When They Cried (13)

Chapter 13 - Against

Caroline had taken the case. It took one week but she finally tracked down a judge that had the time. June and her brothers didn’t dress up. They were going to be themselves. Audrey and Ryan did get dress up though. They wanted to be something they weren’t. During that week, June and her brothers had moved in with Kenny. It was the safest place for them. Behind June were Quinn, Emma, Paula, Tristan and Leslie. They were going fight and testify just for her and only her. The first person called to the stand by Caroline was Jeremiah. Jeremiah made his oath and shifted in his seat.

"Jeremiah, how old are you?" Caroline smiled at him pleasantly.

"Three but I’ll be four in December." Jeremiah looked up at the judge who was scribbling notes. He caught Jeremiah’s stare and smiled.

"Do you love your family?" Caroline’s lips had a peach glow to it. Jeremiah focused on her lips as he answered her question.

"My brothers and my sister. I use to love my mama but I don’t know anymore. My dad I use to worship but I don’t know anymore." Jeremiah shook his little head. He was brave and proud.

"No more questions, your honor." Caroline took her seat. She made her point within two questions.

"Mr. Bakers?" Judge Mach tapped his writing pad and sipped his hot coffee.

"No questions your honor." Mr. Bakers whispered among his clients and grinned. "But I would like to call Audrey Macashire to the stand."

"Sure." Judge Mach nibbled on his bottom lip as he wrote down some more notes.

Audrey took her oath and sat down. Her dress was heavenly on her. Ironed and starched and ready to go.

"Audrey, when you are away who takes care of your children?" Mr. Bakers asked from his seat. He was lazy but he also wanted to point out winning factors to Ryan.

"My daughter. June Macashire." Audrey smiled a smile that matched the dress.

"Isn’t she just a child?"

"Yes." Audrey didn’t know where this was going but she followed along.

"She can’t possibly be able to take care of three growing boys at just her tender age, now can she?"

"No, I don’t believe so because I am their mother. I can do a better job."

"That’s all your honor." Mr. Bakers whispered something into Ryan’s ear.

"Ms. Jacobs?" Judge Mach held his strict posture as Caroline stood up gracefully.

"What is Nathanial’s favorite sport?"

"I am not sure but I think it is soccer." Audrey fiddled with her hair.

"Does Jeremiah wet his bed still?" Caroline knew where she was taking this.

"No. He has nasty nightmares but he doesn’t wet himself."

"Do you think Ryan hurt your daughter? Touch her places where he shouldn’t be touching a little girl?"

"Of course he wouldn’t. He loves her." Audrey was lying to herself just like her mother lied to her. Caroline shook her hair out of its hair band.

"Does Lucas love to sing?"

"Yes."

"Who does Jeremiah run to when he is scared?"

"Whoever is near." Audrey was on the verge of tears. These questions were so open.

"Is it true that you left your previous boyfriends who fathered your first two children because they promised you so much that you couldn’t love them back and Ryan who has been repeatedly raping your daughter ever since he step foot into your lives because he was dangerous and you were insecure?"

"Of course not! He never touched her! She was just seeing things! He loves her. He loves us all." Audrey’s denial was clear for everyone to see. "I left them because they were too proper and they wanted too much!"

"Thanks your honor." Caroline sat down and June gave her a sad look.

"Thank you, Ms. Macashire. This trial is adjourned ‘till tomorrow morning at nine sharp." Judge Mach already had his decision as he pounded and dismissed everyone.
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Tristan and June took the boys for ice cream. They had been so good. Lucas enjoyed the ice cream more than anything. They were smiling and laughing. They had so much fun. Tristan suggested they go out to the lake. It was pretty warm out and mud was slippery and scattered from yesterday’s rain. They had a big mud fight and Lucas enjoyed hitting Nathanial with mud. By the end of the day they were all tired out as they hopped into bed and fell asleep. But tomorrow they would have to fight for everything to be with June. It was unsettling and it felt against their wishes.
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"I told you some shit like this would happen!" Ryan chugged his beer. "The girl is a whore and now she wants your children. I warned you. She turned your own sons against you."

Audrey hugged herself feeling more lonely as she looked at the empty bedrooms.

"She wanted me. Completely threw herself at me so many times." Ryan licked the op his beer. "You know we are going to win right. We just got to convince that judge what a whore she is. Watch when they put me and Andrew up, we’ll prove to them all how much she has lied."

"She turned my own kids against me!" Audrey sobbed onto Ryan.

"I told you so. Now who is the one crying?" Ryan shook his head and cursed.

But really, who were they going to fool?