Christian
It's almost 6 and I will say that between the four of us, we have got every single room sparkling, and I've even managed a quick shower and change of clothes. Jack and Tom are bathing the kids as we speak and Molly excused herself and went upstairs to give me privacy which I appreciated.
A knock on the door brings me back to the present and even though I know that everything will be fine and that there's no reason as to why the kids can't stay here I'm still so fucking nervous and more than anything I realize that I'm terrified that they will take Katie away from me and there won't be a dam thing that I can do about it.
I open the door with a smile on my face but inside my heart is pounding. "Good evening Mrs. Peterson."
"Good evening Mr. Bowen, please call me Sally." She has a warm smile and I'm hoping that's a good sign.
"Please come in, Sally."
"Thank you, Mr. Bowen."
She wipes her feet on the rug at the front door before closing the door behind her and instantly looking around the room. "Christian is fine. Would you like a coffee, Sally?"
"Yes please." I head into the kitchen and get the coffee going while Sally continues to check out the room.
"Cream? Sugar?" I call out as she disappears from my view as she walks into the living room. I dont mind she can look wherever she wants I have nothing to hide.
"1 sugar and cream would be great!" She walks into the kitchen and I offer her a seat while I set our coffees on the table and we get straight down to business.
30 minutes later and I feel like I've answered a thousand different questions but if that means I get to keep my kids with me then I'll do it every day.
"Where are the children now, Christian?"
"I start the girl's bedtime routine at 6. Supper, bath, story and bed, and Brody's starts at 6.30. Speaking of which he should be down any moment for his supper. My brothers Jack and Zack are taking care of their bedtime routine tonight while we have this visit."
She smiles at me seemingly pleased with what I've said and on cue, Brody comes running down the stairs with Zack fast on his heels.
"Daddyyy!" He shouts out as he flings himself at me. you'd swear that I haven't seen him for a month when in reality it's only been a few hours but I must admit I have missed him too, I always miss the kids when they're not around.
"You must be Brody?" Sally asks him with a bright smile on his face.
"Yes, who are you?"
"My name is, Sally, I'm a friend of your dad's."
"Why are you here?" Shit, I was waiting for him to ask that.
Thankfully Zack saves the moment when he comes over to Brody and ruffles his hair. "What would you like for supper tonight Brod's?"
"Weetabix and banana!" He shouts causing Sally to laugh as Brody runs off to stand by Zack as he starts getting his food sorted.
"Would it be ok for me to look around?"
"Of course." She leaves the kitchen and heads for the living area while I follow her around like a lost puppy praying she likes what she sees.
Time seems to stand still as she checks all of the house but finally, we head back downstairs. My heart hasn't stopped pounding since she arrived and I keep praying that she's happy because I honestly dont know what more I could have done here today.
She walks back over to the kitchen table and sits in the seat that she was in before she looked around the house. "Would you like another coffee, Sally?"
"No thank you, Christian." She has a warm smile on her face which gives me a little hope as I walk over to the table and take a seat and wait to hear the verdict.
"Christian, you have a lovely home and a lovely family. Just watching how your brothers interact with the kids is warming," This is going good thank fuck! "However." Ahh fucking balls!
"I do have one concern. I have seen that the girls are currently sleeping in your room and Brody sleeps in with your brother Jack is that right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Is this where they usually sleep when they stay over?"
"Yes. After my divorce from their mother, I moved back here and I planned on doing a room out for them but they all love sleeping with either me or one of my brothers and so it's not happened."
"I can understand that Christian, and personally, I think it's really sweet however, for them to stay here temporarily or permanently you would be required to provide them with a room of their own and soon."
"That's not a problem. With my brother's help, I can get a room done for them tomorrow." She looks down at her files writing some notes before looking back up at me.
"Ok, so Christian, I am going to move forward with granting you temporary full custody of Brody and Sophie while we investigate the case. I'm also aware of the fact that you want to keep Katie here with her siblings and I'm going to put forward that you get temporary foster rights for Katie. I will get the paperwork filed in the morning and I will call you tomorrow with a time to go down to the courthouse. The Judge will look over the papers that I prepare and decide if he grants it or not but as long as you get the sleeping arrangements sorted then I don't see reason as to why the Judge won't grant it."
"That's amazing, thank you so much, Sally!"
"Christian, It's clear to me that you love those children and that they are very much loved and cared for here and I dont see any reason to stop that. So tomorrow we will see the Judge and the day after that I will be calling over to check on the sleeping arrangements and I hope to see good results." She gives me a dont fuck it up look but I have absolutely no intention of doing anything to mess this up.
"It will be done. You have my word!"
Not long after I see her out and the moment she's off the farm and the doors closed I breathe for what feels like the first time in my life. Noises from the stairs distract me and I look up to see my brothers and Molly making their way down to me.
"Well? How did it go?" Tom quickly asks and I'm soon filling them in on everything that happened and what Sally said.
"So the only thing that's in the way right now is them having a bedroom."
"Yep."
"Give them the room I'm staying in," Molly doesn't even hesitate when she speaks and the look on her face tells me she's happy to do it. Fuck this girl is really starting to make hating her hard!
"Where will you sleep?" Zack asks.
"You can top and tail with me Molls!" Jack quickly answers but I'm instantly pissed not that I show it.
"Fuck off Jack. You can share with me, baby girl!" Tom saves the day for me once more without even realizing it.
"I don't mind getting a room in town."
"No, no dont be silly, it won't be the first time that we've shared a room or a bed for that matter." Tom's answer only gets me even angrier. Fuck he's gay for god's sake. I really need to sort my head out!
"That's true. Ok, then sweetie I'm up for that!"
We continue to talk for another hour and make plans to start the room tomorrow and once again I find myself insanely grateful for my brothers and the fact that they will drop anything to help my kids out.
Everyone heads to bed while I take some time alone to think through everything but after another hour I can't keep my eyes open so I decide to head to bed to cuddle up with my girls as Brodys in with Tom tonight.
I make sure everything's locked up and all the lights are out before popping my head into Tom's room to check on Brody. He's curled up and cuddled into Tom and they're both snoring their heads off.
I quietly head for my room when a strange noise grabs my attention. I stop and listen and quickly realize that it's coming from Molly's room. What the fuck is she up to? I decide to stand by her bedroom door and listen in on her. Yes, I know I'm invading her privacy but the sooner I can find out what she's hiding and get rid of her ass the sooner I can forget all these fucked up thoughts I keep getting about her.
The thought of throwing her out doesn't sit well with me but it's just another reason to listen in on her right now. I stop outside her room and rest my ear up against her door but what I hear is the last thing that I was expecting to hear and after just a few seconds has me opening her door and calling out to her.
"Molly!"