Jennifer and Jonathan went inside.
"Please, make yourselves at home. Grab a plate and a drink. The wives and girlfriends are out on the screened in porch, and we are in the living room".
After they had made their plates, Jennifer told him to come get her if he needed her, and then stepped outside.
"Hi, I'm Jennifer".
Everyone introduced themselves.
While the men were comparing notes, the women were talking about how they could help the men get through this.
After about 2 hours, the ladies went and joined the men.
"Ok, so moving forward, here's what we can all expect. There's been a trial date set. And if possible, we need to all be present for each day of the trial. We need to pack the courtroom. We want them to see us".
Everyone agreed with that.
"Is there a date for the trial to begin?"
"Yes, it was just set today. May 14".
"Well, that doesn't work for us. But I will be there for what I can".
"What do you mean it doesn't work for you?"
"We are getting married on the 18th".
"Oh."
"Jonathan, you and I have forever to get married. This might be your only shot at seeing him get what he deserves. We can reschedule the wedding".
"Darling, you've put your heart and soul into this".
"It's fine. You are more important."
He nodded and kissed her forehead.
"Ok, we're in".
"So, I'm not going to tell you all what to reveal in your testimony. I'm simply going to ask all of you to be as honest as possible and tell them what you remember in as much detail as you can".
After they stopped talking about the trial, they started talking about happy memories of the orphanage.
Everyone remembered Jonathan as the big brother type for all of them.
Around 11, everyone left. Jonathan and Jennifer held hands as they walked to the car together.
They headed to check into their hotel, and headed straight to their room.
Jennifer changed into a leopard print nightgown, and climbed into bed next to Jonathan.
She scratched his chest a little and just loved on him some.
He finally turned the tv off and wrapped his arms around her.
She stroked his hair and kissed his head some, and a few minutes later, he fell asleep on her chest.
She gave him a final kiss on the forehead and whispered to him.
"Goodnight, I love you".
***May***
Jonathan and Jennifer had settled into a very comfortable routine. She was exclusively working out of their house, and he had furnished the office with everything she would need. They had finally figured out all the furniture placements, and gotten all the boxes put away. What they stored when they moved in, they sold. He went to work each day, and tried very hard to not work late unless absolutely necessary. As far as he was concerned, his nights, and his early mornings, belonged exclusively to Jennifer. She felt the same, and refused to work while he was home.
She was at the house, working on an article when the phone rang.
She reached over and grabbed it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Jennifer? It's Deanne. Mr. Hart is requesting for you to come to the office in about an hour. He says it should only take you about 30 minutes to get to the office from the house".
"Ok, tell him I'm on my way".
She got up and went and filled her water bottle and then left a note for Max and headed out.
***Hart Industries***
She pulled up and parked, and then headed to his floor. Everyone was happy to see her and started giving her hugs.
Deanne stood up and opened Jonathan's office door.
"Mr. Hart, Miss Edwards is here".
"Thanks Deanne. Give us about 20 minutes, please. Hold my calls".
"Yes, sir".
He leaned up against the desk and Jennifer walked over to him.
"Hi".
"Hi".
"What's the big emergency?"
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Well, I have this meeting this afternoon, and then I have another one tonight. And if it goes the way I think it will, I'm going to have to work late every night this week, so that I can be gone next week for the trial. And I feel horrible, because I swore that I wouldn't work late so we could spend our nights together".
"It's fine, darling. Honest. I love you, you know that".
She kissed him a few more times.
"What time do you think you'll be home?"
"Hopefully by 9".
"Want me to wait dinner on you?"
"Save me a plate, but you don't have to wait for me".
She stepped forward and kissed him a few times.
Before they were ready, Deanne buzzed him.
"Mr. Hart, your meeting is here".
"Thank you".
"Darling, I have an idea. Agree to whatever they want, and you can be home by 7 and in bed with me by 8".
"If it were only that simple".
He gathered a few files, and then walked her to the elevator.
"I love you, I'll be home as soon as I can".
He gave her a quick few kisses and then headed to his meeting, and she headed home.
***Later that night***
Jennifer was still up when Jonathan got home. She had just put her pajamas on.
