The Broken One ✔

Chapter 41

The next morning, Jenny and I walked down a hallway in the courthouse.

I put on a brave face and simply told myself over and over that it'll go fine. Jenny on the other hand, was acting like a nervous mother, as per usual.

"Do you have everything you need?" Jenny asked me.

"Yes mum" I rolled my eyes.

"Ned I'm serious" she cried, "this is your only chance to get your criminal record cleared"

"Can you say criminal record slower this time" I grinned "it makes me feel like a badass"

"Ned" she groaned "...it's been six years to the day"

"Yeah and the son of a bitch gave me community service and anger management" I remembered, "I was told that I was getting off with good behaviour"

"You were charged with misdemeanour assault with a deadly weapon" Jenny reminded me, "there was no way you were getting off with good behaviour"

"A boy can dream right?" I laughed as we arrived at the front door.

I wasn't laughing out of joy, I was laughing out of fear and nervousness. I knew that what I did to my dad was serious, I also knew that it would be virtually impossible for me to find a job if that charge stayed on my record.

Most people don't get the opportunity to erase their past. Why was I different?

Well, six years prior to that day the judge looked at me and said "I see no criminal, I see a broken boy who can be redeemed" and I believed him.

Jenny wrapped her arms around me fearfully, "good luck Ned"

I nodded slowly "thanks Jen"

I took a deep breath as slowly entered the room. I immediately found two lawyers and a judge, the same three people from six years earlier.

I shook my lawyer's hand who gave me a small reassuring nod. "Minimal words" she whispered in my ear as adjusting her thick frames.

I nodded as taking a seat beside my lawyer.

"Its good to see you again Edmund Carter" the middle-aged judge with thick white hair and fair skin, smiled from across the desk.

"You too, your honour" I folded my hands then intertwined my fingers before placing them onto the desk.

"You have made quite the progress in the last six years," he said as looking down at my file that laid in front of him, "I see here that you have greatly benefited from the anger management classes that I ordered"

"Yes sir" I nodded.

"I see no more arrests or violent outbursts" he went on, "the anger management counsellor wrote that she feels that you have been rehabilitated" he then looked up at me. "You just graduated from college, what do you plan to do next?"

"I honestly don't know your honour" I admitted "journalism has always interested me...so has medicine"

"Medicine? Perhaps a doctor Mr Carter?" He suggested with a small smile.

All my life, I thought that I didn't have the brains to be anything I wanted. I was always called stupid amongst other things. Very few people ever believed in me, but I found that that year, things were changing.

I laughed "never say never, right?"

"Well, you cannot be a doctor with a assault with a deadly weapon charge on your record" he removed his reading glasses. "I want you to start with a clean slate, kid"

"You were supposed to protect her!" My dad screamed.

"Shut up!" I ordered, as the fire inside of me began to burn brighter then it had ever before.

"You're an embarrassment to the family! Just like-" he continued just as Elise arrived at the kitchen.

"Shut up!" I clenched my jaw.

"Isabel!" My father finished.

"Ned!" Elise screamed as my dad's body dropped to the floor.

"Help me please I need an ambulance" she begged with the tears rolling down her cheeks, before glaring directly at me "and the police"

And in an instant, it was all gone.

I was only left with the memories from that night. The charge was no longer hanging above me like a grey cloud.

A smile washed across my face as tears fell from my cheeks. "Thank you"

"This meeting is adjourned" he stood up "give officer Carter my regards"

I nodded "will do" I turned to my lawyer and shook his hand. I exited the room to see Jenny standing anxiously by the door. "I'm in the clear Jen" I announced.

she wrapped her arms around me "Ned, I'm so happy for you"

Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around quickly to see my father and his wife Justine.

My father nodded firmly as shaking my hand "I should have dropped those chargers six years ago, you didn't deserve it"

"I never did say sorry, did I?" I realized.

"You didn't need to" my father shook his head, "have a safe trip son"

I nodded as Jenny and I began walking down the hallway.

I then turned around "oh and Dad, the judge says Hi" I grinned, as did he.

Jenny furrowed her brows at me once we made it to the end of the hallway. "That was...different" she observed.

I smiled "a good different" I assured her.

***

Seven hours later, I walked through the Washington airport, feeling like a new man.

I no longer had that charge weighing me down and my dad and I were on good terms. Everything seemed to be looking up, until I got that phone call.

My cell began buzzing as I stood outside, waiting for a cab. I pressed my cell against my ear "Eva what's wrong?"

"Ned thank fuck, I'm in labour" Eva explained quickky, "Andi drove me to the hospital but Sam's not here, Ned"

"What, where's Sam?" I asked.

"New York! He's at the airport trying to get a flight over here" Eva cried.

I nodded. I had completely forgotten that Sam was in New York. The last thing Eva wanted was to give birth without Sam, I knew that I had to step up for my best friend.

"Look, Eva, I just got off the plane, I'll meet you at the hospital, okay" I assured her in fear.

"Thank you" she sighed "please hurry"

"I'm on my way," I told her as ending the call. "We're having a baby! WOOHOO" I threw my fist into the air as jumping up. "Taxi!"

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