Married To Baseball

Sentencing.

Jailyn~

Fidgeting with the ring on my left hand, Christian and I await the official sentencing of my ex-boyfriend. It's insane to think this chapter of my life is officially about to be closed, and we can hopefully start moving on, again. As fortunate as I am to have the ability to move on, Olivia never had that luxury, and her parents never will, regardless of the time Nick will be serving.

Olivia's parents gave their impact statement after I had given mine. I'd been managing well until Jonathan had his time to speak. Now it feels like the only thing really keeping me together is Christians hand resting just above my knee and my wedding ring giving me something to fiddle with. As much as our honeymoon helped bring me back to earth, being back in the courtroom today feels like we're back to where we were two months ago when all of this started.

Jessica and Michael both have their closing arguments before the judge allows Nick his allocution. Christian kisses the side of my head, gently reassuring me as Nick starts his statements. Tyler leans forward next to me, locking into what Nick is saying, his face hard as he tries not to react. Easier said than done with the complete and utter lack of remorse shown at this time, let alone accountability, especially pertaining to my case. Every other sentence it seems Tyler is shooting a glance back at me before locking back in. I'm just doing my best to tune out everything that I can.

I don't care to hear anything else out of that fucking loser's mouth. He's already done so much to me, let alone Olivia; there's no reason to process, let alone retain, another word from his mouth.

"Thank you, everyone, for your statements," Judge Matthews comments before stating, "We'll take a thirty-minute recess while I consider all of the statements we've heard at this time and make my final decision."

The thirty minutes between leaving the courtroom and re-entering for the official sentencing seemed to pass in no time at all. It's a stark contrast to the previous recesses we've had throughout this process. Maybe I've just gotten better at disassociating.

Settling back in the courtroom, we all get back to our places before the murmurs of the room die down, while we're askedto rise for Judge Matthews. Taking her place back at the bench, she gestures for us all to sit. "Thank you, everyone. Thank you all for being here and making your way back for this. Hopefully, the decision today will help aid in some of this healing process for Olivia Taylor's family, and hopefully, finally allow some closure for you, Mrs.James-Yelich."

"All of that being said, at this time, I will be announcing the sentencing decision in both cases against the defendant Nick Kelly. This is not a decision that was made lightly, and it factored in everything from the trial last month as well as the statements made here this morning. Given all the information presented at this time, in the case of the State of Wisconsin and Jailyn James-Yelich versus Nick Kelly, a jury found the defendant guilty of Second-degree sexual assault against Mrs.James-Yelich. This Class C Felony carries a penalty of up to forty years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000. Given the statements given this morning and the continued lack of accountability or remorse shown by the defendant, along with recognizing that any financial penalty would not make any meaningful difference to Mrs.James-Yelich, I hereby sentence the defendant to the full forty years with no financial penalty."

Holy fuck. Glancing over to Jessica, she's looking to me with a nod and a reassuring smile. How could I ever repay her for any of this?

"The jury also found the defendant guilty of misdemeanor battery with the domestic violence modifier against Mrs.James-Yelich. Once again, given the lack of accountability or remorse, I hereby sentence the defendant to the full nine months of jail time with no financial penalty."

The full possible penalty for what he did to me was never in a million years what I'd expected to happen today. Once again, it seems like his own ego got the best of him. Something tells me that had he gone up today and apologized or taken any sort of accountability, he'd have gotten a more generous sentencing.

Christian squeezes my hand a moment, reassuring me more than anything that this is a good thing. Of course it is, it's still hard to shake the idea of what would have happened if I had pursued a case sooner.

"In the case of the State of Wisconsin on behalf of Olivia Taylor versus Nick Kelly, a jury found the defendant guilty of Second Degree Murder, which carries a minimum of fifteen years in prison to a maximum of sixty years in prison. Once again, the defendant showed no remorse for his actions, nor did he accept any accountability for them. Given that, along with his technically prior convictions for the crimes against Mrs.James-Yelich, I hereby sentence the defendant to the full sixty years in prison with no possibility of parole."

"With all the aforementioned sentences, Mr.Kelly is to serve both sentences consecutively, totaling one hundred years and nine months at the Dodge Correctional Institution." As the final sentencing is read out, there's a gentle hand gripping my shoulder from behind: Jonathan. Reaching my hand up, I hold his as we let Judge Matthews finish. This is the best we could have hoped for throughout all of this.

After the appeals process was explained to Nick, we got to watch as he was handcuffed again and led out of the courtroom one last time. The reality that he's never going to be able to hurt anyone again settles on me as the court is adjourned, and I can't help myself as I turn and embrace a seemingly already waiting Jonathan. He holds onto me tightly. I can only imagine having the same thought as I have.

"Thank you," He tells me, pausing a moment before adding, "For everything." All I can do is nod and wait for him to be ready to let me go. We hold onto each other for a few more moments before he lets me go, and Tonya takes her turn to embrace me. Christians' hand has found the small of my back in all of this, wanting to be there but also knowing that the Taylors need this more right now.

Once everything is wrapped up, Christian, Tyler, and I make it back to the house where Dylan had been waiting. After getting into the kitchen from the garage and setting my bag down, I ask, "Can you give us a minute, Ty?" Christians' brow furrows a moment as Tyler nods, heading into our living room.

Taking a breath, I look up to Christian. I'm sure my exhaustion is showing in my eyes before I wrap my arms around him. Holding me tightly to his chest, he lets me get out the tears I'd been saving, knowing he doesn't need to say anything for the time being. Instead, he kisses the top of my head gently and rubs my back gently with one hand while keeping me secure to him with the other. As well as everything went today, it's still been beyond overwhelming and one of the most emotionally taxing things that I've ever been through.

When I'm finally ready to pull away, I pull back a little, looking up to Christian again and letting him kiss me gently. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I confirm as he takes his hand and wipes the tears off my face. "Thanks." Nodding with a small smile, Christian kisses me once more before gesturing with his head towards the living room.

"Want to head in, or do you want another moment?"

"I'm good," I confirm again, "Thank you." Giving me a small smile, he intertwines his hand in mine and leads the way to our living room, where Tyler and Dylan are waiting, notably with a couple of pizzas and cases of booze.

Leading us to the couch, Christian starts letting go of my hand until he notices that I'm not letting go of his. With a slight smile, he sits down, pulling me down with him, making me laugh as I lean into him, letting go of his hand so he can wrap his arm around me.

"You get all of this?" I ask Dylan as I glance over the stuff, Christian or Tyler wouldn't have had a chance to yet.

"Figured it's the least I could do," He answers, "and fuck no, neither of you are paying me back."

"Atta boy," Tyler says, making us all laugh before he tosses me a watermelon Carbliss and Christian one of the beers. It'd be impossible not to be grateful for the normalcy of this moment.