She heard him coming in, so she headed to the door.
"Hi darling".
"Hi beautiful". He gave her several kisses.
"Hungry?"
"Starved".
They headed to the kitchen where Max was heating up their plates.
"Darling, how did your meeting go?"
"Ok, I suppose. We got a lot of the heavy-hitting stuff out of the way so Stanley won't have to worry about that part of the deal when I'm gone".
"That's wonderful".
She embraced him and hugged him for a few minutes.
After a nice dinner, they headed upstairs to watch a movie in bed.
Jennifer gave him a nice backrub, and got him all relaxed.
"Baby, if this is what married life with you will be like, let's get married tomorrow".
"Ha ha. You know the deal, Mr. Hart. Not without my father walking me down the aisle".
They switched so she could get her backrub, and then Jonathan turned the tv to the news so they could watch the weather.
This just in-Prosecutors in San Francisco are preparing to put one of the city's most revered priests on trial this week for aggravated child abuse. Father Walter O'Rourke and Sister Sara Jane Sampson have served at the Mission Street Orphanage for more than 40 years. They have been charged with 26 counts of child abuse each, in a case that has victims stretching back at least 20 years. Trial officially starts tomorrow, but the defendants won't face a judge till next week.
"Darling, try not to think about it".
"Easier said than done. I'm the one that started all this, but ever since it started, I'm having more and more flashbacks".
She rubbed on his arm.
"You're doing the right thing, darling. Think of all the kids who are in the orphanage now that you are saving from going through the same things you did".
"You're right. I just wish the memories would stop".
"They will, once he gets what's coming to him".
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
"How did a worthless punk like me get lucky enough to end up with a wonderful woman like you?"
"You aren't a worthless punk. Far from it. And if you want to talk luck, I'm the lucky one".
"How do you figure?"
"I had just lost out on a job that I thought was a sure thing. I didn't have anything else lined up. If you hadn't hired me at the office, I would have been flying home to my father with my tail between my legs in a matter of days. And if you hadn't hired me at the office, I wouldn't have met you, so yeah, I win".
She kissed him a few times and then nestled down on to his shoulder.
"Are you scared, darling?"
"A little. It's weird. I mean, I have no idea what order they are going to have us testify in, and I'm a little anxious about what you are going to hear happened to me. I've told you everything, just not in full detail".
"I can handle it, Jonathan. My main concern, first and foremost, is you".
"You know, as a kid, I used to daydream about the moment when the adult me saw him and just let him have it."
"You mean yelling at him?"
"Yelling, punches, kicks, the whole bit. And I used to dream that a lot. And then when it didn't happen, I figured it never would. And now that it has and will in the next few days, it's like I don't know what to do or what to say".
"Honey, you already went off on him, when you met him at the orphanage. And that was pretty impressive. You were more composed than I would have been".
"I know, but I wasn't exactly prepared for it. I don't really understand it, so it's kind of hard for me to explain".
She kissed his neck and gave him a squeeze.
"You don't have to understand anything, darling, other than I love you".
He rolled on top of her and made love to her for a few hours before they passed out together.
***The next week***
Jennifer and Jonathan were in San Francisco for the trial. He had gotten them a room at the Fairmont, and they had planned to stay through the week and then fly home on the weekend.
They picked up breakfast at a little place near the hotel and then headed to the courthouse.
The prosecutor met them in the hallway and ushered them into a conference room.
"Ok, so the process is a little tricky. Basically, because it's day one, you are going to hear the opening statements and then you are going to hear how they have pled not guilty, and then if time allows, we will call our first witness."
They sat there while one by one, the other victims and their wives arrived. By the time court started, there were almost 30 people plus wives/husbands/girlfriends.
"Ok, let's head to the courtroom. We will be sitting on the left side of the room".
They took their seats and a few minutes later, the defendants were brought in. They were wearing prison uniforms and were cuffed.
Jennifer noticed that neither of them looked to see who was in the courtroom, they just looked straight ahead as they walked to their seats.
"All rise, the Honorable Leslie Owenstein presiding. This court will now come to order".
"You may be seated".
