Bounded by Guilt

Chapter One

Chapter 1
Evalynn tries to sit quietly on the cold wooden bench in front of room 8B. She shifts uneasily trying to find comfort in this unrealistic situation she finds herself. Somewhere in the distance, near the bathroom, a baby is crying. Men with fancy suits and expensive shoes pass by. She hugs herself but it doesn’t help. Her icy hands on her arms make things even worse. She can feel tears welling up in her eyes.
“Come on Eva. You look lost, baby blue eyes. Let’s get some coffee; it will be hours before the case starts.” John’s voice is firm but soothing. Only a friend. He has always been the flirty type. Sweet talking and pet names for the ladies. Good person in the end. She thinks.
She gets up and shifts her black skirt. These bloody stockings. Should have worn jeans.
John puts his one arm around her and hugs her.
“You’ll be fine,” he whispers. “I’ve got your back doll.”
He plants a kiss on her forehead and lets her go. They walk down the cold corridor to the entrance of the Court House. The sun is too bright. Evalynn holds her hand up. A few birds chirp happily on the roof of the opposing building. The street in front of them is busy. Some old bloke is selling lemons. John walks briskly to his car and has to stop so Evalynn can catch up.
The drive is eventless. Boring, to say the least. The cold and brown surroundings depress Evalynn even more. She shutters when her hand touches her cheek in an attempt to wipe the hair from her face. Cold hands. So cold. Garreth never minded them. He’d keep them warm.
“Sugar cube, cat got your tongue?”
She looks up into Johns smiling face. She couldn’t help but smile back.
“Not everyone talks as much as lawyers.”
She only now notices that they have stopped at a small coffee shop not far from court.
“Evalynn “Liar” Jenner! You, darling…”
“Don’t. Don’t ever call me that.”
She gets out of the car and slams the door hard behind her. Clearly irritated.
John hangs his head and sits motionless for a few seconds as he realizes how very insensitive he was. He enters the shop but doesn’t see Evalynn. He takes a seat at the furthest table overlooking the whole shop. Evalynn needs to see.
Evalynn appears from the restroom shaking the water from her hands. She walks to John and falls down on the chair in the corner. A strand of the dark brown and purple hair falls over her face. She tries to blow it off…unsuccessfully. John leans over to try and assist.
“No. Thanks John I’ve got it.” She moves her head away from him and stares out of the window. “You know. Most people’s problems are because they lie. I don’t lie. Don’t call me a liar.”
John puts his hand over his face. “Sorry baby. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Oh fuck John cut it out now I’m not your pet. I have a name.”
She crosses her legs and folds her arms. She seems warmed up to the fight.
“Well,” John sighs and shifts his tie. “At least you are ready for this battle.”
“Where is the bloody waiter I need caffeine.” Evalynn actually feels like crying but being a bitch kind of dries tears.
“I already ordered two coffees. I hope that’s okay. I can’t have my head bitten off already. There will be more than enough people trying to do that later.”
Evalynn smiles sarcastically. “Brilliant!” she says loudly. “Two coffees for me. What will you be having then?”
John shakes his head and starts laughing. “I just love you sweetie.”
“Yea. Everyone loves me until they get to know me. Then it’s all “I think you need to see someone.” “You have problems.” “Stop stalking me.” That is so frustrating! Like I’m the only person to fuck up at times?”
“You are exaggerating now. Everything will be fine, you have me and I’m the best.”
He smiles at her cunningly. She frowns.
“I over react? That’s real nice. I suppose that’s why we are heading to a court case where I am the bloody accused. The best. You better be as good in court as half the town’s girls say you are in bed.”
The waitress arrives with the coffee. Evalynn shifts closer to the table but avoids eye contact or any sort of interaction with her. John is still a shade of pink as he moves Evalynn’s coffee to her. He thanks the waiter and stirs two sweetners into his black coffee.
“I’d rather die than drink my coffee with that stuff.” She grabs two brown sugar packets.
“Eva, we need to go over the questions. You have been avoiding this for too long there is no time to waste any more.”
She takes a sip of her coffee and looks up at him.
“John, honestly I can only tell the truth no matter what they ask me. We both know I had nothing to do with what happened after I left that night.”
“Sweetie, I know that. You know that. But we aren’t trying to convince ourselves.”
Evalynn’s hands grasp her coffee mug. She closes her eyes.
“Why does anyone need convincing when there is nothing to convince them of? How does it make sense to prove your innocence? Prove you did nothing? How do you prove nothing? It’s a fucking mess.”
She hangs her head and a tear rolls over her cheek onto the table. She puts her finger in it and swirls it around. She looks up into John’s sympathetic face. He holds out his hand. She waits a few seconds and places the hand she used for tear swirling, in his.
“No jokes now babe. You need to tame your tongue for court.”
She pulls her hand back and crosses her arms again.
“Yes boss. Whatever you say. You are the best after all.”
John laughs. Maybe Evalynn smiled for a second. Maybe not. Who knows…They finished their coffee in silence. John payed the bill and they left for his office.
“Need some paperwork before we head back to court. Won’t take long.”
Eva just nods.
Cold shivers run down her spine right into her baby toe. She tries to shake it off. The feeling of hopelessness is starting to overwhelm her as court time grows closer.