"She did What?!"
"I need you here. If there were ever a time we all needed to come together, it's now."
"Darling, it is 7am, and I am still trying to wrap my head around all of this. I'm still not completely convinced this isn't some twisted joke you all are trying to play on me."
"Believe me, I know."
"I love the girl with all my heart, but she can barely keep a house plant alive...you're absolutely positive she adopted a child? Are you sure it wasn't a dog?"
"Is that the Spice Girls?"
"...don't judge me, it's the only thing keeping him calm at the moment. Now focus here...why I always gotta be the last to find out everything from you bitches?"
"Because most of the time you're across the ocean!"
"You know, one of these days, somebody really needs to invest in a device that can connect people all over the world. Oh wait..."
"I cannot do this without you. If we don't get to Kentucky, Schumer is going to be the one representing us. I'll let that sink in for a second."
"Goddammit. You owe me big time for this. If I miss Christmas in London, your ass is on the line!"
"I will buy you a first class ticket myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I flip again to my other side, trying in vain to get comfortable. Releasing a huff of frustration, the digital clock stares back at me, as if mocking me. It's 2:30 in the morning, and I've now spent the past...three hours tossing and turning in an attempt to fall asleep.
"Don't let me go!" Brielle cries out as I grip her hands on the ice.
"Baby, I promise, I'm not letting go." I reassures her with a smile.
"There we go, you got it! You're skating baby!"
Brielle smiles as she watches Ben wiz pass her before losing control and slamming head first into the wall. Her laughter cannot be contained as she attempts to make her way over to him.
When shots of us at the skating rink start showing up all over the internet, I'm not even mad. I'm only reminded of how happy we are.
Laying in bed, I play with the locket around my neck.
The last twelve days flew by in a blur of family activities. Dad was released from the hospital on December 15th, and given a bill of good health.
It's not long at all before everyone is completely won over by Brielle and as attached to her as I am. In less than a week, it feels as if she has always been with us. Brielle belongs, and none of us can imagine a life without her.
"Blainey, Mimi says were supposed to put the popcorn on the tree, not eat it!"
"Yeah, Blainey!" I chime in.
"What if he gets angry and knocks me off?" Brielle frets as she sits upon the horse.
"Not even a chance of it happening, I promise. Sugarcane is totally gentle and relaxed...just like you."
Our days are filled with ice skating, horseback riding, movies, board games, and more laughter than I can begin to imagine.
"There's my girl. What's the story tonight? Let's see here...Officer Buckle and Gloria? Great choice!"
After my father returns home from the hospital, it becomes a nightly bedtime ritual that Brielle curls up with him so he can read her a story. Watching them together brings back memories of my own childhood spent reading bedtime stories on Daddy's lap.
I look back over at the clock again. Ten after three in the morning and I'm still completely wide awake. We're due at the courthouse in eight hours.
Looking over at the empty side of my bed, I frown. Liam had left on Thursday to fly back home to Australia for the holidays, and I miss him already. Laying alone in the dark, all I want is him to hold me and tell me everything is going to be okay.
The thought of losing Bri has me wanting to throw up everywhere. If I was to lose her at this point, none of us would be okay.
I try and remind myself that there's not a chance in hell any judge in the world would give her back to her mother in place of living with me. In less than two weeks time, the meek, dirty and helpless child I first met has made a complete one eighty.
Brielle Davis is loved. Not just by me, but by everyone who meets her. She receives three meals a day, has clean clothes, and a warm bed to sleep in each night. Brielle has toys to play with, a tv to watch, and hasn't once been spanked, yelled at, or subjected to any kind of drugs or alcohol abuse.
As a result, she has flourished. Brielle slowly comes out of her shell each and every day. She learns to open up and trust, she laughs and smiles daily, she goes to bed each night feeling safe and secure.
By the end of the third day, she begins calling my parents the same as Ian, Mimi and Pop.
By the end of the fifth day, she stops asking about her mother.
As a result, I have no choice but to believe that the state will rule in my favor. But, still, in the back of my mind, when I lay awake at night, doubt manages to creep in. Because at the end of the day, biologically, this child has no relation to me. It doesn't matter that from the moment I laid eyes on her, she became my child, in the eyes of the court, blood trumps love.
I don't end up falling asleep until 6:30 that morning.
"Jenn...come on Jenn, Mimi says I'm apposed to wake you up."
I officially felt like death.
