Somebody Stand By Me

A Facility

*Robert's POV*

After reading that letter, Stevie has been inconsolable. She sobbing in my arms and I try to calm her down. Nothing is working.

"He can't do this!" She says in a raised voice. "He hasn't been in their lives for the past five years and now he was to....oh god! What if he takes them away from me?! What if the judge sides with him!? My heart couldn't take that!"

"Shhhh, Steph." I say gently. "Calm down, okay. You're going to make yourself sick."

Stevie tries to stop crying and she does a little.

"Come on, love. Let's get you to your room." I say. "It'll be okay, Stevie."

I guide her to her room and get her settled. She lays down and asks me to lay down with her. I do so and hold her as tightly as I can.

*Sara's POV*

I had convinced Victoria to watch a movie with me to take her mind off of what's going on.

Halfway through the movie, I get a bit hungry for a snack. I tell Victoria about us getting some snacks and she shrugs.

She stands up and waits for me to do the same. I stand up and we walk out of the entertainment room.

As we approach the kitchen, we hear crying. We can tell it's mom.

Victoria and I look at each other then we walk towards the front door where the crying is coming from.

We stay hidden and see Robert holding our mother. We then hear my mom say "What if the judge sides with him? My heart couldn't take that."

Robert manages to calm my mom a little then he guides her upstairs to her room.

Once they disappear upstairs, I walk closer to pick up a paper that was on the floor. It's a letter and it looks really serious.

Victoria and I both read the letter and we are both shocked as we read.

"He can't do this!" Victoria says angrily. She wants to say more but is too angry to say anything else.

I don't say anything. I'm too shocked and hurt. I used to think the world of my dad but now...with his actions, I can see that he isn't how I thought he was.

I put down the letter and we both return to the entertainment room but the movie is forgotten.

Victoria starts to cry and I do too. We hold each other and I send up a prayer that my father would change his mind.

*1 Week Later*
*Stevie's POV*

I quickly contacted my lawyer. He set up a plan for when we are due in court. I feel confident in my lawyer but I'm still worried.

I told Sara and Victoria about their father taking me to court to fight for custody. They confessed to me that they already knew. They read the letter that I had dropped. Which I didn't realize that I did so.

They voiced their anger and frustration at the situation. They don't want to live with their father if the judge grants him custody.

We talked about it and with my lawyers guidance, we feel a little at ease. He told us, considering that Sara and Victoria are almost seventeen, the judge will give them a moment to voice their opinions and where they want to stay.

Today has been a lazy day for us. Sara, Victoria and I are sitting around the living room, each lost in our own activities.

Sara is reading a book, Victoria is drawing in her sketchbook and I am writing in my journal.