Dolphin Tale 4

Chapter [31]

"My ex-father, Spencer Nelson, took an incriminating photograph of myself and a friend. Ever since he mysteriously appeared on our doorstep, six days ago, he has been badgering me about going to live with him in Washington. It didn't really bother me, at first, but when he began to threaten and blackmail me, that was the final straw. He said that if I went and lived with him in Washington, the photograph would be destroyed. However, if I decided to stay here, in Florida, he would send the photograph to the press. I now had a dilemma. To go, or to stay? Every option had a price, and I didn't like either of the consequences. Eventually, it was Hazel who told me to act against my ex-father, which is why we're gathered here, today."

Judge Harton nodded slowly. "Do you have any evidence?"

Sawyer looked to his right. "Hazel...?"

Hazel stood and smiled. "I do. I have a recording on my phone of yesterday's conversation. Yesterday, Sawyer and I tried to negotiate with Spencer Nelson, with no apparent success. Our conversation was recorded on my phone, and it captures what was used to blackmail Sawyer, and also includes Spencer Nelson admitting he was blackmailing Sawyer." Hazel held up her phone. "Would you like to listen to the recording, Your Honor?"

The Judge nodded. "Yes, please. Could there be silence across the court?"

Hazel found the recording and pressed play, turning the volume to its loudest. Sawyer's voice came from the phone, loud and clear.

"We need to talk to you."

Sawyer swallowed nervously and looked at Hazel. He reached for her hand and grasped it gently. Hazel squeezed his hand, and looked reassuringly into Sawyer's unsure eyes. Moments passed, and finally, after what seemed like an age, the recording was over.

"Thank you, Miss. Haskett. Do you have anymore evidence?"

Sawyer picked up an envelope from the table in front of him. "I do." He slit the envelope open and pulled from it a photograph. "This is the photograph that my ex-father, Spencer Nelson, took that night. I believe that there are some copies on his laptop and camera. Possibly even on his phone."

The Judge nodded. "You were right. We went through his things and found duplicates of that particular photograph. Well, the evidence you have, in my opinion, is reasonably solid. Does the accused have anything to say in his defence?"

Spencer Nelson lowered his head and closed his eyes. "No, Your Honor."

Judge Harton looked around the courtroom. "The evidence has been presented to you. The accused has not presented any defence. The jury will now make their final verdict."

A hush swept across the room like a tornado. It fell over the courtroom like a fog. Only the whispers of the Jury were heard, ominous whispers that sounded like the distant rumbling of thunder. Sawyer gripped Hazel's hand tightly, attempting to calm his nerves. Hazel saw his uneasiness and offered a him a small smile.

"Has the Jury come to a unanimous decision, yet?" The Judge's words sliced through the air like a knife slicing through fresh meat.

The Jury spokesperson stood up and nodded. "Yes, Your Honor."

Everyone in the courtroom was know holding their breath. Their hearts were racing, their pulses eratic.

"The Jury finds Spencer Nelson guilty of blackmail."

A tidal wave of sighs worked its way around the room. Spencer kept his head down, staring emotionlessly at the ground. He knew that he would be found guilty, but the overwhelming sense of realisation was only just beginning to sink in.

Judge Harton cleared his throat. "Spencer Nelson is found guilty of blackmail. I declare this court case closed. Thank you for your attendance." He banged his wooden hammer on the desk with a ringing finality.

Hazel turned and flung her arms around Sawyer. "We did it!"

Sawyer smiled. "No, you did it. I couldn't have done it without you." He sighed contently. "Hazel, I love you. I know it's a bit too early to be thinking about a longterm relationship and, well...marriage, so I thought we could exchange vows. Not vows that are exchanged at weddings...no, vows of honesty. Of kindness. Of friendship."

Hazel was stunned. "Right here, right now?"

Sawyer nodded his approval. "Yes, right here, right now. This way, we have many wittnesses."

Hazel cleared her throat. "Right. Should I go first?"

Sawyer nodded. "Ladies first."

Hazel grinned at him. "Sawyer Nelson. Do you promise to be honest with me; to be as kind as your heart can possibly be? Do you take me to be your girlfriend, through sickness and through health, through the good times and the bad, for as long as you shall live?"

Sawyer bowed his head. "I do." He gripped Hazel's hand tighter. "And do you, Hazel Haskett, promise to be honest with me; to be as kind as your heart can possibly be? Do you take me to be your boyfriend, through sickness and through health, through the good times and the bad, for as long as you shall live?"

All eyes were on Hazel, now, staring at her with a mixture of emotions, silently willing her to say the two little magic words. There was anticipation in the air. Suspense pressed down on the courtroom and the silence was deafening. It seemed as though nobody was breathing. It seemed like time had stopped. Sawyer swallowed nervously, looking anxiously into Hazel's eyes, scanning for any signs of emotion. His heart seized up when Hazel opened her mouth to speak, and he waited, along with the rest of the people gathered in the court, with bated breath.

"I do."

And the silence was gone. The anticipation vanished. The suspense lifted.

Whistles and cheers swept across the courtroom like a warm, welcoming breeze. Hazel and Sawyer glanced around the room before regaining eye contact with each other.

"I love you."

Hazel smiled. "So do I."

And, as one, they leaned closer and closer together, until their lips became two perfectly fitting jigsaw pieces. Even more cheers erupted, because everyone knew that this wasn't the end. No, this was the beginning of something special.

This was the beginning of their love story.