One String Attached

88.

.James.

"Riley is the sweetest mother I know. She's the kind of mother I want to be. She's the kind of sister who makes me want to have children. She lets me see all three of her children every weekend if not every other day after school, and she never fails to talk to me if there's a problem.

She might get stressed out every now and then but every parent does and all it does is show that she's human. She's had her fair share of distress, pain and hurt over her time but her only focus is to make sure Aaliyah, Asher and Autumn don't get affected by it. She aims to protect them at all costs and it's clear just how much she loves them and they love her equally as much. 

She and her husband, James, couldn't be better parents, and I've watched them tackle the current situation between themselves and Aaliyah's biological father, Bryson, for over a year now, and Riley's been inevitably strong through it all. A lot of other women in her position would have given up a long time ago but her children are her motivation and she's never stopped fighting. 

I've struggled having children of my own for a long time now but I treat Riley's children like they're my own and she loves to see me spending time with them. They never seemed to have any worries or problems until the situation with Bryson Peters came to light and it's clear having him in their lives would create a toxic atmosphere for both the children and their parents. 

They've done so well up to this point. I would hate for everything they've built to crumble after everything they've been through together as a family, excluding Bryson."

The Judge puts Emily's statement aside and offers both Riley and I a warm smile.
She had calmed herself down a little and so had I, causing her to let out a soft sigh of relief as she rests her head on my shoulder. 

I wasn't at all shocked by what my sister-in-law had written. She was bound to say the truth and bring personal events into it to make it fully believable.
Emily wasn't the sort of person who would present her feelings to the open world as easily as most people, so if she did it indicated that it was a very important cause to her. 

I notice Bryson sulking from behind the podium where he was sat but it was enough to make me smile on the inside. He was getting what had been coming for him for the longest possible time now, and I couldn't be happier about it. 

Nathan had a smug grin across his face. He tries not to make it obvious but I knew my brother and when he leans over to whisper something into Riley's ear quickly, I had full determination that we were winning this, no matter who had written a statement on behalf of Bryson.
The only backup he has is Whitney and his twisted friends. Other than that, no one would take his side and I would make sure of that.

"Well," the Judge begins. "I must say this statement in particular is very much eye-opening to the situation at hand. After taking every aspect of the case regarding Aaliyah Davis, it has come to my understanding that Mr. Peters could potentially be found as guilty if no opposing evidence is put forward by his solicitor," he says, looking over towards the booth Bryson was stood behind with those accompanying him. 

As I look over to them too, Whitney's eyes fall on me and she offers me a seductive smirk which immediately causes me to look away and focus on the Judge again.
I was just hoping Riley hadn't caught onto anything with Whitney these past few days. The last thing I want after this is for our marriage to begin breaking down again because of my actions. Actions I regret more than anything to be precise. 

"My client could potentially be found guilty of what exactly, your honour?" his lawyer queries, drawing me back into the room and my surroundings. 

"Sexual assault," the Judge responds bluntly. 

He doesn't hesitate in looking towards Riley and nodding at her. We had provided him with evidence of the bruises Riley once had on her back all those years ago so we had the upper hand.
I knew it was difficult for Riley to be taken back to those times but I couldn't be prouder of her for getting herself through all of this. 

"Not only breaking into property but also kidnapping children. Two successful and three attempted. You have put a young nine-month child at risk of being abducted and you caused unnecessary to a loving family.
"Must I mention your spontaneous arrival at their home on the date of 26th May at 10-00 hours where you indirectly verbally abused a young mother in the presence of her husband only to then result in physically harming him, leaving a mark on his face at the exact time as Mrs Davis walked down the stairs with her youngest daughter. You also proceeded in damaging a young girl's skin with bruises, convincing her to think of them as tattoos." 

I cringe at the thought and glance down at the same time, remembering that very day last year like it was yesterday.
"The damage you have permitted the family is unacceptably indecent and for that there will be consequences," the Judge continues. 

Riley and I both breathe out, finally able to let out a sigh of relief.
Nathan holds it in for a while though, probably because he had heard these kind of things before and knew it wasn't quite the end of the case just yet. 

"The Jury and I have been acquainted with much supporting evidence regarding child custody and additional events taking place within the past decade between Mrs Davis and Mr Peters, but the one source of data we never seemed to have been equipped with is Aaliyah Davis's DNA test," he says, immediately making Riley and I furrow our brows in confusion. 

What did they need a DNA test for? Bryson's name was on her birth certificate. He was her father. Riley conceived after having sex with him. We've known it for years. 

"Although we have been presented with a birth certificate there is no precise or official statement to claim Bryson is the definite father. Until we are presented with a piece of evidence regarding her DNA, this case will not continue further," he states.
He nods his head and then turns away to make his way out of the room, leaving us all to sit in an uncomfortable silence with nothing but a silent confusion swarming us. 

If Aaliyah's DNA was compatible with Bryson's what would that mean?
Does that make it more likely for him to have some sort of custody over her? 

I look to Riley but she was still processing everything. 

Of course, there was the smallest possibility of Aaliyah being mine but we had never considered that as an option before. It made more sense for Aaliyah to be Bryson's. Plus, if the doctors and nurses were correct, Riley had conceived ten days after the last time she had sex, unless they got the dates wrong.

If they had, then I guess thinking about it now, that could have been with either Bryson or I...
We just never thought of it that way in the past... 

She looks up at me and goes to say something but I just couldn't stay here.
I'd lived almost a whole eight years thinking Aaliyah was Bryson's. I had to live with the thought that she wasn't biologically mine. 

My family's been put through so much danger and risks because of a man we always thought was Aaliyah's father. But now there's a chance he was never truly involved? 

It could have always been me...
But I never even considered it...