A TRIAL SEPARATION
"All rise!" The clerk's voice boomed out around the near empty courtroom. Becca struggled to get up, court chairs, defendants chairs, never designed with a pregnant woman in mind. The court official took pity and gave her a helping hand, she flashed him a grateful smile and then focused on the judge. It felt like a million years since she'd last sat in this courtroom – oh the irony of it scheduled in Court Two, she'd sat here last year sending up silent prayers for him to be let off and now... now she was sat here sending up vehement prayers for him to rot in hell. She sat down again and leaned back against the chair, she felt cumbersome and hot, she began fanning herself with the papers the solicitor had handed her apologetically as she arrived at the courthouse. It hadn't boded well for her defence; the court official beside her made sympathy noises about the heat but she shook her head and concentrated on the proceedings. She had been worried he would be here but the solicitor had assured her it was just a preliminary hearing, reading out the charges, establishing her current permanent address and a renewal of the bail application. The lawyers droned and she took the opportunity to look around, apart from the judge, the officials and the lawyers, the court was deserted. Thankfully no reporters, and keeping to her instructions, no Nancy either. She allowed herself to drift off in reverie where she was rather satisfyingly still at Hollyoaks comp and setting him detention for a week with the longest list of essays to complete and he was begging her to let him go home. She was roused from her dream by the sound of movement and the official at her side tugging her arm and helping her to stand. The judge departed and her erstwhile solicitor approached beaming "Well it's better than we hoped for, bail and no residency conditions to speak of. You'll need to report to the police of course, but it doesn't specify where. You can travel to your mother's house as we discussed, you'll just need to take a letter from the police here to the local constabulary there. I can organise that for you" He was conciliatory and ingratiating after the cock-up with the papers. She nodded barely taking it in, "You can go" he said gently. "I'll ring you tomorrow with the next court date and Becca, take care" He shook her hand and walked away.
The security man opened the door for her, she walked bemused back out into the weak October sunshine. It still felt like a dream she was here, she realised she was still clutching the papers the solicitor had handed her earlier and quickly stuffed them in her bag as Nancy came running up, Foz trailing in her wake "I know you told me to stay away but I couldn't bear to wait at home, what happened? Has it been dismissed?" she asked eagerly putting the best possible spin on Becca emerging from the courthouse. "No, I've been bailed" she wailed, the realisation hitting her that it was far from over. She glanced around worried he'd be there to gloat but the steps were deserted. Nancy hugged her tightly "We'll beat this Becca, I know we will, the little shit is lying and we'll prove it!" Becca hugged her back far from sure about the outcome. Foz watched them anxiously, both fragile in different ways, Becca from her ordeal and Nancy from worry. "C'mon" he said gently "Let's get away from here. How about a coffee? My treat!" Becca flashed him a smile, and took his proffered arm oblivious to Nancy's sudden flash of annoyance. "Yes lets!" she replied taking Foz's other arm in a proprietal way, glaring briefly at Becca. Foz smiled at them both, oblivious of the tension and the ill assorted trio headed away from the courthouse, unaware of being watched.