Page 22 of An Eye For Illusion

He played bingo as well but didn’t win tonight.

“You have to try this,” I say, and Melanie breaks off a corner and hands it to him.

He looks at me questioningly.

“I know, I know, but I made an exception. Try it. It’s totally worth it.”

“I think that’s the best fudge I’ve ever eaten!” he says as Melanie giggles.

“I just said the same thing!” I smile.

“I swear Brenda must put something sketchy in them because they’re too darn addictive,” Carol says as she comes up beside us.

We all burst out laughing at that. Boy, I hope not, but I’m already craving another piece, so maybe she’s not too far off.

I dust the crumbles off my t-shirt as I gather the bingo supplies. Melanie and Carol talk about tomorrow, and I can’t help but be curious.

“I’m nervous because I won’t have an attorney, and I know Tony hired one,” Melanie says. I furrow my eyebrows in concern.

“I know, my dear, but all you have to do is go in there and tell the truth,” Carol says.

“What if it’s not enough? What if they grant him custody? He can’t have Noah. He just can’t.”

“That won’t happen. You have the pictures and the police reports. Don’t let him get into your head like this. You have the full support of the center behind you.”

“I know you guys support me, but I can’t use any resources from here because he’ll find out where we’re staying. This is the first peace we’ve had in years.” Her earlier happiness is now gone. In its place is desperation, something I know all about.

“All you can do is tell the truth. Be open and honest. That always prevails,” Carol says reassuringly.

My heart dips when I think, but what if it doesn’t?

I’ve seen plenty of times where the truth doesn’t prevail, not when someone else has a good enough attorney to spin the story.

I reach over and gently wrap my fingers around her arm. “It’ll be okay,.” I try to reassure her myself.

Her sad smile as she whispers, “I hope so,” tugs so strongly at my heart that I almost blurt out who I am. I almost ruin my cover to give this woman some kind of hope that I can help her, but I don’t.

“Mommy, mommy! Can I have some more?” Noah asks as he comes running up to her side.

“Not tonight, sweet boy. It’s too late for you. It will keep you up all night.”

He whines. “Please? I promise to go to sleep like I’m supposed to!”

Melanie picks up her little boy and speaks into his ear. “What if we make a deal? How about you have some for breakfast?”

“Really? You’ll let me have it before you go to your important meeting?”

“Yep! As long as you promise to be good for Ms. Carol while I’m gone,” she says.

“Okay! I’ll be the bestest boy in the whole wide world, mommy. I promise!”

Melanie looks just as defeated in this moment as the day she came here, beaten to within an inch of her life. “I need to get this one to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, Carol. Jade don’t be a stranger. You’re my bingo good luck charm.”

“Any way I can help, please let me know,” I say, meaning every word.

Her sad, responding smile and choked, “Thanks,” is all she says as she heads off to her room with Noah on her hip.

As soon as she clears the threshold, I turn toward Carol. “Why can’t she get a public defender?”

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