no choice but to grant twenty-eight days temporary custody to Mr. Stanton in the interest of the child’s safety. Ashley, you are to attend drug counseling before the next court hearing.”
I frown.
He bangs the gavel. “Court adjourned.” Judy snaps his folder and stands to leave the room.
I swallow the lump in my throat and concentrate on the carpet in front of me.
No.
No.
No.
This can’t be happening.
I feel Cameron’s hand on my shoulder. He squeezes it as an offer of sympathy.
I brush it off and stand defiantly. “Don’t you ever touch me,” I whisper. “I hate you.”
Cameron
I sit at the kitchen counter, thinking about today’s court case. Ashley was beyond devastated and, even though I know I should be happy I won, that I can guarantee Owen’s safety…
I feel like shit.
The front door opens in a rush and I hear Natasha’s and Adrian’s voices. I instantly roll my eyes.
Here we go.
Stan is with me already. He came here straight from work after the court case at midday. He knows how low I am.
Natasha comes into view and her face falls when she sees me. “Is it true?” she asks, her voice filled with horror.
I stare at her as Joshua walks into the room behind her. He kisses her on the cheek, but her attention stays firmly fixed on me.
“Answer me, Cameron,” she snaps.
“Tell me you didn’t go through with it,” Murph begs.
I drop my head in shame.
“What the fuck, Cameron?” Natasha yells. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“He’s protecting his child,” Joshua interjects.
“He doesn’t need to!” she yells. “Ashley is a fantastic mother.”
“She’s forgetting to pick him up. She’s working in a strip club one minute and overdosing the next. What am I supposed to do?” I reply in my defence.
“You are supposed to support her.”
“You never forget your kids.”
Her eyes widen in disbelief. She’s looking at me like I’m stupid. “I have three nannies, Cameron. I have security around the clock and I have never paid a damn bill since I’ve been with your brother.”
Joshua and I stay silent.
“Have you two honestly lost your minds?”
I drop my head.
“She’s doing the best that she can. She works in that damn strip club to pay for Owen’s food, and I can tell you right now, if I had no money and no support, I wouldn’t think twice about any job that provided stability for my kids.”
“You wouldn’t work there,” Joshua grumbles.
Natasha turns on him like a crazy person. “I would sleep with the fucking devil to give my kids a home, and you should know that every decent mother on the planet would do the same,” she yells as she slams her hand down on the counter. “Have you two deviated so far from reality with your privileged life that you have lost all compassion?”
“Obviously, they have,” Murph mutters under his breath.
“Shut up, Murph,” I say firmly.
“No, I won’t. This is fucking ridiculous, Cameron,” he snaps. “I can’t believe you are going through with it.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I yell. “You tell me what I’m supposed to do when I know for a fact that Ashley is driving around with Owen in the car, surviving on only two hours sleep, twice a week.”
They all stay silent.
“If he gets killed in a car accident from her falling asleep behind the wheel and I knew that I could have stopped it... I could never live with myself,” I cry.
Natasha drops her head to her hands. “Cam,” she whispers.
“I don’t know how to stop her working there. I don’t have any choice,” I reply sadly. “This is out of my control. I didn’t want to do this.”
“You are doing the right thing, Cam.” Joshua sighs sadly.
Natasha screws up her face. “Would you turn on me like this?” she asks Joshua in disgust.
“If I knew you for one week and you had lied to me the whole time and you tried this shit on with my child… Fucking truth, I would.” He growls.
“Then you’re an asshole, too,” she screams. “That’s it, I’m leaving.” She storms toward the front door. “Adrian?” she calls out.
Joshua rolls his eyes, knowing he’s now in the shit, too.
“Coming,” Adrian calls back. “Cam, I’m telling you now, if you do this, Ashley is gone for good. You can kiss her goodbye. She will never forgive you.” With one last lingering look, he disappears after Natasha and the front door slams behind them both.
Fear rises in my chest.
The house falls silent and I am left alone with my brother,