Chapter 43
The next morning, we take my Jeep to the courthouse for day two. I slept really well with Seb beside me and Nick, who came back into the living room during the night and allowed me to use him as a body pillow.
Jake's in the same suit but a different tie today and is in good spirits but a little subdued compared to yesterday, as is Ray.
Understandable, considering they'll deal with his mom today.
I give both him and Ray a hug before we proceed inside the courtroom.
The defence attorney and Joseph Sr. are already sitting in place with Colette behind them.
They again don’t acknowledge us, which is probably for the best. Judge Crombie enters quickly and calls for Erin. I hear Ray’s intake of breath as she enters, dressed in a billowy floral floor-length skirt and light blue silk blouse.
Her eyes stray to Jake for a moment, and I get a glimpse of pain before she faces her husband. They don’t embrace as she takes a seat beside him, and both have no-nonsense game faces on.
Mr. MacLeod begins today by going over evidence while calling witnesses to the stand.
Will, Ray, Dad, and I are all called to recount the day and any interactions we had with Erin, Joseph, and Colette.
Mr. MacLeod goes back to the accident with me and Ray just enough for the judge to understand her hostility towards me, her mental state, and her abandonment of Jake.
The defense attorney cross-examines, trying to get us to adjust our opinions of our interactions between Jake and his family, but we stay firm.
After that, we break for a quick lunch. E, having expected us to have little time, brings in a cooler from Alex’s SUV with sandwiches and cookies, along with drinks for everyone. Will didn’t stay for lunch; he just nodded to Jake after his testimony and left.
Filing back into the courtroom, Colette is called to the stand first, and she attempts to explain there was no ill will on their part towards any of us or Jake.
They just wanted their new brother to be with them.
When Mr. MacLeod cross examines, she skirts around the answer as to whose idea it was to kidnap Jake, and the judge doesn’t push for a straightforward response.
Next up is Joseph, who says it was his idea to kidnap Jake, as he did yesterday, and still won’t tell the judge where he got the drugs, despite her telling him it could increase his sentence. Mr. MacLeod doesn’t have many questions for him today.
Finally, it’s Erin’s turn. She goes right into blaming me for the accident, saying I coerced Jake into going skiing that day even though he didn’t want to.
Lie.
Next, the lawyer explains she was a distraught mother, just trying to get her son back.
It’s quite a sob story, but there’s a thread of truth to the words.
It’s a bit skewed but expected. When she talks about Jake, the trial, and Ray, she seems genuinely concerned about Jake's welfare and wants to get him away from my influence.
She's convinced herself that I caused the accident and hurt Jake. Talk about trauma altering memories.
When asked about the kidnapping, she says it was her idea, just like Joseph did, and she tries to take all the blame for it.
Erin believes Jake is safer with her, away from me, and even claims Ray failed as a parent by allowing me access to Jake again.
At least Ray checked in on Jake and took care of us after the accident for a time, unlike her.
Mr. MacLeod takes his turn, asking about her leaving Jake and moving out of state and not checking in on him.
She tries to say she called to check on Jake regularly, but our exceptional lawyer has proof from Mal that she never once inquired about him.
He also asks about the divorce proceedings and her not requesting contact or even mentioning Jake.
She tries to play it off as a grieving woman, but I notice the judge quirk an eyebrow at her response.
Finally, the judge asks a few more questions of Ray and Jake to clarify the answers Erin gave. Ray seems rigid as a brick house. Looking at his face, he’s pale and clammy. Poor Ray, this must be so hard for him and Jake.
Judge Crombie calls a recess to review all the evidence before sentencing, so we file out to the room across the hall, and Dad shuts the door once we're all inside. I go to Jake and pull him down beside me in a chair. “Holding up okay, handsome?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Listening to Mom made me nostalgic for the good old days.” His eyes connect with mine with a frowny smile. “She is obviously living in an alternate reality. Her version of events is so, so wrong. I feel bad for her and hope she gets the help she needs.”
