This Kiss

Chapter 116

The Spencer-Rivera family locked themselves in their suite at The Beacon for the hour break they had from the trial. Jane had rushed to the courthouse as soon as Emma had been taken from her that morning, but she didn't want to take Payton into the trial, so she waited just outside the doors, allowing Payton to play on her phone while she waited for a break so she could let Olivia know she was there and that she had tried to stop them from taking Emma.

Olivia was grateful that Jane had come to tell her and assured the young woman that she wasn't upset. She told her they were keeping Emma with them through lunch and Phillip and Beth would take Payton. She told her they would need her back in forty-five minutes. Jane promised to be there and to take the girls to the pool as originally planned.

The family of five was grateful for the time together. As much as spending the evening at Phillips had been good for all of them, it was nice to have some real family time with just them. Sam had opted to eat at Watershed and Doris and Mel wanted to go over a few things. The family ate and talked for the short time they had before going back to court. Just as the previous night, Frank nor the trial was mentioned. It was difficult, but Olivia needed it to be this way. She needed to keep the trial separate from every other aspect of their lives to keep her walls from shooting up.

Once lunch was finished and Emma was back with Jane, the Spencer-Rivera clan grabbed Sam and met up with Doris, Mel, Phillip, Beth, Josh, and Reva. They all walked into the courthouse together, several others joining as they approached. Everyone, once again, shielding the Spencer-Rivera family from the press. Although the trial was being filmed, they had managed to escape direct questioning with the help of the town.

As per usual, the judge came in and called court to order. Frank was brought to sit beside his attorney and then court resumed where it had left off. "Mr. Carter, does the defense have any further evidence to present at this time?" Judge Anderson asked.

Eric stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "Yes your honor. The defense calls Mr. Frank Cooper Jr. to the stand."

Frank stood and straightened his tie. He starred daggers at Olivia before swiftly putting on his puppy dog face and walking to the witness stand. He was sworn in and then Eric began.

"Mr. Cooper, you are here to give your account of the events that took place on January sixteenth of this year. Correct?"

"Yes sir. I have no intention of denying what happened, I would just like the opportunity to set the record straight."

"Are you saying that what we've heard thus far is not, in fact, factual?"

"I'm saying that some of it is, however, some of what we've heard has been nothing more than a fabrication."

"Well, we've heard from the prosecution. We've heard their version of events. I feel it's time the jury heard how you recall that evening. Mr. Cooper, could you explain for the court what brought you to the Spencer-Rivera home that evening?"

Frank deepened his lost puppy frown. "I went to the farmhouse in search of Olivia. I wanted to speak with her. To apologize and beg her to allow me to make it up to both of them and try and regain our friendship. I knew I had crossed a line. Both in accidently leaving bruises on Natalia's arm, and in crashing their wedding. I never got to explain that I had been drinking before I showed up at their wedding. I had originally planned on going to congratulate them, to show my support and explain that when I grabbed Natalia before Christmas, I was merely having a rough day and wasn't thinking properly. The lack of an invite to their wedding was painful and I was drinking away my sorrows at the loss of our friendship. As they have stated, I had moved past my anger over Olivia steeling Natalia from me. I was, and am, truly happy for them. I just want Natalia to be happy, and it seems Olivia is her happiness."