Page 16 (1/2)

Or anyone’s, for that o?" Moht behind , fighting against the pastel straitjacket until I got it overme in a cream camisole and a black pencil skirt "This shirt is hideous," I declared, sto it inside "Letfrom now on"

"Uh…" Mom drawled

Brady stopped in the entryway and planted his hands on his hips "New hearing in teeks The order of protection re

"Charlotte!" Travis yelled, barreling out of the bedroos could carry hio hoaze to his father then right back to etin his eyes

Sing hard, I shuffled to hi for teeks fro, brown doe eyes up atdisappointment stole my breath "I…um"

What the hell was I supposed to tell hio, but he was just a kid He couldn’t possibly understand the inner workings of this kind of hell Truth be told, I didn’t understand the was a clusterfuck of epic proportions

"Because the judge thinks it’s best if you stay with us," Brady replied ords failed aze on ave it a squeeze "At least for two more weeks"

"But hopefully forever," Brady added "You belong with us"

I bulged my eyes at him over my shoulder in a silent, Shut the fuck up, and when I turned back, Travis’s lip was quivering

"But I want ave his hand another squeeze that was as oing to be okay The judge just wants a little while longer to figure all this out"

His shoulders shook as his breathing shuddered, not a tear falling fro his hand, I tried to gather hio!"

"Travis Baby," I whispered, desperate to erase his pain

He tore out ofthe door behind hi

"He’ll be okay," my mom soothed, but her voice was too thick forthe truth

"It’s better this way," Brady said, resting his hand on my back

Swear to God--it burned

"How is it better this way?" I snapped, spinning to face hi!"

"He needs to understand that--"

"He’s ten!" I spat, careful to keep uet a say in where he should live?"

He twisted his lips "Yeah But--"

"But nothing! He doesn’t understand And he’s never going to understand why you kept hiood and decent man"

His face turned hard "Don’t start this shit, Charlotte You got played You have no fucking idea who Porter Reese really is"

"Neither do you!" I hissed "But I can guarantee you our little boy does"

"Charlotte," To away froh the room "All of you!"

Brady looked surprised

Tom looked hurt