When the word did get out, a pattern was uncovered that Jacob only dated women with children between a certain age, which meant he may have been a preferential sick bitch. Once mothers spoke to their daughters, the damn floodgates opened, and charges were filed. Everyone looked at Pop Jordan sideways as fuck.
In the state of South Carolina, there was no statute of limitation for the sexual assault of a minor when it came to criminal charges. That meant that if she wanted to, P’Nee could file criminal charges. She opted not to do so. She didn’t want to take away from the girls who had recently been assaulted.
“Baby, are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to go?” I told her. I was worried about her.
Since all of this happened, she had been having nightmares. Based on what she told me, Jacob assaulted her once. If she had the kind of nightmares that she had from one time, I couldn’t imagine what the girls that he continually assaulted were going through.
She looked at me from my squatted position as I secured the strap on her heels. Today was the final court date for Jacob. He was charged with seven counts of sexual assault of a minor. A few of the incidents happened years ago, but like I said, that shitdidn’t matter. When they arrested him, his bail was set at three hundred thousand dollars. I knew that Pop Jordan could have posted that shit easily, but he didn’t. Joshua and I felt that he knew if he did, it would make him look worse in the situation at hand.
“Yes, I want to do this. I promised to be there at every court date to support the victims. Thank you for coming with me,” she said before she leaned down to kiss my lips.
I deepened the kiss. “There is no place that I rather be. I love you.”
“I love you more,” she responded before she stood.
I glared at her for a beat, pulled her into my arm, then kissed her neck. “That shit is impossible. You’re always trying to outdo my love. Won’t happen.”
She giggled. “Whatever, Bolt. Come on so we can get this over with. I’m hungry.”
Court was a lot. A lot of shit surprised me, and I didn’t want to hear most of it. My first surprise was that the case went to court as quickly as it did. From what we were told, they wanted to make an example out of him because of his status in the community. He was a Nichols’ brother who was part owner of a farm that employed a lot of people in Clover and the surrounding towns and city.
Also, one of the girls was the chief of police’s daughter. Chief Scott and his wife were divorced, and the daughter lived with the mother. The mother dated Jacob for almost a year, over three years ago, when the daughter was twelve. He assaulted her for over two years until the mother broke up with him. The mothersaid she broke up with him because of his failure to commit. Now she knew why.
The courtroom was full, and I was proud of my best friend for being there to support his sister. This shit had him so messed up. So much guilt sat on his chest, and if I had to be honest, mine as well. Even as teenagers, we knew something was off about that nigga. He always wanted to be around us when we had bitches around so he could flirt with them. It bothered us because of how assertive he was, but in the same breath, he was in his twenties which we still considered young. We never thought he would force females.
My sister, mama, and grandma were there for every court date. I loved my family for that. My mama had stepped in as a surrogate mother to my baby. Nee loved every second of the love that was shown. One day last week, I went to my mom’s house after I checked on the restaurant in Columbia. When I walked in, I saw Nee asleep on my mama’s lap. She had a bad nightmare and didn’t want to be alone.
“I can’t believe he took a plea deal,” P’Nee said after we walked out of the courtroom. “I thought that he would fight it. He didn’t even try.”
Joshua cleared his throat. “What the fuck would have been the point of trying? First, I’m not sure if he paid his lawyer, but if he did, he shouldn’t have. How the hell did she let the case be heard here in Clover? I’on know much about the legal system, but I do know that I would have filed for a change of venue. That’s probably why he took a plea, and it was a jury trial!”
He had a point there. “Shit, now all we have to get through is the sentencing. Let’s see how long he makes it once those boys inside find out that he’s a pedophile.”
We all walked out of the courthouse with our heads held high. That nigga would be in jail and stay there. I hoped for a long time. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out oncewe were on the sidewalk to see that it was a text message from Pop Jordan. My brow moved to my hairline as I opened it.
Pop Jordan:
Hey Bolt. I tried to text Nee but I think I’m block or something. I wanted to talk to her.
“Hold on, y’all. This is Pop Jordan. Let me see what he wants,” I told everyone. I read the text out loud.
Me:
What you need to talk to her about?
Pop Jordan:
I just want to talk to my daughter. I figured we could go to a restaurant or something.
“Nope, she can’t. If she agrees to talk to him, then he can come to my house. She’ll feel comfortable there. I’ll cook.” My mama had spoken, and that was that.
My arm went around P’Nee’s waist. I pulled her into me and kissed her temple. “What do you want to do, sweetheart? You want him to come to Mama’s house so y’all can talk?”
She tensed in my arms before she looked between all of us. Her shoulders lifted to her ears. “I guess we can do that. He can come tomorrow night.”
Me:
You can come to my mama’s house for dinner tomorrow night. 7 is good.
