Baby, You're A 10 (BBW/PlusSize)

32. FAMILY: Closure

Omniscient

Recess is over. Playtime is done. The witness is ready to testify and rain down hellfire in the courtroom. Nathaniel had returned to the stand and answered a few more questions before he was allowed to return to the bench.

After Nathaniel stepped down, Madison stepped up. She, of course, told a different story from the one that had been told. She contradicted both of the previous testimonies. She and her mother created an air of doubt in the courtroom. There was no definite choice of which way the court would swing their vote. Smugly Madison had returned to the plaintiff bench retaking her seat with her legs crossed one over the other.

She had not seen this key witness of the defense and as far as both her mother and she were concerned, it had been a dud. The case was closed. The case was theirs for the taking. She had won. She had won yet again. She always gets what she wants. Not this time though, she would not win.

"Your honor, the defense would like to call our key witness to the stand", Nathaniel's lawyer announced.

As if on Que, the courtroom doors were opened revealing three people. The three people walked down the aisle approaching the bench before two took a seat on the defense side while the other continued to the stand. Madison looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her skin paled and her palms began to sweat.

'This cannot be happening', she thought as the key witness took to the stand.

"Please state your name and your purpose for being here today?", the councilman requested.

"Ishmel Luciano", he stated before taking a seat on the stand. "I am here today to right a wrong", he declared.

Naomi had not wanted to do this. She wished that there had been another way, but this was for her babies. Her heart hurt being away from Nathaniel like this, but for their plan to work. It had to be this way.

By doing this, she was no different than either of them. They were all damn near one in the same. The only difference between them all being the 'Why?'. And her why is what motivated her to do the things she was doing. Her why is what keeps her sane as she lies in bed at night cradling her sleeping baby girl. He why is why she is currently snuggling against another man that is not her husband.

Anya is with family. Naomi could not stand to be too far from her only remaining child. Her anxiety multiplies and manifests itself within her until she is nothing more than a hyperventilating mess. She cracks and brings her baby home within her arms. Although both of them agreed to keep Anya as far away from the mess they were cleaning up, Naomi could not stay away. She is her baby and her anchor now that both her elder siblings and father are gone from the house for a while.

"Ishmel, I need to talk to you", Naomi said softly as she lied in his arms.

The man hummed in acknowledgment, being half asleep as he continued to lazily card his fingers through her hair.

She was tired. Both physically and emotionally, Naomi was tired. She was tired of the lying and conniving. We just wanted her family back. Although it was not a part of the plan, Naomi had faith in the person she used to know. Naomi and Ishmel's relationship had not been all bad.