"What?" I horsely whispered. I glanced over at the clock. Eight o'clock on the dot. I had officially gotten an hour and a half of sleep.
It was like a bad hangover. My head pounded, my eyes hurt, and I was in a confused haze. I had roughly two hours to get my Shit together and pull this off.
Brielle crawled into my body, and snuggled up to me. Closing my eyes, I laid in bed, mentally preparing myself to get up.
"You know, you're certainly not going to be winning any court cases looking like that."
Sitting up, still convinced this was a dream, I sat up in bed and put my glasses on.
Liam was standing in the doorway with a tray containing a plate of breakfast, orange juice, and coffee. I simply stared in disbelief.
"I don't...I...what...you...how?"
He chuckled. "We celebrated early this year. There was just no way I was going to leave you to do this on your own. I told you from the beginning that I would support you."
He walked over to the bed and kissed me on the forehead as he set down my breakfast in front of me.
"I love you." I whispered.
"I love you too."
"Jenn?"
"Yeah?" I answered, a pony tail in my mouth as I brushed Brielle's hair out.
"Can I have perfume? I like the way you smell." She asked, causing me to smile.
"Absolutely."
I brushed her dirty blonde, wavy hair in a side ponytail, and dabbed a few spritz of my perfume on her neck and wrists.
We walked back into my bedroom, and I sat her on my lap.
"Okay..." I began, thinking about how I wanted to explain this.
"Do you remember when we were watching Wizards of Waverly Place, and I explained to you that the girl who plays Alex is Selena Gomez?"
Brielle nodded.
"Well, Selena is someone who is famous, because a lot of people watch her show and know who she is. And when you're famous, a lot of people want to know about you."
"Mimi says you're famous." Brielle remarked.
"Yes, I am. Liam and I both are. So when we go to the courthouse in a little bit, there's going to be a lot of people with camera's. It might be a little scary, but I want you to know that I am not going to let anything happen to you, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
"I'm going to hold you in my arms, and try to get us through the crowd as quickly as possible. I just need you to hold onto me."
I hated that I was going to have to subject Brielle to this madness, but I knew someone had to have tipped off the press. There were already multiple pictures in the media trying to decipher the situation.
"Jenn, things are going bat shit crazy out here. I'm dodging calls left, right, and center. I'm trying to hold everybody off as long as I can, but eventually this is going to come out. I think it'll be better if we have a plan."
"God...Okay, what do you suggest?"
"Pick an entertainment journalist you hate the least. I'll put some calls in and arrange for an interview right after the adoption hearing is finished. I'm sorry, I hate this just as much as you do, but at least this way we stay in control."
"Alright fine...get in touch with Horowitz. I'll meet with him."
Picking up a small jewelry box, I revealed to Brielle a gold locket that matched mine.
"This necklace, is going to help you stay brave. Whenever you get scared, you just hold onto this necklace and think of me." I explained as I clasped the gold around her neck. She hugged me tightly, blurring her face in my neck.
"I love you, Jenn."
"I love you too, Brielle."
Downstairs, relief and joy wash over me when I find Hutcherson and Laura in my living room.
"You know I wouldn't miss out on the chance to support you." Josh whispered as I hugged him tightly.
"Thank you."
"Alright, people, it's Showtime!" Ben announced to a living room full of people. "Sheriff Maywalt just called, and the paparazzi are ready and waiting to pounce. Now his guys are going to do everything they can and use whatever force necessary to ensure our safety, but just be prepared. Blaine, you, Kaitie, and Laura are riding with mom and dad. Jenn, you, Brielle, Liam, and Josh are riding in the minivan with Becca, Ian, and I. We clear?"
Everybody agreed, and after Dad lead us in a quick prayer, we headed to the waiting cars.
Jennifer Lawrence was dressed to kill.
With her brown hair up in a neat and tight bun, she wore a maroon colored, form fitting, knit sweater dress with a large black belt. In four inch heels, she was over six feet tall.
She had made sure to make Brielle look the best she could. That morning, Jenn had dressed her in a green, long sleeved, knee length, flowing silk dress. She then paired it with a pair of black leggings, and black ugh boots. After a fresh bath that morning, Jenn pulled her hair into a neat, naturally wavy, side ponytail. And as they pulled up in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse, Jenn could see the mob of reporters and cameras. Taking a deep breath, Liam squeezed her hand.
"Let's do this."
The screaming was deafening.
