Even Through the Storm

37. Traitors

 I am sitting with Ash on the same bench as before, outside the courtroom. "I'm just worried that he'll go free," Asher says. "And they haven't even touched on my house."

"Ash, there are no witnesses that he did it. They have no evidence that he did it. He pleaded guilty to everything but that. Most likely, they will just let it slide. We took that stuff out before he was arrested, remember? We probably made it void. And Ash, if he does walk free, Linda is thinking about divorcing him, you and your mom will be able to file for protection, and Nicky will probably never speak to him again. No matter what, we did it. We will win. I promise."

"Thanks."

***

We go back into the courtroom. Judge Arnett has already sits down, and Nicky goes up to the stand and gets sworn in. "My father is the best man I have ever met," she begins. "I know that before I was born he made some bad choices, but he has never done anything illegal, and believe he never will. About a year ago, I learned I had an older brother, Asher. I went to visit him and his mom by myself, and since then, I have became very close to him and Lola. I have never heard them lie, and I know that they aren't the type of people who would. Neither is Asher's mother. Now I probably shouldn't say this, dealing I am supposedly on my father's side and wasn't at any of these events, but I believe Asher, his mother, and Lola. Anytime you bring this up in Ash's presence, he will get angry about it, and usually, he ends up in tears. Now, I can't imagine my dad doing anything like this, but if Asher says it happened, then it happened. Sorry, Daddy, but I'm on Ash's side." She gets up and sits back down on the bench without a word from Judge Arnett.

"Um, well, thank you, um, next? Ms. Kingson?" Linda goes up to the stand and get's sworn in.

"I am with my daughter. Eighteen years ago, I was best friends with Lucy Reynolds. Then I made stupid choices that I regret to this day, and the only things that have come out of it are my four beautiful children and me being in this courtroom today. I would say that I couldn't imagine my husband doing this, but I can. He left his wife and his one-month-old son. Yes it was for me, and yes it was for his unborn daughter, but he never came back to them. And I let him, and I am deeply sorry. Now, ever since the first incident at Lucy and Asher's house, my daughter and I have met with Lucy, Asher, and Lola several times. And I too believe them. So no, I was not there, and yes, I still do love my husband, but the children come first. Nicholas Kingston did these things. Nicholas Kingston has committed arson and assault several times. Nicholas Kingston deserves to be punished. Please do what's right. Thank you." Linda does the same thing as her daughter and sits down on the bench. Tears start to fall from her face."

"Okay, we will take a ten minute recess, the come back for the verdict."