One String Attached

86.

.James.

I'd taken Autumn out for a walk in the evening. It was late and the kids were currently eating the dinner Ri had made them.
Autumn had been crying non-stop all day so it was only for the best if I took her out for a bit.

We were all stressed.
Asher and Aaliyah hardly had a clue what was going on but Aaliyah was at least a little bit old enough to know it was something to do with Bryson.

She'd been asking questions about it all week, especially after her talk with the judge in private with Emily.
Riley had been trying her best to shake it off and play it down as nothing but I'm not sure how much longer Aaliyah will be willing to believe that for. She's growing older each day and the older she grows, the more curious she'll get.

Normally I would have taken Autumn for a drive instead of a walk but I needed to get some air myself to get my mind off of everything for a bit.
So much had happened in such a small period of time and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Neither was Riley.

She and I haven't felt nearly as separated or as silent as we do now.

We aren't communicating with each other. Every day that passes by feels like we're drifting further and further apart.
We're both trying to hold it together but we're both crumbling deep underneath.

I just want this case to be over with. I want us to have our little girl back, our family back, and our marriage back.
Everything's changed and for once that change doesn't feel like a good thing in the slightest.

I enter the apartment after walking down the high street and around the block twice  and when the door opens, all heads swivel around to face me.

Riley looks over her shoulder from where she was stood by the sink washing the dishes and the kids were sat on the sofa, watching a movie while their legs were tucked up beneath the covers.

Ri turns off the tap and then turns around to face me before making her way over.
"Hey." She leans down to take Autumn out of the pushchair and she holds our daughter against her chest, gently rocking her sideways. "I'm gonna put her in her cot, okay?" she says but I stop her, pulling at her hand lightly.

"Bring the cot to the lounge," I tell her softly, making her tilt her head sideways in confusion. "We can all watch a movie together tonight just like old times. And if Autumn starts crying again we'll be right next to her."

She nods her head in understanding and then passes Autumn back into my arms. "I'll be right back," she whispers so as not to be loud enough to wake our third child up.
She reaches forwards to place a light kiss on my lips before turning around and making her way towards our bedroom to get the cot.

I sit myself down on the sofa which cornered around to where the kids were sat together.
Aaliyah turns her head to face me and smiles, shuffling closer to me before laying her head on my chest. I brush my hand through her hair lightly and she yawns, moving her hand towards her younger sister's to tangle their pinkies together.

"Why does Auti sleep so early?" Asher asks, facing me as well and crawling over on his hands and knees to hold his sister's other hand.

"She's a baby, Asher. She has to sleep early," Aaliyah responds, rolling her eyes at him but smiling all the same.

"When she's older will she be able to play football with me? Aaliyah never does," my son pouts, glaring at his sister harshly before looking at me with curious, widened eyes.

I chuckle and shake my head, kissing the top of his light brown hair.
"No, Autumn's going to be a dancer like Mummy, Daddy and I," Aaliyah says back.