The Secrets We Keep

Part 87

Hailey POV*

We get home and order Chinese food for dinner, then it bed time for Ry. I take Ryders hand as we walk into his room. "Mommy when does Auggie come back, I miss him" Ryder asks as I tuck him into bed. "Auggie's mommy is in heaven and I'm not his mommy so Auggie has to stay with Amira at a different house, okay" I say looking down and see Ry sleeping. I kiss his head before slowly and quietly walking out of his room.

"I think we should it" I say grabbing the water I left out when I went to put Ry to sleep. "Do what?" Jay asks taking a sip of his beer. "File for temporary guardianship" I say as Jay chokes on his drinking. "Really, because I don't want to pressure you into this Hails" he say as we set our drinks down and look at each other. "Your not pressuring me I couldn't get Auggie and Amira out my head, when he cried it broke me. We were so helpless with it all and I just don't want them to be alone in this" I say. "Okay let's do it" he say getting pen and the papers. "Let's do it".

It been a three week and our court date keeps getting pushed back. We're at work doing paperwork when I get a call. "Upton" I say not even bothering to look at who's calling. "Hailey" I hear them say. I take the phone away from my ear to see who's calling. "Amira?" I ask now with Jays eyes on me. "You alright" I say getting worried. "Is she alright " Jay ask looking over the computer screen. "I don't know" I mouth towards Jay. I get up and walk to the break room for privacy. "I wa-wanna go home" she cries into the phone. "Which home?" I ask grabbing a mug from the rack. "Where are you" I ask her while pouring the coffee into the mug. "I'm at the group home" she say crying harder. "Hailey...I tried to be strong for Auggie like you said but I-" she say stopping to blow her nose.

"You what" I ask. "I don't wanna be here anymore, the other kids don't talk to me and I just wanna go back" she say through the tears. "Go back where". "I want my mom" she say. "I know you do but she's with your dad now and your parents want you to be happy". "I'll come see you this weekend okay" I say hear a little bit of background noise. "That was Ms. Harrington it's lunch, and sorry for calling you at work" she say before hanging up. I pour out my coffee after realizing I can't have it anyway, I rest my hands on the sink with my head down. I'm on the verge of tears when Kim walks in. I wipe my eyes before looking back at her, but you could see the red around my crystal blue eyes.

"Hey you okay, that call looked tense" she say grabbing the coffee jug. "I'm fine" now I'm sitting in the couch as she joins me. "Your not fine Hail. These past few weeks you've been jumpy at every phone call. Is something wrong?" She asks. "Amira called. She w- was crying. She told me she wanted to go home, be with her mom again. The group home isn't really working for her and we filed for temporary guardianship but their court date keeps getting pushed back. It's just a lot and on top of all that the baby is moving a lot, which is good but it's doesn't feel good on my back. I'm so stressed and uncomfortable, all of the waiting is so frustrating ya know" I say. "You filed for temporary guardianship of Amira and Auggie, did you tell them" she asks. "No I didn't tell them yet, I don't want to get their hopes up if it doesn't work out. Jay and I just bought a house and we're still moving into it." I say. "I'll ask my friend if she can do something about the court date" Kim says. "You don't have to do that Kim" I say. "Yes I do, your family and we always help family" she says walking out the room.

We get to the courthouse dressed all nice for the hearing. The day before Kim's friend told us that they got a court date for that weekend. We wait outside the courtroom ready for the number to be called. "Auggie" Ry say pointing to him from across the room. He walks with Amira and their social worker. "You didn't tell us" Amira says hugging Jay and I. "Thought you'd like to be surprised" Jay says. "Case number 3457 Estevez family court in session" the person says. We walk in together and sit down in the seats, Ry sit with the social worker behind us. "Hello Estevez kids" the Judge says waving to them. "Hi!" Auggie says excitedly. "Okay" she says looking over the case. "It says here that you moved into a new house, it has four bedrooms. We'll all this looks good they both seem excited to go home with you. So by that state of Illinois I hereby grant you temporary guardianship over Lucia Amira Estevez and August Sebastian Estevez" the Judge says banging the gavel on the podium. "Next case number 4386" she yells as we walk out and another family walks in. "Lucia" Jay asks. "I thought you knew my first name when you filled out the paperwork" Amira says. "I filled out the rest when he fell asleep halfway through it" I says. We walk out to the car and drive home as a family.

Hope really y'all loved this heartwarming chapter. Check back day after tomorrow for a continuation of this chapter.

- Cici