We kissed, I guess it’s more like we made out, but that’s it. To my surprise, Justin didn’t even try anything else. That’s weird for him, especially since he’s tried to get more from me when I wasn’t even letting him kiss me. I guess this is the new and improved Justin. There’s no reason to focus on that today, we have to focus on Ayden.
When I walked into Justin’s house he was already awake and standing by the stove, frying up some eggs. Seriously? He’s cooking? Someone is in a good mood today.
“Hey,” Justin turned around and offered a smile, “Good Morning, are you excited?”
“Yes, I am. So are you, I see.”
“Yeah,” he laughed, “I didn’t think this day would ever come. Do you think she’ll be there? She’ll be there, right?”
“I would assume so. I mean, I think so.”
“I can’t wait to see her. She’s probably so big. Do you think she’s real big?” he continued without giving me a chance to answer, “I bet she got huge. I hope I still recognize her. Or I guess more importantly that she recognizes me. She better, she has to… right?” I nodded my head but he kept going, “You’ve gotta miss her huh? She’s like your partner in crime.”
I nodded my head again, I do miss her probably much more than I should. But I’ve also seen her since they took her away. I feel really guilty about that, it’s not really fair that I got to see her and Justin couldn’t. I mean she is his daughter.
“I made you scrambled eggs,” Justin smiled, placing a plate in front of me.
“I already ate.”
“What?” he turned around and threw his hands down, “Are you fucking serious? I made them for you.”
I laughed as I grabbed the fork, “I’ll have some, thank you.”
“Don’t fuck with me today,” he smiled as he sat down, “The lawyers said they’ll probably call you to the stand and you should just answer everything honestly, but don’t make me look bad.”
“I know. I’m a little nervous though, I don’t do well in front of crowds.”
“Me neither.”
“What? Since when?” I asked with a chuckle. His whole life is based on him standing in front of a crowd.
“Well talking in front of people, being myself. That’s weird. I’m not used to that.”
“Your new self or your old self?” I can’t really believe I just said that out loud. That was a stupid move on my part; I need to think shit through. I don’t know what the hell is getting into me.
“Both of them,” he answered with a crooked smile, “You’re acting like I got split personalities Sari.”
We finished breakfast and then I went back to the guesthouse to get ready. I’m actually very nervous, I don’t know why. Obviously the lady that gave birth to Ayden is complete trash and there’s no way anyone in their right mind would make Ayden stay with her. I don’t want Ayden to have any contact with her. What if they say she can have visits? Even if they were supervised that would be horrible. I know Ayden is not my daughter and I really have no control over this but this crazy lady would not help anything. She’s already proven to be an idiot.
“You ready for this?” I asked Justin as he parked the car outside of the courthouse. There has to be thousands of people out here only making matters worse.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” he nodded his head before looking over at me and giving me a smile, “You look nice.”
“You look very well put together yourself. I bet she’s going to be wearing stripper heels and a mini.”
Justin laughed, “You don’t have to feel threatened. She doesn’t have a chance.”
“I’m not threatened, I know she doesn’t.”
“Alright. I’m just excited to see Ayden. God, there’s so many fucking people here,” he put his hand up to cover the flashes, “We need to wait for security. I wonder if my mom’s here yet. Have you talked to her?” I’ve never seen Justin this nervous before. He’s freaking out, he’s talking so fast and not even waiting for an answer from me before he keeps babbling. “Oh, yeah, ok there they are, you ready?”
I nodded my head as the security guards came to the door and walked us through the crowd and into the building. We met up with all the lawyers so they could explain everything once again. I just have to sit in the seats behind Justin with the rest of the people so I’m not too nervous. It’s finally starting to get to Justin though, he’ having a tough time standing still.
Once the trial started I was surprised that I didn’t see Ayden anywhere. Maybe they don’t want her to sit through everything, actually she probably shouldn’t. I don’t want her to remember this when she’s older. The crazy bitch who is ruining everyone’s life, or Amber I guess her name is, was wearing a skirt that was way too short and a white button up blouse that wasn’t buttoned high enough to cover her black bra. Classy, very classy. Her hair is huge and 80-ish; I really wish I knew what Justin saw in her in the first place.
