Why do I feel this way?

Chapter 102: Conspiracy

Vivian rushed over to the counter trying to stop herself from spiraling with 'what if's'. As she answered, her voice broke, "Mi— Mia, what's wrong?"

Mia began to speak softly, "Viv..." Charlotte held a little tighter to Mia's hand. Vivian clenched her fist at the sound of her friend's voice. "Siobhan was just arrested." Vivian's voice burst sharply through the line, "What? What do you mean she was arrested?!"

The redhead wasn't surprised at Vivian's reaction, but her body jolted at the force behind it. Mia stuttered, "I don't... I don't really know..."

Marjorie finished the conversation on the nursery phone. She heard Mia struggling to respond and took the phone. "Hi, my love. They arrested her for conspiracy to traffic drugs."

Vivian released a deep sigh, "Why are they doing this? Why didn't they wait until..." Marjorie cut her off, her tone was firm, "Janice was the one that brought them to the office." Marjorie looked at Mia and Charlotte as she continued, "She was acting... weird."

The nurse narrowed her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but she hesitated. Vivian breathed intentionally before she calmly whispered into the phone, "Thank you for getting in contact with me. I really appreciate that you made sure I got the message." Marjorie felt an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. The calm in Vivian's voice was honestly terrifying.

Marjorie widened her eyes as she looked at Charlotte and Mia. She hung up and dropped her phone on the desk beside her. "Look, Mia... you may need to meet her down at the police station." Mia raised her brows, clicking her tongue across her teeth, "Yeah, I was thinking I would need to... Jamie and Ciara need at least one parent to go home with."

As Mia is grabbing her things to rush out of the nursery, Vivian is storming down to the nurses lounge scrolling to Shadows contact on her phone.

Vivian can hear laughter as Shadow picks up and brings the phone to his ear. In a lighthearted tone he speaks, "Hi, Vivian. What can I do for you?" The agitation was clear in Vivian's response. "Shadow, why did they just arrest Siobhan at the nursery?!"

Shadow's face flushed as he excused himself from the crowd. "What are you talking about? They told me they wanted to question her again. I scheduled it for tomorrow." Confusion and worry built up as he waited for Vivian's response.

Her tone was calm, "All I know is Mia called me from the nursery. Marjorie said that she was arrested for conspiracy to traffic drugs."

Shadow grabbed his briefcase and rushed out to his car. His voice was shaken slightly, "I'm heading there from the office now. I know how you get when it comes to Siobhan— don't go into that station alone!"

Vivian huffs, "Ugh... yeah— okay." The nurse jogs down to speak with her supervisor, but before hanging up with Shadow, she mentions one more thing. "Marjorie told me Janice, one of the board members, escorted them to the office. She said she was acting weird."

As Shadow ended the call, he thought back to the first time he went to the police station for Siobhan. That woman in the room with the detective— who was she? He filed that information in his memory for when he got to Siobhan.

Since Mia immediately left the nursery, she arrived in the police station's car park first. As Vivian pulled in, she saw the redhead leaned against her mustang— arms crossed with a relaxed smirk. The brunette rolled her eyes as she parked.

Her friend met her at the car door. While Vivian was sliding out of her seat, "Good, you're here. Shadow said I couldn't go in by myself— now I won't be." Mia raises her eyebrows keeping her tone steady, "Only if you plan on behaving because, just between me and you— I don't know if I can take you when you're in 'protect Shibby' mode."

The tension dissolves and Vivian chuckles as she shuts the car door. "Disarm me with humor, nice. No wonder we're best friends..." She leans back on her car for a moment taking a deep breaths. "I'm good. Let's go in."

Vivian enters with Mia right behind her. They approach the front desk. Vivian's voice professional, "I'm here to see Siobhan Serpent-Clark." The officer doesn't say a word as she stands and walks away.

The brunette turns to Mia slamming her hand against the counter, "What was that?" Her voice was timid. Mia's expression softens, understanding Vivian's frustration. She reaches out placing a hand on her shoulder and gently whispers, "She's probably just trying to make sure she can have visitors right now."

While Vivian and Mia impatiently wait, Siobhan is pacing in the holding cell. Her mind racing, thoughts spiraling.

What part is Janice playing in this? I'm sure Viv is on her way by now. One of these days, she's going to realize being with me isn't worth all this.

Siobhan leans against the wall. Her eyes fixed on a random spot on the opposite wall.

I wonder if Jamie or Ciara saw me escorted out. I can't imagine what that would do to them. Is this going to affect her placement with us? She has started to bond with us and settle. I ruined everything!

The blonde exasperatedly leans forward smacking her hands against her thighs as she pushes herself off the wall.

Get it together Siobhan. You know what Viv would be telling you right now— "it's not your fault".

She folded her arms and sat back down on the concrete bench. Her eyes closed, slowly counting to ten as she breathed deeply. The calm, steady confidence the anxiety tried to bury broke through. Siobhan remembered again who she really is— strong, steady, and far from broken.

Shadow burst in through the door. Panic plastered on his face until he saw Vivian standing calmly at the front desk. He huffed in relief, "When I didn't see you in the car park, I got nervous."

Mia and Vivian looked at each other. Vivian scoffed, "Glad you have so much confidence in me..." The redhead elbowed her, "To be fair, you can be unpredictable when it comes to protecting Siobhan or your kids."

The female officer returns to the front desk. "Ma'am, I'm sorry Mrs. Serpent-Clark isn't allowed any visitors right now."

Vivian whips her head around, her eyes narrowed glaring at the woman. "The hell she isn't..." Shadow gently bumps Vivian away from the counter. Vivian scrunches her face in annoyance and sighs loudly. "Good afternoon, I'm Mrs. Serpent-Clark's lawyer. I need to see her, now."

The officer escorted Shadow back towards the interrogation rooms. She settles him quickly in one of the rooms and heads to the holding cells. They place Siobhan in cuffs and escort her through the front lobby to the interrogation room.

Mia was the first to see Siobhan and took the advantage to grab Vivian's arm before she noticed. As Vivian turned her head, her eyes landed on Siobhan. Seeing her in cuffs and being escorted by an officer angered her. When she attempted to walk towards Siobhan, her body was snatched back by Mia's arm.

"Viv, you have got to calm down! Let Shadow do his job." Vivian scoffs, jerking her arm out of Mia's grasp. "You're one to talk!" Mia chuckles, "Fair enough, but Viv— you have to think of Jamie and Ciara. And when you get like this, you don't do a whole lot of thinking."

As Mia speaks, she notices a shift in Vivian's expression. All of a sudden her breathing quickens, "Are they going to take Ciara from us? Mia..." The redhead interrupts her meltdown, "Woah, Viv. There will be an investigation first. Let's sit— Hopefully Shadow can get bail."

Ten minutes later Shadow and Siobhan walk out together. The blonde rubbed the discomfort from her wrists. Vivian jumps out of her chair swiftly walking to Siobhan wrapping her in a comforting embrace.

Vivian pulls away just slightly brushing her fingers across Siobhan's locket. She gently leans her forehead against Siobhan. "I love you."

Shadow leans close enough for them to hear his whisper, "We need to leave— now. There is something odd going on. Someone was trying to block Siobhan from posting bail."