Blaine had pulled up to the front doors of the lawyers offices, getting the perfect spot out front. Layla looked outside at the peace and normality of Downtown Lima. The sun was out and there was a bit of wind, but nothing too bad. The weather was getting chilly, the fall was coming. A mother held her little daughters hand outside the costume shop, she was wearing a bright cheery grin, obviously going to get her Halloween costume. Across the street, a man in a suit was sitting at a small table situated outside the deli, eating a sandwich and talking obnoxiously loud, while trying to chew. A young couple in their twenties walked slowly down the sidewalk, hand in hand, pointing to various pictures in window of the art gallery, and stopping for small sweet kisses.
"We don't have to go back in with everyone, we could just stay in the waiting room if you'd like." Blaine suggested, trying to help Layla out a bit. Sitting around the long mahogany table with the lawyers, her parents and her aunt felt almost like a death sentence. Yes, being strong and sticking with your words are things that make a person nobel, but Layla really didn't mind being the weak one right now. Maybe just sitting would give her some courage.
"Yeah, I think that sounds pretty good. I don't know If I could survive in there. I pretty much just ruined any ounce of cool I had left in me. I don't know if anyone could see as calm and collected now." Layla said, keeping her head down, feeling a tad shameful.
"Lay, don't be ashamed, you know if you never...exploded... it would have been poking at you day. I think it helped your case. But I'm not an expert so..." Blaine's voice trailed off. He wish they could just make their minds up, and he wished it would be in Layla's favor. She was older now, but in his eyes, she was still only 11 years old, and he had to be that brother he couldn't be for three whole years.
In the waiting area, was lime-green plush leather couches. They had gone for a quite modern look when picking the decor. They were round futuristic looking couches, and there was a black coffee table with various magazines, mostly from last january. There were a couple potted trees and shag rug under the table, making it look almost like a living room.
"Do you think it's gonna take long?" Layla asked, after they had been sitting there for an hour, silent.
"I dunno, I mean it can't be too long, right?" Blaine responded, looking up from a dated issue of GQ.
Layla looked at the double doors, there they stood, a barrier between her and the fight of her future. Things were quiet out here with her and Blaine, but inside, she heard the faint sounds of what sounded like yelling, this would defiantly be a long day.
Through those doors, a war was starting. Aunt Lynn was keeping her muscles strong, but Presley and Noelle were pushing hard.
"She is our daughter, you can't just take her, she's not a thing she a god damn person!" Noelle Anderson screamed through her tears. Their facade had come down and they had seemed to have lost all shame.
"Yeah, Noelle exactly! She's a person who needs love and attention, not an alcoholic mom and an abusive absent dad!" Aunt Lynn fought back with.
"I am NOT abusive! And I have business to do, Lynn you know that! I need to be away but I make sure I'm home at least once a week!" Presley responded.
"Not abusive? Tell that to your SON, Presley. Tell that to Blaine!" Everyone in the room seemed to be sliced my that, but Aunt Lynn continued on, "And visiting once a week? Yeah once a week while your daughter is in school, and your wife is at the bar so you can screw your masseuse!"
"Okay, can we please calm down, can we just talk about this, the kids are outside, they can probably hear us, please just calm down for a second." Charlie Thornley pleaded. Everyone sat back, crossed their arms, but they still obeyed.
"Now, I want you all to remember, this is in Layla's best interest and what's safe, right, and healthy for her. Not for anyone else. Now, I need you all to just think, which life is better for her? A life with parents who she feels are unloving and unsuportive or with her caring Aunt, who we already know is a wonderful guardian to Layla's brother. If she stays with her parents any longer, she could face serious psychological damage. Now what do you think is best?" Charlie Thornley was right, it wasn't what her parents wanted to hear, but Layla wasn't safe at home. Why couldn't they just see that?
