A Day of Uncertainty

Ashley locked the front door of her home, making sure everything was secure before turning her attention to Ender, who was standing by her side, eagerly waiting to leave. She smiled and held out her hand, "Come on, baby, let's go," she said, and Ender grasped her hand, his small palm wrapping around hers. As they walked, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness. She had been dreading this meeting with her lawyer, Rachel, but she knew it was necessary. The court case was looming over her, and she needed to be prepared. Ender, sensing her tension, squeezed her hand, and Ashley smiled down at him, trying to reassure him that everything would be okay. The walk to the lawyer's office wasn't long, but it was enough time for Ashley to go over the conversation they had just had in her head. She thought about the new evidence the prosecutor's office had sent over and the tough questions they would likely face. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. As they arrived at the lawyer's office, Ashley could see the name "Rachel Jenkins, Attorney at Law" on the door. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the meeting ahead. She led Ender inside, and they were greeted by a receptionist who smiled and asked them to take a seat. The waiting room was small, with a few chairs and a coffee table in the center. Ashley sat down, trying to get comfortable, but Ender was restless. He began to fidget, his eyes scanning the room, and Ashley could see the agitation building in him. She knew this look, this feeling, and she quickly moved to calm him down. "Hey, baby, it's okay," she said, pulling him into a hug. But Ender was having a hard time settling. He started to stim, rocking back and forth, and Ashley could see the tears welling up in his eyes. She tried to calm him, speaking softly and stroking his hair, but he was too far gone. Ender suddenly jumped up from Ashley's lap, and she had to catch him to prevent him from falling. "Shh, baby, it's okay," she said, trying to soothe him, but he was beyond consolation. He started to cry, loud, wailing sobs that echoed through the waiting room. Ashley felt a rush of panic, but she tried to stay calm, knowing that Ender needed her to be strong. She pulled him into a tight hug, trying to shield him from the embarrassment and discomfort. "It's okay, baby, I'm here," she whispered, trying to calm him down. As they sat there, Ashley could feel the eyes of the receptionist and the other people in the waiting room on them. She knew they were probably thinking that she was a bad parent, that she couldn't control her child. But Ashley didn't care. All she cared about was calming Ender down and making him feel safe. After a few moments, Ender's sobs began to subside, and he buried his face in Ashley's shoulder. She stroked his hair, trying to comfort him, and slowly, he began to calm down. Ashley took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, and glanced up at the receptionist, who smiled sympathetically. "I think we're ready to see Rachel now," Ashley said, her voice soft. The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone, calling out to Rachel that they were ready. Ashley took one last deep breath, preparing herself for the meeting ahead, and stood up, Ender still clinging to her.