Chapter 21: Leverage

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Two days later, Kaybri received an urgent call from Judge Thompson’s bailiff. She needed to appear in court at ten o’clock. Kaybri had no time to change into business attire, so she threw a coat over her scrubs and walked the four blocks to the courthouse. When she saw Teri McGee sitting about twenty feet away and avoiding making eye contact with her, she knew something was terribly wrong. 

      When Judge Thompson came into the courtroom, everyone rose except for the asleep-as-usual Gerry Wockenfus. Kaybri assumed the judge would be as sympathetic as she was during the last hearing. She wasn’t.  

      “Dr. Lynn,” the judge began in a fierce tone. “You offered Ms. McGee a list of all the pet stores that buy dogs bred on Amish farms. Your desire, which I can barely fathom, was to have Ms. McGee threaten the store owners so that they would stop buying dogs raised by the Amish farmers and that would hasten the farmers to change the way they breed dogs. That wasn’t the agreement this court made with you and your lawyer.” 

      “But…” Kaybri began. 

      “There are no buts in this situation, Dr. Lynn. You willingly entered into an agreement with this court. You should have trusted the wisdom of the court and my desires. You were required to work with Mr. Stoltzfus so he could create a model breeding operation that other farmers could emulate. The farmers were not to be forced into changing. Did I misunderstand my own instructions? Does what I just said sound familiar to you?” 

      “Yes, Your Honor,” Kaybri said sheepishly. 

      “Good. Here I thought I was losing my mind. The plan, as I clearly remember, was for the Amish farmers to voluntarily transform their operations so that the term ‘Amish dog’ would be associated with the finest bred animals. At no time did I tell you to give Ms. McGee a list of the pet store owners who sell the poorly bred Amish dogs.” 

      “I didn’t think they would voluntarily change their operations without pressure. I didn’t mean for —” Kaybri realized how hard it would be to explain what she’d had in mind. 

       The judge shook her head. “You seem to have trust issues if you don’t mind me saying so. Anyway, you have violated our agreement and have jeopardized the plan put in place by this court. It is likely that the farmers, many of whom I know personally, will learn of this betrayal and will be dissuaded from changing the way they breed dogs. The farmers have been known to be a bit stubborn and married to tradition.” The judge rolled her eyes. 

      “They don’t seem motivated to change. It could take years for the Amish to change,” Kaybri said.  

      “I am the motivation,” the judge said angrily. “When I decide to commit my inherent power and authority to a situation, I expect that my orders will be followed, not undermined by a twenty-something fresh out of school. Change comes to Lancaster County slowly and only when all its citizens buy into a concept. Maybe if you had lived here longer you’d have understood that.” 

      Kaybri didn’t know what to say. She looked over at Teri and saw she had a self-satisfied grin on her face.  

      “I trusted you,” Kaybri hissed in Teri’s direction. 

      “When I said that I’d shut the farmers down, I meant it.” Teri said gleefully and a little too loudly. 

      “Not so fast, Ms. McGee. The reason we’re here is because members of HED are already protesting outside pet stores that sell Amish dogs. I can’t stop you or members of your group. I do, however, want to remind you that our original agreement is still in force. The judge glowered at her. “And try to remember that there is a greater good we are trying to achieve. I’m not a fool like this young veterinarian. I know who you are, and I’m prepared to put you in jail for a long time if you cross me.” Judge Thompson hesitated for a moment. “I’d have you in jail already if I wasn’t sure that you’d use that time to attract other misguided souls to your cause when you tell them how you were martyred by this court.”   

      Then the judge turned back to Kaybri. “Dr. Lynn —” 

      Kaybri looked over at Gerry, her supposed advocate, to see if he had anything to say to defend her. But he was still dozing. 

      The judge continued. “Why did you give this information to Ms. McGee?” 

      Kaybri wanted to punch herself in the face for being so naïve. “She saw the changes we have made at the Stoltzfus farm. I didn’t think she’d betray me. I thought I was helping. I thought I could persuade her to help us.” 

      The expression on the judge’s face reminded Kaybri of the way her least favorite social worker at the residential home would look at her when she had done something stupid. “This woman is not your friend. You have friends in this community, people who only want what’s best for you, the Amish, and the Lancaster community. She’s not one of them.” 

      “But she said…” Kaybri had no good excuse for her misstep.  

      “And, lastly, when you come to my courtroom, you will dress in a dignified manner. I’m holding you in contempt for your appearance and for identifying persons who are now in danger from zealots. You can pay the bailiff the $500 fine or spend three days in the county jail. I suggest you pay the fine. Your time is better spent caring for animals than dealing with people like Ms. McGee. You’re not equipped.” 

      “That’s not fair.” Kaybri could hear that her tone sounded like a child’s whine.  

      The judge brought the hearing to a close. “This court is adjourned. I would appreciate it if you would all leave as quickly as possible. I’m tired of dealing with you.” Judge Thompson glared first at Kaybri and then at Teri.  

      Teri practically skipped out of the courtroom. Kaybri lingered so she could collect her papers. 

      “Dr. Lynn.” 

      “Yes, Your Honor.” 

      “Please wake Gerry.” 

