As Silas was escorted into the courtroom, he looked around at the small group sitting the the courtroom, waiting on his sentencing to begin. He'd received two notes from the mysterious blonde. Both were vague, probably intentionally so, in order to keep anyone from catching on if they were to fall into the wrong hands. The notes suggested that someone was planning to help him escape today and implied that that someone would be here at the trial.
The clue that his mysterious helper was a blonde was no help. All four women in the courtroom, all of the women in his life, were blondes. His two ex-wives hated him. He knew Vanessa wouldn't have had a change of heart, but Serena might be crazy enough to want him back, even after the hateful things she had said to him the last time they had met. He hadn't thought his daughters were on his side either, but maybe one or both of them had come around and decided to show some loyalty to their old man.
He studied each woman in turn as he walked to his seat, searching for some clue to who had written the notes, but their faces gave nothing away. He would just have to wait for the signal and see which one was going to come through for him.
"Cassie?" Blaine asked after she had shown no signs of listening to anything he'd said. "Did you hear me?"
She looked at him with a blank expression in her eyes. "No, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"Are you sure you're alright? Are you sure you want to be here?"
"Yes. I need to be here. I just wish I knew what it is I'm feeling."
Blaine reached over and held her hand. She was so anxious that she couldn't hold it still. "I can't imagine what you must be feeling. I know your father did some really horrible things. He even turned a gun on the both of us, but he's still your dad. It's understandable to have mixed feelings. Whatever you're feeling is ok. Just remember everything's going to be alright in the end. Once you get through today it will get easier."
Cassie mustered a smile and clasped Blaine's hand. "Thanks, Blaine. Having you here helps. It really does."
"Thank you, Ms. Summers, you may have a seat," the judge said as Vanessa finished her testimony against Silas. She stood up straight, avoiding any eye contact with her ex-husband as she walked back to her seat. She knew what his expression would be without even looking at him and she didn't want to see his smirking face ever again.
She hoped the judge would take her testimony seriously and not just dismiss her as a bitter ex. She had tried to speak calmly and rationally and she hoped she was able to make it clear that she would never be safe or feel secure as long as Silas was free. He deserved to get the maximum sentence and she hoped the judge would agree.
"Next is Detective Logan Varner. Would you please take the stand?"
Vanessa looked up as the judge called Logan's name and smiled at the police officer as he walked past her. He glanced at her briefly with an odd expression that she didn't quite understand.
"Detective, what did you want to say about the accused?" the judge asked.
"I've been investigating this case since the beginning and I was one of the officers that brought Mr. Rochester into custody when he was holding Ms. Summers prisoner.
"Since he has been in custody, he has been a model prisoner. He has cooperated with me and my colleagues in our investigation and has provided as much information as he could to assist us by willingly answering any questions asked of him. Because of this I recommend that Mr. Rochester receive a lighter sentence. He should pay for the crimes that he has committed, but his recent assistance to the police force should also be taken in consideration when deciding his sentence."
"Thank you, Detective. You may step down."
Logan solemnly rose from his seat. He did not feel good about what he had said on the stands, but he knew it was what he had to do.
When he looked up at Vanessa she was glaring a hole through him. Her eyes were burning with anger and betrayal. He wanted to say something, to explain, but before he could even get near her, she was on her feet and headed for the door.
"If that's all. We'll take a short recess and I will return with my verdict," the judge announced.
Logan started to call after Vanessa, but she had already stormed out of the courtroom.
"How can you be hungry again? I just fed you?" Alma moaned over the screaming baby as she prepared yet another bottle. As soon as the nipple was in his mouth, his crying stopped and Alma breathed a sigh of relief. Quiet at last.
"Isn't that a precious sight?" Edward said as he walked into the kitchen and saw Alma feeding Jeremy.
She just glared at him and changed the subject. "I've been thinking about going back to work. The new semester starts soon, so it would be a good time to go back, but I need to let them know soon."
"You don't want to go back so soon, do you?" Edward asked. "Why don't you tell them you want to take another semester off with the baby."
"Because I do want to go back to work."
I don't think that's such a good idea, not right now. He's still so small. He needs more time with you and I think you need more time to rest and recover."
"Rest? When do I get to rest?" Alma muttered.
"Besides," Edward continued on his own train of thought. "I was thinking if we ever wanted to have another baby, a little brother or sister for Jeremy, we should start thinking about that sooner rather than later. The older we both get, the more risks there are involved with pregnancy and there might not be many more years left when we'll still be able to have kids. Also it might be easier to take all of your maternity leave at once and then go back."
Alma looked at her husband like he was crazy.
"We can hire some help around the house, a nanny, if you want. We would need someone to watch Jeremy if you went back to work anyway." Edward paused when there was a knock on the door. "Well, we can think about it."
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