Page 28 of Adventures in Spring

“You can ask me anything.”

“Why is Sabrina coming around so much? I thought she didn’t like you?”

“I thought so too. She’s a nightmare whenever she comes into the store. But for some reason she’s acting like we’re getting back together. I can promise you I don’t want her. When I left her, I knew I didn’t love her enough to be with her. That hasn’t changed in the five years we’ve been broken up.”

I nod. “It’s just another thing that’s frustrating me.”

“Don’t let it. I don’t want her and I never will.”

I kiss Rhett and settle in for our short plane ride.

“I hope Lorenzo can get a new judge. I feel like if we have the same one, he’s going to side with Seth’s parents no matter what. And that really scares me.”

“I hate to agree, but I do. Lorenzo will make sure that doesn’t happen. He’s a great lawyer and the family has people that will help if we need it. They just don’t use them the way Seth’s parents are using their connections.”

I sigh as the plane takes off. Please let this be over soon.

Rhett

When we land, I have a message from Lorenzo telling us that he got a new judge. And because of the sensitive issue at hand, our new court date is the day after tomorrow. He sounded optimistic about this new judge, so that made both of us feel better.

Tadashi picks us up from the airport and we fill him in on what Lorenzo said.

“How long are you staying?” I ask Kentaro.

“As long as I need to. I checked in with the station here so they know I’m not on duty. I’m here to help my family. I want them to know that you have someone in the police that’s family. Especially after what happened yesterday. I also talked to them about that. They let me see the report and I did update them on the situation. And the fact that these people have never seen the kids up till yesterday. They said they’d keep me posted if they hear anything. How long will you two be staying?”

“Same as you. As long as we need to be here. I brought in an emergency hire for the pharmacy. It’s a guy I went to school with. He works in the next town over and when I asked him, he was happy to come and take over for now. And he said he can stay as long as we need him. So that’s a relief.”

“And my principal said I can take as much time as I need as well. Moving to Wintervale was the best decision I could’ve made.”

“That’s a huge relief. I think Ken’s heading home too. He wants to be with all of us.”

I love how Emiko’s family bands together like mine does. It makes getting through these kinds of situations that much easier.

“Lorenzo said that he was running an hour late but will be here soon,” I say to them as we get to their parents’ house.

Emiko jumps out of the car before Tadashi gets it stopped. And the kids run out into her arms. I grab our bags and then get my hugs in.

“Please don’t make us go back there,” they both sob.

“They kept saying that you’re a bad mommy and that you don’t love us. And that you killed our daddy,” Kaito cries.

Holy fucking shit. Who says that to children? I’m doing my best to hold my anger in, but it’s so fucking hard. I want to go over there and tell them exactly what I think of them. But I know that won’t do any good. So I hold my family and tell them that it’s going to be alright.

Lorenzo pulls up as we’re standing there. I see four people in the car. When they get out I breathe a bigger sigh of relief. I walk over and hug all of them.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I say to Salvatore Mancini.

“I came because I can help. We stopped in at the station. They said that Tadashi Yamaguchi already checked in too. But I know the guys here. We won’t let those shitbags touch your kids again.”

Salvatore is the Sheriff in Lake Renegade. Tadashi comes over and introduces himself to Sal. I say hi to Francesco Bastianini, sergeant at arms for the Cimaruta MC and one of his enforcers, Valentino Marconi.

“Thank you for coming to help us,” I say to them.

“The kids and Emiko won’t go anywhere alone. If those assholes call and say they want to see them, Valentino’s going with them. And if they fight it? They’ll lose. Where they go, he goes,” Francesco says to us.

“Whoa. You’re really, really tall,” Miyuki says as she looks up at Francesco and Valentino.

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