'Are they lesbians?' The answer is yes, though Sarah is, more properly, bi-sexual. Sarah and Allison have been in a committed relationship for more than a year."

"And you let your daughter become involved with such unnatural people?"

"Gustav, I refuse to let you speak badly about people you've never met. If you can't keep a civil tongue in your head, I'll ask you to leave. You met Sarah's father, Mr. Black, when you came in unexpectedly the day of the party. Did he seem like a bad man?"

Grudgingly, "No."

"Sarah's mother showed me the newspaper article covering the Renaissance Foundation Gala last Valentine's Day. Sarah and Allison were the belles of the ball. They danced with the Governor, the Mayor, one or more Congressman and Senators, and other notables. She also told me how the Governor threw someone out who had said something derogatory about the girls."

Jessica continued, "Sarah's mom is a pediatrician. Allison's dad is a university professor and consultant. Allison's mom is a stay-at-home mom. All four are good people."

Jessica was more emphatic, "Both sets of parents fully support their girls. Both say that the girls' self-confidence, their 'comfortableness' with themselves, has increased. Allison is a leader on her soccer team, even though she's only a sophomore. Sarah is a leader on her cheerleader squad. Both girls' grades have never been higher. Some days, they take over the kitchen and prepare dinner, serve, and clean up."

"They're still lesbians."

"Yes, they are. I kept an eye on things when Rikki started getting together with Sarah and Allison. They deliberately changed their routine so as to not push their relationship, their lifestyle, on Rikki. They went out of their way to be her friends. I saw nothing wrong, so I let it continue. In fact, I made some new friends and got a major commission."

"Who?"

"Brown Securities. They just moved their headquarters here."

Gustav returned to the previous subject, "So, Rikki ends up in a lesbian relationship too."

"Don't be deliberately dense. I sat down with Rikki and Ginny and had a long talk. We discussed society's view of lesbian relationships and what the community view might be. Sarah and Allison told Rikki what happened to them. I assumed Ginny had observed it first-hand. We talked about the additional complication of Ginny being pregnant. I laid out every pro and con I could think of, especially the cons, and it made no difference. You spotted them on their first date. They spend their free time here. I'm sure they haven't had sex yet."

"Wait a minute. How can a lesbian get pregnant?"

"Your assumptions are showing again, Gustav. Ginny is bi-sexual too. Her last relationship was with a boy. They broke up when he wanted a commitment she wasn't ready to give him. Then she found out she was pregnant. I don't know if the father is going to be involved or not. Sarah's mom will be her pediatrician after the birth."

"So, is Rikki lesbian or bi-sexual?"

"I don't know and I don't think Rikki knows either. She has no experience with boys, so she has nothing to compare against. I believe, after my conversation with the girls, that Ginny cares for Rikki unconditionally and Rikki feels the same way. Will it last? I don't know. But I don't think Rikki is being harmed."

Rikki and Ginny chose that moment to arrive from school and heard, "I disagree. I think she is being harmed and I have consulted with a lawyer who thinks I have a good case for shared, if not full, custody."

"Good afternoon, Father. Why would you want to change the custody agreement?"

Gustav looked up, "You are an impertinent child who has no part in this conversation." Rikki didn't say anything, but you could tell she was mad.

Jessica answered, "Ginny, this is Rikki's father, Gustav Laveque." Turning to Rikki, "Your father has a problem with yours and Ginny's relationship, and your friendship with Sarah and Allison."

Rikki continued, "And that problem would be?"

"It's unnatural."

Ginny jumped in, "Good afternoon, Mr. Laveque, Jennifer Barrett Browning. Respectfully, I disagree. Several studies have shown that homosexuality is not a choice, but biology. It's more likely that you think a lesbian daughter would reflect badly on you."

"And you are an impudent young girl who should keep out of conversations that don't concern her."

Ginny clutched theatrically at her chest, as though she'd been shot. After a moment, she sighed, "People have told me that before. I didn't listen to them then either."

Gustav continued with scorn, "Maybe if you'd been properly disciplined as a child, you'd know your place."

Ginny looked like she was considering Gustav's words, "Mom and Dad were wimpy disciplinarians? You are so far off, it's not even worth considering. I still maintain that you are more worried about yourself than Rikkki."

Rikki frowned, "How do you know about Ginny and me? Do you have someone watching us?"

"It makes no difference how I know."

"Oh my God! You did have someone watching me. I'm so embarrassed."

"When I get you home, we'll set things right."

"No!" Rikki held Ginny's hand.

"What did you say?"

Even later, Rikki couldn't say where it came from. Her eyes got hard. One corner of her mouth turned down, "I said No. Hear me Father, and hear me well. I am home. If you try to change the custody agreement, I will sue for emancipation and move in with Ginny. If Mr. Black can't help me, I'm sure he knows someone who can."

Ginny was a little surprised at Rikki's statement, but knew she would let her move in if it came to that.

Jessica heard the steel in her daughter's voice. If that's what it would take to free Rikki from Gustav's verbal and psychological abuse, she would stand behind her.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice?!"

