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. You could wash my hair for me. You want me to wash your hair? Yes.Heck, the cast seems like a good excuse to get you to runyour hands all over my body. Let me clue you in on something, love.You don t need anexcuse.Cat reached for the shampoo. Under, she said, and Billiesank below the water and resurfaced.She fell into a nirvana-like trance as Cat massaged her scalp. I ll give you two hours to stop that.Cat removed the showerhead from its brace and held it aboveBillie s head. No, I don t think so.I have other plans for you to fillthe next two hours. Oh goody! Billie exclaimed as she struggled to climb out ofthe tub.* * *Billie kissed Cat for good luck before she entered the supremecourt judicial hearing at nine o clock on Tuesday morning.She wasso nervous she was visibly shaking.She closed her eyes for amoment to calm herself. Thank you for being here with me, love. I wouldn t be anywhere else.This is as much about me as it isabout you.Billie took Cat s hand and led her into the judiciary hearingwhere they sat in the back of the room.Within minutes, their casewas called to the docket.Billie stood and stepped into the aisle thenpaused and looked at Cat. Billie, what are you doing? Go, Cat urged.261Billie offered Cat her hand. Like you said, this is as muchabout you as it is about me.Come with me. Billie interlaced herfingers with Cat s and led her down the aisle to the bench.The session chair, Judge William Reinhardt, addressed Cat andBillie directly. Which of you is Ms.Billie Jean Charland?Billie took a step forward. I am, Your Honor. And who s this with you, Ms.Charland?Billie took Cat by the hand.She pulled Cat forward andwrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. This is CaitlainO Grady, and I m proud to call her my wife, Your Honor. I see.Well, Ms.Charland, you ve caused quite a stir in thiscourt.You see, several of us on this panel don t believe in same-sexmarriages.Billie grabbed Cat as she stepped forward, and gave her awarning look not to say anything. Like I said, Ms.Charland, not all members of this panel agreewith the concept of same-sex marriage.We do all agree, however,that every citizen in this great country deserves equal rights andequal consideration under law, and that every citizen in this stateshould receive fair and equal treatment relative to the other citizensof this country.Thanks to you, we now know laws exist in our statethat could be deemed as discriminatory on the basis of gender.Alsothanks to you, those laws have been ruled unconstitutional and willbe stricken from our books.Congratulations, Ms.Charland.You vewon your case, and our fair state will be much better for it. Does this mean we can apply for a marriage license withoutdenial? Cat asked. Yes, ma am, that s exactly what it means.Your union will belegally recognized by the state with rights equal to heterosexualcouples, effective one month from today.Cat began to cry.She wrapped her arms around Billie s neck. By God, you did it, love.You did it. No, Cat, we did it.We did it together. Billie turned toaddress the court. If it pleases the court, I wish to express oursincere gratitude with respect to your open mindedness and fordoing what you know is right. No, Ms.Charland, Judge Reinhardt said. We thank you.Wepride ourselves in governing over a fair and just state.You showedus where the law was in error and gave us the opportunity to correctthe situation. I just want you to know, sir, that I appreciated the opportunityto present our case.262 No thanks necessary.By the way, your injuries& My injuries were administered by those not as open minded asyourself, Your Honor. Well, I apologize if our laws contributed to your pain. Your Honor, sometimes even laws don t stop thehomophobes, but thank you for your concern. She took Cat s hand,and together, they left the courtroom.* * *One month later, Billie and Cat exited the chambers of JudgeRobert Anderson with wedding certificate in hand.They posed forseveral press photographers and gave statements for the paper.Afterwards, Billie and Cat, along with their children and Jen, Fred,Marge, Art, and Cat s parents, rode in the rented limousine to theairport.Billie and Cat were scheduled to catch a plane to Florida toboard the cruise ship to Aruba.It was long past due for them to goon their honeymoon. Promise me you ll be good for Grandpa and Grammy whilewe re gone, Billie said to the kids.Several hugs and kisses later,Billie and Cat boarded the plane.After they were in the air and theseat belt sign was off, Billie excused herself to use the restroom.Onher way back to her seat, she saw an attractive male passengerchatting with Cat.She heard Cat introduce herself as Cat Charland.The pleasure of hearing Cat use her name was overwhelming. Are you traveling with someone? the man asked. As a matter of fact I am, and here she is, Cat replied as Billiereached them. Billie, this is James Shepard.James, this is BillieCharland, my wife. Er& ah& nice to meet you, Billie.Ah& maybe I ll see youlater.Bye, James said as he scurried away. Well, Mrs.Charland, do you always scare nice young menaway? Billie asked. You ll pay for that, Billie.Be afraid.Be very afraid. Oh, I m counting on it, Mrs.Charland.I m counting on it.Part V:What s In a Name?Chapter 25Autumn arrived and the children returned to school soon afterCat and Billie came home from their Aruba honeymoon.Seth wasstarting third grade, and Tara was entering second grade
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