Chapter 18 - Before Court
My lawyer prepared me for cross-examination.
“You damaged Richard’s car.”
“Yes.”
“You were angry.”
“Yes.”
“You have a prior bar fight at twenty-one.”
“Yes.”
“You completed anger management.”
“Yes.”
“Could Richard argue you are projecting your childhood resentment?”
“Yes.”
“Are you?”
“Some.”
She looked up.
“Good answer.”
“It sounds terrible.”
“It sounds human.”
Then:
“What did you personally witness before the birthday?”
Not much.
That was important.
I had trusted.
My knowledge of hidden practices came from records, video, Mom, investigation.
No exaggerating.
Then Laura prepared.
She had directly witnessed Dad remove training wheel despite instruction.
Birthday.
Earlier dismissive comments.
No hidden garage practices.
Fine.
Helen was hardest.
She would testify under subpoena and voluntarily.
Dad’s attorney would portray her as a divorcing spouse rewriting marriage.
She knew.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
“Want me there?”
“No.”
Good.
We were learning not to rescue automatically.
Then Ethan asked why Grandma was nervous.
“Grown-up court.”
“Grandpa trouble?”
“Yes.”
“Because bike?”
“Partly.”
“Do I go?”
“No.”
He relaxed.
“Good.”
Then:
“Can I ride orange?”
“Yes.”
We went outside.
He fell.
Scraped palm.
His face crumpled.
I knelt.
“Want me?”
He nodded.
I hugged.
He cried.
Three minutes later:
“Try again.”
His choice.
I held bicycle steady.
“Tell me when.”
“Go.”
He rode.
No lesson.
No speech.
May you like
No applause for toughness.
Just afternoon.
