Custody Granted (Scömìche)

Fifteen

"We the jury, have decided that it is in the best interest of Alex Zimmer to place her under the custody of... Mr. Grassi and Mr. Hoying. Based on the evidences presented in this court room, Mr. Zimmer is an unfit parental figure for Ms. Zimmer. He must face further court hearings to determine the consequences of his actions such as the use of illegal substance and physical abuse,". 

I breathed a sigh of relief as I released Kirstie's hand. She turned to me, her eyes bright and her smile reaching both ears. 

"The jury has spoken. Mr. Grassi, Mr Hoying congratulations. You are the legal guardians of Ms. Zimmer. Bailiff, take Mr. Zimmer into the backroom. He can wait there for the police. Case dismissed,"

I shot up out of my seat and shuffled as quickly as I could with my stupid cast over to Scott and Mitch. They wrapped their arms around me, squeezing me so tight I could barely breathe.

"Guys... I know you're happy... I am too...but I can't... breathe," I stuttered. They both instantly loosened their grips on me. "Thanks," I said inhaling slowly. 

I suddenly felt 6 more arms wrap around us. My brain jumped back to my first day at the boys house when they all hugged me. Once again I  was scared, but it was a different kind of scared. I wasn't scared of getting to attached to anybody or scared anyone was going to hurt me. I was scared of almost losing my family again. I was never going to let them go ever again and I knew in my heart they weren't going to let go of me either. 

"I love you guys," I whispered. 

"We love you too Alex," they all whispered back. 

When our big group hug ended, I couldn't help but look over at the other side of the room. I watched as my father, who had been handcuffed, was being marched out of the court room and into some small office by the Bailiff. Just before he disappeared, our eyes met and in them I saw not anger or hate, but longing. 

I suddenly found myself walking over to his side of the room. Scott and Mitch called out to me from behind, but I didn't turn around. There was something I needed to do. 

"Bailiff!!" I shouted. He stopped, and looked at me. "May I please speak to my father, alone?" I asked. 

The bailiff frowned at me, then looked at my father and his handcuffs. 

"Yeah, but he's gotta stay on the other side of the room you hear me?" he said. I nodded my head and followed him inside the room. 

It was a small little office. The only objects in the room were a long discussion table and multiple chairs placed around it. My father was handcuffed to an air vent on the far side of the room, so I stayed on the other side, close to the door. 

"You've got 5 minutes," the bailiff said. Then he walked out, shutting the door behind him. 

For the first minute, we just sat there in silence. I kept my hands pressed to the wall behind my back as he just looked me up and down. 

Then my father spoke. 

"You got taller," he said. 

"Well, I was bound to grow in three years, wasn't I?" I said coldly. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. 

"Some kids never get any bigger. Those are the kids that turn into those midget people," he replied. His voice sounded rough and smoky. Not the soft, caring voice I remember from when I was young.

"Look, I didn't come in here to fight with you about my height," I stated.

"Then why? To brag? To yell about what a terrible father I am? Save it, I already now what a monster I am," he said.

"No, I came in here to remind you who you really are," i explained.

"You're crazy. I already know who I am," he said.

"No you don't! You're Jamie Zimmer, father, widower, college graduate, real estate agent etc. Your favorite sport is baseball and your favorite food is spaghetti even though you hate eating it because it's got "too many carbs". You loved Mom when she was still alive and you loved me too. You are not this drug selling, disgusting, abusive criminal that's about to go to jail for hurting her own daughter. So please, if the real Jamie is in there tell me because I'm not ready to watch him get sent to jail because of the new Jamie,"

My father was silent except for the sounds of his heavy breathing. He refused to cry, but I could see it in his body language that he was ready to break down. I wanted to hug him, but I knew it wouldn't be safe to go to his side of the room.

"Why do you care so much? I hurt you, had my clients kidnap you and I just tried to take you away from the only home you've known for three years. I'm the bad guy!" he exclaimed.

"Because you're my father, and because I know mom wouldn't want what's happening right now. You're about to go to jail for drug and abuse, you're not getting out any time soon. I know Mom wouldn't like it if we just separated like that,"

"So what do you want me to say. Sorry for raping and hitting and smacking and kicking and drugging and almost killing you a million times? Would that clear your mind of everything that happened because it sure wouldn't for me!" he slammed his fist into the wall next to him. 

"I don't expect you to apologize to me. All I want is for you to go back to being who you were. Stop with this charade because I can tell you right now that mom would've left you years ago if she were still alive and this were going on! Sober the fuck up and start acting like the man and father you really are and maybe I can give you a second chance! 

"It'd be pointless to waste a second chance on me Alex. I'm done for," he said. I realized there was no getting through to him today. I shook my head and put my hand on the door knob. 

"OK then. Call me from prison when you've sobered up," then I swung the door open and walked out, letting it slam behind me. I walked right into Scott who was anxiously waiting right outside the door. I broke down in his arms as  he wrapped them around me. He lifted me up into his arms and carried me out of the court room as I curled into his chest. "I just want him to understand. That's not the real him!" I repeated. Scott shushed me as we got outside to the rest of the group. I heard my new family whispering words of concern to Scott as we got closer to them

"She's tired. Let's just go home, we'll celebrate tomorrow," he whispered. They must've all agreed because I could suddenly feel Scott buckling me into the backseat of his car. My eyes fluttered open for a moment to see his face. 

"Go to sleep Al. We can talk in the morning," he said placing a strand of hair behind my ear. I nodded then shut my eyes once more as the car began to pull out of the parking lot and slowly drifted off to sleep.