Chapter 43

****Normani's POV****

"Wake up Mani" I heard Dinah say, shaking me. "What?" I said, hugging my pillow tighter. "C'mon girl, we're gonna go see Arin today while he's in there". I immediately jumped up and showered so quickly. I threw on my clothes. Dinah, Lauren, and I had worked all week to set up something so that I could go see Arin and talk about getting him out. Christmas was in a month, and it was too cold for him to be in there.

We drove there and went through a whole bunch of processes so that we could go see him. I was expecting to actually get to hold him, but I guess not. When we were called in with other people to go see our inmates, I saw my worst fear. The phones with glass in between us. I turned back towards the door and looked for Dinah. When I found her I wrapped my arms around her.

"Hey, what's wrong Mani?" she asked. "It's the phones Dinah, I can't do this" I said, trying not to cry. "Baby, you can do this. You need to go see him. He needs you and you need him" She said. I nodded and got myself together. "I'm ready. Tell him I said hi" I said, and then walked in. I saw Arin through the glass, smiling at me. I smiled back even though it hurt to see him in there.

I sat down and picked up the phone, but I didn't know what to say,"Hi Normani. I didn't think I would end up back here. I'm sorry about what happened to us". I still couldn't say anything, "please Normani. I want to fix t-". I cut him off by saying "I still love you". "You what?" "I still love you Arin. I never stopped loving you". "I still love you too Mani. I'm just sorry for the way I hurt you" he said.

"We gotta get you out of here. I'll just show the court that I'm here and tell them what happened" I said, but he shook his head. "I can't leave baby, I gotta handle my business here" he said. "Arin Ray! Yo black ass ain't got no business in jail". "Normani, I just can't. You don't understand what I found in here". "what the hell could you have-" he cut me off. "My dad".

"Are you serious?" I asked, smiling when he nodded. "That's fantastic baby. What's he like?" I asked, "Do you wanna meet him?" he asked and I immediately said no. "I look" he cut me off again, "Perfect, like you always do. I'm bringing him over here". And then I real tall guy came over and sat next to Arin . He was tough and pretty rugged looking, but I could totally see how he and Arin were related. They looked alike in their own kind of way. 

"Wow Arin, she is pretty" he said, making me blush. "Hi, I'm Normani. Arin's....." I paused, what was I to him. "This is my fiance, dad" he said, winking at me. "You still wanna marry me?" I asked, and he just held up his ring that was around his neck on a string. "I wanna marry you soon, within the next year" he said. "I'm sorry, but I never learned your name" I said to Arin's dad. "I'm Mason, but hopefully you'll call me dad one day" he said with a smile.

We spent our hour talking and I really enjoyed getting the chance to know Mason. "I'm gonna get you home, Arin. How much is your bail?" I asked. "We find out tomorrow. That's when I go into the courtroom" he said. "I'll bring you a suit so you don't have to go in with that jumpsuit on" I said. "Thanks baby, hopefully I can get off and come home" he said. "What about you Mason?" "I've been in here since I was twenty-six, and I'm 42 now. I got 25 to life" he said, sighing.

"That means you could get out tomorrow....and I can get you out". "How could you possibly do that, Normani?" he asked me. "My baby went to law school, Dad. She met me before, when she was in majoring in phycology. She got me out with her class's program and we've been together ever since". "How much would your bail be?" I asked. "It's a life sentence, so $1,000,00". "Wow, that's lot more than I expected" I said. "That's okay sweetheart, I've lived in here long enough" he said. I put both my hands up on the glass and they both put one on of theirs onto mine. "I'll get y'all out of here for christmas. It may not be at the same time, but I will get you out".

And just like that, I was pulled out and had to leave. I went back to Dinah and Lauren and immediately broke down. "He's o-okay. He's better than okay. He's alive and still wants to marry me" I cried, hugging them tightly. "That's great Mani" Lauren said. "And he found his dad" I continued and Dinah gasped. "How the hel-" she asked. "He's been in here for 24 years. He's 45 now. That's 21 years. He's got 25 to life" I told her. "How much is bail for him?" Lauren asked. "A million". Lauren gaped but Dinah just shook her head, "I'll pay it". "Dinah, he might not even be a good guy. Don't do it girl". "If you say so. Just let me know if you change your mind".

****Arin's POV(Trial Day)****

I was in the back, showering alone and cleaning myself to the core. I had to look good today for the courts. I had do get home to Normani for christmas. I missed her and was ready to get back to how we used to be. After showering, I was getting dressed in my cell, my dad telling me what not to say in the courtroom. 

"No threatening anyone, not even saying you want to fight them" he said. "Got it" I said, putting on my belt. I put on a white shirt, buttoning all but the last last at my neck. "Tuck your shirt" he said, and I did, rolling my eyes. "Hey, just because your a grown man doesn't mean I won't beat yo ass" he said, laughing a little. "Okay dad" I said, struggling with my neck tie. "Jesus Christ boy, who taught you how to tie a tie?" he asked, helping me out. "I never learned how, only bowties. Normani usually ties em for me". "You really love that girl, don't you?" he asked. "Yeah, she's been with me at my worst and has never complained one time. I love that girl" I said. "Well, go out there and get the hell out. I'll finish my time and then come visit" he said. "Hey, when I get out I'm coming to get you. No questions asked". 

What he did next shocked me. He pulled me into a hug......a manly one, of course. "I'm proud of you boy. You're getting your life together" he said. "Thanks dad". And then I heard someone bang on the cell, "Time to go Ray" he said. I looked at my dad and he hit my shoulder,"Get out there and don't cry unless you need to" he said. I nodded, "Deuces dad". "Peace out, young boy" he said, and then I walked off with the cop. 

Go time baby. I'm going home.