•••
“Good morning Aaron,” says the lawyer. “I’ve got good news and bad news. Mark has decided not to press charges against you.”
“Sounds like great news to me,” Liam adds.
“Go on with the bad news then,” I encourage him because I’ve got this strange premonition that is eating away at my self control in one big bite.
“He won’t press charges against you so long as Ciara retracts her allegations that he attacked her.”
I squeeze my eyes tight shut and inhale slowly. I’m about to make one of those altruistic decisions: the kind I make for the benefit of those around me, rather than myself.
I have to choose between her welfare and my own, so there’s no contest.
“Not a chance in hell.”
“Aaron, be reasonable—”
“What your asking me to agree to doesn’t and could not exist, in this world or any other. That bastard must pay, and he will.”
“I’ll ask for a restraining order.”
“I said no.”
“We could ask the girl.”
“You cannot approach her.”
“If you insist on handling it this way there is nothing I can do for you. I could have helped if you hadn’t beaten him so savagely, repeatedly. If you hadn’t gone apeshit on him like you did. A punch, maybe two… Okay, it’s reasonable force, to defend the girl it would have been justifiable. But we’re really risking trouble in this situation. I wish you’d think it through a bit more.”
I get up, in a sign meant to indicate this conversation is over for me. There’s no need to add anything else. I will not allow something like that to happen.
“What is the risk if we proceed as things are?” Jay asks, looking worried.
“There’ll be a charge of aggravated assault, with a supportive statement from the girl, plus resisting arrest. You’ll get maybe not more than eighteen months in jail. Everything depends on the judge, for he would have the discretion to convert the sentence into probation or a community service order. But there is a big risk and you all should be aware of it.”
“I have to speak with my family,” I say, thanking him and promising to call later on.
Then I go to the living room and sit on the couch as I wait for Jay and the others. I specifically asked Ciara not to be a part of this conversation and that she should stay upstairs with her mother because I do not want her to feel in any way responsible for me and what I’m going up against.
When everyone is gathered in the living room, I collect my courage and announce my decision.
“I’m not going to dance around it. You know I’m not good at this, so let’s get right to the point. I could end up behind bars.”
My speech is interrupted by Rain’s crying.
“Eighteen months if we’re lucky. It’s also possible for me to avoid jail time if the judge recognizes my actions as the use of reasonable force, but there’s not too much hope there because I wasn’t the victim.”
Jay adds: “The lawyer also said that if Ciara withdrew the accusation—”
“Jay!” I interrupt. “No!”
“You said you wanted to talk about it with your family and we need to be completely honest.”
“I’ve already made my decision.”
“What are we talking about here?” Patrick asks, joining us.
I shoot Jay with a lightning glare but he goes on:
