Rainbow and Hildegard waited in the courthouse the following morning wondering where Nadja was.
“She must have gotten held up in traffic,” Hildegard said in German.
Rainbow hoped and prayed Nadja would make it on time. If she didn’t, wouldn’t the judge automatically hand her over to Hildy?
She began pacing the corridor impatiently. A stream of people trickled by. Hildegard motioned for her to stand by her and out of the way.
Finally, Nadja hurriedly rounded the corner.
Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Nadja said in English and in German. “I had an unexpected meeting.”
“We’ll forgive you,” Rainbow told her.
“Lady Rainbow, I know I was supposed to take you straight home from here, but I’m afraid I’ll have to get back to work for a few more hours because I’m in the middle of a special project. How about I come over later on with my swimsuit and we’ll all go swimming before we go to my place?”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.”
Nadja filled her mom in on these plans and then they were called to go before the judge barely a minute later, the courtroom interpreter ready and waiting by Rainbow’s side.
The judge first asked how things were going. Rainbow chose her words carefully. “I am still very saddened by the tragedy in my country and the loss of my loved one. But thanks to Nadja and her mother, they’ve given me an incentive to try to move on. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I’m willing to stick around and find out.”
With a simple nod for an answer, the judge then asked Hildegard to describe her experience with Rainbow and how she felt about the way things were going and where they might be heading in the near future.
“People may influence and encourage Rainbow to live and to allow the future to take care of itself, but only she herself can actually do this. And I believe she will. I was a bit worried at first that she might harm herself again, and while a setback is possible depending on what happens, I think she’s strong enough to make it through these tough times she’s experiencing and that she will get along somehow.”
“How would you describe her behavior?” the judge asked before the interpreter translated for Rainbow.
“She sometimes still has nightmares and crying spells, but overall I would describe her as curious, cheery and full of energy. God knows I can’t keep up with her at times despite her physical limitations,” Hildegard said with a smile. “She’s like an excited puppy when we get ready to go out on walks and she loves to swim in the pool. I think Rainbow is a naturally energetic person and that this helps enable her to progress physically. She’s now walking on her own and the doctors didn’t expect her to for another week or two.”
The judge gave the translator time to catch up and then he asked Hildegard if she would be ok with keeping her if he decided that that would be best. Hildegard readily agreed.
“How does she spend a typical day,” the judge asked next. “Could you describe her usual routine in your own words?”
“We’ve fallen into a comfortable routine,” said Hildegard. “Aside from her physical exercises and her appointments with her doctors, she learns German a little at a time. When she really wants to get her point across or if it’s something important, we use an online translator to communicate through, but each and every day she’s learning more and more.”
The judge nodded and Hildegard went on. “We walk and go for swims during the daytime, and she helps with the cleaning to the best of her ability. Even helps me cook, though that’s a little scary at times,” Hildegard said with a smile.
Nadja and the translator smiled, but Rainbow wasn’t sure if the judge did or not.
“In the evenings, we usually read or watch television together.”
The judge looked down at the papers before him. He cleared his throat as he shuffled through them and then he turned his gaze to Nadja. “Are you still interested in taking Miss Karson?”
“Yes, very much,” she said in her native tongue.
The judge asked her if there’d been any significant changes in her life over the last couple of weeks. After Nadja confirmed that there hadn’t been, the judge looked back at Hildegard. “Do you feel she’d be better off with your daughter?”
Hildegard inhaled sharply, obviously caught off guard by the question. “I don’t know if better off is the way I’d describe it. Things would be different for her with my daughter, but I don’t know that they’d necessarily be better or worse. Obviously, I have a few things that my daughter doesn’t have such as a place with easier access and a swimming pool, but that doesn’t make my daughter incapable of caring for Rainbow.”
The judge considered the papers before him again and he gazed at Rainbow. “Who do you want to go with and why?”
“I’ve come to really like Hildegard. She’s been very kind and generous with the way she’s opened her home to me and devoted much of her time to helping me. However, Nadja was the main reason I came to Germany in the first place. We first became good friends online and then I wanted to see her and actually meet her in person before I died. Well, that was the plan anyway. I feel that since Nadja knows English, we have more things in common and of course we’re also closer in age. Because of this, I would prefer to stay with her.”
After giving Rainbow a quick business-like nod, the judge said he would take a brief recess to think over the case.
A sudden surge of anger came over Rainbow, but she kept it in check. She just didn’t like being treated like a child and having others decide her fate for her. Too much of her life had been decided for her as it was. Did the courts really have her best interest at heart and feel they were doing what was best for her or did they just like to control people?
They waited and they waited. Jesus, how long could it possibly take to decide these kinds of things? Was it really that complicated or did the judge simply find the idea of making people wait amusing?
Rainbow’s heart beat a little faster when he finally reappeared and took a seat on his so-called throne. “Finally,” she whispered. “Fucking bastard.”
“Shut up,” Nadja hissed from her right side.
Hildegard looked at them and frowned curiously.
The judge cleared his throat and said, “This was a tough one. Can’t deny that much. You would think it would be easier deciding on which of just two adults that one adult should be placed with, but it’s not. I had to consider the pros and cons of everyone involved.”
A moment of silence fell over the room as he shuffled through his never-ending slew of paperwork.
“The doctors confirm that progress is being made both physically and mentally…” the judge noted aloud.
Yes, Daddy, I’ve got a very good report card, don’t I? Rainbow thought sarcastically.
“…and while I appreciate the fact that Miss Karson may have her preferences as far as who she stays with and that that person may indeed be suitable, I hate to make changes so soon after one is released from the hospital and in such a delicate situation.”
You’ve got to be kidding! Rainbow shouted in her mind.
“Yet I see no reason why she can’t go with her preferred person if all continues to go well over the next three months, but for now I think it would be best to keep things as they are for a while longer and that Miss Keller should continue to reside with Miss Amsel. And so that is my final judgment in this case for today.”
And then they were dismissed like yesterday’s news.
“I just don’t believe it,” Rainbow moaned as the judge rose and left the nearly deserted room. “I just watched a perfect stranger tell me, an adult, who to live with.”
“I know. It pisses me off too,” said Nadja. “Let’s just keep it together until we get out of here.”
“I’m sorry,” Hildegard said in German as they wove through the corridors and outside the building.
“Fucking bastard!” Rainbow roared.
“Hey! What did I tell you? You think I’m the only one that understands English around here?”
“But you said to keep it together until we got out of there. Well, we’re outa there.”
“I meant until we’re in the car. Come on, you’re smart. You should know better.”
“Right now I’m too mad to care.”
“Yeah, so am I, but just try to keep your cool, ok?”
Rainbow nodded reluctantly as they found their way to the parking lot where mother and daughter exchanged words. A few moments later Nadja looked at her sadly. “I’m really sorry, babe.”
“Me too,” Rainbow said hugging the woman who in return hugged her back. “Maybe I should just come with you anyway. Screw the judge.”
“Oh, hun, I’d love for you to accompany me home later on, but you know we can’t take risks like that and keep you with me longer than you’re supposed to be with me. And besides, it may seem like a long time right now, but three months really isn’t that long.”
Rainbow digested Nadja’s words. “I know. The whole thing just makes me feel like a kid all over again, having no say in what happens to me.”
“I know, babe, but things will get better. You’ll see. And we’ve still got weekends and Wednesday nights. No one can take that from us.”
Rainbow slowly pulled away from Nadja and turned to Hildegard. Hildegard smiled both lovingly and sympathetically.
A moment later she and Hildegard pulled out of the parking lot as they watched Nadja head to her own car. Alone. Shoulders slumped.
Rainbow turned to study Hildegard’s profile. The woman smiled and actually seemed rather content. She turned to look straight ahead. Oddly enough, Rainbow didn’t find herself feeling as upset as her words and actions may suggest.
As soon as they arrived back at Hildegard’s place, Rainbow ran and typed from English to German on the computer.
It’s not that I don’t like you or appreciate you. I enjoy being with you. I’m just shocked and disappointed. I didn’t expect this. I don’t want you to think I think any less of you. I don’t. You’re a very kind and beautiful person, Hildy.
Hildegard read the words on the digital screen and then looked at her. Her eyes watered lovingly which tugged at Rainbow’s heart despite the fact that they hadn’t even known each other for a month. The older woman then gathered her into her arms. Rainbow let herself be held and relaxed her body as Hildegard gently caressed her and kissed her on the head.
Hildegard then pulled back, smiled cheerily, then spoke in German.
Rainbow smiled, understanding what she’d said and hurried to change into her swimsuit along with Hildegard.
A few minutes later they were dipping into the pool and life with Hildy went on.
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