Lauren's P.O.V.
Well I guess you can say I enjoyed my weekend. I made sure we spent every second possible together and I must say, it made me see a lost more clearly. I'm really seeing how any decision I make can seriously affect my family. Even with this realization, I still don't regret my actions and I wouldn't change what I did. I protected my wife, and honored that vow I made to do so on our wedding day.
I feel like our time together has been helping Mani deal with her own issues as well. She told me she's going to make an appointment with a therapist because being around people without one of us is beginning to make her anxious. That's a great step for her to make to ensure this incident doesn't control her life. With it being Tuesday, I've been getting increasingly more nervous about the trial. I'm not ready for prison. A holding cell was hell so I can't imagine what a real prison is like. Normani and I still haven't decided on whether to tell the kids about what's going on. On one hand, I want to tell them but on the other I don't want to scar them for life. I don't want to be absent from their lives and they hate me for it. I don't want to leave her to raise them without me, no matter how long my sentence is.
At first, we thought this was being handled as a felony but I lucked up and it's being categorized as a misdemeanor. Since it's a misdemeanor, the max I could go to jail for is 1 year if I'm found guilty. That raised a huge weight off my shoulders because when we were thinking I was getting charged with a felony, I was looking at 4 years max. I have Paul to thank for that, thank god, he's good at what he does.
Today we've been going down a list of people to use as a character witness. The best person we both feel would be to use Hanna. Hanna and I were together and have known each other for a long enough time that she's a good fit. I also picked her because Hanna has never really seen my temper in all these years so if she's questioned about if I'm a violent person, she can answer no honestly and they can't grill her on anything. Only thing is, she has to know some of why I'm going to court. I also got lucky because that bastard has a shitty lawyer. Paul told me that he could also charge me with great bodily injury or some shit because I did cause injury but the only thing I'm getting charged with is the assault.
The fucking idiot probably has one of his idiot frat brothers or something representing him, which works in my favor. Mani has been acting better but she's still been sick on and off for the last few days. I think it's because she finally got a date for when she's supposed to go on trial against this asshole. She doesn't have to go until the beginning of next month so that gives her some time to relax about it hopefully.
As I suspected, Normani was going to try to bury herself in my case. I had Aiden distract her since she just couldn't help herself. Aiden has been an amazing support system and I'm so proud of him for stepping up and being there for her. I know she will be okay with him around if anything happens to me.
I just left lunch with Paul and he put my mind at ease for now. I'm on my way home right now and I'm hoping to just lay with Mani for a while. Mani's job gave her an entire month off with pay after what happened. The firm has also put new rules in place if working late and installed cameras almost everywhere. It made her feel like she'll be safer once she goes back and I'm glad.
Mani's P.O.V.
My first session with my therapist was…amazing. I didn't tell Lauren I was going today but I'm not purposely hiding it, I just forgot to tell her when I was going. I'm thinking I should have done this a while ago, just to express myself to someone who's an outsider looking in. I feel good today, I feel like myself.
I've felt like I've been counting down the days until Lo has her trial and it's been making so sick. I can't eat, I barely sleep and I just feel exhausted. Then on top of Lo's trial, I have my own. Granted it is further away, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it. I will have to lay eyes on that fucking scumbag and recite the small amount of details I recall from that night. I don't know how I'll be able to even sit in that room with him without attempting to murder him. He's trying to destroy my life so why can't I end his? Oh god, I sound like Lauren.
I think today may be a good for once. On my way home, I grab some food for myself since Lauren went to lunch with Paul. I may as well try to eat today. Maybe it will stay down. As I turn into the driveway I see Lauren's truck parked in its usual spot. I go inside the house and I'm surprised by what I'm met with. Roses. Roses everywhere. And I mean everywhere. And balloons…
"What the…?" I quietly mutter to myself as I slowly close the door.
"Hey gorgeous." I hear Lauren say through the barrage of flowers and balloons.
"Wow. What's this for exactly?" I ask. She comes towards me and shrugs.
"No particular reason. Because I love you? I guess that's not enough for you huh?" She says with a smirk.
"It's been awhile since you've done something nice without fucking up. You didn't fuck up right?" I ask.
"No ma'am. Just love you. What did you get to eat?" She asks.
"Just a burger."
"So do you like it?" She asks and I nod as I move towards the kitchen counter to smell a bouquet.
"These smell amazing." I say.
"They should. Now go get changed into something comfortable." She says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Do what I said or you don't get the surprise." She says and I chuckle.
"I'll tell you again, like I've told you for the past 10 years. Your dick wrapped in a bow is not a surprise." I say with a smirk.
"Stop ruining shit and do what I said or I'll leave without you." She says and I chuckle.
"Fine but can I eat my burger first." Lauren shrugs.
"As long as you can finish it in 15 minutes." She then sits at the island. I grab my burger from the bag and join her at the island.
"Is that a gut buster burger from Gary's?" Lauren asks as I get a plate from the cabinet.
"Yeah, I was craving one today. Don't know why." I bring the plate over to the island and place my burger on it.
"I didn't know they were still open." Lauren says as I take a bite of this piece of heaven.
"You haven't had one of those since you were pregnant." She stares at me directly in my eyes as I chew. I swallow a bit of food before responding.
"Are you implying something?" Lauren shrugs.
"You've been puking all over the place and now the burger. When was your last period Mon?" I roll my eyes and continue to eat my burger.
"We just went through this. I'm not pregnant Lauren. I'm stressed the hell out! Plus, that would mean I was…at least almost 3 months pregnant because we haven't had sex in god knows how long!"
"I think your math is off. I haven't seen you PMS or anything in at least 2 months." I roll my eyes again.
"Lauren for the last time, I'm not pregnant okay?! Now can I eat my burger in piece?" Lauren sighs and nods.
"Sure. You have 11 minutes left." She says as she looks at her phone.
After I finish my burger I go change into my running gear. God I've put on weight from not running. They're almost too tight. Guess that will be the last burger for awhile. Lauren gets in the driver seat of my car and makes me put on a blindfold. No idea where I'm going but I'm getting sleepy not being able to look at anything. We've been driving for a while and Lauren has been singing to the radio, making sure to direct any romantic lyrics, and some sexual, towards me. It's kind of romantic but mostly funny. I haven't heard her sing in so long, it was nice. I play with Lauren's fingers for most of the ride and after what seems like an eternity, we come to a stop.
"Okay, you can take it off." I take the blindfold off and wait for my eyes to adjust. I'm not able to open them outside so Lauren directs me inside a building…I think. Lauren has me sit down then goes to speak to the woman at the front desk. My eyes finally adjust to the light and I stand up and look around. Everything looks so…zen. Where the hell are we?
"Come on Mani." Lauren says to me she stands beside a woman. The woman then begins to walk and we follow. As I catch up to her I ask
"Is this a spa?"
"Yes ma'am. It's time for you to relax so I'm going to have them help you out." I look at her and she just smirks at me. I can't do anything other than shake my head. I kiss Lauren's cheek then continue to walk. I haven't been to a spa since my second Mother's Day with Aiden. I loved it but I never had the time to come back. This was nice of Lauren and it gave us the opportunity to spend time together without thinking of the possibilities to come.