Chapter 7

Uhhhh, Grandma, Grandpa, I have something to tell you.

Rachel’s school curriculum came by Fed Ex Tuesday. Gina had ordered a program that would enable Rachel to do her work online and would let her attend virtual lectures. In some ways, she would be getting a more focused education at home than at school.

Gina spent the morning getting everything organized while Rachel busied herself cleaning up from breakfast, and doing the laundry. Gina and Rachel had worked out a system. Rachel would wash, Gina would dry and they both would fold. If everything worked out, Rachel would be done with her studies in about 6 hours, ending her school year at about the same time as the regular school would let out.

“Rachel, everything is ready to go, honey!”

“Do I have too, Mommmm” whined Rachel.

“You know you want to get back to your studies, you big baby” said Gina with a smile.

“I know, I just didn’t, like, want to make it easy for you!” laughed Rachel.

“Move it, missy! said Gina with mock anger, followed by a swat on Rachel’s rear end to get her going.

Rachel squealed then giggled. “That’s child abuse! I’m calling the po-leece!”

“You do that, little girl. Then I can tell them how you refuse to do your work, and they can run YOU in!” said a smiling Gina.

“Ok, I give. This looks like it will be a lot more fun than regular school anyway”

“That’s the spirit!”

Once Rachel was settled in, Gina set about making some phone calls that needed to be made. The first one was to her mother and father in Dallas.

Gina’s mother answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, Mom, it’s Gina”

“Hi honey, how are you doing today?””¨
“Wonderful. Uhh, look, we are having some issues here. I know it’s short notice, but could you and Daddy come down today? It’s important.”

“It sounds serious. Is everything ok?

“Well, yes and no. I really can’t go in to it over the phone. Some things have come up, and I would really like to see you”

“What’s going on, Gina. You’re scaring me. Is something up with the baby?”

“No, the baby’s fine. Some things have come up with Rach....Randall that we need to talk about. Please...won’t you come? I normally wouldn’t ask, but it’s important” Gina’s voice began to break.

“We’re on our way Gina, don’t worry. How long do you need us?”

“At least tonight, maybe tomorrow?”

“I’ll pack for a couple of days. I’ll call your father at work. We’ll be there at about six.”

“Thanks, Mom. I really need you right now.”

“We are on our way. Hang in there, honey”

“Thanks, Mom. I love you”

“I love you too, Gina”

Gina said goodbye and hung up the phone. She hoped her parents understood. She was approaching her breaking point.

Maria Walker, Gina’s mother got her husband, Charles on the phone. Maria and Charles were both 54, and had been married for 35 years. Gina had been born 34 years ago, and had seldom, if ever asked for help in this way. Something serious was up, Maria knew it.

“Charles?”

“What’s up, Maria?”

“We need to leave for Martinsburg now. There’s some kind of trouble with Randall, and Gina’s quite upset”

“Is it serious?”

“I think so, she wouldn’t say what it was, but she started to break down over the phone. I don’t like it. We need to go”

Charles was a detective with the Homicide Division of the Dallas Police Department. He had been with the department for 25 years and was on the downhill side to retirement. He had 3 weeks of personal time accrued. He didn’t miss work, and wasn’t much for vacation. He wouldn’t have any trouble getting the time off.

“I’ll talk to Lieutenant Vasquez. It won’t be a problem.”

Charles walked down to Vasquez’ desk.

“Lieutenant?”

“What’s up, Charles?”

“Maria called. Gina’s having some problems and needs us to get there ASAP”

“How much time do you need, Charles?”

“Two, maybe three days”

“No problem. Take all the time you need. Gina not doing too well since her husband was killed?”

“She’s as well as can be expected, I guess. No one of the grandchildren is having some trouble”

“That’s not good. Anything you want to talk about”
“I don’t know anything yet, Gina wouldn’t say”

“That’s never a good thing. I’ll reassign your case load to Schultz and Polanco until you get back. Take care of that family. They definitely need a break”

“Copy that, Bob”

The Walkers were on the road in just over an hour. It was about a 4 hour drive to Martinsburg on a good day from Dallas, if the traffic was good. From their North Dallas home, traffic could be a nightmare, depending on the time of day. Charles didn’t need a GPS to know how to get there. 635 east to 35E, south to Austin. A little jog towards Killeen, and they were there in just over 3 hours 45 minutes. They may have broken the speed limit a little.