I’m shocked at his mature assessment of everything. “I’m proud of you, Jake.” Reaching up, I kiss his cheek.
E sets an assortment of drinks in the centre of the table for everyone to have as we lounge around the room. Mr. MacLeod is on the phone, as is Dad. Jake meets my eyes and nods towards his dad, who is still not looking great. He stands and goes over to talk to him.
Seb immediately takes his seat and slings his arm over my shoulders.
He pulls most of us into a discussion of what we want to do after graduation.
Steven has invited us all to a restaurant for an early dinner on Friday, and we decide to spend a few days at the beach afterward. Jake is excited to join us this time.
We're called back into court about an hour later. The judge wants the night to decide, so we'll all convene here again in the morning. Darn.
Seb is staying with me again tonight, but Nick is meeting up with Markus and Ceres. We sleep on the couch again, and I wake holding Seb’s hand.
When I hop out of the shower, Dad is cooking scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. I wake Seb and then make myself some tea.
Once we're ready, Dad drives us to the courthouse for, hopefully, the last time. All the guys are already there when we arrive, so we file into the room we’ve been using.
Jake and Ray are sitting with Mr. MacLeod quietly, so I pull out a chair beside Jake and sit down, grabbing his hand. “Morning, handsome,” I smile.
“Morning Sum. Hey guys.”
“Are you doing okay this morning?”
“Yeah. I’m ready to finish this.” He leans closer to talk in my ear. “I think Dad had an awful night though, because of Mom.”
Nodding, I lean up to kiss his cheek. “We’ll monitor him.”
A bailiff comes in to tell us the judge would like to speak to both lawyers before sentencing. Mr. MacLeod leaves us as everyone finds a seat to wait. Interesting. “I wonder what that’s about?” Seb ponders.
“It could be many things,” Alex answers him.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Mr. MacLeod comes back. “Jake, Ray, and Summer, I have some information for you regarding Erin. Could we please have the room?” Everyone else quickly files into the hallway.
“The judge had Erin assessed by a psychiatrist yesterday, and she suffers from delusional disorder. She truly believes that Summer put Jake in a coma, that it was her fault her marriage ended, and she's why she was removed from seeing Jake here.”
“That’s bullshit!” Jake exclaims.
“I agree,” Mr. MacLeod nods. “That is Erin’s reality, however.
As a result, the judge has two options for sentencing.
The first is prison, as is standard for this type of crime.
The second is a high security mental health facility.
Both sentences are years long. What would you be comfortable with, Jake? ”
Well, that's a lot to put on his shoulders. “Can you tell me more about the mental health facility?” Jake asks.
“It is like a prison in the sense that she won’t be able to leave, but she will have a private room and bathroom and a mandatory schedule each day, including lots of therapy.
The psychiatrist doesn’t believe she has dealt with any of her trauma, so that will take up much of her time.
It is restrictive in what she can do. Think of it like a prison, but with her own room.
Nicer facilities, but a similar structure. ”
Jake gets his thinking face on and looks out the window as he contemplates what to do. “She’s still my mom, so I think the mental facility is better. What do you think, Sum? Dad?”
“It's your choice, handsome.” I lay my head on his shoulder.
“That is a very mature decision, son,” Ray tells him with a nod.
“I'll let the judge know,” Mr. MacLeod smiles and leaves the room again as everyone comes back inside. Nick takes the seat beside me before Seb gets there and squeezes my thigh.
A few minutes later, Mr. MacLeod returns to tell us Judge Crombie is ready, so we file out and into the courtroom, taking the seats we’ve been using the past two days.
Joseph Sr. enters a few minutes later without Colette. Strange, it’s her sentencing too.
When Judge Crombie enters, she addresses the courtroom.
