My dad put his hands on my shoulders and gripped them tightly. "Are you ready for today, Isaac?" He asked me. I nodded my head as confidently as I could.  My dad chuckled slightly. He knew I was lying. He couple probably feel me shaking. 

"It's alright," he said, stepping in front of me and straightening the tie around my neck. "You're going to be fine. Just tell it the way it happened. Plus, Cecilia will be there to help you if you get tied up."

If you haven't already guessed, it's the day of the trial. I was dressed in a suit that my dad had rented and I was wearing shoes that were way too small for me. The suit kept coming  unbuttoned in places because some of the fabric was ripped. My face was three shades paler than it was supposed to be.  I probably didn't look like the most cleaned up kid. I can promise you that I didn't look even remotely professional. 

There was nothing I could do to change that. My combination of nerves and overall sloppiness made it look like I hadn't tried for three hours to make myself neater. I even attempted on my own to stitch up some of the fabric. 

Just so you're aware, that was the most stupid decision I have ever made in my life...ever. If anything, it made me look like I was sloppier. 

"I know I'll have Cece there." I said, my voice shaking a little bit. "But who's to say that she won't get tripped up too? I don't want to depend on her, either way. I can take care of myself." I added, a little more determinedly. I gently pushed my dad away from me and continued to straighten my tie on my own. 

My dad looked at me, his head tilted slightly. "Your mother would have been proud of you." He said quietly. I swallowed. "I look like the best man in someone's wedding ate his suite and then threw it up on me." I said, trying to change the subject.

My dad allowed himself a laugh, but it was weak and sad. I walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder. He looked down at the wedding ring on his finger. He still wore it, even if my mother was dead. I still wore my mom's old necklace sometimes. 

"What do you think she would say about this trial?" I asked, hoping this would make him smile...at least a little. "She probably would have attempted to sue the government, if I'm being honest." My dad told me. His mouth twitched.

Bingo. I kept him talking. 

"So I wouldn't have had to go to this trial?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows. "Oh, no. You would have gone. Your mother was fiery, but she was no idiot. She wouldn't have wanted to land either of us in jail, after all."

I grinned. My dad grinned back at me. He quickly wiped a tear out of his eye. "You know, you look a lot like her." He said.

"Are you saying I'm feminine?" I snapped sarcastically at him. He let out a loud, bark-like laugh. "I definitely wasn't expecting you to make a joke out of that." He told me. 

I grinned. "I guess I'm a pretty surprising person." I wiggled my eyebrows.

My dad shook his head. "You'd think that I would have gotten used to surprises after dealing with your mother for so long." He said. "You know how she told me that she was pregnant with you?" He asked me after a moment.

Okay, obviously I was not going to pass up this perfect opportunity to make a rather rude and dirty joke. 

"Wouldn't you have been able to figure that out on your own?"
"Isaac, I swear--"

"I mean, you guys couldn't have had me without--"
"Isaac!"
"And since I'm such a great product, it must have been a long--"
"ISAAC!"

"Okay, okay, I'm done!" I shouted as my dad threw his hand over my mouth. I struggled against him, screwing up my suit even more.

My dad let go of me, laughing. "Just like your mother." He said quietly, shaking his head. "Always full of dirty jokes."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I learned from the best."