Chapter 24 - MAEVE TESTIFIES WITHOUT MAKING ME A HERO
Maeve wore a navy dress.
No boys.
They were at preschool with a trusted caregiver.
She testified about pregnancy.
The agreement.
The false letter.
The years of payments.
Why she stayed away.
Then defense.
“You accepted money from the Ferretti family?”
“Yes.”
“You agreed to confidentiality?”
“Yes.”
“You understood Luciano had not signed the agreement itself?”
“Yes.”
“So you knew Octavia was acting separately.”
“I believed Luciano had signed a separate acknowledgment.”
“Did you ever verify?”
“No.”
There.
Then:
“You could have filed a paternity action.”
“Yes.”
“You did not.”
“No.”
“Because the money was useful?”
“Yes.”
No shame.
Then:
“You brought the twins to a private club knowing Luciano would be there.”
“Yes.”
“To force a confrontation?”
“To reach him before Octavia stopped me.”
“Did you hope he would see the resemblance?”
Maeve paused.
“Yes.”
Good.
Truth.
Then the chain.
“Did you permit Silas to work?”
“No.”
“Did he carry plates?”
“Yes.”
“Why not simply leave?”
Maeve’s face changed.
“I tried.”
The defense objected to characterization.
She explained:
Club staff told her she was trespassing.
Octavia threatened police.
Maeve feared being removed while her sons remained in the service area.
She stayed close.
Could she have called 911?
Yes.
Why not?
“I was scared of what the Ferretti name meant.”
Then the attorney asked:
“Yet now you co-parent with Luciano.”
“Yes.”
“So maybe your fear was exaggerated.”
Maeve looked toward me.
“No.”
Then:
“Luciano had to learn not to act like power makes him safe too.”
Silence.
I deserved it.
The prosecution did not rehabilitate me.
They did not need to.
The case was about Octavia.
May you like
Maeve did not turn me into a rescue hero.
That made her more credible.
