Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter, I appreciate the support.
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It's been a few days since Beck last seen his kids after dropping them off at Jade's. It was a Thursday morning, he missed a day of work to meet with his lawyer, Conrad. Beck sat quietly as his lawyer examined photos taken on Beck's phone.
Conrad: Hmm, you weren't kidding about their living environment.
Beck: It is just awful, my kids deserve better.
Conrad picked up a letter reviewing the informative writing before looking back to Beck.
Conrad: Lets, say we do take this to court for a custody battle.
Beck: I'm prepared for this, I just want my kids.
Conrad: If you lose this case, Jade is entitled to suing you for child support.
Beck: Child support? I give her money now for my kids, and she spends it on herself.
Conrad: She could get about, three hundred from you a month.
Beck: Three hundred? She's already getting money from the state.
Conrad: Yes, due to her income.
Beck: The state is even paying for her lawyer, she can't take money from me.
Conrad: She could if she wins this case.
Beck: She isn't going to win, and I'm not giving up money from my paycheck.
Conrad: I suggest you start taking note of signs of abuse.
Beck: What are you saying, do we have a case?
Conrad: (nods) I will get into contact with Jade's attorney.
Beck: Thank you, thank you so much. Please, don't let me down.
Beck stood up shaking hands with his lawyer.
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It was an early Saturday morning, Jade had just gotten home from her shift at the Gentlemen's Club. Of course she left the toddlers home alone like always, they were asleep when she left and still were. Jade sat on her bed tiredly taking off her black leather boots. She yawned grabbing the cash from next to her counting it. Jade smiled, she had made enough to pay her light bill, her smiled turned to a frown when she heard banging coming from her front door.
Jade: Shit.
Jade looked around her bedroom for a place to hide her cash. She quickly stashed it in a shoe in her closet. The banging continued at her door as she rushed out her bedroom. Jade knew it was Zeek, she was afraid he'd be drunk. She peeked into the tots' room, it was too dark to see them but Jade heard their soft snoring, she closed their door shut.
Zeek: Jade! Open this damn door!
Zeek continued banging on the door as Jade took her time walking to open it. She unlocked it opening the door, Zeek stumbled inside. Jade could smell the strong alcohol on him, she closed the door looking at him.
Zeek: What the, heeell were yooou doing?
Zeek slurred his words, he burped waiting for Jade to speak.
Jade: I'm going to bed Zeek, you need to go home.
Zeek: Nooo, get out of your clothes you whore!
Jade: Zeek, you're drunk and-
Jade was cut off from speaking as Zeek stumbled onto her pressing her against a wall as he sucked hard on her neck.
Jade: You're drunk, and I am not doing this now. I am too tired.
Jade managed to push Zeek off her, he lost his balance almost falling back.
Jade: Sleep on the couch, I'm going to bed.
Jade turned away to walk back to her room but was stopped by Zeek grabbing her neck. He held a tight grip as Jade struggled to breathe.
Zeek: I'm not leaving until you give me what I want, you filthy whore.
Jade laid on her bed as she allowed Zeek to do his business. He thrust in and out of her with a fast rough pace. She stayed silent. The only noise heard was the wooden headboard hitting the wall with Zeek's pace and his occasional grunts.
Later that Saturday morning:
Jade woke up in bed alone, she figured Zeek had left. She sat up in bed rubbing her head. She stood out of bed and covered her naked body with a robe. Jade took a step forward and felt a shock of pain.
Jade: Ow, oh shit, ow. Fuck.
Zeek was too rough with Jade a few hours earlier. She carefully walked over to her closet to get her shoe with the cash hidden. She grabbed the shoe taking out her money to recount it. Jade smiled to herself, Zeek was too drunk to ask about her money. She sat the cash back in her shoe in case Zeek showed up again. Jade limped out of her room to the living room where the toddlers were.
Cat: No, her didn't say that.
Andre: Yes she did!
Tori: No I didn't.
Robbie: Hi! Hi mommy.
Trina: You not sleep anymore?
Jade groaned as she limped further into the living room.
Jade: Take off those disgusting diapers.
Andre pulled up his t-shirt pointing to his underwear.
Andre: This no diaper, its nighttime undie.
Jade: Well take it off. I can smell your pee from my room.
The toddlers did as Jade instructed, taking of their nighttime underwear. Jade heard the mailbox shut, she figured the mail had been delivered. She painfully limped to the front door opening it to get the mail.
Robbie: Yucky Cat, don't put it in my face.
Robbie frowned as he pushed Cat away from him. Jade closed the door looking through envelopes.
Jade: Stop playing around and go throw it away.
The toddlers took off racing to dispose of their used underwear. Jade came across a familiar envelope from her attorney, she curiously opened it reading the letter.
