Seth (Casella Cousins #2) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,36
blue shirt and khaki pants, and he’d gotten a haircut. When the boy got close, he smelled aftershave. “Nervous?”
“Enough to pee my pants.”
“I don’t think that would help you get the kids.” He held up his briefcase. “But I know what will.” Seth had been allowed to review the evidence in the case, which wasn’t much. But he’d found some questionable documentation in the OCFS.
“I’m tryin’ to have faith.”
Minutes later they were called into a modest room, with big windows that let in some fresh air.
A woman sitting behind a table stood. “Good morning, I’m Gretchen Lucas, your Fair Hearing officer. I’m not a judge, but I am an attorney.” She looked to Johnny. “You must be John Cordello, the appellant. Please sit at the table on the left.”
Another man entered the room and introduced himself as Tom Anderson, the OCFS attorney. He greeted the hearing officer, Seth and Johnny, then took a chair at a table on the right.
Ms. Lucas sat again and gave them a nod. “Let’s begin. We’re here today to address the challenge Mr. John Cordello has made to The Office of Children and Family Services for rejecting him as a foster parent. We’ll follow the rules of the court, but much more informally and I will be the only decision maker. Understand?”
All three men nodded.
“Mr. Casella, attorney for the appellant, you go first. And no need to stand.”
“John Cordello is the perfect candidate for the two minor children, Juan and Marcella Torres. In the past, as their next-door neighbor, he’s essentially parented them.”
Seth explained that situation in depth.
Anderson interrupted. “I’m afraid our report doesn’t include that.”
“Which is one reason why we challenged the office’s decision to reject John.
“Another is John’s living situation. The home is already set up for the children. And it’s a loving atmosphere. His grandmother, Dorothy, is in relatively good shape, given her hip surgery.”
“She’s not very spry,” the OCFS administrator put in again. “Our home visit determined that.”
Johnny burst out, “She was less spry before her surgery and we had the kids most days and alotta nights. They know how to deal with her.”
Ms. Lucas said gently, “Let your representative speak for you, John.”
Seth went through other rebuttals to the report. He knew he was winning the argument.
When Anderson stood to present the OCFS’s side, he slid out a page out of the report. “Ms. Lucas, Mr. Cordello’s own parents don’t see him as fit to care for children. When I interviewed them, they didn’t think his lack of Christian moral character would be good for the minors.”
Instantly infuriated, Seth bolted up. “Moral character? Do you mean because he’s gay and openly admitted it to the interviewer?”
“His parents think that, Mr. Casella.”
Seth looked at the hearing officer. “Those two people kicked Johnny out their house when he was sixteen. He lived in a group home for a year, then his grandmother found out he didn’t run away, as she’d been told. He’s lived with her ever since. I contend that John’s parents are of poor moral character because they did such harm to a vulnerable, underage child. Not Mr. Cordello, who took care of his grandmother before and after hip surgery and showered two children with love and attention.”
Anderson sighed. “I have more objections.”
Ms. Lucas listened quietly to the complaint that Johnny had to work some nights and that even then, his income didn’t reach the level required.
“That’s misleading and you know it, Mr. Anderson. His grandmother has a teacher pension and social security. The household income meets the criteria.”
Anderson shrugged. “The report only states Mr. Cordello’s income.”
Ms. Lucas closed the folder. “All right, I’ve heard enough. I need to talk to the children. Would you please leave the room?”
Anderson strode out first.
Seth spoke to Johnny briefly, gathered his things and he and Johnny were heading out the door when they heard behind them, “Johnny! Johnny!”
John turned in time to catch two bundles of energy who’d come in a different door and threw themselves into his arms. Each kissed him all over his face. He hugged them and his eyes closed to savor the affection.
“Are they going to let us live with you?” Marcy asked.
“We want to, Johnny, really bad.” Juan’s voice was pleading.
Ms. Lucas approached them. “Why don’t you two come and tell me why you want to live with Mr. Cordello and his grandmother?”
They hugged Johnny one last time and went to sit in chairs the officer had pulled up to her table.
Johnny swallowed hard and moisture filled his