Women that say No

Chapter 28

"Daddy I don't feel comfortable with Rick representing me. Maybe I can hire one of those public defenders. I know we can't afford to pay a lawyer."

"Madison where is this coming from?"

"Dad I just don't feel like he can carry this case."

"Why all of a sudden now, Madison I don't think you're going to find better."

"I'll never know until I try."

"Madison I know enough about law to know that the damn public defenders are garbage the best they'll do is take a deal for you to avoid a trial. That's not the route I'm going to allow you to take. Is it your mothers accusations making you feel this way?" He asked pondering other reasons.

"No daddy I don't care about any of that. I know I'm putting a strain on you guys having you so far away from home. I can only imagine what it's doing to his family ."

"Madison listen to me, this is his job, if he didn't want to be here he would be the first to say."

I sighed relentlessly feeling as if I wouldn't get anywhere. As my eyes rolled across the den area my mother entered.

"Well don't let me interrupt you two conversation." She greeted, "chat away, what's the matter madison I can see it in your face?"

"Nothing mom."

"Madi be honest." My dad spoke up.

"It's really nothing I want to have a big discussion about.

"Well be that way. Fine then." My mother mouthed sarcastically.

"I'm going to have to go home pretty soon I have to help Jason find another college. It's very important, before he flunks out of this one." She explained nonchalantly shaking her head.

"Well then who will keep my babies?"

"Madi I don't see why Angela couldn't she's done so plenty other times."

"No, I don't want to put that burden on her."

The sound of my mother sucking her teeth in frustration grasped everyone attention.

"Well what type of burden do you think it is on us?"

"Kathie!" My father called in a firm tone before I could even fix my mouth to say anything.

Hearing my own mother say such a thing only confirmed what I was already thinking.

"Terry look someone has to say it, that's my daughter that I birthed in the world, but we can't sit here and pretend as if taking this amount of time away from work after putting our house on the line for a loan isn't taking a toal, now I'm sorry Madison but baby I love you more than life you know. But we can't be here this time around, I'm sorry baby we can't. Your brothers flunking out, I can't pay workers to run my office and to have it closed losing clients and patients is just unthinkable in this moment I'm sorry. Now your father and I will both be here for you, just not physically. We don't have a choice but to work."

The entire room went silent.

"When was someone going to tell me?" I spoke in a broken tone looking between the two of them.

"It wasn't my intention, you have enough to worry about." Said my father.

"Well I'm sorry, you're not a little girl anymore Madi, this is real life. There's consequences for everything. Now having Rick here as your lawyer is a favor we'll probably never repay, we can't even afford to pay him madison. He's providing this house but how long do you suppose his father will allow this. I'm sorry but we have to get back to work. My flights tomorrow and within a week your father will have to return as well, we have expenses."

I slowly took a seat in the opposing chair across from them taking everything I could in. I nodded knowing I had no other choice let alone the strength to argue, it felt as if everyone was against me.

"— I get it, I completely understand. And if I ever get out of this I will repay you back, I promise."

My father stumbled over to me taking me in for a long hug as I exhaled not releasing one tear. I couldn't bring myself to cry, I guess I had cried enough.

———-

"I'm sorry who is this?" I asked confused of who I was speaking with.

"It's steph? You deleted my number huh?"

I took a breath of relief, "Hi, I'm sorry. It's been a week."

"I haven't heard from you in forever it feels. How's power he hasn't been in school either."

"I know, a lot going on with the death of his grandpa and —-his dad being in the hospital."

"Damn, sorry. Excuse my language. I'm sorry to hear that. I know it must be hard on you both, let me know if you guys need anything at all."

"Yes, Thank you so much. —I hate to cut this short but I appreciate you thinking of us. Can I give you a call back."

"Ofcourse, no problem."

I disconnected the call realizing the effect things was having all Around me. As much as I wanted to I couldn't keep Power here missing school, I could either enroll him here or send him back with my mother, but then again I didn't want to burden her anymore.

—————-

"You want to enroll power in school while you're here?" Rick repeated after me as I tried to turn to him in my moment of need.

"Rick I can't leave this stupid fuckin house, I can't do anything but I don't want my child to suffer."

"Madison you may not want to hear this but, you need to just send him at the least back with your mother."

"I don't want to stress her out anymore."

"That won't be the least of her stresses, you need to think logically."

"Give my child up when I could possibly never see him again, you said it yourself
Rick."

"Madi, id never allow anything to happen to you ...that was just the heat of the moment."

"I don't trust anyone, I can't —trust anyone."

Rick brung his attention solely to me walking over and glaring me in my eyes. We stood in his work room, alone, as the warm air flowed amongst the tension.
I hadn't been this close to him in years, literally and the feeling was indescribable.

"That guard you're holding, you can let down."

I rebutted shaking my head no. "I can't- and you know exactly why. I overheard you and Angela she wants you to condemn me. Take me away from my babies, for what you've done to me and your marriage."

"Are you eavesdropping, Angela was just talking. She knows it doesn't work like that. I'd never forsaken you Madison but you have to understand she's hurt and being reminded of it everyday."

"Yeah well if I were an evil bitch too I could look at my beautiful Allure and be reminded of what you did to me but I take it as a blessing and love her more than life. This is all your fault."

"Yeah well, you put us in one hell of a predicament having to be here, you can hate me all you want we need one another , you more than I."

"I'm done dealing with this. You can leave with everyone else."