"How dare I?! I'm not the one spying. I'm not the one threatening to take me away from my home."

"If you emancipate, I won't pay for college. Your mother would receive less support."

"If I understand the process correctly, you would have to go back to court to get the divorce decree changed. I imagine the judge would be very interested in why I felt I had to emancipate." What she didn't say is that with her grades and athletic skills, colleges would be falling all over themselves to offer her scholarships, both academic and athletic.

"We will speak of this again, when you've had a chance to reflect."

Rikki didn't say anything, walked over to the phone, and dialed a number. "Good evening, Mr. Black. It's Rikki Laveque. The subject of my suing for emancipation has come up and I wanted to know if you could help me." After a moment, "Of course I can come over after school. Thank you." She hung up the phone and walked away towards her room.

As she walked down the hall, Rikki was cold. For the first time, in any dealings with her father, she felt no fear. There was no sickness deep in the pit of her stomach that she wasn't good enough, that she was a disappointment. How dare he speak to Ginny that way. If she hadn't left, she would have been sorely tempted to pick him up bodily and throw him through a window.

When Rikki was out of earshot, Ginny spoke up, "Mr. Laveque, if you were thinking about getting to Rikki through me, I would think again. I'm an army brat. Both my parents are lifers and deployed in the Middle East. I am a published author and have to deal with agents, lawyers, publishers, editors, contracts, deadlines, etc. on an almost daily basis. I have been pushed by experts and I'm not above pushing back given sufficient provocation."

"I'm not worried about you."

"You should be. Some of my parent's friends are `Black Ops' people who just love letting the air out of tin-plated dictators. I think they would be happy to have something for the less experienced members of their team to practice on." Ginny turned and followed Rikki.

Jessica spoke up, "Gustav, you have delivered your message and now I think it's time for you to go." He walked out without saying anything.

Jessica found Rikki and Ginny in Rikki's bedroom. They were lying on the bed, Rikki huddled into Ginny's chest, shaking. "How dare he? How dare he come into our home and...? How dare he say that to...to...?" Ginny just held and rocked her. Rikki was so mad she couldn't seem to stop.

She sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Rikki's hair, "Your father has left. I'm going to start on dinner and I'll call you when it's ready."

"Thanks, Mom."

Dinner was quiet. Jessica had prepared something simple that she thought Rikki could keep down. They sat on the couch for a while afterwards. When she thought Rikki was calmer, Ginny got up to go, "I'll pick you up tomorrow, after school." She leaned over and whispered in Rikki's ear, "Bon soir. Je t'aime, mon petit Papillion avec des dents*." Rikki didn't know whether to blush or laugh.

"Thanks, Gin. `Nite."

The next day, Ginny picked up Rikki at school and followed Sarah and Allison towards Sarah's house, "AngelFace, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have to, my Sihaya. My father hates to be defied. He has a tendency to try and crush those who do. I have to, in order to protect us."

"I'm behind you all the way."

"Thanks."

Sarah's dad was there when they reached her house. They trooped inside with bag and baggage. He greeted them with a hug and a kiss. Sarah knew about what happened yesterday, "You two go talk. We'll get started on dinner."

Sarah's dad closed the door to his office, "Please sit down, Rikki." He stepped over to his desk and dialed the phone. He turned on the speakerphone and they listened to the ring.

"Robert Burt's office."

"Betty, its Al Black. I think he's waiting for my call."

"I'll put you through."

A moment later, "Afternoon, Al."

"Afternoon, Bob. The young lady I was telling you about is here with me now."

"Hello, Ms. Laveque."

"Hello, Mr. Burt.

"Bob is a partner in our office. I think I can help, but it's not something I do a lot. I consulted with him to make sure I covered all the threads. If necessary, he has agreed to take over. Why don't we start by you telling us what happened last night?"

Rikki told them that her father thought her relationship with Ginny and her friendship with Sarah and Allison was unnatural. That she thought he had been spying on her. That he had consulted with a lawyer who thought there was a good case for modifying the custody agreement. That he had been verbally abusive for years and how that had been one of the reasons for the divorce."

Mr. Burt broke in, "Excuse me a moment, Rikki. I have a question. It's my understanding that your father is Canadian and your mother is American. Was the divorce granted by a Canadian or American court?"

"Canadian."

"We need to make sure emancipation will be recognized there, Al."

"I agree, Bob. Continue, Rikki."

Rikki related how her father had said he wouldn't pay for college and the support her mother got would be reduced if she emancipated.

Mr. Black continued, "That's enough for now Rikki. Please have your mom give me a call tomorrow. I need to look at the provisions of the divorce decree and must have her permission to get a copy. We'll get in touch with you in a couple of days, after we've worked through things."

"Thank you, gentlemen."

"Go join the girls. I'm sure they could use another pair of hands." Rikki left the two lawyers discussing the next steps to take, grateful that someone else was worrying about it too.

• • Contact me privately for an approximate translation

Copyright 2004 Donal