"Robin Wayne Forbes,you've been found guilty of violating an Injunction for Protectionagainst Aurora Pine, sexual assault and battery.The chargestogether carry with them potential for up to fifteen years.As aresult of your plea agreement with the Prosecutor's Office, Iaccept their recommendation of seven to ten years, of which youwill serve the minimum with good behavior."The judge sighs again."I hope that will give you ample time to reflect on your choices upuntil this point in your life, and make better ones in the future.You made a wise decision."A meaningful pause."I'd have given youthe maximum."
It's then that I'm able tounglue my gaze from the judge enough to remember the most out ofplace piece in this game—Rory's father sitting on the same bench asus, perched at the opposite aisle.
His conversation withRobert Forbes from yesterday, his story about the vase, it allricochets through my mind and I finally understand.
The fucking assholefinally took up for his own daughter.
In that same moment I alsorealize—with no small amount of heartache and shame—I hurt Rory fornothing.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ihear the words, but I have to silently repeat them severaltimes to myself before I can process their meaning.Sam's fingershave stopped drawing on my shoulder and he seems just as stunned asI am.
Jail.
The judge instructs thebailiff to take the defendant into custody, and they handcuff Robinright there in the courtroom, Cindy Forbes wailing like woundedanimal.
Seven years.
I stand when Sam does,still staring blankly as the judge adjourns the court.
"Baby," Sam finally getsmy attention.
I turn to him and it'swhen I register his smile, the utter relief coloring his cheeks,that I finally understand.
This is real.
"He's going to jail."Myvoice is shaky and disbelieving.
Sam nods."He's going tojail, Ror," he confirms.
I whimper a sigh ofrelief, the weight of more than a year of fear and sufferingfinally lifting off of my very sore shoulders, before I fall intohis arms.Sam lifts me from the ground, holding me so tightly Ithink he's more unburdened than I am.When he puts me down Chipmusses my hair playfully like he used to do when we were kids and Iblink up at him.And then my mother is there with tears in hereyes, and it's contagious.We hug and cry.
I'm so unbelievablyintoxicated with relief that the fact that I don't understand whatjust happened, why Robin would take the plea deal for seven years,doesn't even register.
Well, that is until Iglance back up at Sam to find him glaring over my shoulder with astrange mix of hostility and awe.I follow his gaze, surprised whenit leads to my father, and even more surprised when I absorb hisown expression.It's one I haven't seen before, not from him…humility.Regret.
I look back to Sam and eyehim curiously; he seems to know something I don't.
"Sam?"
He snaps out of whateverhad a hold on him, slinging an arm around my shoulder, and turningme so that my father is no longer in my line of sight."Let's gocelebrate, yeah?"
I offer him a small,uncertain smile."Yeah."
****
It was my father.I can't believe it, but it was.
He called the prosecutor'soffice last night, and told them he was the one who told theForbeses I'd be in Miami.That he'd mentioned it to Mayor Forbesover dinner, and that Robin was there.That there's no way it was acoincidence, and that he would testify to the fact.
The prosecutor called mymother early this morning and they decided to leverage it for a onetime plea deal offer.Seven to ten if he agreed today.They wantedto protect me from enduring my cross-examination.And I guess theyagreed.And as the judge said, they were wise to, becauseapparently otherwise he'd be doing fifteen instead of seven to ten,but not without a long, torturous trial that would undoubtedly takeover much of my life for the next year.
Still, I can't believeit's really over.
After court, my mother,Sam, Chip, and I enjoy a jubilant late lunch at some fancyrestaurant in South Beach.
I feel lighter.It'sstrange knowing without a doubt that Robin can't hurt me.That he'slocked up.For the first time in the longest time, I feelfree.Suddenly Miamiitself is a different place, the sun brighter, the oceanbluer.
