44. Hope
44
HOPE
A calmness settles over me as I sit on the wooden bench, watching the trial play out in front of me. I thought I would be racked with nerves today. It would be natural for me to be worried about what’s about to happen. Instead, I feel a cold sense of justice steeling my spine. With Levi’s hand in mine, I feel stronger than ever.
These past several months have been met with incredible happiness, as well as crushing setbacks. It’s been hard not to let myself wallow in the hardships. Some days, it feels as if I’ll never be normal. Maybe I won’t. Maybe there will always be a reactionary part of me who flinches when someone moves too fast.
For so long, my life was a living hell, and even though I am no longer living in it, I will always be afraid of going back there. But, I think it’s okay. It’s a reminder of where I’ve been and how far I’ve come.
Now, as I sit in the drafty courthouse, listening to the judge speak about the case, a sense of peace settles over me.
In a few short minutes, the nightmare will officially be over. The black cloud hanging over my head will dissipate, finally bringing the sunshine. I can feel eyes on me across the room, hatred seeping out like a black mist. I won’t dignify the bastard with my attention. He doesn’t deserve it.
I can still see the look on his face when I took the stand to testify.
I always thought Antony was the epitome of the devil. He’s got the looks, the charm, and the evil lurking right under the surface. He did a great job of hiding that evil from those he needed to persuade, but I saw it.
Today, sitting across the room in an orange jumpsuit, hands shackled together, the devil inside him is no longer hiding. He looks like pure evil, and I know if we were anywhere else besides a courtroom, he would kill me. That’s how much hatred is pouring off him.
“Hope Langley, please take the stand,” the judge calls from his bench. Levi squeezes my leg, offering his silent support. He testified this morning, which gave me an idea of what it would be like.
With shaking hands, I stand from the audience and make my way to the front of the courtroom. After I sit down on the stand, the judge swears me in, his tone serious. My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe. For a minute, I start to panic. What if I can’t get through this? What if I mess it up and Antony walks because of me?
Through my panic, my gaze lands on Levi sitting in the front row. Noticing my distress, he exaggerates a deep breath, and I unconsciously mimic his action. The tightness in my chest eases as we breathe together until I’m able to focus on the prosecutor walking across the room.
“Are you okay, Hope?” he asks, concern clear on his face.
“Yes, I’m okay.”
He nods his head, then begins to ask me questions. He gives me softballs at first to ease me into the rhythm of his questioning.
“Tell me about the night the defendant kidnapped you.”
Keeping my eyes on Levi, I tell the whole courtroom what happened. How Antony forced me into the car, how I caused the wreck to escape his capture. Everything. The prosecutor also asks about my previous history with Antony. How I became his wife, the assault, and my involvement in providing the police with evidence. I’m not pressing charges for the sexual assault, but the prosecutor wanted to establish a behavior pattern and prove Antony had a reason to kidnap me.
At the end of my story, it feels like the elephant sitting on my chest has walked away, leaving a sense of peace in its place. It wasn’t easy to share my history with a room full of people, but I’m starting to accept it as a part of me without letting it rule my life anymore.
When the prosecutor ends his questioning, my nerves ramp back up. I know the defense is going to try to discredit my statement. The prosecutor prepared me for this moment, but I’m still worried I’m going to mess it up, allowing Antony to go free.
“You said Antony forced you into the car, but that’s not entirely true. You let him lead you to the car, didn’t you?” the defense attorney asks.
“Antony told me he’d killed my boyfriend. I was lost in the grief of hearing that the one I love was no longer alive. Then, when I realized he was going to put me in the car, I ran.”
The defense attorney keeps coming at me, trying to make me change my statement, but strength flows through me as I repeat my story. Never once wavering on the details because they are etched so deeply into my brain, I know I won’t mess them up.
Finally, the judge tells me I can step down from the stand. Knowing I did everything I could to put Antony away helps me stand tall as I walk across the floor. I don’t even look at Antony as I pass by, even though I can feel him glaring at me.
When I sit next to Levi, his arm wraps around my shoulders, sending all the tension from testifying flowing out of my body. After everything, I can finally relax .
The judge’s voice pulls me back from my memory, and I wait with bated breath to hear the jury’s final decision.
“Has the jury reached a verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor. For the charge of kidnapping in the first degree, we, the jury, find the defendant, guilty. For the charge of aggravated assault in the first degree, we, the jury, find the defendant, guilty. For the charge of murder in the first degree, we the jury, find the defendant, guilty.”
The foreperson goes through the rest of the charges one by one. As each guilty verdict is announced, another weight on my shoulders is lifted. With mine and Levi’s testimonies, there was very little standing in the way of a guilty charge, but with Antony’s henchman providing evidence for the murders of Tomas, the lawyer, and some of his henchmen in exchange for a lesser sentence, Antony will be out of our lives for good.
