Healing
Friday
Judith, Eric and Aaron enter the front office. "How may I help you this morning?" the office clerk greets.
"Good morning, we need to update Judith's emergency contact information and we have a teacher conference scheduled," Eric responds.
"Sure…here are the forms you need to complete and I will let her counselor know you are ready," she hands them a clipboard and a set of documents.
Eric checks the appropriate boxes and begins listing emergency numbers and health care provider numbers. "Judith, do you have enough snack bar money? Are you sure your lunch is big enough?" Aaron asks.
"I am carrying a mini-ice chest-I have enough food. I never go to the snack bar but I think five dollars should last for a week," she confirms.
"Jude, the five dollars is for today," he clarifies.
"Oh..," she doesn't get to finish because the counselor calls them to the conference room
The teachers introduce themselves and identify the class they teach. They each praise her hard work and the recent improvement in her performance. "Is there anything we could do to help?" Eric asks.
Ms. Karen, the English teacher, speaks up, "I know this sounds quaint but Judith would really benefit from being read to on a daily basis. She works hard but there is a word deficit. She has not had access to good literature. If she could hear the richness of the language combined with the opportunity to use the new vocabulary regularly I know she could bridge the gap."
Eric smiles brightly, "Done, is there a specific list or can we create our own?"
"I will create a list based on her assessment scores but I recommend you start with something she likes," she suggests.
"Judith is a strong athlete. Our seasons are over but maybe the Parks & Recreation has something. I suggest track and field but maybe there is a sport she is interested in already," the PE teacher offers.
They bring the meeting to a close and prepare to leave, "Remember Eric will pick you up and you have all our numbers so you can call if you need anything," Aaron over explains. She nods and they stand awkwardly.
"Can we take a picture?" she asks quietly. This feels like the first day of school.
"Absolutely," they all bring out their phones making sure each one captures the moment. Judith pauses before she grabs each one by the waist and squeezes them tight. She jogs down the hallway in search of her friends.
Mike enters the lobby of his old law firm. His eyes roam the posh décor and the hallowed names on the wall. He tries to remember the hopes and dreams he had for himself and his life when he first started. His mind draws a blank because he had no hopes or dreams; only a calculated plan to project a vision of his life that was not of his own making. He ponders if he ever had a vision of what he wanted or was it always who the Good Reverend decided he should be.
"You ready to do this?" Andrea's voice interrupts his musing.
"You have my money?" he replies. She hands him an envelope with a cashier's check for the maximum amount she can authorize without Philip's signature.
They make their way to the managing partner's office. The greetings are exchanged and they take their seats. "I have to say I am extremely curious about the nature of this meeting," the aging attorney opens the conversation.
"I needed to…no, I wanted to come forward and prepare the firm for the vile, reprehensible actions of my husband that are soon to be exposed," Andrea introduces in a shaky voice. This performance has to be pitch- perfect. "The allegations against my husband are true and the DA in Kings' County has an air tight case she will bring before the court. He has accepted a deal and his allocution to the charges is guaranteed. I am a victim and our previous junior associate, Mike Owen, is a contemporaneous witness to my pain and suffering from his emotional and sexual abuse," she finishes.
"Sir, she is correct. I tried to provide assistance so she might escape the hostile environment but as a classic abused woman she would not extricate herself from the circumstances. My knowledge of her abusive relationship is one of the reasons I left the firm," he provides. Maybe I can create a way back in.
"How much exposure are we talking about? When is the trial date? Are you prepared to take action now?" the managing partner's tone is shrewd.
Andrea weeps softly, "We will need a full public relations campaign. The trial is likely within the next month or two; and yes I have the courage to take action now."
He picks up his phone, "Get the crisis team in my office yesterday." He looks back to Andrea, "I know you are scared but we can get this done. Mike thank you for coming forward," he stands and shakes his hand.
"I was glad to help," he returns the gesture.
Late afternoon
Eric waits in the pick-up/drop off lane. He taps his finger against the steering wheel. He hears the bell and the escalating sounds of adolescent chatter and laughing. He turns to the left and watches Judith hug her friend. She searches the line of vehicles before walking briskly toward him. He pushes the lever to lower the window, "You ready?"
Judith pulls the passenger door open, "Yes," she greets sliding into the seat and securing her seat belt.
"How was your day? Anything exciting happen? Do you have homework or a special project?" I cannot stop rattling.
