31
E mily sat in the courtroom, nervously biting her nails and glaring daggers at Gabriel, who was also awaiting arraignment. She was still in disbelief when her lawyer told her that Gabriel was arrested for DUI. Her attention shifted only when the double doors swung open, revealing Roman and her lawyer walking down the aisle. Roman gave her a reassuring smile, then sat in the pew behind her while Stanley sat beside her.
Leaning forward, Roman whispered in her ear, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m nervous,” she admitted.
Roman gently tapped her on the shoulder. “It will be over soon,” he reassured her.
Gabriel’s arraignment was first; with bail set at one thousand dollars, he was free to go. However, he chose to stay and hear Emily’s arraignment.
Emily was stunned when her bail was set at one million dollars, along with the condition that she forfeit her passport. Turning to her lawyer, she said, “I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Don’t worry,” Stanley reassured her, “You only need to post ten percent. You can use your house as collateral.”
“Will my husband have to agree to that?” she asked.
“If his name is on the property,” Stanley confirmed.
The transport officer approached, placed Emily in handcuffs, and led her out of the courtroom. As she was escorted away, Emily couldn’t stop thinking; Gabriel would never agree to this if he thought I was leaving him. Roman was waiting by the transport van as Emily approached. “I know you’re worried about bail. I’ll handle it. I’ll use my house as collateral,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
“I can’t let you do that,” Emily protested as she entered the van. “I’ll find a way to take care of it myself.”
Agnes handed Gabriel his credit card, and he said, “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course,” Agnes replied.
“How’s Ava?”
“She’s fine; she’s at school. I told her you and Emily went away for the night.”
“Thanks. And the boys?”
She frowned. “I couldn’t get them up.”
“It’s okay,” Gabriel said, aware that he had bigger problems. “I’ll just be a minute.” He went to pay his bail. After completing the payment, he found Agnes sitting on a bench.
“I need a ride to the police station,” he informed her.
Agnes stood up and followed him out of the courthouse.
Once they were in the car, Agnes started the engine and turned to Gabriel. “I almost forgot—you received a couple of phone calls from a woman named Lily. She said it was urgent and asked you to call her back.”
“Okay, thanks,” Gabriel said, trying to sound casual.
Agnes pulled up to the police station and asked, “Should I wait for you?”
“No, my car’s here. Thanks for the ride.” Gabriel opened the door but paused before stepping out. “And thanks for watching Ava last night. Take the rest of the day off,” he added, giving her a grateful smile.
“Okay, thanks,” Agnes said before driving off.
Gabriel walked inside and approached the front desk, patiently waiting for the officer to look up. “I just posted bail,” he said. “I’m here to retrieve my belongings and get my car out of impound.”
“Name?”
“Gabriel Anderson.”
“Wait here,” the officer instructed before leaving the reception desk. When he returned, he handed Gabriel a plastic bag containing his belongings. “Sign here,” he said, extending a clipboard to Gabriel.
After signing, Gabriel opened the bag and retrieved his phone and wallet. Sliding the wallet into his pocket, he checked his phone for missed calls and messages. There were several from Agnes, which he ignored, but the one from Lily was impossible to dismiss. It unsettled him deeply: “Now we can be together.”
“Sir?”
Gabriel snapped back to the present. “What?”
“I asked if there’s anything else you need.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. Yes, I need to get my car out of impound and speak to my wife, Emily Anderson.”
Gabriel paid the impound fee and followed the officer to an interrogation room. “I’ll take you to speak to your wife,” the officer said. “When you’re done, your car will be parked out front. Come see me, and I’ll give you your keys.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, stepping into the room.
Uneasiness churned in Gabriel’s stomach as he paced the room, wringing his hands. The disturbing text message lingered in his mind. “What have I done?” he wondered.
When the door finally opened, Gabriel flung his arms around Emily, who couldn’t push him away since her hands were in cuffs. Hugging her tightly, he said, “Oh my God, are you okay?”
Emily stood frozen and said nothing.
Gabriel pulled back briefly, then pressed his lips to hers. She didn’t turn away but didn’t return his kiss.
Finally, he released her, and they took their seats.
“I’m sorry, Em. I never meant for any of this to happen,” Gabriel said, unable to meet her gaze.
“It doesn’t matter now. Right now, I want to make bail and go home to Ava.”
Gabriel nodded, “Yes, we need to get you home.”
“I called Freedom Bail Bonds. We’ll need to put the house up as collateral. They’re preparing the paperwork now. Ask for Ted—he’s handling my release and will need your signature.”
“Okay,” Gabriel said, placing a hand on her cuffed hands resting on the table. “I’ll go straight there.” He smiled thinly. “We’ll get through this, Em. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Emily stood, “Sign the papers.”
Gabriel got to his feet and said, “Okay, baby.”
True to his word, Gabriel went straight to the bail bondsman, signed the papers, and brought them to the jail for Emily to sign. After returning the documents, it took three hours before Emily was finally released, and they drove home in exhausted silence.
Gabriel unlocked the front door and held it open for Emily. As he followed her inside, his eyes were immediately drawn to her luggage by the staircase, unaware she was planning to leave him.
“I’m going to take a bath,” Emily said, dragging herself up the stairs.
Gabriel entered the kitchen to find Hunter sitting at the table, savoring a late dinner. Hunter glanced up at his father and said, “Agnes made lasagna. There’s more in the fridge.” Blissfully unaware that Gabriel and Emily had been arrested and absent for a night.
Gabriel just shook his head. Too tired to argue with his son, he went to the fridge, got a beer, popped it open, and took a swig. His phone rang, prompting him to set his beer on the counter and retrieve the device from his pocket. He noticed the caller ID on his phone, quickly declined the call, and promptly blocked the number.
“I’m going to bed,” he informed Hunter before picking up his beer and heading upstairs.
When he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed Ava’s door was slightly ajar. He quietly approached and leaned against the doorway. Peering inside, he saw Emily beside Ava, gently stroking her hair and lovingly singing a lullaby to their sleeping daughter.
His eyes began to fill with tears as the weight of guilt settled over him, realizing just how much he stood to lose because of his reckless behavior.