“This had been an unusual case for me. We have a minor, a teenager, and a mother on trial. Yesterday afternoon, I requested a psychiatrist assess Erin, and I received her evaluation last evening. It is her assessment that Erin is suffering from a delusional disorder because of trauma. She truly believes Summer caused Jake to fall into a coma and, as a result, was the reason she divorced Ray and lost her family. Considering this, and after discussing options with both lawyers, I will call in all three defendants for sentencing together.” She nods at the bailiff as he opens a back door, and Joseph, Colette, and Erin enter and take seats beside Joseph Sr.
All three are dressed impeccably and sit quietly beside Joseph Sr. without greeting him or looking at anyone.
I feel bad for them, honestly. Not enough that I don’t think they should pay for taking Jake, but who knows what was really said between the family.
If Erin believes I’m the cause of everything, her kids would believe her and want to get their brother to safety, which is away from me.
How much should they pay if they were only doing what their stepmother wanted? If they believed they were saving Jake?
“Sentencing will begin with Colette, followed by Joseph and Erin. Colette please stand,” Judge Crombie says.
She stands as her brother takes her right hand in his.
“Colette Thompson, you admitted to the abduction of Jake Miller and were a willing participant. The court sentences you to three years in a juvenile detention facility, where you will attend mandatory therapy. You can serve this time in New York, near your family. You have 24 hours before you are required to turn yourself in.”
I watch a tear drop onto Colette’s cheek as she returns to her seat. Her brother gives her a hug as the judge asks him to stand.
“Joseph Thompson, you also admitted to abducting Jake Miller, as well as threatening and drugging him. Because of your age, this court tried you as an adult. With this come harsher penalties. The court sentences you to 10 years in prison with mandatory therapy. Because of your family’s influence in New York, the court will immediately send you to a federal penitentiary in this state. ”
Joseph’s face goes white as Colette cries, covering her mouth with her hand to keep quiet. Joseph Sr. places his shaking hands on the top of the table and takes a large inhale. Erin still appears stoic among her distraught family.
“Erin Thompson, please stand,” Judge Crombie says next. I place my arm on Ray’s in support as he goes rigid beside me. Part of me wonders if he’s still in love with her. Either way, this is extremely difficult for him.
“Based on the trial and mental health evaluation, you are remanded to a high security mental health facility in South Carolina for 10 years. By the grace of your son, Jake, you are not being sent to federal prison.”
Erin glances over at Jake as her eyes fill with sadness before she turns back towards the judge.
“I will remind all three of you that you may not contact Jake Miller or Ray Miller from this point forward. Bailiff, please take Erin and Joseph back into custody.”
Both go quietly back through the door as Colette’s cries turn to sobs and Joseph Sr. pulls her to his side and talks quietly with her.
“This court is adjourned.” Judge Crombie hits her gavel and stands to leave the courtroom.
We all stand, and Jake turns towards me. I open my arms as he leans across the wooden barricade to hug me. “Doing okay, handsome?” I whisper in his ear.
“Surprisingly okay, Sum. I feel bad for them.”
“Me too.” I give him one last squeeze and then step back so he can hug Ray. They embrace as Ray releases a shaky breath.
We file out of the courtroom, and the guys congratulate Jake and thank Mr. MacLeod. He leaves us immediately with a smile, having a meeting back at the office.
We decide to meet up after lunch at my house to hang out, so the guys disperse, and Nick offers to take me home so Dad can go to work.
After working on the flower beds, we shower, and I make Nick and me lunch. The guys arrive shortly after, and Bay and E help me in the garden while Seb, Alex, Jake, and Nick lounge around the deck.
It’s a relaxing afternoon where we just chill. Jake told me Ray called his therapist as soon as they got home, and they talked for a few hours, and he seemed better afterwards. Jake also called Cameron, but he's genuinely doing well.
Troy and Dad get the grill going when they come home, and E and I make sides. After dinner, everyone goes home except Jake. Since Ray is at group therapy this evening, Jake stays until later in the evening, and then I drive him home.