“And your insurance ends when?”

“My agreement with the CAC keeps me and my domestic partner insured through the calendar length of my last contract.”

“Then what happens, Bette?  What are you going to do when you’re no longer covered?”

“COBRA—Continuation health coverage.  I’ll buy into that, pay for it.  Ms. Collie,” Bette began, shaking her head, “I-I really don’t think that this has anything to do with the second parent adoption process.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.  It does.  The County of Los Angeles needs to know that the household can indeed take care of this child.”

Angelica began to cry and Bette bounced her lightly in her lap.  Her focus turned from Collie to her daughter and she kissed her fingers and the top of her head and then her fingers again.

“I can assure you…” 

Collie shook her head and pointed at Angelica.  “Can you put her down?”

“Where do you suggest I put her?”

“No crib.”  Collie frowned.  “Assurances.   Frankly, Bette, I can do without your assurances.  You seem to be walking through life with rose-colored glasses on.”

“I beg to differ.  I’m more than aware of the current situation.”

“She,” Collie said while she pointed at Tina over her shoulder, with her thumb, “is really not doing well.  You don’t seem to get that.”

“I live with the knowledge of Tina’s state every day.  This is my life.  Twenty-four hours a day.”

“Well, Bette.  This has all been quite enlightening for me—meeting with you and hearing your plan to raise your friend’s daughter, going through your application and seeing not one man’s name mentioned in the list of people who will have regular contact with the child, your pronouncement that your family is extraordinary….” 

As Tina lay in her rehab bed, her comatose mind was lost in her own scenario with Roberta Collie.  Tina was sure the social worker would have problems with their still very adult-friendly home.  She’d notice all of the hard and pointy edges where Angelica could get hurt.  Tina wished that Bette would put aside her judgmental air and just give in to tradition and do what’s expected of her.  Bette was insisting on attachment parenting, an unconventional way of child rearing; Bette refused to baby proof; Bette balked at the idea of removing any art for the home visit—no matter how pornographic it might appear.  Tina knew that this particular social worker wouldn’t look favorably on their petition to adopt.  There was far too much working against them.

Roberta Collie didn’t touch the tea that Tina and Bette had placed on the table for her.  Instead, she stared at her clipboard before looking up at them.  “Let me just review.  No baby-proofing, passionately unemployed, harbors sexually explicit, anti-patriotic propaganda masquerading as art.  What about men?”

There’s really nothing extraordinary about getting yourself in a situation where you lose your house, you remain unemployed, end up on welfare, move into Section 8 housing, try to raise the child as a single mother, and eventually the child becomes a ward of the State.  I’m surprised that someone like you would choose the route of becoming another urban statistic.”

“Excuse me?  That is absurd.”

“I’ve investigated plenty of cases since I’ve been on the job.  Truthfully, you’re not at all extraordinary.”

“You’re just going to m-make this decision.  You’ve talked to me for,” Bette began then paused to look up at the clock.  “Forty minutes.  You can’t possibly determine anything?”

“First, I know how to do my job and honestly, my first impressions are usually on the mark.  I’ll tell you—I’m not all that impressed.”  Roberta Collie stood and picked up her briefcase.  “Secondly, I’ll make another visit–next time to your home.  I don’t expect much to change.”  She walked to the door and turned to look at Bette.  “Her doctor is McPherson, right?”

“Yes,” Bette had hardly gotten the monosyllable out before Collie had completely exited the room.  The social worker didn’t say goodbye or tell Bette when the next visit would take place. 

Bette turned to the bed and said to Tina.  “As you predicted, baby.  It didn’t go well.”

END PART FOUR

* * * * *

Introduction of Angus (Season 3, Episode 1)

Roberta Collie, the social worker’s visit (Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2)