They pulled in to Gina’s driveway at 6 o’clock. Gina ran out to meet them as they got out of their car.

“Mom! Daddy! Thank you so much for coming. I’ve been so miserable the last few days.” She broke down in her father’s arms”

“What’s the problem, honey?” asked her father.

“Oh, nothing, and everything!” she wept.

“Well, we’re here now, it’s all right, Gina”

“Well, I need to tell you something before we go inside” Gina said, sniffling.

“What is the problem, Gina?” asked Maria.

“It’s about...Randall” said Gina.

“Is he sick?”

“No, far from it. But you have to promise me that you’ll hear my story before you go in”

Charles and Mary got a sick feeling in their stomachs. He had to be sick. Why was Gina so upset?

Gina began. “We made a terrible mistake when Randall was born...”

“What...” started Charles.

“No, let me finish. Randall was born with a condition. He was genetically a boy, but he really didn’t look like a boy, in his genitals. A specialist identified his condition as Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, which meant he could not process male hormones. The doctors made their recommendations, but Randy and I went against their advice. This led us to where we are now”

“Where are we now?”

“The doctors’ recommendation was to raise Randall as a girl. Randy didn’t want a girl, and I didn’t care, as long as my baby was healthy. So we raised our baby as Randall. It was fine until recently, when he started to go through puberty. Randall didn’t develop like a boy. It was then I realized our mistake. He never was a normal boy. He didn’t care about the same things as Garrett. I saw it. I ignored it for Randy’s sake. I denied the obvious”

“What are you saying, Gina?” asked Maria

“Randall is gone. He is now living as Rachel, a girl”

Both Maria and Charles exclaimed “What?” simultaneously.

“It’s true. It is the way it should have been from the beginning, but now things are just so crazy” She broke down again.

Both Charles and Maria held Gina. “It’s ok, Gina”

“Is it, Daddy? We were kicked out of our church because they think Rachel is some kind of pervert, I’m homeschooling her now because I fear for her safety at school. I’m telling you now, because if you are thinking about judging Rachel in any way, or are planning on asking her to go back, please turn around now and go back home. She almost had a nervous breakdown after being called a whore, a queer and a pervert at church. I won’t put her through that again. I asking you to love her just as you did Randall. Can you do that?”

“Charles and I don’t care one whit about whether Rachel or Randall or whatever is a Martian. She’s our grandchild, and we’ll love her no matter what. And as for those incredibly stupid people at your church, well, I just hope you never go there again”

“Gina was crying all over again. “I just knew you would understand. The stress is killing me. I am starting to have contractions, and I’m worried about losing the baby. I need you!”

Maria started to take charge. Like all mothers do in a time of crisis. “Well, sweetie, Mama’s here now. Charles, let’s go inside and meet our new granddaughter”

They entered the house and Gina called for Garrett and Rachel Garret came down first, and hugged his Grandparents. He was already taller than his Grandfather by a couple of inches. Then Rachel came running down the stairs.

Grams! Papa! She jumped into their arms.

“Well, who do we have here! I don’t believe we’ve met before, young lady!” laughed Charles.

“It’s me! It’s Rachel, or well I am now.”

“Nope, can’t be. Our granddaughter isn’t this pretty”

“Ohhh, Papa, you are sooo silly”

“Grams! I’m so glad to see you”

“Let me look at you! Ohhhh, you look just like mi abuela!

“Who?”

“My grandmother! She was a very beautiful woman! She was a dancer and an actress. She was in a couple of silent films in the twenties with Rudolph Valentino”

“Who?”

“Oh, look it up, hija”

Maria gasped “Gina!”

“What?” replied Gina.

“What are you doing to this child?”

“What do you mean”

“How can you let this pretty girl go without earrings!”

“Yes mom, how could you” echoed Rachel with a smile.

“Hey! I can’t think of everything!”

“Tomorrow, we go to get your ears pierced” announced Maria.

“Really? YAY! Can I get two in each ear?”

“One only until you are 16, young lady, then we’ll talk about it.” chided Gina.

“Awwwwww, Mother!”

Garrett looked at Charles. “Just what she needs. Another few holes in her head”

“Ha ha, big brother. You know, you can always come with us, and get a cute stud in one ear!”

