“Are those supposed to be bamboo whistles?” Katy asked. I shrugged, having no clue.
“Let’s begin, Kumbhakasana,” she called out, and I stared around the room as did most of the rest of my group except for Everly, Sophie, and, to my utter surprise, Lara, who were already moving into whatever position that was. “Remember to inhale as you come into a high plank position.”
I followed the others. “Why don’t they just call this push-up position?” I asked no one in particular and several people shhhh-ed me.
“What’s with the bells? I feel like Quasimodo,” Lara moaned. “Hell, I think that I’d prefer John Mayer over this, and I chose a cat in heat over John Mayer on my latest BuzzFeed quiz.”
“Shhh,” Willow hushed the entire room, but I knew that she was speaking to us, the non-model students.
The rest of our class kept going while the eight of us pretended to follow along. “Very good, let’s move into Ardha Chandrasana, remember to keep your eyes on your hand on the floor then slowly lift your gaze when you feel your chakras are aligned,” Willow instructed.
“Another pose?” Stella asked. “I’m already sweating like a whore in church. Can we get some AC in here? And what the fuck is a chakra, I’m a nurse and I’m pretty sure there has to be a medicine to cure it. Can I spread it to Tristan?”
“Quiet back there, please,” Willow said softly.
“It’s like a half-moon,” Everly whispered. I watched her but saw nothing half-moon about it.
Katy and Leo were cracking up and fighting to hide it. “Umm, there’s nothing half-moon about this. It’s more like the Planter’s factory is having open house,” Katy said before collapsing on her mat, laughing too hard to stay upright. “We have our very own pppeanuttt man.” Katy bubbled with laughter.
“Holy shit,” Leo gasped as she tried to stay in this weird triangle position, kicking one leg up.
“What’s so funny?” Stella hissed.
“Come see for yourself.” Katy gave a head tilt, and like a bunch of rodeo clowns, hopping one over the other, Stella moved into Leo’s spot, Leo moved into Katy’s, and Katy moved one down into Everly’s, who ended up in Stella’s place.
Stella stared at the man in front of her and grimaced. “Great hairy balls of China, dude!”
Aaron
“Where are we going?” Ireland asked, as I fixed my tie.
“We have to go talk to a judge, but don’t worry because Miss Karen will be with us.”
She nodded while mumbling, “Don’t leave me, please.”
Kneeling, I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her into a hug. “I will never leave you. I’ll be right next to you the entire time. We’re meeting with a judge named Martin Cree, do you know him?”
“I think so. I think he’s been to the house before.” Ireland pinched her eyes as she tried to remember back.
The ride to the courthouse was quiet, and I held her hand as we walked around the building and then was jerked back by the tug from Ireland’s hand as she dug her feet in at the base of the courthouse.
“You okay?” I asked.
She studied her shoes. “This is where my dad worked. Do I have to go?”
“I’m sorry, yes. The judge may want to talk with you.”
“Why? I don’t want to talk to him.” Ireland’s face was a mixture of confusion and frustration. “I want to be left alone.”
Bending to her height, I placed a hand on each shoulder. “I know you do. You are so brave. We’re almost done with all of this and then you and I can decide what we want to do, okay?”
“You promise?” Her lip trembled as though she expected me to tell her anything but what she needed to hear.
With one index finger, I gestured as if to cross my heart while I told her, “I promise.”
Jameson was waiting for us as we got to the top of the steps. Since she was my attorney, I knew she had to be ready to play hardball, but I wasn’t sure exactly how Jameson interpreted that phrase. I held the door for the ladies to go in and then swallowed down my nerves and followed, Ireland never once letting go of my hand. I had not been in a courthouse since I was sixteen and asked for emancipation from my mother. But it still had the same vibe that felt as if someone was watching you.
After going through the metal detectors, we took the elevators up to the next floor, and Jameson talked the entire way.
“Okay, like I explained before, the judge is going to talk with Karen first and then he will speak with you Aaron. He will want you alone so that he may ask you candid questions.” The elevator opened and we headed left down the hall. “Ireland can stay outside with Karen and me. Finally, he’ll ask Ireland if she would like to speak to him alone or if she would like you or Karen in chambers with her.”
“I want Aaron with me,” Ireland interrupted.
“That’s fine, honey, you don’t have to speak to him alone, it is up to you. Then lastly, we will all be in there together for his final ruling on the case. Then that’s it.”
“Miss Lane, the judge is ready,” an older woman said as we came to a stop outside his chambers. She held open the door for us, and we all took a deep breath before moving forward.
Judge Cree was younger than I had expected. At most, he was in his late thirties, and he was in shape. He wasn’t wearing a black robe, just normal clothes.
“Mr. Martin,” Ireland called out and ran to him.
“Hey, sunshine, I’m so sorry. How are you doing? Your wrist looks like it hurts.”
“It does, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Nope, I guess there isn’t. Let’s all sit so we can get this started.” Judge Cree continued to hold Ireland
