QUOTE=Inana;9771781]with all due respect, I think the birth certificates he wants are the one's issued at the hospital that have their little foot print's stamped on them. I still have the ones from my children, even though we long ago sent off for the official ones issued by the state.
I think RS was playing on TJ's sentimental emotions. I just don't understand what RS was trying to get in return. While I don't know anything of him but media clips, he seems the kind of person who always has a plan--always finagles the upper hand.[/QUOTE]
Just a guess, but I think, in part, RS is desperately trying to deflect attention from his own involvement in or knowledge about Elaina's disappearance. IMO, he's provoking dissension in the Steinfurth family because if they're consumed by hurt and anger within their own ranks, they won't be looking at him, or at AS, as closely as they might otherwise be doing.
As well, IIRC, RS blames TJ for AS's problems. Somehow, whatever AS has done that was cruel or foolish or dangerous, RS believes ultimately came from the way TJ dealt with her before and during their breakup. RS's vicious act could simply be punishing TJ. My bet is that RS also blames TJ for the CPS decision not to allow RS to see KS. JMO, but RS may say "My daughter made a big mistake, so she's gotta pay the consequences.", but I think he really wants someone else to pay them for her. And that someone else could be TJ.
(I took the RS quotes from the raw footage of RS's interview after AS was arraigned which is available on youtube. I hope that's within WS rules.)
This attempt to shift attention seems, imo, to be a pattern. When I transcribed this interview, I was struck by the way RS drew other people to the media's attention, even blaming LE for his daughter's refusal to say what she knew about Elaina's whereabouts. "They shoulda kept the mother, the dad, and the boyfriend, and my daughter down there until...somebody said something." And, of course, he says the reason for AS's silence is "Stephen threatening her."
Again, this is just conjecture on my part, but I do have another thought. AS was supposed to have the children only if she spent the night at RS's home. I suspect RS regrets whatever the reasons were that AS left, taking ES and KS with her, and can't deal with those feelings. A dispute over smoking must seem pretty insignificant in light of all that has followed.
I admit that my gut feeling is that RS is really playing a deeper game, and I hope someone else has sussed out just what it is.
My thoughts are with you, Ferretmommy, and with your family. John Galsworthy said "Justice is a machine that, when someone has once given it a starting push, rolls on of itself." You and TS Sr have given justice a phenomenal push and no one, certainly not RS, will deter it from its fundamental path.