Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Letting go

Charlotte and Laurie continued to talk about her plan in the coffee shop. They where in the corner when, Charlotte got nauseous and ran to bathroom. Laurie stayed at the table hoping they talk more. Laurie was concern for Charlotte life and couldn't let her go through with her plan. She was coming up with her own ideas on her own. She could look up Derek's uncle on Facebook and would reach out to Cliff on her own and strike a deal with him. She knew it was the only way to keep Charlotte safe. She couldn't live with lying to Andy ever or imagine something happening to Charlotte. As much as she wanted to hate her, Charlotte was coming from good place and help Laurie see that Andy was right Jacob had be innocent all along. That thought made a Laurie start to cry, that she doubted her son, that she almost killed him in the car accident. She wipped away her tears, as she was waiting for Charlotte to come back to the table. She saw Andy walking in to Starbucks and he walked right over to Laurie's table.

Charlotte was in bathroom, she had said what she needed to Laurie. She had her mind made up and her plan of attack in her head. She cleaned up from being sick, look down at her belly she said "I'm sorry, I have to do this for him. I'm sorry you won't ever know your dad one day."

Charlotte left the bathroom and was about to head to the table when she saw Andy he didn't see her. He was sitting at the table talking to Laurie. His back was turned away from Charlotte. Laurie looked up seeing her, they nodded to each other and Charlotte snuck out the front door before Andy noticed her. She was in the clear and headed back to the hotel room. She was getting what she needed. She be back at the hotel later, but for now she headed to store to get some protection.

Laurie eye went wide when she saw Charlotte leave the bathroom. She didn't know what could happened if Andy noticed her right now. Laurie and Andy needed to talk. She wanted to tell him what she knew. She wanted to warn him about Charlotte but she would risk losing him forever. She did t know what to do. She thought back about how Andy had lied to her for years about his father. How he said that's what he was told to say, how if he told her he feared losing Laurie than. Laurie now was understanding Andy position in that part of his past. She watch as Charlotte left out the door Andy not noticing, she let out a huge breath of air.

"Look Andy, I know what you have been up too. I know about your mistress. You know that but what I want to know is how you of all people could let this happen?" Laurie asked.

"Laurie." He sighs "I just don't know where to start." Andy says

"Start from the day of the accident than Andy, I know you think I did that on purpose. Look I would never want to hurt our son, I just I don't." She says

"I know you didn't know what to believe anymore Laurie. This entire thing was a nightmare. I know you always weren't sure of Jacob's innocence from the start. When Leonard confessed you where happy again it felt normal." Andy says

She looks at him not wanting to touch his hand cause she can't "I know, I couldn't believe it Jacob was free he didn't kill Ben we where all happy again. We where a family."

"Laurie, that night in Mexico when I told you what happened to Patz you changed. You checked out you left me. You looked at me like you didn't know me anymore. You where more convince our son was killer. From that night forward you weren't the same at all. We slept in different rooms, you like said where like a ghost. You just completely abandoned Jacob and me. It was like you couldn't wait to escape us." Andy says

"I know Andy ok. But if it was reverse how would you feel knowing or thinking your son was killer. That the only person who lied and confessed was murdered to save him. I couldn't handle knowing that truth anymore I couldn't take it. We had all these lies in our marriage. The secrets you kept from me for years. Marriage Andy has to have trust and honesty. I lost all of that for you the moment you told me the truth about your dad. I tried Andy but it was exhausting. When Patz confessed it was easier to trust you again, but than when I found out you where lying to me again. I just I couldn't anymore Andy." She says