“I don’t know what to do here, Lana! Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it,” Kayden replied, flustered and upset.
“You can’t blame him, honey. Everyone thought this would go to a trial. No one saw this coming,” Veronica said, stroking her daughter’s head.
“I’m just so angry!” She sat up and wiped her face, then turned to Kayden and hugged his neck. “I love you, I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you,” she whispered.
“I know, baby, it’s going to be OK. I love you too,” he whispered back as he held her in his arms.
Lana stared out the side window as fresh tears slipped down her face and watched Paula and Maureen on the steps of the courthouse.
PAULA PLANTEDHER heels on the courthouse steps, a reluctant bulwark against the blinding frenzy of flashing cameras and a symphony of reporters shouting over oneanother. The air crackled with thepop-pop-popof strobes. Maureen, her face a rigid mask of aristocratic steel, and Heathcliff, his expression grim, his jaw tight, flanked her on either side.
Paula raised a hand, her voice strained but steady as it cut through the din.
“At this time, we have to admit we are... profoundly disappointed with the result of today’s proceedings.” She took a steadying breath, her eyes scanning the rabid crowd. “We ask that you respect our family’s privacy at this moment, to absorb what just occurred.”
The reporters, like sharks scenting blood, ignored her request and surged forward, hurling questions like stones.
"Maureen, what are you feeling right now?”
“What do you have to say about your future daughter-in-law’s reaction?!”
"What does Kayden say?!"
They went unanswered. Heathcliff put a firm, protective hand on Maureen’s back, shielding her as he plowed a path toward the second waiting black SUV. Maureen held her head impossibly high, her gaze fixed forward, refusing to acknowledge the chaos she had, in part, helped create.
When they finally piled into the vehicle, the heavy doors thudded shut, cutting off the noise and camera flashes with a jarring finality. A deafening, suffocating silence filled the cabin. No one said a word as the truck pulled away from the curb, leaving the trail of reporters, still snapping photos like frenzied piranhas, behind them.
HERDED ON PAULA’Smultiple sofas in theliving room, the lot of them sat in silence while Maureen and Paula made tea in the kitchen. Rupert and Veronica were side by side with Mr. Smith and Aunt Mae, speaking amongst themselves. Kayden cradled Lana on the sofa in front of them as she lay her head on his shoulder in silence. No one said much because they didn’t know what to say. The atmosphere was more like a funeral instead of the victory they had thought the day would end in.
Sam and Carmen were at the end of the semi-circular couch next to them and didn’t say anything either. Kayden hadn’t mentioned anything about Sam being there, and Lana thought that was a good thing. The last thing she needed was the two of them getting into it in front of everyone again.
“I still don’t understand how the state could accept that type of plea deal. No jail time at all?” Aunt Mae asked, shaking her head.
“Kim wins again,” Lana replied.
“Baby,” Kayden put his arm around her.
“Don’t,” she shrugged him off and got off the couch.
As much as she was trying not to lose her temper, it was hard. She wanted to punch something, do something, but she felt hopeless—again. Carmen followed her into the kitchen to keep her company. Sam shuffled on the couch next to Kayden, visibly uncomfortable.
Sam didn’t like the guy, but hated that he and Lana were getting beaten down the way they were. He shook his head in disbelief and took a sip of his bourbon. Heathcliff peered over at Maureen, and something stirred deep down in his stomach.She had something to do with the circus in that courtroom.
He knew the woman very well, and it wasn’t like her to roll over and accept anyone getting away with anything against her family, let alone attempted murder. Maureen carefully entered the living room, balancing a tray of teacups and a silver pot withboiling water. She set it on the coffee table, and Kayden leaned over to make a cup. He kept his eyes on Lana, who was in the kitchen, elbows leaning on the counter, staring into nothing.
“You’re quiet, Maureen,” Heathcliff broke in, causing everyone in the room to look at her. Her cheeks blushed beet red, which gave her away.
“I’m just as shocked as everyone else, I guess,” she lied.
“I don’t buy that for a minute, mother,” Paula added now, watching her mother’s odd reaction. “Taylor said any lawyer worth his cheap suit would have had to get permission before presenting any plea deal agreements.”
Taylor glanced over uncomfortably and reached for his cup of tea.
“What do you mean?” Maureen replied, feigning ignorance.
“You’re such a bad liar,” Paula argued.
Now, the entire house was so silent you could hear the trees rustling outside the lanai. Maureen looked at them all, scanning their waiting faces, then caught a glimpse of Lana’s horrified face and froze.
