“I’ve got to call you back, Ed.” I set the phone down on the receiver, still trying to wrap my head around what Sara was saying. “Okay. Who has court in an hour?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to breathe through the shitstorm that arrived on my desk this morning. Another one of Caleb’s fuck-ups. I looked at Sara as she paced. I really wanted to understand what she was so flustered about, but she couldn’t get the words right.
“I walked past Mr. Westwood’s office on my way in with the usual coffee order, when I heard him talking to someone. He seemed to be locked in a tense conversation. He said, ‘I’ll be there. Tell Devin she can and will be strong. Amber won’t let them get to her.’ Whatever that means, but it sounded ominous.”
“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath as I grabbed my coat and ensured I had my phone and wallet, “Cancel the rest of my day! I need to be there for her. I’ll call Ed from the car and explain!”
My mind was racing as I rushed out of the office. I knew she had court, I knew it was coming up, but why didn’t she tell me it wastoday? I would have cleared my schedule ahead oftime to be there for her! I would have been there with a tea or a coffee to help, whichever would help. I didn’t want her going through this whole ordeal alone. I wanted her to know I was in her corner, no matter what, if she needed me. I knew she was about to put on a strong enough front, that I didn’t need to be there to hold her hand, but still.
I just wanted to be there for her.
“You’re leaving?! We have the client meeting in twenty minutes!” Sara shouted as I jogged down the hall straight for the elevator.
I scoffed at her, jabbing my finger into the button like that would make the elevator car appear quicker. She didn’t really think that not telling me when her court date was, was going to keep me here, did she? The elevator was taking too long, stopping at practically every floor as people were arriving for the day.
Fuck it.
I turned and moved to the stairwell around the corner. I ran down all ten flights of stairs like my heels were on fire, feeling like I was flying down them. I needed her to not feel or think she was alone in this. Not after everything she’d already gone through because of that twit. He didn’t get to come in, demand help, only to ruin her again. I’d worked hard to bring back her smile, to show she was worth the happiness and ease that came from people who saw her and cared. I had been working hard to show her I was worthy of her, at least a little bit.
I needed her to be strong until I got there. Running through the lobby, I dodged people, including the client I had a meeting with. He caught me on my way out, grabbing my coat.
“Cash! We have a meeting!” He looked bewildered to see me rushing out.
“I’m so sorry, I need to reschedule. There’s,” I was panting, “My girl. Family emergency. I need to be there!”
“Family? What’s going on?” He called as I kept moving backwards toward the exit.
I was already almost at the front doors when I shouted back to him, “My fiancé!”
I rushed down the front steps of the building, narrowly avoiding knocking into a few people passing by on the street, and I hailed a taxi. As the taxi slowed in front of me, I was getting agitated. I felt this need to be seated in one of the benches already. To be there before she even knew I was there, I wanted to be a support for her. Thisneedwas driving me half insane!
The cabby was trying to make small talk before asking for the address and I didn’t have time for this shit. I had to go! The courthouse was already a twenty-minute ride with traffic and even that felt too long. I knew I would get there in plenty of time.
Hopefully.
Didn’t want to jinx myself.
My phone rang right after giving the cabby the courthouse address, and the offer of a generous tip if he stepped on it. Pulling my phone out, thinking it might be Devin, I was left with a slight bit of disappointment when I saw it was Viviene, Calen’s mother. Calen, my little mentee from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. I cared about the kid and thought of him like a real little brother, but I knew his mom had a thing for me.
Reluctantly, I answered the phone.
“Hey Viviene, everything okay with Calen?” I tried to keep all conversations with her based solely on Calen. Pulling out my wallet, I took out three hundred dollars in cash and passed it through the window to the man. His eyes widened when he saw the money falling onto the seat next to him. He glanced over his shoulder, and once he confirmed the coast was clear, or clear enough to pull out into traffic, he stepped on the gas and his horn. We began to weave in and out of traffic at an impressive speed as I held onto the seat in front of me.
“Cash,” her voice trembled, and I pinched the bridge of my nose again. It sounded like she’d been crying.Again. She always seemed to be crying or acting like she or Calen needed saving from every little thing. I knew that wasn’t the case, and I’d made it clear to her and the organization, Calen was my concern. He was my appointed little brother.
“H-he got in another fight at school! They called and said he punched a boy! They told me I need to leave right away to get him. They said if I can’t, he’s going to have to sit in in-school suspension. I can’t leave to get him. Do you think you’d be able to?” As I opened my mouth, mid apology, she cut in.
“I could pick him up from your apartment! I’ll bring dinner.”
“Sorry, Vivienne. I can’t. I have a family emergency I’m heading to. The school said they’d keep him in in-school suspension? I don’t know how long this is going to take. It could be all day. If I can get out in time, I can pick him up.”
She was sniffling, sobbing, really distressed like she was every time we talked about Calen.
“Th-they’re talking a-a-about suspending him!Sus-pend-ing him!He’s only a f-freshman!” She was practicallyshrieking through her sobs, becoming hysterical at work. Internally, I sighed and rolled my eyes. I cared for the kid, for Calen & wanted to make sure he got the best out of life. I knew how hard life with a single mother could be. But his mom…she was where I had to keep the lines firmly drawn. I knew she wanted more, a lot more than I had ever been willing to give, and her voice was grating on my nerves once more.
“I’ll call him.” I said, making a decision as we turned onto Main where the courthouse was just a few blocks away. We’d only been driving for about ten minutes, but we were already so close!
I need this guy’s cab number. Hell! I need his phone number so I can see when he’s working.
