Christian
The moment we arrive at the court house my heart sounds pounding, I'm so nervous that I can feel my hands getting clammy so I try and wipe them along my jeans as I sit in an uncomfortable wooden chair right outside of the courtroom door while waiting for my solicitor to arrive. I see Molly's hand come across my eyesight as she takes my hand and gives me her beautiful smile.
"It's going to be ok." I want to believe her, hell it should all be straightforward but this is Amy and despite my confidence in her doing what she needs to for the money I can't help this feeling deep in my stomach that something's going to go wrong today. I squeeze her hand then let out a sigh when she leans forward and places one sweet kiss on my lips. She is slowly getting less shy about being touchy with me around my family and I love it.
I nod my head while giving her the best smile that I can manage. "I know, I just can't help but have this feeling that something is going to go wrong."
"That's to be expected, Son, but she wants that money and we all know that she's not going to risk losing it." My dad whispers to me from across the small narrow corridor. We can't let anyone here know about our deal of money as it's obviously against the law and if anyone here finds out before we go in there the signing won't go ahead. "Yeah. but that's what worries me."
"What do you mean?" I almost forgot that Tom was here, he's been so quiet since we got here which isn't like him but I know he's just as nervous about today as the rest of us. "Well she has to sign the papers before we give her the money and we all know how she has been. I don't think she's going to be very trusting so what's to say that she's even going to turn up here and just trust that we will do our part." My mind is whirling with so many different scenarios right now that it's painful.
"You think she'll do something to secure the money?" Molly asks. I look at her and it's clear to see that she's worried too. She got on well with the kids before we were together and I know we've only been together for five days so far but I swear they have got even closer already, especially Sophie, she has really taken to Molly and from what I can see, Molly is loving every moment of it.
Seeing my kids and my girl get on so well makes my heart swell. Unfortantly, Molly didn't really know Katie before we were together, not much anyway which is understandable so they still need to work on their bond and even though Katie is a shy baby she does seem to be slowly coming around to Molly, thank god.
"She's done it before, What's to say that she won't do it again?" Before anyone can say another word the double doors that lead from the main part of the building and into the small narrow corridor that we are waiting in open up and in walks a smug-looking Amy with some tall very well-dressed man holding a black leather briefcase following behind her.
I don't know what it is that she thinks she has to look smug about, not after what she's about to do... sell out her own children and it certainly can't be about how she looks because in all honesty she looks absolutely awful, dirty, untidy and I swear she looks high. Fuck can't she keep her shit together for just one day or at the very least just until this court case is done with?
"Christian. it's nice to see you have to bring back up as usual. Can't you do anything by yourself?" There's a slight slur to her words making me wonder if there's any alcohol to blame for her state... properly that and drugs knowing her. "Why would he do anything alone when he doesn't need to?" Tom stands up and takes a few steps forward until he's closer to her. "Because he's supposed to be a grown-ass man and yet he can never do shit alone!"
She's eerily calm considering how she's talking and for some reason, the edge to her voice puts me slightly on edge while that strange feeling that I have had in my stomach all morning only seems to get worse. "Bitch please, he's raising his children on his own because their mother is a sad excuse of a human and a waste of oxygen, I'd call him an incredible man but either way it doesn't matter because they have the best Dad who's doing an incredible job of raising them along with his family and his girlfriend."
A sour look comes over Amy's face and immediately Jack burst out laughing. "What the fuck are you laughing at?" She spits out the words but it just makes him laugh even harder. Once he can finally get himself together he sits up straighter in his chair and gives her a sly smile. "What's up buttercup? Can't stand the idea of Chrsitan moving on? I wouldn't worry about it if I was you because she's one incredible woman and she's doing one hell of a job looking after Chris and his children." As much as I don't want Amy to be too riled up before she signs the papers I must admit that between Jack's words and Amy's sour face it's almost impossible to hold back my laugh but somehow I manage to.
She looks at Molly then crosses her arms over her chest and lets out a loud scoff, and I just know that she's getting ready to unleash her anger on her but I'm not about to let that happen. Don't get me wrong Molly can more than handle Amy but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try and stop it if I can. I'm not going to stand by and watch anyone mess with my girl and not do anything about it.
"Why don't we all just stay quiet and just get this done." My dad sounds like he's trying to be the voice of reason but I don't miss the edge to his voice, he's pissed! She lets out a huff but stays quiet and takes a seat down the far end of the corridor. The sooner we are away from her the better. Where the fuck is Barlow? Thinking about my own solicitor has me once again looking at Amy's. He looks like he costs a pretty penny and she may be about to come into money but there's no way that she's going to want to pay out for his work.
"Your solicitor needs to get a shift on Chris or you won't have one in there with you because I'm not waiting around!" I go to speak but Tom beats me to it. "Bitch, please! You'll do what is needed and you know it!" I guess that's his subtle way of saying that she's going to do what's needed to get her money and he's right.
"I don't even want to know how you're paying for your solicitor because you sure as shit dont have the money for him and he doesn't look dull enough to let you pay him in kind so that can only mean that you have promised to pay him after and if that's the case then he needs to stick to you like glue after this or he won't see a scent." No one can hold in their laughter at Tom's words and Jack loses his mouthful of coffee to the floor unable to hold it in. I fucking love that boy!
Before any more can be said the double doors open up once more and finally Barlow comes running inside and straight to me. "I'm so sorry Chris, I had to drop Emmy off at her bullet lesson but then she forgot her outfit so I had to turn around to get it and then we hit bad traffic on the way back." I know he's telling the truth because I've known him professionally and personally since I first moved to Houston and he's not one for lying. If anything I respect him for being late right now as he's only late because he put being a Dad before his job and I don't see anything wrong with that. I would certainly do it if I needed to.
"It's fine Barlow, dont worry!" I slap him on the shoulder as he fights to catch his breath, he must have run here from his car. We have already run over everything that will happen in the court and what will be said and required of me so I'm not too bothered about how little time as have before we go in. I trust him with this.
The door to the courtroom opens up as Barlow straightens up his tie and despite my nerves, I breathe a sigh of relief, Finally, we are here, finally, I am going to get my children.