“Yeahhh, I believe I’ll leave the earrings to the girls in this family. What do you think, Gramps?”

“Son, I couldn’t agree more. Let’s leave our girls. There’s a Ranger game with our name on it on TV”

Garrett and Charles went into the living room to watch the Ranger game. They were out of the playoff race, but anything beat talking about earrings and things pertaining to the fairer sex.

“So, Gina, Do you want to go out to eat tonight, or cook in?”

“I really don’t care, Mom, but I am kind of between trips to the store right now, so I don’t have many choices”

“I know! Let’s order a couple of pizzas” volunteered Rachel.

“Sounds great to me, what about you Gina?”

“Pizza it is then”

Gina ordered a couple of large pies with everything from a local place that made some really good hand tossed pizza. After the order was placed, Gina opened a bottle of Shiraz and poured a glass for herself and her mother. Garrett and Charles got a couple of large tumblers of Dr. Pepper taken to them by Rachel, who had a Diet Coke for herself. the pizza was delivered 45 minutes later.

“So, Gina, how have you all adapted to the changes?”

“I was under so much stress and didn’t really realize it until you got here. Things just sort of closed in on me when I saw you pull in the driveway. I guess you never get too old for Mama and Daddy. But, over all, I’d say that we are all getting better. Garrett has been wonderful, and Rachel is, well, you saw her. The last couple of days were rough, but Rachel found a new friend, Brianna, who is actually an attorney, and heiress to a large fortune”

An attorney? There is a Brianna DiMaggio, that I see on TV every now and then, on CNN and Fox News. Isn’t she a gay rights advocate or something like that?”

“Yes, but she really specializes in transgender cases, among other things. Rachel’s therapist got them together, and they hit it off immediately. She is representing Rachel now. She is really wonderful”

“Yeah, Grams, She is very beautiful, and she started off a boy just like me!”

“That’s terrific, honey. She’s going to be a very nice friend to have in the future. She’ll be able to help protect you if you run into any trouble with the mean people out there, and I’ll bet she understands just what you are going through”

“I know, Grams, and she told me to never give up, no matter what, and that’s just what I’m going to do”

“Well Gina, It looks like our little girl is getting not so little any more. You keep that attitude, Rachel, and you’ll be just fine.

“Thanks, Grams”

“Gina, Have you told Randy’s parents yet?”

“No, but I am going to need to make that call tomorrow. They live out in North Carolina, just outside of Fort Bragg. I think his father is getting ready to retire in the next year or two. He hasn’t had much to do with us since Randy died. I really believe he doesn’t know how to deal with his grief. Randy’s mom has called a few times, but she doesn’t hear too well, and phone calls are hard for her to make. Mom, I’m really worried about how they are going to take the news about Rachel. I’m going to have to tell them over the phone. It’s not the way I want to do it, but I don’t have a choice in their case”

“Gina, if they don’t take the news well, I’ll be here to help you through it”

Rachel added “I want them to accept me as I am, but if they don’t, I’ll be all right with that too. I’ve got to learn to be less sensitive about people who don’t accept me”

Maria answered, “Rachel, it’s sad, but that is the way that you are probably going to have to be for some time to come. The bright side is that the more people get to know you, The better things will get. That I promise you. People will someday come to realize that you were never really a boy to begin with”

“That’s right, honey. Things will get better, just not right away” Gina said as she hugged Rachel.

It was decided that Charles would stay the remainder of the week, and Maria would stay at least a month, at least until Gina’s pregnancy stabilized. With the stress of losing her husband and the events associated with Rachel’s transition, Gina’s condition was delicate at best. Maria had packed enough clothes for a week’s stay, and she would leave with Charles and drive back the same day with enough for a longer stay. The guest room was prepared and Rachel, Gina and Maria unpacked.

Garrett and Charles watched the Rangers lose to the Yankees. Garrett went up to bed after the game and Charles turned in for the night. The women were not far behind.

Rachel was up early again the next day, and showered She had talked to her mother about shaving her legs and underarms, and she had said she didn’t need to unless she felt hair. She didn’t have any hair anywhere except on her head. She decided she would ask her mom about that later. After she got out, she dried off and picked out her clothes for the day. It was still warm, so she picked out a nice yellow sundress, and matched her underwear to the outfit. She decided to redo her nails while things were quiet. She was actually getting the hang of hair, makeup and nails fairly quickly, and as long as she kept things simple, she was getting faster all the time.