Jade: Ugh, I fucking hate him!
Jade dropped the mail down as she stomped to her room ignoring the pain from her uterus. The toddlers watched from the bathroom.
Cat: Why her walk like that?
Jade looked around for her cell phone, finding it on the floor she picked it up dialing Beck's number.
Beck: Hello?
Jade: You bastard!
Beck: Got your letter so soon?
Jade: Do you think this is a joke?
Beck: No. But I think your reaction is kind of funny.
Jade: (yells) Why would you tell your lawyer I'm an unfit parent?
Beck: Because you are Jade!
Jade: I am not! Taking this to court will just put me through hell!
Beck: My kids aren't safe in your house.
Jade: It's none of your business of what goes on in my house.
Beck: It is if it's concerning my kids.
Jade: There is nothing wrong with them! They are just fine!
Beck: You keep lying to yourself Jade.
Jade: You think you're a better parent than me?
Beck: I'm the one with a career. When have you ever had a job?
Jade: I have a job, I work Fridays and Saturdays, you know that.
Beck: As what Jade? I have never seen you work. Who watches the kids?
Beck isn't aware of Jade being a stripper, she would never tell him especially now with him trying to take away the toddlers from her.
Jade: I'm a waitress Beck, I told you this countless of times.
Beck: Who watches the kids while you're working, huh? Who?
Jade: I-I-
Beck: You leave them there alone, don't you?
Jade: N-no! I have a sitter.
Beck: Who? It better not be that jerk Zeek.
Jade: A friend Beck! That's who.
Beck: You don't even like them Jade.
Jade: How can you say that? Of course I like them!
Beck: No you don't. Even my mother can see that.
Jade: You don't understand my stress Beck!
Beck: Do you hug them? Kiss them? Do you Jade?
Jade stayed silent, she couldn't speak. She knows she not affectionate towards the toddlers.
Beck: When was the last time you said, "I love you" to them?
Jade: Fuck you Beck.
Beck: Because you know I'm right.
Jade: No you're not! I'm not afraid of some stupid custody battle.
Beck: You never-
Jade ended her call with Beck, tossing her phone on the bed. She heard giggling coming from out her room.
Tori: No, I don't like hot water, I like cold.
Trina: I like hot water.
Tori and Trina both stood on their tippy toes struggling to reach the sink washing their hands in the bathroom.
Andre: Don't forget the soap.
Cat: Don't put it in your eyes, it hurts.
Cat turned to Robbie, rubbing her eye frowning at him, he guiltily smiled.
Robbie: Sorry Cat. I no do it again.
Trina: No, hot water.
Tori: Cold water.
Trina: Hot.
Tori: Stop, cold water.
Tori and Trina fought over the water both turning the faucet. Jade walked to the doorway to see the three year olds have made a mess. Water was splattered on the sink, and floor.
Jade: (yells) What are you doing?
Jade startled the toddlers, they jumped in fear. Trina quickly turned off the water. Jade stood looking angry, or scary as the tots thought.
Tori: I washing my hands. So I can be clean, see?
Tori held up her tiny hands for Jade to see. Jade took another look around the bathroom.
Jade: No. No! No! You don't play in water!
Jade took a few steps into the bathroom, she raised her arm. Afraid of what Jade might do, the toddlers coward in fear. Jade stopped in her tracks looking at them. Noticing their fear, she took another step forward, the tots flinched. Jade thought of what Beck said, she wanted to prove him wrong.
Jade: Come here.
Jade bent down holding out her arms, confused, the toddlers slowly walked to Jade's opened arms hugging her. Jade couldn't believe it. She's never hugged her children, not even when they were infants. Her bitter personality hasn't made her the hugging type. She took in the moment as she hugged the toddlers. Noticing their cute chubby arms and cheeks and wet shirts, Jade didn't want to let go.
Jade: I don't want you playing in the water anymore.
Cat: I sorry.
Robbie: I no do it again.
Jade: Thank you.
Jade unwrapped her arms from the toddlers standing up. She looked down to them looking up at her.
Jade: We uh, have somewhere to go.
Cat: To my daddy house?
Tori: Yay, I miss daddy.
Jade: No.
The toddlers frowned, their lips quivered.
Jade: But if you're good, I'll let you call him.
Andre: On the phone?
Jade: (nods) Go to your room so I can get you dressed after my shower.
The tots smiled as they walked out the bathroom passed Jade.
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Thanks for reading, more to come.
I'm not trying to seem annoying but, can my silent readers at least leave a review? I appreciate the same few people taking their time out to review. I take my time out to write, edit, and post. Can I at least get some thought?
I have so many views and would like to know what others think.