Chapter 8.11: Dear Diary, the Judge Has the Last Word!

“What’s this for?” I asked as Jade embraced me.

We were in the master bedroom of our new home, unpacking some things.

“The flowers,” was all she said before I felt her hot tears dampen my cheek.

“With the stress of the move and Vincent’s case, I thought they might make you smile.”

“I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

She was lucky? I still couldn’t believe she was about to marry me.

“You deserve flowers, and everything else I can get you. I love you, Jade.” I paused, then added. “I don’t love the color of our bedroom, though.”

Thankfully, that got a chuckle from her.

“I don’t know, it’s not so bad. I mean, our bedding matches.”

“Our bedding matches everything.”

She outright laughed this time. “What do you even know about it?”

She had me there.

There was a brief pause in our banter, and Jade’s expression changed. Her eyes were wide, brows furrowed.

“What is it, baby?” I asked, still holding her near me as if that could protect her from anything that she might worry about.

“I’m nervous about Vincent’s hearing. Izabella and I are good friends now, and I know how horrible this has been for her, raising her kids alone, wondering if they’ll grow up not knowing their father at all. She’s worn down, Kai, and bone-tired. She needs this win just as much as Vincent does. I don’t know how I’ll face her if he isn’t set free.”

“Well, what does Danvers think?” Bruce Danvers was the high-priced attorney my father hired to represent Vincent.

“He doesn’t seem troubled at all. But he’s always cool like that, even under pressure.”

“Hm,” I said, “maybe it’s good he’s so hard to read. Guys like that always have a Plan B.”

Jade finally smiled. “You’re right. And Bruce doesn’t make the big money for nothing.”

I stroked her hair, hoping it would soothe her raw nerves. “See? Maybe you should get a job at his firm.”

Her smile turned to a grin. “You have the best ideas.”

Later in the day, I went back to the loft to get some odds and ends we left behind. On my way home, I stopped for a pack of cigs and decided to get some special things for my girls.

I’d just lit one up when Jade and Gigi came into the kitchen.

“Mama, is he smoking?”

Jade wrinkled her nose in disgust and busied herself, waving her arms around, spraying Febreeze everywhere. “Yes, he is.”

“Are we gonna let him do that?”

My jaw dropped at my daughter’s question. She was supposed to be on my side.

“Sorry, guys, I’ll go outside next time.”

Jade gave me the stink-eye. “Or you could quit. I mean, think of Gigi and the new baby. The kids don’t need to see their dad smoking. Not to mention how bad it is for them to be around.”

“Daddy, our new baby can’t be around smoke.”

I snubbed it out, then turned toward my girls. “Okay, not in the house, and I’ll try to quit.”

Apparently, this wasn’t good enough for my daughter. She held her hand up to me like a stop sign and said, “Yoda says do or do not, there is no try.”

Damn Star Wars.

I enjoyed smoking, especially the first one of the day. There was nothing like being knotted up with stress, taking that first puff, and having that feeling of relief wash over you. But this was my family we were talking about. They were the most important thing to me. I owed it to them to stay healthy so I could take care of them.

“All right, all right.”

Gigi grinned widely. “Yay!”

“You can do it,” Jade said.

“Daddy, what’s this?”

“That is the best ingredient in my famous Bloody Mary. It’s a drink.”

She wrinkled her nose just like her mom. “Eww. That’s gross.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Jade asked.

“Relax, Ladies. I have goodies for you both.”

I got diapers for the new baby because I didn’t know what else to buy for him or her. Jade thought that was sweet, so I scored points with that.

My girls were happy with the perfume I got them. My nose was still tingling from all the perfumes I’d sniffed hours ago. But it was worth it.

Two days later, when Gigi came home from school, George and I were waiting.

“Who smells so good?” George asked, wiggling his eyebrows at Gigi.

“It’s my perfume,” she said, her face downcast.

“Why are you so glum?” I asked.

“I want Mama.”

“Did something happen? Was someone mean to you?” George asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Yeah, Geeg,” I said, using my pet name for her, which I pronounced jeej, “what happened? You can tell me.”

Her chin quivered and tears welled up in her eyes. “I want Mama.”

“She’s home here somewhere,” George said. Then he yelled for Jade, making me cringe.

Jade rushed into the room. “What? Oh, honey, I’m sorry I didn’t meet you outside. I was on the phone with a client.”

Gigi sniffled, staring at her shoes.

“What in the world is wrong?” Jade asked.

We all stood there, waiting for an answer.

“Kids in our class were making fun of Wes.”

“Oh, I see. That’s terrible.”

Between sobs, Gigi said, “I didn’t stick up for him, and he was crying.”

“I see,” Jade repeated, her voice calm. “And why didn’t you?”

This is when Gigi completely broke down into hiccupping wails as if her last friend had died. “B-because I was afraid they’d make fun of me, too.”

I wanted to lunge forward and take her in my arms, but Jade was two steps ahead of me.

“Your conscience is bothering you, isn’t it?” Jade said in a soothing voice as she held Gigi in her arms.

“What’s a conscience, Mama?”

“Well, sometimes, it’s a little feeling like a nudge. Other times, it’s like an icky feeling in your stomach. It feels that way when we know we’ve done something wrong.”

Gigi nodded, settling down some, and Jade wiped her tears away.

“You know what you should do?”

“Tell him I’m sorry?”

Jade nodded, a proud little smile on her face. “Yes. And, next time this happens, tell your teacher so she can step in.”

“Should I stick up for him?”

Jade nodded again. “Yes, I would. It doesn’t matter if they make fun of you. It hurts, but Wes is your best friend, and that’s more important.”

Gigi hiccuped again, then blew her nose once more. “Can I call Wes and see if he can come over and play?”

“Sure, sweetie.”

Gigi skipped off to the other room, and I stood there in total admiration of my soon-to-be-wife. I couldn’t ask for a better mother for my children, that was clear.

Vincent is Freed!

The protesters supported Vincent all the way!

Finally, Vincent could go home with his family! The judge had the final word, and it was good.

Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! I hope you enjoyed today’s chapter! See you next Saturday!