The Hard Knock Life

Part 24

"I can't believe she did that to you. How jerk-ish of her." Jessica said in disgust.
She rushed over as soon as I told her what had just happened. We had been sitting in the living room for almost an hour trying to wrap our heads around what just happened.
"I would so move in with you if I could. I would need a job though, to help pay the mortgage." She said before taking a swig from her protein shake.

"The money isn't the problem; I have money so that's not an issue." I said. "I have no idea how to be a mother and she was the only one I knew that had a sense of what to do but she just left without even considering me. Like, how could someone do that?"

"I don't know, but if you ever need anything, you can always come to my parents for help. Maybe I can ask them if you could move in."

"I can't move in. You don't have a spare bed room or any space for a nursery. If Aaliyah cries at night it's gonna wake you guys up and I can't do that to you."

"I still can't believe she did that. So what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to have to take it one day at a time."

"That's the only option."

"Yea..."

We sat in silence for a while before she spoke again. "So how's August?"

"I don't know. I'm going to go see his trial tomorrow."

Her expression wasn't what I expected. Why she looked so confused, I had no idea.

"Wasn't it today?" She said.

"No, it's tomorrow."
I swore it would be tomorrow. My heart stopped when her look of confusion grew more certain.

"Abby, it was today."

"You're lying," I said, my heart beginning to race. I couldn't believe it. This was probably so important to him.

"You need to go see him," she said, "do you want me to keep Aaliyah for you?"

"No, I'll bring her so she can see him."
I got up from the couch and started to get my things together.

"I'm coming with you." She said, picking up Aaliyah in her carriage. As I went to pick up my phone from the coffee table, it vibrated. I lifted it and saw that it was Graeme.

Can we talk?

I really didn't have time to answer him. I wanted to see August. I had to see August.

***

Aaliyah and I sat at the glass window and waited for August to meet us on the other side. It felt like forever and I wouldn't have blamed him if he chose not to see us after missing his hearing. My nerves were going through the roof, thinking about what the decision could've been, if they had enough evidence to even prove him guilty. The bigger question was who could've reported it and how did they know it was August?
He eventually showed up and picked up the phone from the wall. I couldn't decipher how he felt; his facial expression had no emotion.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Sup?" His very voice was monotone.

"I'm so sorry--"

"It's whatever, what's done is done."