Of One Womb
The Essence of Two Families
by
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“Momma! It’s me. What is it? You all right? Is James Lee all right?”
“Dorothy! Dorothy! They came and took the baby!” The pain in her voice was palpable.
“What? What do you mean, they came and took the baby?” Dorothy’s mind took flight. Thoughts of kidnappers or hoodlums raced through her mind.
“They said that they were from Child Protective Services. Th ere was a policeman with them. I asked them to wait until I could get in touch with you, but they said they had no choice but to take James Lee at that very moment!”
“Child Protective Services? What? Have you talked to them before today?” yelled Dorothy, close to hysteria. How could things have progressed to this point without any contact from Mr. Latimor? she thought.
“Well, there was this lady that came by several weeks ago. She was such a nice lady. She said that it was just a routine visit, after any divorce. She said that her office would contact you through your lawyer. Nobody ever called or came by again. I forgot to tell you when you came home that weekend, baby. Dorothy, she said that James Lee was such a happy baby and that he looked well cared for. I didn’t feel alarmed or anything.”
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About the Book
In 1969, newlywed Dorothy Tucker envisions herself living with her husband in quaint Minden, Louisiana, surrounded by their families, raising a family of their own, and becoming part of Minden history. The joy doesn’t last long. After the birth of their child, James Lee, Dorothy obtains a divorce from her abusive and philandering husband, Fred. But Fred’s parents are not about to lose control of their grandson.
When Dorothy loses custody of James Lee through Child Protective Services, she flees to California to start a new life, vowing to reconnect with her son someday. While waitressing and attending college, she meets and marries Jesse Barns, a black airman stationed at LAX. Together, through the haze of racism fueled by their mixed marriage, Dorothy and Jesse raise two children.
Twenty-five years later, she receives letter from James Lee, who says he wants to meet with her. The letter reveals James Lee as a racist who has just been released from prison. Dorothy must determine if this man, her firstborn son, will be a positive influence in her family’s life, or if his racist attitudes will bring them all down.
About the Author
G. Paul Lawrence earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University. He is retired from the US Air Force, IBM, and Marana USD. Lawrence is married and has two daughters by a previous marriage. He lives in Marana, Arizona.