Chapter 12 - THE CRIMINAL CASEMy case resolved three months after dinner.
Misdemeanor assault.
Diversion.
Parenting-focused anger-management sessions.
Forty hours of community service.
No contact with Vivian except as approved by Monique during the diversion period.
If I completed everything without further incident, the charge would be dismissed.
I accepted.
A few friends told me I should fight.
“You were protecting your daughter.”
No.
I protected Nina when I took her home.
The slap was retaliation.
Words matter.
Nina asked:
“Are you a criminal?”
I almost laughed.
Instead:
“I broke a rule.”
“What rule?”
“Adults cannot hit children because they’re angry.”
“Grandma says people used to spank kids.”
“Different adults argue about spanking. That isn’t what happened. Vivian isn’t my child and I wasn’t disciplining her. I hit her because I was furious.”
Nina processed that.
“Did the judge yell?”
“No.”
“Did you cry?”
“A little.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
“Good?”
May you like
“So you knew it was serious.”
Fair.
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