I barely slept, nervous about meeting with my probation officer. Everything hinged on his course of action—my job and my future. I stared out the window regretting every moment I ever spent with Lisa. I couldn’t lie there anymore and make myself crazy. I peeled Sophia off slowly, covering her body with a blanket.

I rested my hands on the counter, patiently waiting for the coffee to brew. I filled my cup when the glass carafe had just enough to fill it. I’d never been much of a coffee drinker, but Sophia survived on the shit. The cold cement floor of the lanai made me move quickly across the space to an empty chair.

I couldn’t waste any more time or put off placing the phone call to Mr. Haas, my probation officer, I needed to get my life straightened out. He had my fate in his hands. I held my breath as the phone began to ring.

“Mr. Haas,” he said sounding annoyed.

“Good morning, Mr. Haas, it’s Kayden. I need to speak with you today, it can’t wait until tomorrow. Do you have an appointment available?” I asked, hoping that it would be early to avoid waiting around all day, worrying.

“Just come on in, my morning is pretty light. I’ll be here all day,” he said.

“I’ll be in shortly. See you soon, and Mr. Haas... thank you.” The phone disconnected.

“When are we leaving?” she asked startling me.

I didn’t hear her open the lanai door. “Let’s have some coffee and get ready. He said we can come anytime.”

“Good. The quicker we take care of her, the better.” She smiled at me while stretching as I walked toward her.

“I love you,” I said, kissing her forehead. What would Mr. Haas say about all of the messages? I wanted everything to be over with already. I wanted to move on with my life, the life I built with Sophia.

My skin crawled as we walked through the door of the probation office—it reminded me of the shittiest time in my life. I squeezed my hands into tight fists trying to release the tension my entire body felt. I signed in with shaky fingers before sitting next to Sophia in the waiting room.