The Imperfect

Chapter Three

Jace's P.O.V.

I couldn't believe my ears. They were ringing from the news the lawyer had given us. Even after we'd returned home, I was batting at them fervently and using my pinky to attempt to pull out the distant toll.

I followed Ken, Cal, and Ma into the house through the back door, so focused on my ears I didn't even bother to open and close the door three times before entering.

"Jace, leave your ears alone," Ma ordered, as if I had any choice in the matter.

Ma dropped her purse on the kitchen table and slumped down into the chair beside it. Ken pulled out two beers from the fridge and handed one to Cal. They were in as much shock at the news as I was.

I began walking in circles around the kitchen table, which only added to their frustration. I could see it in their faces, but I couldn't stop. I could tell Ma was exhausted and in no mood to deal with one of my episodes.

"Jace, please just have a seat, honey," Ma begged, defeated.

I couldn't. Ken snorted in annoyance and took a large gulp of his beer. The movement around the table was helping slow down the thoughts in my head or at least it seemed that way, but then Cal stood and blocked me, not letting me pass. At first I started freaking out, as the thoughts started to swirl again, until finally Calum just wrapped his arms around me. It was something my therapist had told my family members to do when I got like this. Sometimes it actually worked. He held me so tightly, I had no choice, but to listen to the soothing beat of his heart.

"Feel better?" Calum asked me.

I nodded. Like I told Leo, sometimes Cal is okay.

Cal released me and told me to have a seat at the kitchen table. I sat down in the chair across from Ma.

"So what're we going to do?" Cal asked, sitting down beside me. He was talking to Ma, though she looked too flustered to answer.

Cal was the put out all the fires kinda guy. He was always the first to jump at finding a solution to the problem. Ma was more of a worrier, than anything. That's how come her hair had turned grey so early in her life. Ken was the do nothing and hope it works out type. And, well, in this house, I'm usually the problem. But not this time. This time my father is the problem.

The lawyer informed us my father might be released early on account of good behavior. The lawyer showed us a video of him appealing to table of people who were in charge of making that decision. In the video, my father was describing how he has changed into a better person and how he regrets his actions and everything he'd done to us over the years. He was putting on quite the show, but I couldn't believe any of it, not for a second.

The lawyer also said that my father was asking for at least one of us to come in and make a statement in favor of him being released. The lawyer said it would definitely help his chances. Ken burst out laughing when the lawyer said that, like it was some kind of joke. That's the last thing any of us wanted to do.

Cal turned to me and Ken and repeated his same question. "What're we gonna do?"

Ken shrugged. "I don't know man. What if he is telling the truth? What if he really has changed?"

Calum and I both looked at him dumbfounded.

"I'm not saying we help him get released," Ken said. "But they could still release him any way."

"It's all an act," I said. "He hasn't changed and even if he has that doesn't take away what he did."

Cal nodded. "Agreed. But lets say Ken's right and he still gets released, where's he gonna go?"