There's Always Second Chances

Chapter 23

I fiddled with my tie. "Nervous?" asked Andrea as she straightened it out for the fifth time. We were under a lot of stress. None of us knew how  to react to being in a court room. We've only ever seen them on the TV shows that Andrea made us watch. All of which were undeniably interesting in their own way. 

We stepped into the room and took our places at one of the desks allocated to us and our defence lawyer. "Ready or not?" whispered Andrea in my ear. "Ready," I whispered back. We watched as Delilah got tugged into the room by her handcuffs. Her eyes locked with mine and her mouth stretched into a wide smile. Her eyes looked crazed. I couldn't find a trace of guilt in her as I looked at her. We were all still shocked when we found out she did this all because of hating her own ancestry. What a twisted reason to hate foreigners. Why would you want to pretend to be some pure bred American? How disgraceful to your ancestors and to the woman who raised you none the less. 

I refused to look away. I wouldn't show her how afraid I was. I wouldn't show her the pleasure of seeing me crumble. I took a quick look behind me where I saw Nikolaj and Lars looking after Naomi. Lars gave me a thumbs up and a small smile. Naomi wasn't making any noise and being really good. They had everything just in case she did start showing signs of crying. 

"All rise for the judge," called out one of the people standing in front of the judges box. We went through all of the details of what Delilah was to be tried for. What her version of events were and then it got down to my turn. 

"Adrian Lawson, do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" asked the person holding out the bible to me. I placed my hand onto it and swore the oath to tell all of my truth. "When did you meet Miss Hernandez-Ellis?" asked the lawyer who was pacing in front of me. 

I thought about it. I need to be careful with how I word things. Anything I say could get taken out of context or twisted to mean something else. "I met her 4 years ago." I responded. I couldn't tell you what day of the year or what month. I wasn't really counting all that. 

"Were you and Miss Ellis friends?" the lawyer kept probing question after question. I told him everything. No, me and Delilah weren't friends. No, I did not in any way want relations with Delilah. No, I did not consent to sex with her. No, I did not consent to any drugs. No, I did not have a baby with her out of love. No, I did not pressure Delilah into giving up Naomi to me. 

I didn't like his questions. I was beyond tired when we finally got to the break. I was nervous to what their result of their deliberation was going to be. Delilah should get locked away so I'll never have to see her again. I don't wish the death penalty upon her because that's bad karma. 

"What if she gets away with everything? What if her saying she confesses to everything is a lie?" I asked. Lars walked over to me and handed Naomi to me. I held my baby girl close to me and cradled her against my body. It seemed to have a calming effect. I will protect you with everything I have Naomi. It's a pity that the person I'll protect you from is your Mother. 

"Don't over think it, I'm sure she'll get charged with something. She tried to kill me. She definitely deserves some payback after that," Andrea mused. Søren and Anders glared at her. It wasn't a harsh glare but it definitely was a warning. "I'm sorry. It's true though. She does deserve some payback for what she's put us through." Andrea spoke earnestly. 

We were finally allowed back into the court room. I sat while we were waiting for the crowd witnessing the court case to take their seats. I was getting ready for my heart to drop and for Naomi to be taken away from me and forced to be with her birth Mother. Everyone seemed to be shuffling in their wait to find out the final verdict of today's trial. 

"The jurors have made their decision. We find the defendant guilt on all charges your honour," remarked a guy who had stood up. I felt slightly at ease that she was found guilty. I wouldn't be completely at ease until I know her sentencing. I just hoped that I wouldn't ever see her again. 

"On the following charges, Rape, Manslaughter, Conspiracy to murder, Grievous bodily harm, assault and criminal damage. We declared that Delilah Hernandez-Ellis be sentenced to life without parole," the judge declared. The gavel came down and silence the room. That's it. I'm finally free of her. I'm finally free to go back home and to live a life of peace. I will never speak of her to Naomi. I don't want Naomi to know what sort of Mother she had. A Mother that didn't want her and relinquished all rights over to me.

Delilah got carted away by the police. I presume they were taking her to jail just as planned. She didn't deserve jail. She can't interact with the other people in the jail. She'll just target another person. I hope that she gets everything she deserves to come at her. Hours later we were relaxing in Andrea's house. All of us are at peace with what has happened to day, just knowing that she's never going to hurt any of us again is a weight lifted off of our shoulders. 

"That was an eventful day, we've got to catch a flight back home. I'll see you in a few days." Anders said. He hugged each one of us. "Adrian? Søren?" Anders called our names for our attention. "I do hope you'll come and visit us in Norway." he requested. I nodded. "I'll try to." I responded. It was always about the money. 

"How about you come visit me in Australia?" I mused.

"It's too hot there for me..." after a brief pause Anders continued, "You know I'll be there. You're family now Adrian, Naomi too." 

It touched me to hear him say that. More so that he had added on Naomi. After he left, we were sat in silence, waiting for someone to say something. "When have you booked your flights?" I asked. I wanted to know how much I still had with them before they were flying half way across the world. 

"Not tomorrow but a few days after that," responded Søren. Andrea mumbled something about it being the same sort of time. "When did you book yours?" asked Søren. "I'm leaving a two days after you. I have loose ends I want to tie up." I responded. Both he and Andrea exchanged glances. 

"You're not going to see her are you?" asked Andrea worriedly. "I have something to say to her. It's important and I want to leave here having no regrets of final goodbyes and what not," I commented. I hoped my explanation was more than enough to fill their curiosity. 

Søren smirked. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," he joked. It was light hearted but I knew that if he could get away with it, he'd kill her in a heart beat. I uttered one small response before we enjoyed the rest of the time we had together. 

"I won't."