After a simple breakfast, she started on her lessons for the day. She wanted to get things done so they could get an early start to the mall in Killeen. Rachel was looking forward to getting her ears pierced, and the sooner the better.

At two o’clock, The three ladies were on their way to the mall. Rachel was practically buzzing with excitement. They went to the Claire’s on the mall.

“We would like to get this girl’s ears pierced, please” said Maria to the sales clerk.

“All right, lets get you set up, sweetie. What studs would you like?”

“I’d like the plain gold hearts, please” replied Rachel.

“Ok, good choice! Those are very pretty. Now lets get ready to go”

They marked her lobes, and got ready to do the piercing. Rachel closed her eyes in anticipation of pain, but after two clicks and two little stings, the studs were in. They gave her instructions how to care for the piercings and a bottle of disinfectant to use.

“That didn’t hurt at all, Grams” said Rachel.

“You look very pretty, Rachel. Those studs really set your ears off”

“Thanks, Grams”

“What do you think, Mom?”

“I think you are very beautiful, honey”

“Thank you, Mom, I love you!”

“I love you too, baby”

They spent the next three hours at the mall, looking for bargains on clothes for Rachel, they got a few more tops and a couple of cute skirts. On the way home, Maria told Gina to stop at the cell phone store. When they got in, Maria told Rachel to pick out a phone.

“What?”

“Pick out a phone. Every girl needs a phone!” said Maria.

“Mom, I can’t let you do that! She’s only twelve”

“With everything that has gone on, don’t you think she needs a phone in case something happens? I won’t rest easy until she has a phone. I’ll put her on my plan, and it won’t cost you a cent”

“Please, Mom?” asked Rachel.

“Ok, but you have to be responsible about using it”

“I will, Mom. After all, who am I going to talk to besides Becca?”

“I guess you have a point for now. Ok, go get your phone”

Rachel picked a pink clamshell phone, one that she could text on. She couldn’t wait to call Becca. She hadn’t had much time to talk to her friend the last few days, and she resolved to fix that situation as soon as possible. The trio then headed home.

On the way home Rachel called her friend.

“Hello?”

“Becca? It’s Rachel.”

“Hi! Where have you been for the last few days? I’ve tried to call you like a dozen times, but you are never home”

“ I know, it’s been a rough few days, but you won’t have any trouble reaching me now. I am calling you from my brand new cell phone!”

“Sweet! Welcome to the club! So what has had you so busy?”

Rachel related the events of the last few days to Becca, who couldn’t believe the story she was hearing.

“Wow, Rachel. I don’t know what to say. Those people at the church were crazy to treat you like that. You aren’t going back there, are you?””¨
“No, I don’t think they want me there anyway. It’s their loss. I’ll be okay with or without them. The great thing to come out of it is that I was able to meet Brianna and my Grams coming to stay with us for a few weeks. I’m feeling a lot better about myself too. I’ve realized that things happened to me that I couldn’t help, and it will take time for people to accept me as I am”

“That’s the right attitude to have, girl”

“I’m just glad I have you for a friend, Becca. You’ve always been there for me” Rachel paused for a moment. “Hey, could you and Angela come over Friday night for a sleepover? I’ve never had one before and I know we’ll have a wonderful time!”

“Cool! Let me ask my Mom”

Rachel heard mumbling in the background over the phone, finally Becca was back on.

“What time?”

“Oh, how about coming over at about six?””¨”¨“Great! We’ll both be there! Thanks for asking us!”

“I’ll see you then, Becca, bye”

Gina looked back at Rachel through the rear view mirror. “Nice plan you had there, Rachel. Were you going to ask me at some point if it was ok?”

“Oh, Mom, I knew you were listening. And after all I have been through, you wouldn’t deny me a sleepover with my best friends, would you?” She then pouted and gave the ‘puppy dog’ look”

Gina started laughing and said to Maria, “Mom, will you look at that? Not even a week living as a girl and she’s throwing down the ‘puppy dog’! That is just wrong”

Maria replied “It works, doesn’t it?”

“I know, but it’s still wrong”

“So I can have it?”

“Oh, I suppose” said Gina in mock exasperation.

“YAAY! Thank you Mommy!”

“Oh, please” said Gina as she rolled her eyes.