29. Gemma
Chapter Twenty-Nine
GEMMA
The phone rang in my ear, the sound jangling along the edges of my already frayed nerves. Just when I thought I was going to get my brother’s voicemail, he answered.
“Hey, Gemma. What’s up?” Neal asked.
I took a shallow breath, swallowing nervously before I could explain. My pause must’ve dragged too long because Neal prompted, “Gemma?”
“Hey,” I finally managed, my voice sounding bright and kind of normal. “Look, I need help. Some weird stuff has happened.”
I quickly explained the situation. As I spoke, I was surprised at how ridiculous the whole thing sounded. I couldn’t believe my former coach had hired a law firm that would actually try to interfere in my personal life for the sole purpose of trying to intimidate me from testifying.
Neal, on the other hand, didn’t seem rattled at all. “It’s par for the course, Gemma. You’ve seen the news. The easiest way to get people to shut up is to make them uncomfortable about it. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. We can file a cease and desist order, and we can also put some pretty heavy pressure on them from the DA. Courts don’t appreciate attempts to interfere with witnesses. I don’t know if this rises to obstruction, but it’s possible. I’m going to guess you’re not the only potential witness they’ve reached out to.”
“But why call my friends? Not to mention, I just started seeing this guy. It feels like they’re spying on me. It’s really creepy.”
“That’s the point,” he said dryly. “To make you uncomfortable. I’m guessing they hired a private investigator who somehow figured out you went on a few dates with this guy. Somebody new in your life is easier to influence than someone who’s known you for a long time. This guy didn’t know anything about the case, right?”
“No! It’s not exactly a great getting-to-know-you topic. So, I get an investigator finding out I’ve gone on a few dates with him and calling him and his sister. That just feels so invasive. I’m mortified.”
“That’s the exact point. I’ll deal with this. They will back off. I promise,” Neal said firmly. “Have you talked to Mom and Dad about this?”
“Ugh. No. Why would I want to do that? As it is, I’m already our family’s hot mess. I really prefer not to involve them in everything, Neal. I know you probably don’t understand that.”
My brother was quiet, and I heard his sigh filter through the phone line. “I do get it, Gemma. You’re not our family’s hot mess, and I wish you wouldn’t describe yourself like that. Mom and Dad just want to be there for you.”
“I’ll call Mom today. I should also let you know I’ve decided to testify. I have a message in to the DA’s office.”
“It’s totally your choice. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“I’ve got a call coming in, so I need to go. Love you,” Neal said.
“Love you too.”
I hung up the phone, wondering what to do next. Feeling betwixt and between with anxiety twisting inside me, I decided to go for a ride. Charlie could use the exercise, and I needed to do something that would help me relax. I was heading out to the resort for my two classes there this evening, and I had plenty of time for a ride before that.
* * *
“Please hold,” the receptionist said politely in my ear.
The man seemed oblivious to my distress. What was probably a routine for him had my heart pounding in an unsteady beat in my chest and my breath coming short. It wasn’t excitement, it was raw anxiety revving my body’s engine. I managed to take a slow breath, the tension churning inside easing, but just barely.
“Hello, Gemma?” a woman’s voice said.
“Yes, this is Gemma.” My words came out fast, bumping into each other.
“Very good to hear from you. I should let you know, I’ve already spoken to your brother today. I’m very sorry to hear about Mr. Johnson. I don’t know if this will help you feel better, but they’ve done something similar to several witnesses. It’s dirty tricks and it’s not okay. We will be notifying the court. You can be prepared for the defendant to claim he had no idea his attorneys were doing it, but we’ll deal with that.”
For the first time, my brother’s tendency to be on top of things and always timely sent a whoosh of relief through me. When I was younger, I used to get annoyed with how prompt he was. My struggles with dyslexia had me fumbling in school until we figured out what the problem was. Delaying and avoiding things had been a go-to coping skill of mine when I was younger. That was the very opposite of my brother. I was much better about things now, but still. Sibling relationships were the scaffolding of childhood frustrations even when you loved each other.
“Now, how can I help you?” the attorney’s question brought me back to the conversation at hand.
“I’m calling because I’ve decided I’d like to testify. I was getting to that decision anyway, but having that attorney call me and then my friends, pushed me over the edge. I’m angry.”
Although the DA couldn’t see me, I straightened my shoulders as I stared out over the view through the windows. The mountains stood sentry in the distance, tall and quiet, their commanding presence giving me a dose of strength.
Although I was weary of the threat of this trauma running through my life, for the first time it felt like I was taking the reins of the narrative. Maybe, just maybe, this would help me finally stop sidestepping it.
“I’m glad to hear it,” she said warmly. “Obviously, we never want to pressure people to testify. I can only imagine how it felt for you when the original case went absolutely nowhere. You will not be alone in this process, and I hope it might give you some closure. It will certainly bolster our case. I’d like you to know we have a very strong case against the coach. With or without your testimony and that of other supporting witnesses, I think he will finally face genuine legal consequences.”
“I hope so,” I whispered. “I really hope so.”
Our conversation shifted into her explanation of the process and how she would set up an interview for me via videoconference with one of her staff to review what my testimony would cover and to support me.
I hung up a little while later, feeling strong and shaky. I was ready to face this down. But first, I had a life—a life here in Alaska and yoga classes to teach. I left my house, heading out to Walker Adventures, wishing Diego would be there tonight.