Police officers were everywhere trying to control the situation, and people on the streets were stopped and gawking as they tried to figure out what all the commotion was about.
I unbuckled my seat belt, and exited the car on the left side, facing the street.
"You be my big brave girl today?" I asked Brielle, my voice slightly panicked as I unstrapped her from her car seat.
"Uh-huh, I will."
Looking into her emerald eyes, I knew this the last few seconds of calmness we had.
I kissed her forehead. "Baby just hold onto me."
I picked her up into my arms, and felt her grip her body around mine tightly.
Everything came in slow motion.
I couldn't find a pathway up the steps.
"Make room for God's Sake! She has a child!"
"Jennifer! Jennifer can you please give us some insight?"
"Jennifer how do you think adopting a small child will effect your career?"
"Is this a foster child?"
"Jennifer are you giving up your career for motherhood?"
"Jennifer! Jennifer!"
My name was ringing through my ears. I could feel Brielle digging her nails into my neck as she hid her face from the flashes. We were halfway up the cement steps when a flash went off directly in front of my face.
"Cause me to trip while I'm holding this child in my arms and I swear to God I will break your camera!" I screamed.
We pushed through the crowds, with security pushing reporters aside, and finally made it to the door. Making our way inside, the screams and shouts became background noise.
I placed Brielle onto the ground and bent down to her level.
"You okay? Are you hurt?" I questioned, checking her over. She wasn't even crying.
"You told me to be your brave, big girl. So I was."
I smiled softly. "Yeah beautiful, you were."
We made it through security with thirty minutes to spare before our case was to be heard.
Looking up to the top of the stairs, I'm completely perplexed when I see Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Banks, and Julianne Moore.
"What in the hell..." I question, unable to finish my sentence. Already, the tears begin to form as I hug Anna.
"I can't believe you're here."
"I tried to talk her out of it. You see how well that worked." Aubrey sarcastically states. I look over to her and laugh.
"Good to see you Aubrey."
"We're here for you Jenn." She whispered as she rubbed my back mid hug.
Looking over to Elizabeth and Julianne, it's all I can do to stare as my tears fall. Elizabeth hugs me first.
"Liam called. Julianne and I agreed Katniss deserved proper representation for her battle."
Hugging Julianne, she kisses my cheek. "I am so incredibly proud of you. You're about to embark on an incredible adventure."
I nod my head as I begin to wipe my tears away. The rest of the family, makes their way up the steps and begins to exchange greetings.
"Hey, I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick, you got her?" I ask Liam.
"Yeah, no problem."
I begin to walk towards the bathroom, when I hear the door open, and the deafening screams of the paparazzi once more. It catches my attention, causing me to stop briefly at the top of the stairs.
Standing, I look down to see Emma, Amy, and Adele being checked in by security. Amy catches my eye. She looks up at me and simply shrugs, as if to say "What else did you expect?"
I cannot stop crying. My hand is covering my mouth as I try to stop the sobs from escaping.
The girls make their way up the steps, all three with tears in their eyes as well. Emma pulls me into her arms tightly, and we stand in the middle of the courthouse, hugging and crying. The amount of support from my family, colleagues, and friends, completely overwhelms me.
"It's three days before Christmas." I cry.
"And?" Emma laughs as she pulls back from me and dabs at her eyes. "Christmas comes around every year. You're my family, and I love you."
"I love you too." I tell her, hugging her once more.
Looking over to Amy, her tears make me want to cry even harder.
"Hey there beautiful." She whispers through her tears as she wipes mine away.
I hug her tightly. "I love you so much." I can barely get the words out through my chocked up breathing.
"I love you too baby girl, so much. This is possibly the craziest idea you've ever come up with, and I totally support it."
I can hardly bare to look Adele in the eyes, knowing how difficult it had to have been to leave her family.
"You did not have to come here." I sob, shaking my head.
"Darling, there is nowhere else I would rather be right now, come 'mere." Soothingly, she wraps her arms around me.
"Besides, Emma footed the bill, it was no problem at all."
It's the first time that morning that I'm able to fully laugh.
"What in the hell..."
Adele is in the middle of fixing my make up when I look over to see a female security officer.
"Y'all are all here for the Lawrence/Davis adoption hearing?"
"Yes!" All nineteen of us respond.
"Well bless your hearts, come on in."
Adele put her hands on my shoulders and looked me square in the eye.
"Lawrence, it's time to kick some ass."