When They Cried (12)

Chapter 12- They Never Loved Us

Nathanial had stated clearly to June that he wanted to see his daddy. And that is what they did. They took the bus to Fay West High School. Nathanial was nervous when he gave June his jacket.

"Don't you want me to come?" She asked him.

"No, I have to do it by myself." He took a deep breath and walked on the basketball court to a tall dark haired man who was blowing a whistle at his team.

"Don't you think you are too small to be here for try-outs?" The man didn't look at Nathanial clearly but he could see it was small boy about the age of six to eight.

"It's me, dad." Nathanial stood up the bleachers. "Remember me?"

"Of course I do." He chuckled as he rubbed Nathanial's head. "You are like seven now, right?" Andrew Chapling turned to look at his son more clearly. Nathanial had skimpy arms, messed up hair and clothes that made Andrew shiver. He never liked that poor life that he had.

"Yeah. Going on eight in January. Today is June's birthday. We are having a big party for her and everything tomorrow." Nathanial licked his lips nervously.

"So you came to invite me?" Andrew laughed as he tapped his clipboard and marked a point.

"No I came to see you." Nathanial fiddled with his shirt. His dad made him squirm.

"Oh, really. Did Audrey ask you to come and beg? Heck, if she wanted money then she could have just asked me face to face." Nathanial's heart burned in his chest.

"I need a reason to see my daddy now?" Nathanial shot back angrily.

"You are too young to understand things, son." Andrew turned back to his clipboard and shook his head.

"Don't say that to me!" Nathanial shoved his daddy. "I understand why you left us. I understand why Ryan hits me and hurts my family. I understand why my little brothers cry every night and wet their beds. I understand what it feels like to be a man!"

"Boy, I can't fix those problems. I have a baby on the way, a stepson that needs new shoes-"

"You don't even care. You don't even care that I cry every night. You don't care that boys at school steal my lunch and beat me up. All you care about is your new rich life. You can have all the money in world but you can't buy what June provides for me. I came to ask you to sign all parental rights to June when she turns eighteen. I don't want your dirty money, your screwed up love, or anything from you!"

"Your sister isn't nothing but a little slut! You are better of with your mother." Andrew wasn't going to be talked down by a little boy.

"My sister isn't a slut and I hope you know that if you don't sign the papers, I'll tell them the secret!" Nathanial was going to win this fight. He had won the pride from his sister.

"You were only a baby!" Andrew barked. "What did I do exactly?"

"You introduced Ryan to my mother when you knew he was a child predator! You watched as he touched June. He would brag to you every Sunday night. Don't you know what hell you put her through? They have to the right to arrest you and Ryan for child abuse and child battery!" Nathanial bounced off the bleachers and gave his dad the finger and walked away.

"You have no proof!" Andrew threw a basketball at his son.

Nathanial caught the ball and ran over the court. He dribbled it a few times then jumped up and grinned when the ball fell through the hoop.

"You only gave me one good thing. And that's playing basketball." Nathanial threw the ball back at him and walked out to see his sister.

"Better?" June asked helping him put on his jacket.

"Yeah. I think he is going to sign those papers after all." Nathanial nodded.
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Everyone was excited that Saturday morning. First, Leslie made the biggest breakfast ever made. Lucas had this loving presence on Leslie. He was stuck by her side. He loved how she smelled and how she cooked with some gracefulness in the morning sun. He was this close to calling her his mommy. Nathanial and Jeremiah finished brushing their teeth and let their noses guide them to the kitchen. June slipped on a nice sundress and socks and sat at the table. Her brothers weren't expected to be nice to her but they wanted to anyway. Audrey and Ryan were still sleeping peacefully when they smelled the goodness. Tristan had just slipped through the front door with something behind his back.

"Tristan!" All three boys ran to Tristan like he was a star. Tristan managed to hold all three boys in his hands. He gave them all big kisses on their foreheads and put them down.

"I can't wait for the party!" Jeremiah was the only one that was still attached to Tristan's side.

"Me either." Tristan scooped Jeremiah up and kissed his little face.

"Hey!" Jeremiah giggled and kicked. Tristan smiled over at June putting Jeremiah down at his seat by the table.

"You know you both have J names right?" Leslie noticed setting the table.

"Yeah because June named us all." Lucas told sitting down to his breakfast.

"You did?" Tristan sat down and smiled.

"Nathanial was named after a great basketball ball that knew his dad. Lucas is named Lucas because he is the guardian of our little family. Jeremiah is named for an explorer. I just thought these names suited them." June forked her syrupy pancakes and took a bite.

"Not use to it?" Leslie asked taking a huge mouthful.

"No...I am it's just that...I have never eaten at such an extent before." June took another bite and let the warmth and sugar fill her up and make her smile.
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Quinn, Paula and Emma were wearing nice dresses and heels as they twirled and smiled. June couldn't believe she was seventeen. The boys were dressed in shirts, ties and jeans with sneakers. They looked handsome. Tristan and Billy wore the same thing as them only they didn't go for the tie. Everyone was happy and the present table looked shimmering to June. The music softly played and everyone sang along and danced. The best part was the birthday cake when everyone crowded around June and smiled as the candle flames lit up their faces. The Macashire boys whispered softly the old birthday routine.

"Make a wish..." Jeremiah began.

"It will come true..." Lucas continued.

"And all your dreams..." Nathanial looked up at June.

"Will come true from now on." June finished as she blew out every candle. Everyone cheered and clapped and the lights were turned back on.

Jeremiah got his face and hands into his piece of cake. Everyone had a big blast as they smiled and ate cake. The presents would be opened later like always. Everyone kissed the birthday girl goodbye and left. Tristan lingered and helped clean up and tuck the boys in. He gave June one long memorable kiss before wishing her happy birthday and leaving.
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The next few weeks were hectic. The boys had a doctor's appointment in which they had to get shots and check-ups, dentist appointments and a meeting with child services. The lady's name is Caroline Jacobs. She wore her hair pinned up and long skirts with dress shirts and heels. She eyed June and her three brothers.

"So, you want custody of all three of them? What about college? Your social and personal life? Your mother and stepfather?" Caroline couldn't believe this case. Not only would it fail in court but it would be a big waste of time and money.

"Yes." June was confident and proud as always.

"You won't win. We need permission from Nathanial's father and Ryan. I am not sure if Ryan will-"

"Listen. You see a seventeen year old girl with three brothers. You see she hasn't even applied to college yet and not even eighteen. She has no job, no experience, and everything that requires her to win custody of her brothers. I don't care about that. All I want is for them to be safe. Even if I can't play mama for them, let someone nicer and smarter be their mama. That's all I want." June wasn't going to break. She had broken down many times in her life but today was her shining moment, and nobody could take it away.

"This could take a whole year to fully develop something for you and your brothers. It's not a jump and go and you shall receive kind of case. We need background, health records, signatures and trials. Do you want to put your brothers through that?" Caroline was trying hard to break June's moment but June won the upper hand.

"My brothers are stronger than they may look. They have been through so much, they can sit on that stand and testify the truth without me being there because they aren't just my little boys anymore, Ms. Jacobs. They are my little men who I love so dearly. They fought so many battles and we are willing to fight this fight. To win back the love they stole us." June swallowed hard and stood up. Her brothers did the same. They walked out. "If you want the case you know where you can reach me."

Jeremiah was the only one that turned back. Lucas and Nathanial knew it wasn't their job. It belonged to Jeremiah to explain to that woman why she should take their case.

"They never loved us like June loves us."
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Do you think she will take their case?