Chapter 64

I saw my grandparents waiting outside City Hall when I pulled in,but I didn’t see Pamela.I hurried to park,then made my way to the front doors.

Grandpa hugged me,and I felt calmer than I had in the last hour.“Hiya,”he said,his voice gruff.“How are you today?”

“Good.You?”

Grandma enfolded me in her arms also.Her flowery perfume filled the air,as if she’d spritzed some on in the car.

“Where’s Pamela?”

“She didn’t want to be part of the meeting,”Grandma began.“We feel she’s too young anyway,so she’s at her friend Danielle’s.”

“We’ve decided to stay at the hotel for the night,rather than driving back,”Grandpa informed me.“We wanted to be close in case the D.A.needs us for anything.”

“Sounds like a plan,”I said as butterflies began attacking my stomach.

I opened the door for my grandparents,then followed them inside.Anxiety gripped me,but I remembered what Jeff always said.Breathe in.Breathe out.As the three of us walked down the hallway,I concentrated on my breathing.

After my grandpa knocked on Laura Morgan’s door,she opened it almost immediately.She wore a pair of casual slacks and a turquoise blouse,her hair in a ponytail.“I’m so glad you could meet today.I don’t always keep Saturday hours,but it’s been a busy week.Come in.”She gestured to the chairs.

Grandma and Grandpa each took a seat,but being too keyed up to sit,I found myself pacing behind them.Laura gave me a half-smile,her eyes crinkling with compassion.She clearly knew this was hard for me.For all of us.

Opening a tan folder,she took her seat,then braced her elbows on the desk and folding her hands together.“I’ve got to be honest.As you know,your son-in-law—your father,Aaron—has a sharp defense attorney.We’re concerned he could get off on voluntary manslaughter,which could set him free way too early for my comfort level.”

“Manslaughter only?”Grandpa barked,jaw clenched,hands fisted.

She scanned the page in the folder.“First of all,we’re considering this plea because,like I said,we don’t want him getting next to nothing,which is a possibility.We’d like to offer him second-degree murder.Fifteen years with the chance of parole after twelve.”

“Twelve years?For my mom’s life?”I blurted.“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Language!”

Only when Grandma’s voice cut through my anger did I realize what I’d said.“I’m sorry.It’s just…that doesn’t seem fair.”

“I know,”Laura replied.“But if he gets voluntary manslaughter,he could be out in five.”

It stunned me to know my fear could come true.“He can’t get out!”

“He’ll stay behind bars for at least twelve years before he does,if we go with this plea deal,”she told me.

“I don’t understand why he’s even interested in taking a plea.”

Her face paled and she pretended to shuffle papers on her desk.

“You knowwhy,don’t you?”I asked,my eyes narrowing.

She finally met my gaze.“Yes,but his words were so hateful,I hesitate to share them.”

Icy fingers wrapped around my heart.It had something to do with me,I could feel it in my soul.I rested my shaking hands on my grandma’s shoulders.“Please tell me.”

Laura pulled out another paper and read from it.“I refuse to stand trial if my children are going to testify.I won’t be around—”she cleared her throat“—a fag.”

My stomach dropped.Of course.He hated anyone gay.And that included me.His hatred was so extensive,he was putting his chance at freedom at risk in order to nothave to see me.

“Well,that’s wonderful!”Grandma blurted and clasped her hands together.

Wonderful?

“Well,I don’t mean his wording,honey.Of course not,”she clarified.“I mean it’s wonderful that his own hatred is doing him in!”

She was right.His anger and hatred were backfiring on him.“Here I was always so scared to tell him,but it’s keeping him in jail longer.”I chuckled at the irony.“Wow.That’s just really…crazy.”

We spent at least another hour going over the details,and Laura promised to let us know as soon as things went through.“But be warned,he can change his mind and not take the plea.”

Once we left,I went home to get ready for work.I texted Jeff to let him know we were going with the plea and I’d give him the details when I got there.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and grinned as I remembered what we had done that morning.I grew hard just thinking about it.How had I been lucky enough to fall in love with my best friend?

I couldn’t believe we were going to prom together,and—hopefully—off to the same college.I rinsed out my mouth and brushed my hair before heading out,a smile stuck to my face.

I had dreaded this day and now I was just glad the worst part was over.Now at least I’d get to see Jeff.And God,I hoped I wouldn’t have to work concession.

Prom night finally arrived and Jeff acted secretive.

The week had been crazy busy with finals,so Friday night,his mom had ordered pizza and we’d binge-watched Star Trek Voyageron Netflix almost all night.Lots of our friends had gone to parties to celebrate getting out of school the following week,but we just wanted to spend the evening together.

I thought it kind of stupid we had to go back to school next week,even if it was for only a few days.Since finals were over,we would probably watch movies or help teachers pack up things for summer,but either way,it would likely be boring.

Both Jeff and I had taken the weekend off from the movie theater so we could attend prom.Saturday morning we picked up our rentals,including shoes,which I’d completely forgotten to order.Luckily,Jeff had remembered to add them on.

I still hadn’t heard from the district attorney about my father’s plea,which had me concerned,but my grandparents reassured me these things could take time.