But, like it or not, I had become that person, I realized, looking askance at Madeleine and Tom Cooper, who were both watching me closely, relief written all over their faces.
And who could blame them?
When, in the end, I had gotten it all so terribly wrong.
“Obviously my client and I will need some time to discuss this new development.” I felt Declan’s hand at my elbow as he addressed the Coopers and the judge.
But, as far as I was concerned, there was nothing to discuss. I’d made a huge mistake, had cast aspersions and made serious accusations toward people—my own neighbors—that had proven utterly false. Because I was aware of the Coopers’ vaccination stance, I’d made a huge assumption, automatically blaming their daughter for visiting misfortune on mine when it had been the other way around.
The other way around.
Oh, God, did this mean that the Coopers were now going to come back and countersue me, for not only infecting Clara, but for the unbelievable suffering and disruption they’d endured over the last year and more?
The very idea made me feel dizzy.
“Kate, are you OK?” Declan asked as he led me into another side room off the judge’s chambers no bigger than a broom closet, and I wondered idly if the room existed for this very purpose—to house people who took frivolous cases before the court and needed to reflect on their idiocy.
“Of course I’m not OK. Didn’t you hear what was just said, see that guy on-screenactuallyinfect Rosie?”
“Well, from a medical point of view, and certainly from a legal one, that’s not conclusive...”
“Oh, come on, Declan, we both know this is a mess, a complete disaster! The judge has no choice but to dismiss the case now. In fairness, I wouldn’t blame him if, after all this, he wanted to put me in jail.”
“I can assure you, Kate, there’s no way something like that will happen—” he began, but I knew he was unable to truly grasp the extent of my despair. How could anyone?
“What am I going to do?” I whispered, my voice sounding frail even to myself.
How would I get over this? Not only had I made a monumental mistake, which had already cost me a huge amount emotionally—to say nothing of financially—caused needless hassle and heartbreak to another perfectly innocent family, but, in the end, it had all been for nothing.
“It’s a shock, I know,” Declan replied, his tone reassuring as always. I looked at him then, thinking about what a wonderful man he was and how incredible he’d been throughout all of this in so many ways: the case, keeping my spirits up while Rosie was still in the hospital, being a shoulder to cry on, as well as helping us tackle many day-to-day domestic concerns since she came home.
In short, he’d gotten me through everything.
And I could only imagine how much my problems had cost him personally and professionally—how he’d given up so much of the legal practice’s resources, as well as forgone so many regular paid cases, and indeed his own personal time and energy, to help me out.
How would I ever repay him?
“I don’t know what to say to you except sorry,” I began. “I’m so sorry for dragging you into all this. It never crossed my mind for a second that Clara might not have been the source of infection. I was so dogged about it...”
He waved my apologies away. “Try not to think about that now, Kate. There’s no point going down that road. We could only work with the information we had to hand.”
“But we can’t pretend that this isn’t a huge disaster in every way. When I think of your fees...and all the bills for Rosie’s care...”
The world was starting to swim before my eyes. I had no idea what I was going to do to make things right. An apology to all parties concerned would be a start, of course, but after that? I had no idea.
All along I’d believed (prayed) that this trial would be the light at the end of the tunnel, and that if I just kept working toward it, everything would work out for the better.
I could never have imagined that the light would turn out to be the headlights of a fast-approaching train.
52
“In what has presented itself as a startling turn of events on week two of O’Hara v. Cooper, I am standing outside High Court buildings this Monday lunchtime among a crowd that is still in shock over this morning’s abrupt dismissal of the case—a lawsuit that has divided the nation and given rise to strong opinions from all sides in the controversial vaccination debate.
“It is being reported that some new information came to light over the weekend that effectively invalidated all claims in the legal proceedings against Tom and Madeleine Cooper issued last year by Kate O’Hara on behalf of her daughter, Rosie.
“With us now to illuminate these new findings are City College biology student Scott Ferguson and his solicitor, John Fleming. Gentlemen, thank you both for agreeing to talk toSky News...”
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