Jennifer stared at the judge. She looked to be about 5-10 years older than Jonathan. Her hair was blonde, and she had olive skin. Jennifer admired her manicured nails and quickly realized she had a take-charge attitude.
"Good morning, we are here to listen to opening statements and witness testimony in the case of the State of California vs. Father Walter O'Rourke and Sister Sara Jane Sampson on charges of aggravated child abuse, unlawful punishment of a minor, and excessive force in regards to punishment of a child. Now, due to the nature of the case, I am going to seal the records of this case, and I'm also going to rule that no cameras be allowed during the proceedings. Members of the media, if you report on this case, you are not to report the names of the victims or those who testify. If you do, I will hold you in contempt. I see in my case file that the defendants have pled not guilty to all of the charges. Counselors, do the defendants wish to stick with their pleas, or do they wish to change them?"
"At this time, they wish to stick with them, your honor".
"Noted. Ok, prosecutors, do you have any opening motions?"
"Not at this time, your honor".
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, does anyone have any questions?"
Nobody raised their hand.
"Ok, so your job today is simply to listen. Listen to what the lawyers are going to tell you, about the defendants and about the witnesses. Listen to everything they say, take notes if you need to. You don't have to decide anything today. You just have to listen. At times, you might hear me tell you to disregard something, but that's very rare. If I do, that means you aren't to consider that piece of information when you make your decision. We will take a 10-minute recess at the end of every 90 minutes so that you can get water, go to the bathroom, whatever you need. If you have an emergency, just write a note and pass it to the bailiff".
The judge turned towards the prosecutor's table.
"You may begin with your opening statement. And I just want to remind those present in the courtroom, outbursts will not be entertained. If you can't control yourself, you are free to leave the courtroom. Counselor, you may begin".
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, before you, sit two defendants. The male defendant was a priest. The female defendant was a nun. Together, they ran the Mission Street Orphanage. On the outside, they made it seem as if it was a happy, loving orphanage, where they cared for those less fortunate and did the best they could to rub together two pennies and make a lot of dimes. However, on the inside, as you will hear in testimony, it was anything but happy for some of the orphans.
There are two things that we know to be true. One is that you cannot dispute the facts. Facts are just that-fact. They are solid and indestructible pieces of evidence that can be proven. They can be proven either by physical evidence that you can see, such as pictures or videos. It might be something you can touch. It could also be something you could hear-such as testimony from a witness or a victim. The other thing we know to be true is that as a society, child abuse is frowned upon rather heavily. The state is going to prove that these two defendants did just that-abused a child, over and over, child after child, time after time, for more than 20 years. The most despicable part of this child abuse case is that these weren't children who saw the priest and the nun only on Sundays or only a few times a week. These children lived in the orphanage with them, they depended on them to have their basic needs met, and they quite literally had nobody else to turn to for help. At the end of this trial, we can finally answer those ignored cries for help, by convicting these defendants. The witnesses that you are going to hear from will tell you how they were physically punished, mentally punished, verbally assaulted, and treated very cruelly. The state requests that you give each witness equal merit and then deliver the long-overdue justice so that healing can begin".
"Defense, your turn".
"Two things that the state told you were true, most definitely are. And that is that facts are facts, and that child abuse is despicable. Where they messed up is that they said the defendants were child abusers. The reality is the defendants are two people who were stretched to their limits, pulled in all directions to care for 80 plus children a year, for more than 40 years. They could have asked for a transfer to another diocese, or another position in the diocese, but because they love kids, they didn't. They sacrificed their lives to take care of the kids that needed them the most. As the rulers of the orphanage, they had to maintain order somehow. And as we all know, a simple spanking does not child abuse make. And now, these two defendants are the victims of a witch hunt. They have been stripped of their jobs in the orphanage, jobs they have had for more than 40 years. In terms of priesthood and sisterhood, it's a lifetime calling that they believe was engineered by God. So, it's more devastating than losing a regular job. And now those poor children in the orphanage are having to live day to day without the love and guidance they received from Sister Sara Jane, and Father O'Rourke. It's time to send a message that the witch hunt is over, and that these two defendants aren't responsible for anything more than simple spankings and discipline".
