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JIM WENT BACK TO WORK at the post office on Monday, just as he had told Peggy he would. The weeks went by slowly and he lived for his couple of hours with Peggy on Saturdays. He was really worried about her. She seemed to be getting weaker each visit. Then one Saturday as he approached the jail Tommy met him at the door.
“They took her to the hospital in Ellijay last night.”
“What! Is she alright?”
“I think so. The doctor was worried about the baby.”
Jim ran to the supper club, greeted Nick and said: “I need you to take me to the Ellijay hospital to see Peggy.”
Nick responded calmly with: “Let me go tell Joe where I’ll be.”
Jim was a little nervous over Nick’s speedy trip to Ellijay but didn’t say a word. Clearly, Nick knew how to handle a car under high-speed conditions. Jim was surprised to see a guard outside Peggy’s room. The guard stood when Nick and Jim approached: “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, Charlie, relax.” The guard knew Nick and nodded. “This is the husband of the woman you are guarding. Can you let him in to talk with her?”
“I guess so.”
Peggy looked weak but had a big smile for him. As he sat down on the edge of the bed he noticed she had a handcuff attached to her right leg and the bedpost.
Smiling: “I guess they are afraid you will run away.”
“I guess so.”
“Are you okay?”
“A little weak, but okay. The doctor just thought it would be best for the baby if I came to the hospital.”
“Wow, I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine now. How did you get here?”
“Nick drove me here. He’s in the hallway. I guess I need to buy a car now that you’re here.”
“Dummy, we have a car.”
“I guess we do, the Buick! I forgot about it. Do you know where it is?”
“I’m not sure. They took it looking for evidence. Just call Charlie Robertson, the family lawyer. He’ll be able to get it for you.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Have you heard anything from your trooper friend?”
“Not yet. I’m beginning to worry. It’s been over a month.”
“Be patient. You know how slow bureaucrats can be.”
“I just thought Sam could cut some of that red tape.”
Jim called Charlie Robertson the next day. The lawyer was shocked at the news of Peggy being married. He provided Jim with the needed information on how he could get the car. The lawyer was quick to give that information because he wanted to change the subject to something he felt was more important.
“I need to talk with you and Peggy as soon as possible. When do you think we could get together?”
“I don’t know. You do know that she is in the hospital?”
“She’s not in the county jail?”
“No, the doctor moved her to the hospital in Ellijay until she has the baby.”
“The baby is what I want to talk with you about.”
“You just tell us when you can meet with us.”
“Her being in Ellijay makes it more difficult. My calendar is full until the first week of August. I could meet you both at 1 p.m. on August 4th.”
“We’ll see you then!”
Because of the hospital location instead of the jail he was able to visit with Peggy every evening instead of only on Saturday. It was a wonderful time for them both and on the August 2nd they became the proud parents of a seven-pound, fourteen-ounce, seventeen-inch baby boy.
Peggy: “I would like to name him James Michael if that is okay with you.”
“James Michael Coleman, President of the United States. That’ll work.”
They were both brought to tears when they saw how Mike and Mother treated little JM. “Look at them. If you didn’t know better you’d think they were the baby’s natural grandparents.”
Peggy squeezed Jim’s hand and whispered: “Please, let them help you rear the little one.”
“Don’t talk like that! I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I hope so, but if you don’t promise me they will be part of his life.”
With tears in his eyes, he whispered: “I promise.”
Mike jumped up from his chair in the hospital room at just that time. “Jim! I almost forgot! Sam called. He said he had great news that he would discuss with you this weekend.”
“Sweetie, did you hear that? Good news. This is our lucky day.” All the while Jim knew in his heart that to trade places with Peggy was the best outcome possible, that he would very likely be tried for murder and sentenced to death. After all, killing the father was an accident, but an accident during the commission of a murder, a double-murder no matter how you sliced it.
“It certainly is. Do you know what the news could be?”
“We’ll just have to wait until Saturday. Do you know when they’ll release you from the hospital?”
“The doctor plans on keeping me here one more week. He doesn’t feel the jail would be the best place for the baby just yet.”
“Will they let you keep the baby in jail?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What’re we going to do?”
Listening to this discussion, Mother announced: “I’ll tell you what you are going to do. You and the baby are moving in with us and that’s final.” She stood in front of them with both hands on her hips trying to look firm.
He asked: “Are you sure?”
The Barkleys answered together: “YES!”
“Okay, only if we can pay our way.”
“We agree. Now let me hold our baby boy”— said Mother.
When he arrived on the fourth he found Mr. Robertson was already there.
“Jim, this is Uncle Chuck, our family lawyer. I have always called him that.”
“I want you to keep calling me that” —Robertson said.
“I was just telling him that they were moving me to the Atlanta federal prison next Monday morning. I can’t take the baby, so you’ll need to pick him up on Sunday.”
He didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sure Mother will help you. She’ll know what to do, so just listen to her. Uncle Chuck said: my father had set up a trust for his estate years ago. He was just about to tell me about it when you came in. Uncle Chuck, go on with what you were saying.”
“Peggy, your father set up trust funds for you and Craig many years ago. When you changed your name to Taylor, he took the house and property out of the trust and put it in your name. At the same time he directed that all his wealth go to Craig and your children equally. He wanted to cut you out of the trust, but with Craig dead one hundred percent of the trust goes to your son.”
“How much is it?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but let me just say your son is the richest kid in the county. He’ll never need money. I’m currently the custodian, however, you can appoint anyone you like.”
“I would like for you to continue, Uncle Chuck, if that’s okay with you, Jim.”
“Oh, please do. Yes. How does it work?”
“The way Bob set it up, your son will get a monthly allowance all of his life. He can get a lump sum payment for college, a car or a house. Otherwise, he is restricted from touching the principle. I was thinking we should start a check a month, to your checking account, for his support and maybe a lump sum check to buy all those new baby things.”
“Uncle Chuck that would be wonderful. How much would you suggest?”
“I was thinking $l, 000 a month for support and a $5, 000 lump sum check, for the basics. What do you think?”
“Jim?”
“I think it will be more than enough, but I can use the extra to pay rent to the Barkleys.”
“It looks like all I need to do is to get your checking account information and do the paperwork. Jim — if you will — come by the office tomorrow around 4 p.m. and I’ll have everything ready to sign. Please bring your marriage certificate.
“Also, I need to warn you both that Judge Foster is on the warpath. Bob’s will was probated about four months ago and the judge and his wife felt they should have gotten more. That’s why they wanted the baby so badly.”
“What should we do?”
“Just take good care of the baby and don’t give them an excuse to take him from you. I’m not worried now that I know you will be with the Barkleys. Judge Foster is afraid of Mike.”
“Why is that?”
“He’s afraid of any honest person, but when that person has friends, he really trembles.
“I’m leaving now.
“Here’s my card, Jim. Call me anytime.
“I guess I would like you to call me Uncle Chuck also. Just don’t let your son call me Great Uncle.” He laughed and, with that, he was gone.
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