As the trial started it surprised everyone when Justin’s lawyer called Ayden to the stand first. I didn’t know they’d expect her to sit in a chair and speak in front of all these people. She’s not exactly shy but what if she says something wrong? I don’t know about this. I would think Crazy Amber’s lawyers would call Ayden up since she’s only a child and can easily be persuaded to say something she may not completely mean. Maybe that’s why they wanted to talk to her first.
Everyone looked around and I felt my heart stop beating when the door opened and Ayden came in the room with Lauren holding her hand. She looked scared at first but her face lit up when she saw her father.
“It’s Daddy!” she screamed and waved at him frantically, trying her hardest to pull away from Lauren. “It’s Daddy! Lauren! That’s my Daddy! Hi Daddy! Can we go see Daddy now?”
“Hey Babe,” Justin waved back with a smile bigger than he’s ever had. It surprised me a little; I didn’t think he’d be so excited. It made me a little teary eyed.
Lauren sat her in the chair and the judge explained to her that she has to tell the truth and speak into the microphone. “Can I go see my Daddy now? Hi Daddy! Look!” she held her hands up so he could she her painted fingernails, “Lauren painted my nails!” she giggled, “Aren’t they cool?”
“They’re beautiful baby girl.”
“Is Sari here too? Where’s Sari?” I waved to her, “Oh! Hi Sari! Did you see my nails?”
“Your honor, can we please ask the questions and spare everyone from the family reunion.” The girl’s lawyer asked. Clearly not working so well on making her look good. He just admitted that we’re Ayden’s family.
“We’re going to ask you some questions, is that ok Ayden?” Justin’s lawyer asked, moving closer to her.
“Um… I dunno, cause I’m not supposed ta talk ta strangers.”
I think everyone let out a collective “aww”.
“Who told you that?”
“Daddy,” she smiled.
“It’s alright baby girl, you can talk to him.”
“OK,” she giggled, “He said Don’t talk to strangers, especially if they got a camera.” she stuck her finger out, moving it up and down with each word, “Cause them is da bad guys, wit the cameras. Cause they come and they say AYDEN, what you doing? And den my picture is on TV!” she threw her hands up, “And that’s bad.”
“Why is that bad?”
“Um, cause then people know me and Daddy said it’s not good when people know me. Cause then they come and they don’t let me play. Huh Daddy?”
Justin smiled and nodded his head.
“What’s something else Daddy taught you?”
“Um… he teach me how to answer da phone.”
“And how do you answer the phone?”
“I say, hello hello I’m Ayden.”
Everyone laughed, “Did he teach you anything else?”
` “Um, he told me to say please and thank you. And not to throw my pop tart at his head.”
The laughter continued and Ayden started giggling. She’s working the crowd already.
“What about your mother? Did she teach you anything?”
Why would he ask her that? Gosh, my heart is beating in my throat again. He shouldn’t have used that word; I don’t think Ayden has realized she doesn’t have a mother yet.
“My mommy? Hmm…” she put her finger in her mouth as she thought, “I don’t have a mommy. But I have a Sari, and she’s even better. She’s my favorite. She’s here, do you see her? She’s right there. Hi Sari!”
I smiled and waved as I felt everyone’s eyes on me.
“Did Sari teach you anything?”
“Oh yeah, she teach me a lot,” she giggled, “She teach me how to brush my teeth. Up and down, up and down. And look,” she showed everyone her teeth, “It works! And she teach me all about bugs, cause I like bugs. Did you know that a cock-a-roach can live for nine days without his head,” she giggled, “That’s silly. Oh! Oh! Daddy teach me how to go swim too! Daddy they don’t let me go swimming at that place.”
“Why not?” Justin asked even though he wasn’t supposed to speak. He’s thinking she’s punished for some reason.
“They have no pool.” She put her hands up and giggled again, “That’s silly.”
I heard Justin laugh, this seems to be going much better than I expected.
“Ayden, did your Daddy every hurt you?”
“No, Daddy don’t hurt me.”
“Did he ever do something that wasn’t nice?”
“Yeah,” oh shit, I spoke too soon, “One time he say get off me, you don’t jump on me. And den one time he say, AYDEN don’t rip dem papers and throw dem on the ground or you gonna go to your room. And I did, and he made me go to my room!”
“Did Sari ever hurt you?”
“Yeah, uh huh,” oh gosh. When did I hurt her? I never hurt her. Now I’m getting nervous, “When she leave me, at dat place. She came over to read to me and bring me Teddy and then she had to go. And that hurt my heart, cause I miss her.”
