Page 112 of Until Nalia
“Okay Dad,” She hangs up.
“I can’t believe they would show up at the house,” Nalia whispers, and my jaw clenches. I’m not at all surprised that they would come to the house. Late last night, the police showed up at the hospital, and we filed a report with them. We insisted that they make sure they let whoever needs to know that we want charges pressed, since Matthew is a minor, and it was not up to us what would happen to him.
When we get to the house, I pull in and park behind Billie’s car, seeing Matthew’s mom and dad standing at the bottom of the stairs with my parents between them and the front door.
“I’m going to open the garage, I want you girls to go inside. I’ll deal with them and be inside in just a few minutes.” I shut down the engine and open the door for the garage before I get out.
“Why are you here?” I start towards Matthew’s parents.
“The police came to our house,” his mom says walking towards me. “Matthew and his friends are being charged with assault.”
“Good,” Nalia says, and I sigh. So much for her going into the house; the woman never listens.
“Good? That’s not good, he’s a kid. He didn’t even do anything wrong.”
“He locked Zuri behind the bleachers at school. She was so scared that she passed out and had to spend the night in the hospital,” Nalia snaps.
“But he didn’t really harm her.”
“You need to leave,” I tell them before Nalia can say anything else.
“But before you go, you should know that we will be suing you and the other parents for the cost of Zuri’s medical bills and whatever therapy she might need after experiencing the kind of trauma she went through yesterday,” Nalia tells them, and I swear I hear Billie, who is standing just inside the house with the front door open giggle.
“This is so ridiculous; they’re just kids being kids.”
“No, it’s not just kids being kids or boys being boys when someone is actually hurt,” Nalia tells them before stepping up onto the porch.
“He’s going to have to go to court,” Matthew’s mom says, getting loud. I see the little bit of patience Nalia was holding onto draining out of her.
“Maybe.” She turns around and pins Matthew’s parents in place with her stare. “If you had dealt with your son accordingly, one of the dozen times he’s done something wrong, instead of avoiding actually parenting and coddling him, we wouldn’t be here.” With that parting shot, she walks into the house, saying over her shoulder, “Our lawyer will be in touch.”
Fuck, I love her.
“Come on, kids.” She loops her arm around Zuri’s shoulders, then takes Billie’s hand while Cooper glares at Matthew’s parents before he follows the girls deeper into the house. Mom follows them inside and shuts the door while Dad stays out with me.
“This is ridiculous,” Matthew’s mom hisses, turning her glare on her husband. “Why aren't you saying anything?”
He doesn’t answer, he turns and walks to their vehicle parked on the street and she sputters before she rushes after him calling out his name.
“Hopefully, Nalia put some real fear in them, and they’ll think twice before allowing their son to get away with the crap he’s pulled again,” Dad says as we watch them drive off.
“I really fucking hope so.” I pat Dad’s shoulder, then turn for the house. When we get inside, everyone is in the kitchen, standing around the island.
“I’m hungry,” Cooper informs us all, not surprising us in the least, as I walk to Zuri and wrap my arm around her shoulder.
“Are you up to going out to breakfast?” I ask her, and she looks up at me, nodding.
“Alright.” I lean down, kissing the top of her head, then let her go and look at my parents. “Do you guys wanna join us?”
“How about you guys just have some family time?” Mom suggests softly walking over to wrap her arm around me. “Dad and I will be by later to check on you guys.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” She leans up to kiss my cheek, then passes out hugs to everyone, taking some extra time with Zuri before Dad does the same. When they leave, I do what my mom suggested and take my family out to breakfast.
Thirty-Four
NALIA
