A Second Chance

I'm sorry

That night Jessica really didn't get much sleep.

Oh Sam.. you've been gone a month and I'm already screwing up.

What am I gonna do with him?

... I need you to hug me and tell me that it's all gonna be okay...

***

The next morning.

"Mom, where's Sam?" Micheal asks during breakfast.

"He um.. okay.." Jessica takes a deep breath then continues, "Sam did something last night that was against the law, so they took him to--"

"To jail?!" His eyes widen.

"No! No, he's too young for jail. He's in juvenile. I have to pick him up at noon."

"What did he do?"

Jessica explains what happened and his only response was, "Woah.."

"Yeah, and I feel sick, I'm so worried! He said there was scary guys there." Jessica grabs her head and stomach.

"Mom, calm down." James says.

"This is my fault!"

"No it's not, mom! Stop saying that!"

"It's true. This never happened when your father was here... I can't do this by myself!" She starts crying.

"Mom.. please don't cry." He rubs her back.

"I'm always crying now.. I'm so sorry, I just can't help it."

"No, don't apologise! It's good to cry, I just don't want you to cry because you think it's your fault. You're a great mom and this isn't your fault!"

"Thanks, James.."

Jessica wipes her face and he says, "No problem.. now eat, you've barely touched your food."

"No, I'm not hungry.. " She pushes her plate away.

James sighs and looks down at the table.

Michael looks at Jessica, as she stands up and starts on the dishes.

"M--"

"Not now." James whispers and nods his head to Michael.

Noon.

Jessica drove to pick up Sam. When he came out, he had a black eye.

"Samuel! What happened?!" Her eyes widen.

Jessica softly touches his face and he says, "I'm fine. Mom, I'm so sorry!"

"Someone hit you?"

"Let's just talk about it at home."

"Well I have to talk to them first, they need to tell me when your court date is."

"My court date?!"

"Yes! You didn't know you had to go to court?"

"Well I don't know.."

***

"Mrs. Shepard, we will send you a letter with Samuels court date, but we do have this for you." The woman hands her an envelope.

"What is this?"

"The bill."

"A bill?"

Jessica opens it and it was a bill for a broken window.