Turmoil | Spruceworth 5.1 (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Shaw

       I wasn't sure if I was ready for today. I was up almost all night thinking about the possible outcomes. Chances were Kendra would win the case and I would never see my kids again. Or I would win and she would continue hating me for no reason.

       But if I had a choice between losing my relationship with Kendra or my relationship with my kids...

       I'd have to choose losing Kendra.

       Kendra was my best friend for the longest of times. When I broke up with her because I came out, she didn't get mad at me. She told me she would always be there for me no matter what. Before Holden came back from boarding school, so was the first person I would turn to for help.

       And now she was trying to take away my kids from me when I hadn't done a single thing wrong.

       I didn't think if we would ever be okay after today.

       There was a knock on the door while Holden and I were getting ready to leave so I opened the door to see Heidi standing there. "Hey," she said. "Ready for today?"

       "Nope," I said. "Because no matter what happens, I'm losing someone today."

       "Maybe Kendra will have a sense of reasoning some time soon," Holden said and as much as I wanted that to be true, I couldn't no for sure. She did a complete one-eighty and I didn't see herself going back to normal any time soon.

       The three of us left the house to head to the courthouse but almost immediately after we were heading through the village, Dad walked up to us. "Well, it's nice to see two of my children talking and hanging out," he said. "We have an emergency."

       "Well, the emergency is going to have to wait," I said.

       Dad raised an eyebrow. "Do you need a refresher on what the definition of an emergency is? Here let me tell you."

       I stopped Dad before he could continue. "I'm aware of what an emergency is. We're in the middle of one right now. Custody hearing. Kendra's fighting for full custody."

       "Are you serious?" Dad asked. "What did you do?"

       "Nothing except for drinking," I said. "But I never drank when the kids were over and it was a very short-lived thing. Holden could vouch for me. She's trying to use me being arrested twice this year as an excuse even though she was the first to know that I was only protecting Julian. What's this emergency anyway?"

       "Roman," Dad said. "The rest of his family moved here and I had the pleasure of bumping into his parents. Let's just say their just as pleasant as Roman. They're not happy their daughter was killed and stupidly told me that their son is planning on revenge and they can't wait for it to be delivered."

       "Wait," Holden said. "Why would they tell a complete stranger that?"

       "I don't know," Dad said. "They seem to pride themselves over revenge and vendettas, so all I had to do was pretend like I would have done the same thing if someone messed with my children."

       "You are doing the same thing," I pointed out.

       Dad shrugged, knowing he was right. "Well, I guess I'll handle the situation myself with the twins."

       "Can you please just leave them out of this?" I asked.

       "I can," Dad said. "Will I? No. Now go on, head to the court house. I promise you I won't put the twins in any danger."