I hold mybreath.
"Yes, Your Honor," boththe defense lawyer and the prosecutor say in a stagger.
"Do you have theagreement?"the judge asks.
"Yes, Your Honor," theProsecutor says again, and the judge motions herforward.
Prosecutor Counterapproaches the bench and hands the judge the documents she andRory's mother had been working on until the moment the judgearrived.The judge skims through them with interest.
Agreement.What fuckingagreement?Would theyhave gone behind Rory's back and pledthatmotherfucking bastardout?Would Rory'smother do that to her?
Shit, I need to tell them about the Facebook message before it'stoo late!
"Amy," I loud whisper,trying to get her mother's attention.She turns back to me andpresses her index finger over her lips, indicating that I should bequiet.Fuck that."Amy," I whisper louder.
She turns again, her faceintently serious and she fuckingshushesme.I'm so stunned by herdismissiveness that it actually does shut me up.
"Okay," the judge saysloudly, seemingly satisfied with whatever she's read, and we allturn back toward the bench.
I tighten my hold onRory's shoulders.
"So, Mr.Forbes, you'vedecided to change your plea then?"
I was fucking right.Afucking plea deal.
Goddamn it.
Rory was right all along.I can't believe I let this happen!And I can't do a thing otherthan sit here and watch it unfold.
That motherfuckingbastard'slawyer nudges him and hestands.
"Yes ma'am."His voice istoneless.
"And it is?"
"Guilty."
Rory audibly gasps.Idon't know if she thinks this is a good thing, or if sheunderstands the implications—that this is just part of thedeal.
What is he getting?Probation?Community Service?The thought makes my stomach coilinto a tight knot.
"You have been chargedwith knowingly violating an Injunction for Protection againstAurora Pine, sexual assault and battery.You plead guilty to all ofthese counts?"
"Yes ma'am."
What the fuck?
Rory looks to me, but Ican't even spare her a glance.I have no answers.This makes nosense.There is no reasonable scenario in which he would cop to theviolation of his restraining order.Not unless he knew he'd losethe motion.
Did someone else see theFacebook message somehow?
"Do you have anythingyou'd like to say to the court?"the judge asks.
There's a pause, before hegrits out "No, ma'am."
The judge sighs."Well Isuppose we can move onto sentencing then."
"Sentencing," Rory breathes.I don'teven think she meant to say it, I think she's just inshock.
