Fortune's rocks_ a novel - Anita Shreve [179]
Olympia closes her eyes.
“However strong the allegations against the character of Olympia Biddeford, which in his pleadings have been made by the counsel for the respondents; however clearly the respondents have shown themselves to be careful caretakers of the infant boy; however injurious it may be to the boy to be separated from the only parents he has ever known, the court is bound to say that the respondents have failed to satisfy the court as to the future education and well-being of the boy.”
Beside her, Tucker seizes her hand. She looks at Tucker and then over at the respondents’ table. Sears sits impassively, studying the handle of his briefcase. Albertine and Telesphore appear not to understand what has been said, even though they seem to sense something amiss. Albertine looks wildly all about her.
“The court,” Littlefield continues, “however much it may be loath, in this particular instance, to do so, cannot allow a boy to remain in a household in which he may, in future, by influence of his guardians or by persons influential to the guardians, or by circumstances beyond the guardians’ control, such as poverty or undue influence of community, commit crimes against the state.”
A cry pierces the chamber. Littlefield looks up from his brief. Albertine, her hands in the air, cries,“Non! Non! Non!” Littlefield does not ask for order, as if he has realized that it is the right of the woman to disrupt the court. Albertine turns and grabs her husband’s arm.
“In addition,” Littlefield continues, “the court is bound to acknowledge that the guardians in this case, Albertine and Telesphore Bolduc, though blameless, received the child into their care as a result of an unlawful separation of the child from the natural mother. The court is therefore presented, in this case, with a dual charge: to redress the wrong that was done both to the infant child and to its natural mother, Olympia Biddeford; and to ensure the continuing nurture of this child by guaranteeing, insofar as the court or any institution can guarantee the future, its healthful security and education.”
Telesphore puts his head in his hands. Albertine flings her head back against her chair.
“I therefore issue the following decree, endorsed upon the writ of habeas corpus.”
Albertine begins to sob, a deep, continuous sound.
Littlefield, obviously rattled, clears his throat. “On ten March 1904, this cause having been heard upon the returns and amended return, suggestions and further suggestions, filed by the respective parties, and remaining of record, and upon the evidence, written and oral, adduced before the court, it is considered that the within named infant, Pierre Francis Haskell, has been unlawfully restrained of his liberty and detained by the parties to whom the within writ is directed, or any or either of them, and that the said infant be remanded and restored to his mother, Olympia Biddeford, in the said writ named.”
“He is yours,” Tucker says beside her.
“Bailiff,” says Judge Littlefield, removing his glasses and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. “Bring in the boy.”
Sears is on his feet. “Your Honor, may the mother and father say a last farewell to the boy?”
Littlefield pinches the bridge of his nose. “The foster parents may say good-bye to the boy, but I forbid them to upset him. If Mrs. Bolduc and her husband cannot control themselves, I will have them removed from the chamber. I do not wish a spectacle on my hands.”
“Your Honor,” says Sears, “may Mr. and Mrs. Bolduc bid farewell to the boy in private?”
“No, the court cannot permit that. What happens shall happen before all.”
• • •
The door at the back of the chamber opens, and the bailiff appears with his charge. The boy is dressed in a navy coat and cap, with long gray stockings leading into