Jennifer couldn't remember the last time she had ever felt so sick to her stomach.
She reached over and squeezed and patted Jonathan's hand. He gave her a gentle squeeze back.
"Ok, at this time, the state may call it's first witness".
"Your honor, may we take a minute and excuse anyone who might be testifying later today?"
"Yes, you may".
The prosecutor came around and asked Jonathan to stay, and everyone else who was testifying to wait in the room next door.
When they were ready, the prosecutor turned back to the judge.
"Your honor, the state calls Mr. Jonathan Hart".
Jennifer gave him a quick kiss.
"I love you, and I believe in you. You can do this. I'm right here. If you get nervous, look at me".
He kissed her back and then headed to the stand.
The bailiff swore him in and then he sat down.
"Please state your name for the record".
"Jonathan Charles Hart".
"Please state your address for the record".
"3100 Willow Pond Drive, in Los Angeles".
"Mr. Hart, do you know at what age you were brought to the orphanage?"
"I believe I was about 2 years old. I am not certain about that, but I'm pretty sure".
"According to the record we obtained from the orphanage, you were exactly two years old".
"Thank you".
"Can you tell the court your birthday?"
"February 10".
"Your honor, the state would like to submit for the record that Mr. Hart correctly stated his birthday".
"Duly noted".
"Mr. Hart, do you remember much about your time at the orphanage?"
"Yes, I do".
"Can you categorize what your memories consist of?"
"Daily life, punishments, the people I spent time with, and when I got away from the orphanage".
"Can you describe under what conditions an orphan could be punished?"
"From my experience, when you misbehaved, you had to talk with the nun. If the nun deemed what you did to be minor, you could get away with anything from a talking to, all the way up to dish duty or something similar. If it was deemed that what you did was major, the nun would take you to the priest".
"Where you ever put on dish duty?"
"Let's just say that by the time I was 10, the nuns had me train the others on how to do the dishes properly, because I had been put on dish duty so many times".
Jennifer saw the judge crack a smile at that.
"Mr. Hart, about how many times would you estimate that you were taken to the priest for punishment?"
"Hard to say. I went a lot in the beginning, but then as I got older, it gets skewed".
Judge Owenstein leaned over towards Jonathan.
"Can you clarify what you mean by that, please?"
"Well, the older I got, the more it bothered me that the younger kids would be punished the same way I was. So, there were times when I stepped up and took their punishment for them. And there were times when Sister Sara Jane and Father O'Rourke just assumed that I was the guilty party and punished me anyways, even though I was innocent. And it seemed to me, that the older I got, the more they picked on me and singled me out for punishment, and I was getting double punished, because I was given punishment by Father O'Rourke, but I was also punished by the sisters".
"Punished how?"
"The sisters would assign me to dish duty, or landscaping, which was weed pulling and raking. You had to attend a church service twice a week, but if the sisters put you on punishment, you had to attend 3 extra times in addition to the mandated two. Sometimes, you were the only one in the service. Father O'Rourke would give me licks, or something worse".
"The court will respectfully ask that the witness clarify what he means by something worse".
"When you came in for a punishment, you had to drop your pants and turn around. The licks you got were from a leather strap. Then you had to lay face down on the couch. Sometimes, the strap would cut you. If it did, they poured rubbing alcohol on it. Sometimes, you had to remove your t-shirt and he would put duct tape on your chest and rip your chest hairs out. Other times he would put electrified needles underneath your fingernails and turn on the juice".
Some members of the jury were visibly horrified.
"How did you know what to do each time?"
"It always started with licks. And then he would lay you on the couch face down while they administered the alcohol. Afterwards, he would physically turn you over himself and tell you to remove your shirt, or to hold out your hands. The entire time while you were getting licks, Sister Sara Jane would stand over off to the side, and tell you that God wanted this to happen to you because you didn't obey his orders to be obedient, that God didn't like disobedience. When the rubbing alcohol was administered, one would hold you down while the other would pour it. And if you screamed, they would threaten to do it again. And, then when it was over, Sister Sara Jane would walk you to the showers down the hall and give you a cold shower".
