Chapter 111: The court room
1014words
"Are you sure you're okay?" Luis asked as we headed down to the lobby in the elevator.
I nodded at him as I took a deep breath. "I'm totally fine."
Micky had called last night to tell us that the judge pushed my parents' trial up to today. I had gone in for official statements the night before and expected to be stuck in Seattle until their trial dates. They were originally set for a month from now, but due to the amount of charges against them, the judge wanted to do it now. I was okay with it because I was so ready to get home to Florida and put all of this behind me. I wasn't looking forward to staying in Seattle until their trial, and now I didn't have to.
Drake brought my hand up and kissed it as he smirked over at me. I loved this man more than anyone I've ever loved and I couldn't wait to see how our relationship would unravel once this was all over.
"No matter what happens today, lynn, I've got you," Drake whispered into my ear as I felt my heart melt.
"I know," I whispered back.
Luis's face in mine made me jump. "What are we whispering about?!" He loudly whispered.
I chuckled and lightly pushed him away before I wrapped my arm in his.
"I'm so lucky to have you both in my life, did you know that?"
"Psh, of course you are. Hello! I'm devilishly handsome and can do girl talk until two in the morning, and Drake dicks you so good that you have a perma-grin on your face for days," luis stated as I tried really hard not to burst out laughing.
Drake held up a finger and added, "Let's not forget that I'm also devilishly handsome."
"Oh, of course!" Luis shrieked.
I couldn't help it as my laughter filled the elevator.
"I love you both so much," I laughed.
Drake leaned over and kissed my temple as Pierre squeezed my arm in his.
"We love you back, babe," Drake whispered.
"There we go with the whispering again," Luis noted as the elevator door dinged and slid open.
We all stepped out laughing as we made our way through the lobby and down to the parking garage.
My nerves were a little all over the place as we piled into the SUV and drove toward downtown where the courthouse was. My biggest fear was that they'd get out of their charges and be free to go. There's no doubt that they'd be pissed off and try to come after me. I put them there in the first place, but I had to believe that Micky and the lawyers had enough on them to incarcerate them.
Drake reached over and took my hand again. He hadn't said too much over the last few days, but his silent support was all I needed. The look in his eyes when he gazed into mine and the way he kissed me told me that he wasn't going anywhere.
The courthouse came into view and my stomach tightened. In just a few moments, I'd be sitting in a room with two people I admired for years.
They've both let me down in one way or another, but seeing them get charged wasn't going to be easy. I had so many unanswered questions and I wasn't sure if I'd ever get them.
"You've got this, girl. We're right here with you," Luis told me as we began our ascent up the front marble steps toward the courthouse.
Drake had his hand placed on the small of my back as he guided me forward, and Luis never left my side. I noticed a small group of people huddled near the front doors as they all stopped talking and turned to look at me. I immediately became self conscious and tore my gaze from the strangers and continued forward.
I couldn't help but notice how they looked at me with curiosity rather than judgment. I didn't recognize a single one of them, but one of the women looked strangely familiar. She had the same hair color and jawline as I did.
"Hey, you've made it!" Micky approached us and for the first time ever, he nodded a pleasant greeting to Drake I was glad that he didn't start anything during the day my nerves were on high alert.
"Has the trial started? We're a little late," I admitted. That was my fault because I couldn't stop pacing in the living room before we finally left.
Micky shrugged. "You haven't missed much. They are discussing the parameters of the case but haven't brought out Gene or Kathy yet."
It was hard standing here trying to keep my cool. The two people who I thought loved me and who were supposed to be my parents, weren't actually at all and they were about to stand trial for it. How did my life turn in this direction? If someone had told me a month ago that this is where I'd be, I'd have laughed in their face. We came here to attend a family BBQ and now we're here. It didn't seem real.
"Ready when you are," Micky interrupted my thoughts.
I nodded at him as I slipped my hand back into Drake's. I really needed his strength right now and he took my hand without hesitation. We headed for the double doors that read COURT ROOM 1 on the front and my heart began to hammer in my chest. Here we go.
The room was about half full as my eyes scanned the immediate area. Melissa was nowhere to be found and I was thankful for that. I really couldn't deal with her shit today. We all took a spot near the front but still far back enough that we weren't front and center. The judge looked at us as we sat down and then continued on.
"Before we delve into the evidence provided by the Seattle Police Department, I'd like to bring out Gene Martinez."
