Chapter 4 #2
The letter she forwarded is from the attorney who helped Talia’s family win their case in the wrongful death lawsuit.
It states that Angela is scheduled for her parole hearing in a month and that due to her good behavior and getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology, they may approve it.
It sounds like she’s going to play the I’m a better person now and the I can help others based on my experience cards.
I don’t care if she shapeshifted into Jesus himself. She doesn’t deserve to get out early. She never would if it were up to me.
Tucker’s mom writes in the body of the email that Talia’s family lawyer suggested that everyone who testified against Angela should write letters to the parole board on why she shouldn’t be released early.
Considering Tucker died after the trial, it only leaves five witnesses—me, Rhett, Addie, Warren, and Maisie.
They deserve to know that she’s technically responsible for two people’s deaths and should stay behind bars to serve her full sentence.
I always knew there was a chance she could get parole, but I hadn’t realized it’d already been eleven years.
Sometimes it still feels like yesterday when I dived into that cold water.
I can still smell the fresh mountain air mixed with pine trees.
For months after Talia’s death, the crashing sounds of the waterfall haunted me in my dreams as I recalled every minute of that day.
Losing Tucker made me spiral more than I wanted to admit.
At the time, I couldn’t see how much I was struggling.
Nonstop partying, drinking to numb the pain, sleeping with women to forget.
It was a dangerous road I was on, but then I quickly realized I had to deal with the grief instead of pushing it to the side.
When Tripp lost his best friend, Billy, during his senior year in high school, he became a shell of the person we knew and loved.
I watched him put all his energy into work and instead of talking about it, he silently drowned in his guilt.
It happened two years after we lost Talia, and I knew I had to manage my grief to help him get through his.
I didn’t want him to go down the same wrong path I had.
After work, I take a shower and change into clean clothes, then form a group text with Warren, Rhett, and Addie.
I talk to my cousin at least once a month, but I haven’t spoken to Rhett and Addie in a couple years, though I see their life updates on social media.
After they got married, they moved an hour south and now have three kids.
Landen
Did y’all get the email about Angela?
Rhett
We’re reading it now.
Addie
Absolute bullshit! I’ll be writing a letter and making sure they know everything about Angela and the type of person she is.
At Angela’s criminal trial, we could only answer questions based on the incident and character witness testimonies when asked, but during the wrongful death lawsuit, we had the opportunity to speak out about our personal experiences with Talia and Angela.
Addie made a compelling testimony about Talia that had most people in tears.
She spoke about her with such grace and kindness that even the jurors were fighting with their emotions.
She expressed strong opinions about how Angela’s actions weren’t out of character based on the several years of knowing her, so I have no doubt she won’t hold anything back on expressing her thoughts on keeping Angela behind bars.
Landen
Me too. Changed or not, she deserves to serve her full sentence.
My testimony focused on the emotional abuse that revolved around our past relationship, including how she wasn’t even invited on the trip but always manipulated people to get what she wanted.
I mentioned how her lack of self-awareness hurt everyone around her.
And now, I’ll include the repercussions of her actions that led to Tucker’s suicide.
He was so distraught that he could hardly speak at both trials.
Looking back, I wish I’d been able to be there for him more.
He shut down, and I thought I was doing the right thing by giving him space to grieve.
It’s been nine years since we lost him, but I can still hear his rowdy laughter in my head.
Warren
Just read it. I’ll do whatever I can to help!
Since Warren didn’t know Angela nor Talia very well, just from the few times they hung out during our spring breaks, his testimony focused on what he witnessed and Angela’s lack of remorse after the incident.
Warren and Maisie got married while she was still in college, but when she got an apprenticeship in New York City, she moved back there.
Warren didn’t want to leave his hometown and she didn’t want to sacrifice her career.
He doesn’t talk about her or everything that he went through, but I know it fucked him up.
I’m not even sure he’s dated since then because his only focus has been on his family’s ranch and resort.
Landen
Maybe we should get together and write a joint statement for either outcome. You know as soon as news about it gets out, journalists will come looking for our comments.
Rhett
Not a bad idea. Plus, it’s been too long since we’ve hung out.
Addie
Agreed!
Warren
You know y’all are always welcome up here.
Rhett
We’d love to come! Let us check our schedules and we’ll get back to ya.
Warren
Sounds good!
Landen
I’ll make time to come up whenever y’all are available.
After our text convo ends, I text our sibling group chat and update them.
Wilder
Want me to seduce the parole board members? It’d be a hardship, but I’d do it for the cause.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. Give it to Wilder to make it weird.
Waylon
We better start saving up for his bail now.
Wilder
Huh, why?
Tripp
Google is free, man.
Noah
Do you even know who parole board members are made up of?
Wilder
Uh…hold on.
Landen
Anyway…while he utilizes the internet, I’m probably gonna make a trip up to Willow Branch Mountain in a month or two. If anyone wants to catch a ride with me, let me know so I can tell Warren to book us a cabin.
With Warren being the oldest of his siblings, he took over a lot of the management duties for the ranch and resort. My aunt and uncle still stay plenty busy with other tasks, but as their kids get older, they get more responsibilities and will eventually take over when the parents retire.
Wilder
Hell yeah! Count me in.
Noah
Depends. This is my busiest time for traveling to rodeos with clients and training. I’ll have to check with Fisher, too. But I’d love to go if I can.
Tripp
Yeah, I’ll have to ask Magnolia if she wants to get a sitter for Willow or take her with us.
Noah
Take her with you so Poppy has a friend!
It’s funny enough that Noah and Magnolia have been best friends since they were in elementary school, but then Magnolia started dating Tripp a year and a half ago.
Shortly after, she found out she was pregnant with her ex’s baby.
Noah announced her pregnancy at the same time and they ended up giving birth on the same day.
The babies are only ten months old, so I laugh at Noah trying to push Tripp to bring along an infant to a couple’s resort.
Although Willow isn’t Tripp’s biological daughter, he loves her just the same.
Magnolia tried to give Tripp an out to walk away, but he was determined to stay and be there for both of them.
I’m glad they finally got together after all the years of back and forth.
I’ve never seen Tripp as happy as when he became a dad and husband.
I hope to have that someday, too.
Ever since meeting Ellie four years ago, my dating life has been nearly nonexistent, except for a drunken time or two, so the chances of me getting married and having kids anytime soon aren’t likely.
But I’m still not ready to give up.
Tripp
You wanna take her overnight so I can get my wife alone for once?
Noah
We’ll see.
Wilder
Wait a damn minute…the parole board members are all old people from various white-collar jobs?
Tripp
Congrats on figuring it out.
Wilder
Well good thing old ladies love me!
Waylon
Love or tolerate?
Noah
I’d pay big money to see you try.
Landen
Don’t encourage him…he doesn’t need any more incentives.
Wilder
About to go on a deep dive to find out who their granddaughters are…I’m sure I can work my magic somewhere.
Tripp
That sounds like a threat…should we warn them first?
Noah
How about no one commits a felony trying to alter their decision and we just let the justice system do its job?
Landen
Assuming they do this time…
Yeah, I guess after eleven years, I’m still bitter.
Angela deserved way more prison time. I’ll never be satisfied knowing she’s the reason Talia and Tucker are dead and she won’t be rotting in a cell for the rest of her pathetic life.