Reality (Sequel to Future)

Chapter Five

I waited anxiously with Cedric and Devin to find out the verdict. The judge hadn't come in yet and it was killing me. Besides the fact that Chresanto would be away from our son, Devin would be staying at my house...babysitting me! I didn't want that. I knew he was going to get charged for something but I needed to know how much time we had.

"All rise!" I heard boom throughout the courtroom.

Everyone stood to their feet and the judge stepped in.

"You may be seated" she said taking her seat along with the rest of us.

"Mr. August, I have looked over the evidence and everything given to me validates your story. You murdered two men to save your wife-to-be. For that, I will not charge you"

I blew out a breath that I hadn't even known I was holding in. Thank God.

"However" she pointedly. "The cocaine that we found in your garage the day of your arrest cannot be overlooked"

My head snapped up. Cocaine? What cocaine? He said he'd stopped selling. I saw Chresanto's head drop.

"Ms. Donnell, your client will be sentenced to sixteen months"

My heart sunk. A year? And then some?! How the hell were we gonna deal with that? Deon would have to see him in prison.

"This court is adjourned" the judge said slamming her gavel and walking away.

Chresanto was escorted out of the courtroom and Lisa came up to us. I was still in absolute shock. A year. A year without him.

"Bahja" she said bringing me away from my thoughts.

I looked up at her and her face showed great sympathy. She signaled for Devin to move over so she could sit by me. He did so and she took her seat.

"Bahja, I know it seems like it is but this is not losing, okay? The worst charge in this entire case was dropped. And that drug charge? He got the best of it. Some people accused of drug possession get three years. Plus, down the line we can try for a parole hearing"

"What drugs is she talking about?" I asked dismissing everything she said.

She sighed.

"When your fiance was first arrested, didn't they come and search your home?"

"Yes but I wasn't aware that they had found anything"

"A whole trash bag of the stuff" Lisa said and shook her head. "There was no way for me to fix it. We couldn't even say that it was planted. His finger prints were all over the plastic the cocaine was encased in"

I looked at her in disbelief. He lied to me? He just keeps lying to me and I was tired of it.

"But like I said" she chirped back up. "This is not losing. Sixteen months can easily become eight with a little work"

I straightened myself up and plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Thank you so much for all of your help, Lisa. Really. You have no idea how much it means to me" I extended a hand toward her.

I could tell by her face that she could see right through my suddenly happy demeanor but she decided to let me keep on with it.

"My pleasure" she said shaking my hand.

"Well, I guess I'll go see him now. C'mon guys" I said to Cedric and Devin.

We stood and walked out of the courtroom but not before I caught the prosecutor, Mr. Ross, smirking at me. I had half a mind to go over there and get that smirk right off of his face but I figured Deon needs at least one parent out of jail. We got into the car and drove to the prison. The ride there was silent. I could see Cedric looking at me through the rear view mirror probably making sure I was okay. I wasn't.