"Today was good…I need to revise a paper," she replies.
"Would you like some help?" he asks.
"You would go to the library with me?"
"Is the library where you like to do your work?"
"How else would I get it done if I didn't go to the library?" she tilts her head with a curious squint to her eyes.
"We have a desktop, laptop and a printer in the office," he explains.
"I didn't know I could use those," she mumbles.
He waits until he stops at the intersection and turns to the left, "Judith, you do not have to do things by yourself anymore. Anything in the house you can use. If you need help you just have to ask; although, I wouldn't ask Aaron about math. It is not his best subject-but you did not hear that from me." They both laugh.
She glances over, "Can we stop by the station? They don't know where I am and Ms. Denise will worry."
He nods, "Next stop Kings' County Sheriff Department."
Tyreese stands in the middle of the expansive athletic field. He is dressed in layers of sweats to ward of the fall weather. He blows his whistle and the kids move to the next athletic station. "Excuse me, are you Coach Williams?"
"I am," he extends his gloved hand, "You are?" he asks.
"I am Ms. Karen…the English teacher. I was unable to complete the progress reports before the end of the school day but I promised the children I would deliver them to the field," she laughs, "They were clear that you would not accept excuses."
"Thank you I am trying to instill a set of expectations and standards," he explains.
"You have been successful or I wouldn't be here," she compliments.
"Thank you…if I have questions may I contact you?" he scans the pages quickly.
"Of course, my contact information is included and I know my colleagues will be responsive as well," she turns to leave and calls over her shoulder, "This is a good way to use your retirement #85."
Saturday
"Rick," Michonne calls. She is on her hands and knees inserting electric socket plugs. He enters the den with a bowl of banana pudding and a spoon secure between his pouty lips.
He withdraws the spoon from his mouth, flips it over and licks off all remnants of the sweet treat, "What?" If she wants out of here on time she needs to stop showing me her ass.
She watches in fascination and tilts her head. Is he trying to get me riled up or just enjoying his food?
She shakes her head to dislodge her sexy thoughts. "This coffee table has sharp edges so we need to move it to the parlor…plus I don't like it in here. I changed my mind about the curtains in the dining room. I need to finish the socket plugs…did you finish the cabinets?" she runs through her mental checklist.
"I am almost done with the childproof locks for the bottom kitchen cabinets and then we need to finish preparing the nursery for painting before we head out. We need to stop at the Folks to borrow their drop cloths," he retreats to the kitchen.
Daryl leans back in his recliner completing a course assignment. He hits submit and calls for Sasha. She enters the room and crawls into his lap over the arm of the chair. He chuckles, "Hey Sweetheart," he kisses her cheek.
"What's up Baby?" she chirps.
"We need to get our stuff together?"
"What stuff?" she shrugs.
"We are engaged and planning or you are planning our wedding. Should we be living together?" Please say yes.
"Do you want to live together?"
He uses his finger to lift her chin so he can look into her eyes, "Sasha, we are having this conversation. No hinting…no secret messages or expecting me to read your mind," he states.
"Fine…" she takes a deep breath, "I think we should live together."
"Okay…which one of us is moving-do you have a preference?" She shakes her head.
"Alright…I want my garage and my recliner so you can move in and decorate. I will lift, paint and re-arrange as much as you want. Deal?"
Sasha straddles his lap, "Deal," she covers his face with kisses.
"I wanted to show you the room I picked for their naps," Ms. Jolene explains.
"This is nice…the sunlight is wonderful…you didn't have to go the extra mile and re-arrange your home for baby naps," Michonne chuckles.
"It was not any trouble at all. Now that we have a trio I am glad we made the space," she smiles softly, "I was thinking about painting maybe," she trails off but doesn't really finish.
"Ms. Jolene, are you okay…I know we are all worried but we just have to focus on healthy babies," she states.
"I know those babies will arrive safe and sound because God cannot be that cruel," she stares out the window.
No...Bless her heart.
"I always wanted more…Rick was so perfect. We tried…it never happened and we didn't discuss it. We just poured everything we had into Rick and he fulfilled every parent's dream so why complain. For a long time I felt cheated, but now I realize this was God's plan all along and it is so much better."
Michonne stands behind her and embraces her around her shoulders. "Our babies have the best grandma ever with all her special, perfected love." Jolene reaches up and uses her hands to squeeze Michonne's arms.