I felt Justin’s eyes on me as Ayden said that. He looks very surprised; I don’t know how to react.
“Let the jury know Ayden is talking about Sari, Mr. Timberlake’s assistant. The only time she hurt Ayden is when officials made her leave Ayden at the shelter she is staying at when her birth mother decided to fight for custody, leaving Ayden all alone in a home. Now Ayden, do you know this woman over here?”
Ayden looked over at Crazy Amber and shook her head quickly before turning back to our side of the room, “No. I know that lady over there,” she pointed to Justin’s mother, “That’s my Granny! Hi Granny!”
“Let’s try to focus on that lady over here, ok Ayden? Are you sure you don’t know her?”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure. I don’t know her at all. Can I go see my Daddy now? I miss Daddy, I don’t see him for a long time.”
“Do you know why you had to go to that place?”
She shook her head, “They said I hadda,” she shrugged, “But they nice, Lauren’s my favorite.”
Justin’s lawyer sat down and my heart started beating fast again when Crazy Amber’s lawyer came up to question Ayden. Justin is whispering in his lawyer’s ear, I’m sure he’s telling him that he better stop them from asking anything difficult or anything that might make Ayden uncomfortable.
“Ayden, I have some questions too, is that ok?” she nodded her head, “What does your Daddy do for a job?”
“He sings.”
“What happens when he goes on tour?”
“I get to go on a bus and stay in cool hotels.”
“Do you stay with your father all the time?”
“No, sometimes I stay wit Sari too cause Daddy needs his sleep.” That doesn’t sound very good.
“Do you ever watch Daddy when he’s on stage?”
“No cause it’s not for kids.”
“Does everyone know he’s your Daddy?”
Ayden looked at him for a second trying to figure out exactly what the man was asking, “I dunno. I know he’s my Daddy.”
“What about his fans?”
Now she’s really confused but who can blame her. How stupid is this guy? He really thinks that Ayden knows if all of Justin’s fans know about her. What does that even matter? “I dunno,” she’s getting quiet now.
“Did your Daddy ever tell you about your Mommy?”
Ayden’s finger tapped on her chin, “I told you, I don’t got a Mommy. I got a Sari. She see me every single day and she do my hair and read me stories.”
“Everybody has a Mommy Ayden.”
“You’re honor,” Justin’s lawyer stood up, “Is this really necessary, she’s a four year old. I don’t think this is the time nor the place to have this discussion with her.”
“You’re right,” the judge spoke, “This is not necessary, she’s a child. Anything else?” he didn’t wait long enough for a response, “I’m going to have a ten minute recess and allow Ayden to see her father. We’ll reconvene after that. Go ahead sweetie, go see your Daddy.”
Both Ayden and Justin ran to each other like something out of a movie. She jumped up in his arms and Justin held onto her tightly, closing his eyes as if he was really trying to savor the moment. “Are you alright Ayden, did they take care of you?”
“Uh huh, I miss you though. You look pretty Daddy,” she giggled running her hands through his hair.
“You look pretty Ayden,” Justin couldn’t get that smile off his face if he tried, “You got big.”
“Oh. No suh. I’m glad you come cause when Sari come she said you couldn’t and I wanted you to come too.”
Justin looked back at me again when Ayden mentioned that I went to see her, it seems like he figured out a way to get the smile off his face. I hate when he looks at me like that, “I’m sorry…they said I couldn’t tell you.”
He turned his gaze back to Ayden and the smile was back, “I missed you too baby girl, but it’s ok, I’m here now. You’re going to be coming home soon.”
“Like tonight? And we can have a tea party?”
“Yeah,” he answered with a chuckle, “I owe you a lot of tea parties.”
“Yay! And Sari too! And Granny! Hi Granny!” she waved and made her way into Justin’s mother’s arms.
He’s clearly mad at me, but that’s not fair. It’ not my fault, I had to do something and they told me I couldn’t tell him. “Justin,” I grabbed onto his arm as he sat down, “I couldn’t tell you, they said I couldn’t.”
“OK. Go sit down.”
I did go sit down, because he needs to focus on other things right now. I probably should have told him, but I was so worried I wouldn’t get to see her. I could feel someone looking at me so I looked over to see Crazy Amber’s gaze on me. She gave me a half smile before sitting back at her table. I really hate her.
