Elude [H.S.]

FIFTY-THREE

"We're about to go back in after lunch. You have about five minutes to get here," Grey says into the phone, and I begin to pick up my pace towards the courthouse.

"Fuck," I curse as I weave through people on the street. "I had to park a million blocks away. I wasn't going to drive, but I dropped Maeve off at her appointment."

"And that's more than a reasonable excuse to be late," I can hear Grey's smile through the phone. "I know she appreciates you being there for her."

Sighing softly as I see the courthouse in my sights, I nod in response to Grey's words. "She does. I can see it. I'll be inside right away."

I hang up the call as I quicken my pace just slightly, and then begin to walk up the steps to the building.

Grey had called me when the court took a break for lunch, stating that he was pretty sure Conrad's sentencing was going to happen pretty soon after they got back - if I wanted to join him. He told me Lyn was going to be coming as well.

It worked out perfectly as I had taken a half day so I could take Maeve to her appointment. I was able to drop Maeve off at therapy, and then I came straight here. I didn't tell her I was coming, but I was confident that I would be back in time to pick her up for her appointment.

I didn't want to tell her in case the news we ended up getting wasn't what we wanted.

I knew she had a lot on her mind anyway after telling her that we were going to see her family, and I didn't want to stress her even more about this until I knew the final verdict.

The conversation with her mum a couple days ago went really well. It was tearful, but I could tell they both needed it. She even ended up talking to her father as well. I held Maeve that night as she cried herself to sleep, and I knew it was both a mix of sadness and happiness.

Sadness for the things she's missed out, and for what she put her parents through. But happiness for them forgiving her for leaving, even though they told her forgiveness wasn't necessary, they weren't upset with her in that way. I also knew the happiness came from her knowing that she would be seeing them soon - no matter how nervous that made her.

Maeve also continued to profusely apologize to me that night for what she accused me of, and that continued into yesterday as well even though I assured her everything was okay. I was acting suspicious, so I can't fault her too much, but it did pain me that she thought I could ever cheat on her.

Never in a million years could I betray her in that way. She's the only one for me. The love of my life, and my future wife. There's no doubt in my mind about any of it.

So today, I'm here for the both of us. I know as soon as Conrad sees me, he's going to immediately think of her. He deserves that, and so much more, for what he put Maeve through, but I'll take what I can get by getting him for what he did in the workplace rather than at home.