      Kaybri had by this time forgotten he was even in the courtroom. “He didn’t contribute anything to my defense.” 

      “Yes, he did. By not waking up and arguing your side, he was telling you that you had crossed a line and he couldn’t help you. Frank would also have warned you about taking the course of action you did. Again, you might want to start listening to people who are clearly on your side.” 

      Kaybri drove straight to Frank’s house to discuss what happened.  

      Frank was in his usual spot with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He did not greet her with his usual warm smile. 

      “You sure pissed her off,” Frank said, getting right to the point. “You left Judge Thompson with few options. She’s going to have to hold Teri McGee in contempt, which isn’t going to stop that bitch or her group from protesting outside of pet stores.” 

      Kaybri didn’t ask how Frank already knew what happened at the hearing. Every piece of information in the community seemed to find its way to his front door faster than a text message. “You can’t force the Amish to do something at the point of a gun rather than waiting to see if they would make changes voluntarily. Thomas Stoltzfus’s farm was supposed to be a model for other breeders to emulate. Now I don’t know if we can count on Thomas to follow through with the changes he is making.” Frank paused and then took a large swallow of whiskey. “You don’t trust others to do what they said. You don’t trust people to migrate to the good. You don’t possess the wisdom or the patience to let people change at their own pace. Most profoundly, you continue a dangerous pattern of making people reject you.” 

      Kaybri turned and started to leave. She had no intention of being lectured a second time. 

      “Sit down.” Frank's congenial side had disappeared. “I’m going to talk to you the way I talked to my children when they acted headstrong and proud. And you’re going to listen for once.”  

      Kaybri crossed her arms tightly across her chest. 

      “You can pout and have a temper tantrum. I’ve seen it all before. I’m eighty-three years old. I might know a few things you don’t.” Frank paused. Kaybri sensed he was trying to settle his temper. “There’s no other way to say this. You’re holding onto the pain and trauma you suffered as a child. You want to repeat the feelings of loss you experienced when your mother left you and the rejection you felt when the families who fostered you returned you like an empty soda can.” 

      “You have all the answers, don’t you?” Kaybri yelled at Frank. 

      Dorothy stepped out through the screen door and stood next to Frank. “I can hear you yelling.”  

      “I can’t deal…” Frank said, looking at his wife. 

      Dorothy put her hand in his and pulled him into an embrace. “Come in the house. It’s time for your medication and a little nap before the kids come to play with the animals.” She led him into the house and then returned to the porch. 

      “I’m sorry,” Kaybri said with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t want to upset him. I didn’t want this to happen. I thought we were on the way to ending the puppy mills.” 

      “I’m sorry too. Frank and I had hoped that you could mature into the veterinarian this town needs and a friend we could cherish. I’m not sure this…arrangement…we have with you is going to work. You should go. We can talk later about how and when you will relinquish the practice.” 

      “Relinquish?” Kaybri exclaimed, astonished. “I own it.” She felt the blood rushing to her face. 

      “Young people. Always in a hurry. You didn’t read the contract,” Dorothy said firmly. “We have ninety days from when you signed the contract to cancel it. I don’t know if we’ll allow you to continue. Frank and I will talk about it when he feels better.”  

      Kaybri stood quietly on the porch staring at the floorboards. She had really screwed up. She hadn’t realized until that moment how much Frank and Dorothy’s approval meant to her. What had she done? 

      Dorothy’s face showed the same serenity and kindness that it always did when she said something that was even more devastating. “Noah has become quite attached to you. He’s our son as much as Thomas and Elizabeth’s. We want what’s best for him, the community, and the clinic’s staff.” 

      “And I’m not what’s best for any of them.” 

      “I suppose that depends on what you do next. It seems like you just don’t understand your role in this family and in the community. I suppose you forgot to go to class the day they taught that lesson.”  

      Dorothy turned and went into the house. Kaybri remained on the porch, hoping she’d come back. 

      When she did return a few minutes later, she said, “One day you’ll understand that you wanted this outcome. That you wanted to feel abandoned and lost. It’s what you know and what you’re comfortable with. I hope you change this pattern soon because the clock is ticking. It will be our choice whether you stay or leave.” 

      “The decision will be made by you and Frank?” 

      “We’re the first people to decide. There are many more who will have a say.” With those words, Dorothy returned to the house, closed the screen door, and secured the latch ensuring that Kaybri understood the severity of the situation. 

      When she got home, Kaybri tried to call Noah, but he didn’t pick up. She tried texting him, saying she’d had a terrible day and really needed to talk to him, but he didn’t respond. Kaybri finished her shift, skipped dinner, and went to bed. She tossed and turned in her bed for over an hour.  

      Finally, her phone dinged. Seeing Noah’s name on the screen, she held her breath and clicked on the message. 

      I need some time away from you. 

      Kaybri frantically texted him back, misspelling every word as she did. 

      No pls lettuce take. 

      Too late. She had clicked Send. She retyped. 

      Noah, please let’s talk. I’d like to explain. 

      When he didn’t respond, she realized that she had forced another person to abandon her.  

      She lay awake hoping he would write to her again. He didn’t. The only way she was able to finally fall asleep was to imagine holding Marshmallow in her arms.