CHAPTER EIGHTY
(part three)

Wednesday morning – 6:25 A.M.

“Aden?” his secretary’s voice came over the speaker on his office phone. “Your lawyer’s on the phone.”

“Lipson or personal?” Aden looked up from the share report he was reading.

“Samantha Hargreaves.”

“Thanks, put her through,” Aden said.

Aden took a drink of water before he answered the phone. With any luck, the charges would be dismissed today and he could move on with his life. Smiling at the thought, Aden picked up the phone.

“Are you sitting down?” Samantha asked.

Aden beamed. She must have good news.

“Yes, what’s the news?”

His heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced forward to his future dreams – a new school for Nash, marrying Sandy, a new baby, and Noelle’s beautiful unbruised face. He was careful not to pant into the phone.

“They’re holding your hearing TODAY! In an hour and a half. Are you at work?”

“I’m at the office,” Aden said.

“Wearing a suit?”

“I have one here,” Aden said. “But my hearing can’t be today! I won’t get a chance to say good-bye to the kids or Sandy or…”

“You don’t have an option, Aden. This is an emergency hearing. They’re recalling your bail. The DA may have already sent officers to come to get you…”

“Aden?” his secretary’s voice came over the speaker phone. “There are two police officers here to see you.”

“Tell them I’ll be out in a few minutes,” Aden said to his secretary.

“The police are there?” Samantha asked.

“Yes,” Aden said. “I’ll get changed and go with them. You’ll be there?”

“I’ll call Sandy,” Samantha said. “She’s with the kids today?”

“Yes,” Aden said. He felt his heart dropped in his chest. He could barely keep the sorrow from his voice.

“Ok, I’ll see you at the court room.”

Aden dropped his head into his hands. He felt the paper of the financial report against his face. Overwhelmed with emotion, he rested for a second then got up to change his clothing. Using his speaker phone, he called Jacob and Sam to let them know what was going on. Sam came in his office just as he was tying his tie.

“Today’s the first day of the rest of my life,” Aden said.

“Every day is.” Sam smiled. “You’ll do fine.”

“What about…?”

“We’ll take care of everything here. You’ll catch up fast when you get back.”

“And Sandy?”

“We’ve already contacted Social Services,” Sam said. “They can stay with us. Delphie and I have filed to be additional guardians of the kids. You’re going to have to trust us.”

“Trust?” Aden asked.

“Yes, trust,” Sam said. “You do what you have to do and we’ll take care of the rest. When you’re done, we’ll sort out what needs to be sorted.”

Aden nodded.

“Let’s go,” Sam said.

Aden followed Sam out to the reception area. The police officers handcuffed Aden and led him out to their police cruiser. Like the dream of his future just moments before, Aden watched the Lipson Construction office fade from sight.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow…