Chapter 17 Alicia
I sat at the table next to Leo and his lawyer. This was the final hearing that would release me from this sham of a marriage. I paid not one single glance to him, even when I felt him staring at me several times. My mom sat behind me, and I was happy to have her here for moral support.
Judge Pierce cleared his throat after reviewing our statements.
“Mr. Hill, you are ordered to pay Mrs. Hill ten thousand in alimony, and fifty percent of your income in child support. Both Mr. Hill and Mrs. Hill will split the tuition costs for the children’s education.
Mrs. Hill will obtain the property in which she and the children reside, but is ordered to reimburse Mr. Hill for the personal items she destroyed.
The father will receive weekend visitations with the children, per his request. Mr. Corvin, does your client agree to these terms? ”
“He does, Your Honor.”
“Mrs. Hill, do you agree to these terms?”
I nodded. “Yes, Your Honor,” I replied.
“As of May 26, 2024, you both are now legally divorced. If there are no other remarks, these terms will go into effect immediately. Court is adjourned.” Judge Pierce banged his gavel, and I stood, relieved yet upset that this was even our life now.
I hurried and moved toward the door with my mother in tow so I wouldn’t have to speak to Leo. I saw that he sported a knot on the side of his head from when I knocked him over the head with the vase. That gave me a little happiness, knowing that I did something to his lying, cheating, dirty ass.
“How are you feeling?” Mom asked once we made it to the parking lot.
“Relieved, but still a little sad. I never wanted this for me or the kids.”
“I know, baby. He wasted a lot of years, not speaking up sooner. When I see that bitch Nora, I’m definitely slapping fire from her nasty ass.”
I tittered lightly. “Don’t even waste your time on that skank. I’m sure he’s going to do what he did to me, to her.”
“They always say it’s what happens when you cheat with a married man.”
I nodded and looked down at my watch. “I have to get to the office and meet with my client. I’ll see you later, and thanks for coming.”
“Whenever you need me, I’m always showing up for you, pumpkin.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tight. When we separated, I caught a glimpse of Leo walking toward us. I told my mother I’d see her later, then hurriedly got inside my car and pulled away. As far as I was concerned, we had nothing to discuss.
I arrived at my office thirty minutes later and saw my client sitting outside. I opened the door and ushered him inside while I put my things away, then I took a seat. I went over a few things with him, but he just sat there with his head down without any response.
James Lampert sat across from me with sadness oozing from his pores. I could smell his heartbreak in the air, and I could see the crack in the armor of a man who may have been strong once in his lifetime.
His wife and son were murdered while coming out of their home one morning.
According to the records, the gunman was an ex of hers who couldn’t accept the fact that she had moved on.
There had been police reports over the years, restraining orders, and PPOs, but the shooter, Ian Mack, cared nothing about them and had been plotting for the longest.
For someone to lie in wait for years to do something so tragic was devastating, even for a woman like me.
I sat up in my seat and intertwined my fingers. “Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Lampert,” I said softly.
Those sad eyes came up to mine, and I gave him a light, reassuring smile.
It was the last day of trial, and I wanted to meet with him before we headed next door to the courthouse.
I wanted to make sure he was mentally prepared to be there before it started.
He had only been to two of the hearings, but he’d left early both times.
I knew how hard this was for him, so I wanted to give him time to process this.
The defense team was trying to get him five years, due to a lack of evidence, but I was able to pull camera footage from the neighbors’ Ring cams at the eleventh hour, and I saw the defendant murder them in cold blood.
The only downside to us not getting justice was that his face was covered. But the vehicle belonged to him, and with the history of his harassment, plus the car in question, I prayed the jury would give James the justice he deserved.
“I-I don’t think—I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.”
“I know, but you want justice, right? I know this is hard for you, so I’m hoping the judge gives him the max sentence.”
“What’s the max?”
“Twenty-five to life with no parole.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know if I can agree with that.”
I frowned lightly. “It’s all we can hope for, Mr. Lampert.”
“He needs the death penalty. He needs to feel what death feels like. His family needs to feel how the fuck I feel,” he angrily spat. I saw his chest rising and falling at a rapid speed, his eyes turning bloodshot red, and his knuckles turning white from gripping the arms of the chair.
I feared that, at any moment, he was going to rip them from the chair.
I stood and made my way around the desk. I approached him with caution, placed my hand on his back, and rubbed gently to soothe him. When he felt my touch, his head dropped, his body jerked, and his pain released.
In this moment, I felt everything he felt: the heartbreak, the grief of losing someone you loved, and the emptiness of being alone.
Leo may not have died, but he may as well have been dead to me.
He broke my heart, and just because my children hadn’t expressed their feelings about him leaving, that didn’t mean they weren’t heartbroken either.
I saw it on Carsyn’s face when he asked if he was coming back. It was on Chloe’s face when she asked why he hadn’t been home. It was in the connection Carlee made with Basil that she’d never made with her own father.
I saw it.
I watched closely.
And every time I thought of what he did and what he left behind, sadness consumed me.
James leaned his head on my chest, and I allowed him to cry it out while holding him and assuring him that things were going to get better, even if I wasn’t exactly sure they would be.
I grabbed a few Kleenexes from the tissue holder and handed them to him. “Maybe you shouldn’t come today. You’re grieving, and there’s no timeline on grief. I fear you would spazz if the verdict doesn’t go in our favor.”
He lifted and sat up straight, shaking his head profusely. “No. I have to do this on behalf of Emily and Xavier.”
I nodded. “Okay. Your family is waiting at the courthouse for you. I’m pretty good at my job, Mr. Lampert, so I have faith that things are going to work out in your favor. Even if he doesn’t get the death penalty.”
He gave a curt nod, and we both stood. I grabbed my briefcase, and we left my office.
Once we made it to court, his family sat in the lobby, waiting for us.
When they saw him, they all stood, gathering around him and hugging him.
There were so many of them, and I loved that they were all here to support him.
We still had a few minutes before court started, so I allowed James space to be with his family while I stood back, silently praying the very verdict worked in our favor.
“Hey, Alicia.”
I turned to see DA Yumi Aldana walking toward me, her protruding belly leading the way as her skin held an illuminated glow. I smiled as she approached me and wrapped her arms around me. “Yumi, how are you?” I asked when we separated.
She smiled. “As good as I can be with this darn belly.”
I laughed. “I remember those days. Congratulations though. Being a mom is beautiful, and children are a blessing.”
“They are.” She smiled, rubbing her round belly. “So, you’re on the Lampert case, huh?”
“Yes. In ten minutes, we’ll have the verdict.”
“They asked me to represent the defendant . . . I didn’t take the case.”
The look on her face gave away her reason. Yumi was one of the lawyers whose success rate was just as high as mine, so for her to turn down the case meant she either knew he did it or knew they wouldn’t win. That gave me the hope I needed with winning this for James and his family.
“I’m going to head out. My back is on fire, so I’m headed to get a maternity massage, courtesy of the mister.” She beamed.
“I love that for you.” We both laughed. “How is Emery?”
“Annoyingly adorable. He wants me to take my maternity leave now, but I’m not ready. I’m only seven months, geesh.” We laughed. “Well, good luck. I hope he gets the justice he deserves,” she added.
“Thanks. Enjoy your massage.”
She smiled and walked away.
James’s eyes landed on me, and I gave a soft nod of reassurance before taking a deep breath and guiding them into the courtroom.
As predicted, the Lamperts got the justice they deserved. The judge gave Ian twenty-seven years with time served. It wasn’t what James wanted, but it was better than the five years the defense was shooting for.
Ian would be in his late sixties when he got out.
As I got inside my car, I sat for a moment.
I had been in and out of court since nine this morning, and I was completely exhausted.
For three days, my spirit had been unsettled as I thought about Basil.
He stood on his word and kept everything professional concerning us, and he rarely talked to me or gave me eye contact unless it was concerning the kids.
I apologized for hurting his feelings, and although he forgave me, I still felt his disconnect from me.
I wasn’t mad at him or anything. I just felt as if he should have understood where I was coming from.
I was finally free from my sham of a marriage.
I didn’t agree with him getting them, because the bastard didn’t even want them. But I knew Leanna pushed for it since I hadn’t been answering any of her calls and had been ignoring her text messages.