He will never see the light of day again, no matter what happens. Adding up the minimum sentences for each charge, he’ll die in prison. There will be no more appeals because of mishandled evidence, especially with proof that Antony bribed an officer to falsify the documents.
It’s over.
After the final guilty charge is read, the judge orders Antony to be remanded into custody until sentencing. A deep breath falls from my chest that I wasn’t even aware I was holding. Levi’s arm around my shoulders shakes me from my relieved stupor. He pulls me into his chest, wrapping me up in his love.
“It’s over,” he whispers into my hair, echoing my thoughts. All I can do is nod. I know if I say anything right now, I’ll break down. I refuse to do that until we’re home. Until I’m safe from prying eyes.
This case garnered a lot of media attention the first time Antony was tried; going through it all again has blown it up even bigger. I was sucked into the frenzy because of my testimony, which has made things difficult over the past several months. I’m hoping it’ll die down when his sentencing is complete.
Levi holds my hand, leading me out of the courtroom. The journalists all try to ask us questions as we leave. Some of them have been super nice, while others feel a little like sharks, lurking in the shallow end for blood.
When we make it to the car, Levi and I both exhale. He grabs my hand, holding it on his lap as usual while he drives us home.
The silence in the car is almost unbearable, but I’m not ready to speak. When we’re home, and I’m safe, I’ll be ready to break down. To finally purge the last of my anxieties over Antony getting released and of him finding a way to try to kill me or Levi. To move on from the nightmare of my past.
I’m ready to live in the present, looking toward my future with the knowledge that we’ve made it through the darkest of the dark. All that’s left to do now is be happy.
“Hey, Hope, can you come look at something really quick?” Levi calls from the back door.
I finish stirring the chili simmering on the stove, then slip my coat on to see what Levi wants. The cool fall weather has finally set in, bringing with it the beautiful colors I love. We moved into the Victorian house a few weeks after Cooper and Quinn surprised us with the finished remodel. We had to wait for both our furniture to arrive and our injuries to heal.
We’ve slowly made it into our home, combining our styles and creating a space so perfect I sometimes have a hard time believing it’s mine.
Stepping out onto the patio, I look around the yard only to see Levi standing by the arbor at the back of our property. Confused as to what he would need my help with back there, I make my way to him only to stop a few feet away when he turns with a bouquet of tulips and white orchids in his hand.
“Come here, love,” he says, holding out his hand. Walking the final steps, I grab it, seriously unsure of what’s happening.
“What’s going on?”
He hands me the flowers, reminiscent of the first time he gave me a similar bouquet. “I have something important I want to talk with you about.”
My brows furrow. “Okay?”
“Over the past few months, we’ve settled into our new life in our beautiful home. It’s been amazing, but there’s one thing we still need to complete.”
I wait, wondering what the heck he’s talking about. There are no more renovations left to finish. We’ve painted everything, and the guest rooms are done, so I have no idea what we still have left to complete.
Then suddenly, he’s kneeling in front of me. The flowers fall to the ground as my hands fly to my mouth in surprise.
“I love you, Hope. I knew you were the one for me when you thought there was something wrong with the flowers I was giving you instead of realizing they were for you.” He grins. I’d laugh with him since I was an idiot, but I’m struggling to get past my shock. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and I would love it if you’d do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
I launch myself at him, knocking him to the ground. Laughing, he wraps his arms around me to pull me even closer. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Oh, my god, Levi. Yes!”
I slam my mouth to his, overwhelmed with how much love I feel for this incredible man. He’s my entire world. Everything I’ve always dreamed of having but never thought I’d truly get to experience.
Levi groans when my tongue wraps around his, pushing the kiss from loving to passionate. I frown when he pulls away, our breaths coming out in pants. “If you keep kissing me like that, I’m going to take you right here in the grass, and despite how much I want you, I’d rather not freeze my ass off.”
Laughing, I lift myself off Levi, and he quickly stands, adjusting himself before pulling me back into his arms. “You’re really going to be my wife?”
“I really am.” I grin.
“Thank fuck.” He picks me up in his arms, carries me across the yard, then into the house. Before he gets to the stairs, I stop him. “Wait. I need to turn off the chili.”
“Good thinking. I’d rather not burn dinner,” he says, heading toward the kitchen.
“Or the house down.” I huff out a laugh.
“Your belief in my stamina is amazing, my love.” Levi’s grin is wicked. “And I look forward to meeting your expectations.”
When we make it to our bedroom, he finally sets me down, stripping me of my clothes, as well as his. He shows me how much he loves me with every kiss, touch, and stroke. Proving he will always love me unconditionally.
This man gave me strength when I needed it most and the space to realize I could be strong on my own. Who showed me what true love looks like and will be there by my side through it all.
He’s my best friend, the love of my life, my everything.
Forever.