One String Attached

71.

.Riley.

"Mummy?" Liyah calls to me another month later as I sat on the sofa with Autumn in my arms whilst I bottle-fed her. 

Things seemed to have lightened up a little and smoothed over lately. The only thing on my mind now was the whole custody ordeal with Bryson, but I'm sure we'll be able to get over that.
Since James and I managed to resolve things between us properly, I've become a lot more optimistic about the way I look at things. It's not like things can get any worse considering all that we've been through in the past two years as it is.

Autumn was seemingly a lot happier recently as well after taking her to a few music therapy sessions and her health hasn't deteriorated at all like I would have thought it was. She's been doing well and I was beyond glad about that.

The one other thing that bothers me as well is that Aaliyah might be back to her usual self, but that doesn't necessarily mean her ideas about Bryson have completely vanished either.
She's still got this attachment to him - something that's putting her at risk of getting hurt and us losing the case. If they ask to hear from Aaliyah's point of view, I'm not sure how much of a benefit it would be exactly.

She still has those bruises marked on her skin as well and she still thinks of them as tattoos. I don't know what the fuck Bryson did to her but I am definitely going to bring that up in court, no matter who approves of it or not.

"Can I go to this?" she questions, moving to come and sit by my side whilst she held a leaflet in her tiny hand.
I take it from her, unsure of what it was but after reading the bold white font that stood out over it, I bite my lip and sigh.

"You have to ask Daddy, sweetheart," I tell her, brushing my fingers through her hair but then she wrinkles her nose up and pouts, shaking her head.

"But . . . he's not my dad," she whispers. "Everyone's taking their real dads. Violet's taking Uncle Shaye," she states, making me exhale, turning my head around to face James, who was busy helping our five-year-old son with a piece of homework from school.

I would have loved if she was over this - it would make things a lot easier, but I know it's going to take a lot more than James throwing a punch to Bryson's face for Aaliyah to see his true colours.
"Liyah, darling," I sigh, not knowing what I could possibly say to her without making her feel wary of me once again. I'd only just gotten my little girl back a couple of weeks ago. I can't lose her again. 

"Please, Mummy? You don't know what Bryson's really like. He's nice to me," she says wit a pout - which was ironic considering her age. She was the one who didn't know what Bryson was like, not the other way around.
But there was no way I was about to tell her that.

"It's a lot more complicated than that, lovey," I try to tell her, but she only pouts at me more.

"What's going on here?" James asks, raising an eyebrow as he leaves Asher's side to join me on the sofa.
He flings an arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss to my cheek and playing with Autumn's foot as she wore her light pink baby-grow. 

I sigh and pass him the leaflet Aaliyah had passed me, then look between both him and my oldest daughter continuously.

"She wants Bryson to go with her," I mutter, immediately making his forehead crease. I knew it would be like a pang of pain in his heart.

Aaliyah was James's daughter and she always has been, but Bryson's ruined that.
The girl might call James her dad but she knows very well that she's not his blood. She's Bryson's and I think that might be the one thing to bring James down.

Just the look on his face at the brutal sound of those words was enough to make me feel for him, so I move my hand to his thigh, rubbing it softly to somewhat give him a bit of assurance. He raises his head and smiles at me lightly but it didn't reach his eyes and I knew he was getting caught up in his thoughts about this whole situation.

With him, he always tends to put on a brave face for my sake because he doesn't want me to worry - especially around the times when I have a lot going on in itself.
But I know he's struggling too. 

At least with me, I still have the reassurance that Liyah's my daughter.
But with James, he's always going to look at it as though he's taken someone else's child into his own arms - which he has. But he needs to know that he's done it for the benefit of everyone.
If it was Bryson who had brought Aaliyah up, I doubt she'd be anything like the little girl she is now.

Before anything else can be said, there's a rattle at the door - and an immediate one at that. It wasn't just one knock either, it was multiple. I look up at the clock on the cream walls to check the time, only to find that it was eleven in the morning. I wasn't expecting anyone to be come and visit at this time on a Saturday, but I find myself up on my two feet anyway to go and open it up.

When I do, my eyes meet Em's and she shakes her head at me, Wyatt stood by her side.
"Have you heard?" she snaps, walking inside the house which causes me to completely roll my eyes at her, turning around and closing the door shut after the two of them walking in.

"What now?" I groan, making her roll her eyes at me again.
"Sorry about her," Wyatt whispers to me, making me shrug, shaking my head with a light chuckle.

"I would comment on your attitude but I don't have time. Mum and Dad are coming over," she tells me, making my eyes widen.

"Both of them?"
"Yes. Mum's going to stay with you and Dad wants to stay at mine."
"But why?" I question, crossing my arms over my chest.

The commotion gains James's attention and he shortly stands up, making his way over towards us and wrapping an arm around my waist from behind.
"Hey, bro," he says, nodding towards Wyatt who nods his head at him, causing both my sister and I to roll our eyes. Of course the guys were chill about it all. They always are. They've become like brothers lately.

"Emily, you and I are going out for a talk," I tell her, to which she nods her head.
"Uh, yeah, obviously," she states, before I worm myself out of James's grip to grab my jacket, then I carry Autumn towards the buggy before strapping her inside of it and pulling my shoes on.
Meanwhile, James and Wyatt share a confused glance.

"Is it that much of a big deal, Em?" Wyatt asks, and she groans, rolling her eyes at him.
"Yes, it is. Even James would tell you that. If you've met our parents, you'd understand," she tells her boyfriend, making him look at us, slightly taken aback, but my sister plays it cool by pressing a light kiss to his cheek.

"Mummy, where are you going?" Asher asks, walking over to me after jumping off the chair. I smile down at him as best I could and then press a kiss to his forehead lightly.
"I'm just going with Auntie Emily for a walk, baby. I'll be back soon, okay," I tell him, to which he nods his head and smiles.

"Can you get ice-cream too?" he asks, looking up at me and pouting just like his older sister tends to do, and I chuckle.
"I'll see what I can do, love," I state, making him smile, satisfied with that answer before running off, then I feel a harsh tug on my arm.

"Riley, come on! I need to rant," Emily grumbles, making me roll my eyes.
"Alright," I sigh. 

I make my way over to James, placing my hand on his chest and letting him know I wouldn't be long, then he chuckles softly in understanding before kissing me and letting me go.

The moment we step foot outside, Emily purses her lips tightly and exhales.
"We can never catch a break, can we?" she groans, and I roll my eyes, shaking my head.
"Apparently not."