"How long did the cold showers last?"
"Long enough to get you really good and cold and shivering".
"Did she say anything to you during the shower?"
"Just that God rewarded the obedient ones with hot water".
"Were the accommodations at the orphanage any different for those who got punished versus those who didn't?"
"Not that I recall. But I do remember feeling as though they were refusing to let me be adopted because I was being punished. Sometimes, if you got punished right before dinner, you missed dinner, but they always gave you beans at least".
"Are there any other details about the punishments that you recall?"
"He was always dressed in a costume, like Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny. With every lick, he would tell me that I would never amount to anything, that I wasn't worth anything, that I was never going to win. And there were times when I stepped up to take a punishment for someone else, and he gave it to me, and then he gave it to them also".
Jennifer's heart broke into a million pieces thinking about what Jonathan went through.
"Your honor, the state would like to introduce into evidence exhibits A, B, C, D, and E. Exhibit A is a Santa Claus suit, complete with hat. Exhibit B is an Easter Bunny suit. Both of these were found in the closet in Father O'Rourke's office. Exhibit C is two leather straps, one is more worn than the other. Exhibit D is a box labeled "punishments", that contains rubbing alcohol, gauze pads and duct tape. And Exhibit E is a homemade device consisting of two large volt batteries, wires with lobster claws on one end, needles on the other."
"Testimony will be paused while these items are admitted into evidence."
After they were admitted into evidence, she instructed the bailiff to put them on the ledge for the jury to look at.
"Mr. Hart, did you have any lasting injuries as a result of the abuse?"
"I have a few scars here and there. When I in my late 20's, I saw a doctor who took some x-rays and she noticed that at one time, I had suffered from hairline fractures. Most everything else that I still deal with is emotional, mental".
"Mr. Hart, can you please tell the court what became of your life when you left the orphanage?"
"Well, when I was 12, I got a job selling newspapers, and in the interest of not having to deal with me, the sisters would let me leave the orphanage early every morning so that I could go to work before school. On weekends, I would stay gone at least till my papers were sold. While I was doing that, I met a guy named Max. He took me under his wing, so to speak. Taught me how to be a man, how to live, and he's really the only person in my life that I can consider my father. He's the first person that I knew I could consider family. At 15, He and the nuns came to an agreement that I could spend each weekend at his house, kind of like a joint-custody arrangement. The morning I turned 18, Father O'Rourke gleefully told me I had till sundown to get myself and my belongings out of the orphanage and off the property. At that time, I moved in with Max, while I finished high school. When I graduated high school, I joined the Navy. When I got out of the Navy, Max made sure that I got an education, and then he helped me to start my company, Hart Industries. And today, Hart Industries is a Fortune 500 company. It is an electronics and technology conglomerate. In addition to the company, I own a house, a couple cars, my own plane, and I have the most drop-dead gorgeous fiancée in the world".
He winked at Jennifer, who blew him a kiss.
"Mr. Hart, can you tell us what led to this investigation taking place?"
"I met my fiancée, who convinced me to face what happened to me and deal with it, instead of taking it out on everyone else. So, I went to a treatment center, and dealt with it. And then I went to the orphanage and I found out that a different priest was running the orphanage and we had a long talk. I told him that I was willing to donate enough funds for them to have a new roof, as well as an expansion and new furniture for the kids, on two conditions-no more physical discipline, and that the defendants not be allowed to be around the children ever. So, he promised me that he would look into it and then the next time we spoke, he told me that it had been turned over to the prosecutor's office. Since that day, about 20 of the former orphans have gotten together to discuss things, and more have come forward."
"Mr. Hart, please tell the court what you planned to do if the state had declined to press charges".
"I had planned to file a lawsuit against the diocese for failing to protect us."
"Mr. Hart, do you realize that a lawsuit of that magnitude could have bankrupted the orphanage?"
"I wouldn't have requested a monetary settlement. Just that the defendants be removed from being around children".
"Thank you, Mr. Hart. Your honor, no further questions".
"Defense, you may cross examine the witness".
Jonathan looked at Jennifer.
"You got this", she mouthed.