Not at Liberty

Chapter 2

Now she spied the doctor speaking with a small group of people.At sixty-eight, Daniel Baumgard still maintained his attractiveness, in looks and in physique.Liberty knew he liked to run marathons as well as swim and play racquetball.Today he looked rather dapper in a deep blue suit and striped tie, his tie tack a gold caduceus, the symbol of his profession.

His white hair, thick and luxurious, gave him a mature sexiness, while his clear blue eyes and generous smile offered a warm, fatherly appeal.On the personal side, the doctor had been widowed for almost five years, his wife, Lydia, dying of colon cancer.

He had one son, Rhett, who served as president and CEO of Capital Union Bank and who just won the congressional seat for his district that included Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties.Rhett married a Virginian debutante named Savannah, the products of their union seven-year-old twins, Jameson and Annalee.

Liberty had very little dealings with Rhett whom she considered all flash and no real substance.The voters liked him because he came off as a wholesome, clean-cut family man.Of course, his good looksthe waves of dark hair, the chiseled features, and his flirty blue eyes helped to cement the image of the All-American Boy Who Made Good.

As soon as Dr. Baumgard spied Liberty he beckoned her to join him on the dais.When she stepped up to the platform, he took her hand and gave it an amiable pat, his gaze warm and inviting."I'm so glad you could make it, Libby."He was one of only a few people who called her by the more intimate sobriquet of Libby."You made this day truly special.I can never thank you enough for your service to the foundation."

"Thank you for inviting me, Daniel.I wouldn't miss this for the world."

"Let me introduce you to some of my staff, a few paid employees, the rest volunteers who are the real heart of the center because they give generously of their time and expertise without any compensation other than our heart-felt thanks."

Liberty felt a bit awkward, first for the doctor's praise, and second because she hadn't thought about offering her legal services pro bono to the center.She had shuffled any community involvement to the back burner as she worked hard to build her law firm and recruit paying clients.Although she did not deserve this good man's praise, Liberty knew this was not the time and place to debate the merits or demerits of her contributions.

Now she went through the formality of shaking hands and greeting his staff members, forgetting names as soon as she moved down the line, at least until she met the doctor's publicity director, a deaf woman named Madeline Kime who went by the name of Maddy.

Maddy Kime could read lips but preferred to employ a sign-language interpreter.Her companion, David Vreeland, appeared to be in his early thirties, a very good-looking man with a cleft chin, hair the color of harvest wheat, and appealing brown eyes.Of course, Maddy came in a very attractive package with a heart-shaped face and large eyes, not quite hazel but with a bit of a green tint, what might be called olivine.She possessed shiny chestnut hair, parted to the side and styled with a bit of a wave that brushed her long neck.Like Liberty, she wore a skirt, jacket and camisole, hers of pink chenille and white satin, with a pink pearl necklace and matching earrings, her shoes white sling-backs with low heels.

When introduced to the attorney, Maddy offered a "nice to meet you, Ms. Sloane" in her thick, throaty but distinguishable voice.As the conversation grew around her, she deflected her attention to David who remained busy interpreting with the quick flash of his hands.In turn, she offered her responses in sign language and David vocalized her responses.

At first, Liberty thought Maddy to be a meek but dedicated woman, her pretty looks and outfit on the delicate side; but as the deaf woman joined in the conversation with her own valid insights and convictions, Liberty revised her opinion.The lady was smart, sharp, and definitely on top of her efforts to publicize the center as well as raise funds for the foundation.

Just before the ceremony began, Liberty gave the doctor a quick good-luck hug and added that this was his day, and she was here only for support, not recognition.Abiding by her request not to be mentioned, he offered her an appreciative smile.For his age, his face remained rather wrinkle-free with the faintest of lines around his mouth and eyes.In fact, the skin of his face, neck and hands appeared firm with a healthy glow, and Liberty surmised that Daniel Baumgard availed himself of the gym as well as the tanning salon.

She smiled fondly.A man of his age and single status who kept up his looks and vitality became a prized catch for the sixty-plus female population.After all, women outlived men, and single older men without hang-ups, ex-wives and bad habits were rare and precious commodities indeed.If I were just a few years older, Liberty mused.She might have tried to cast a romantic line his way.

Now as the ceremony commenced, she remained in the background, clapping at intervals with the crowd in response to the doctor's rousing speech.From the corner of her eye, she noticed Rhett had arrived to support his father, his wife in tow, the pretty, fair-haired Savannah along with their pretty, fair-haired children.Nice to make this a true family affair, Liberty thought, since the new shelter offered services and support for families in crisis.

But as soon as the doctor cut the ribbon with a pair of large gardening shears, a woman from the back of the crowd interrupted the proceedings."Murderer!" she shouted. "Butcher of Babies!You should be in prison not here promoting more killing of unborn children!"

Liberty strained to get a glance at the woman, but she made out only the top of her head, a mass of frizzy brown strands with dark roots.

Dr. Baumgard employed two security guards at the center and clinic in case some irate husbands or boyfriends wanted to break in and cause trouble.Now the young, burly guard closest to the back moved in to escort the heckler out of earshot.Liberty could see a small knot of protesters beyond the crowd holding up signs.So far they remained silent, but as soon as the ceremony wound down, they began to chant their protests in strident voices.

"Save the life of an unborn child!Don't support this clinic!Don't support murderers!"

And the woman who initially disrupted the ceremony shouted above the others: "Dr. Baumgard is Doctor Death!He's nothing more than a Nazi killer of babies!"

Liberty donned a small frown.She had never seen a pro-life protest, but she surmised this one was fairly tame in comparison to other more insistent demonstrations.When she felt fingers at her elbow, she turned around and found Dr. Baumgard standing behind her.

"Libby, I wonder if you could stop by my house later on this evening.I'd like to discuss something with you."He looked worried, although he tried to hide it beneath his easy-going manner.

"If you need legal help, I'll be glad to offer my assistance."

"Thank you, but that might not be necessary.I just want your advice on a matter that has come to light recently."

"Of course, Daniel.What time would you like me to stop by?"

"Would eight-thirty be too late?Unfortunately, I have a dinner engagement I can't break.Actually it's my son and his wife's tenth wedding anniversary celebration, and they expect me to dine with them at six-thirty.Of course, I'll be happy to offer you an aperitif while we talk."

"Will you have enough time for dinner?Perhaps you want to stay longer with your son and daughter-in-law."

He shook his head."No, an hour, hour and a half, is long enough.Besides, it's really for the couple.I'm just the old man, the patriarch, there to bless their union.I'll be home by eight or a little after."

Liberty nodded."All right, eight-thirty it is."

With a faint smile of gratitude, he gently squeezed her arm."Thank you, my dear.I'll see you then."