Chapter 50 – The Verdict
It's well past six o'clock when one of Judge Verine's clerks comes out to tell us that the jury hasn't reached a decision yet. The Judge has sent them home with instructions to return in the morning before nine o'clock.
"What does that mean?" Maggie asks. "Is it bad?"
"It just means that they haven't reached a decision yet," Rosalie reassures her. "It isn't good or bad... it just is. We'll come back tomorrow." Rosalie places her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "They'll get it right; don't worry."
I hope that Rosalie is right. So many things can go wrong. It would only take one bleeding heart to be swayed by Aro's lies to set James free to hunt again. I turn to look at Bella and put my most sincere smile on my face. I don't want to worry her with my reservations.
"So," Emmett bellows as he smacks Jasper on the back, nearly knocking the much smaller man to the ground, "what's for dinner?"
Jasper punches Emmett on the shoulder causing the larger man to laugh as he remains unmoved. "Is that all ya think about... food? What are ya... ninety percent stomach? Once your metabolism slows down, you're gonna be as big as a barn."
Everyone laughs as Emmett grabs Jasper in a headlock. Jasper struggles at first and then realizes that it's futile and goes limp. Emmett stands Jasper upright and, with a pat on Jasper's head, grabs his cane from where he had it leaning against the wall. "Let's roll," he says as he starts for the elevator.
Rosalie steps up beside Jasper and with a huge smile says, "Don't kill him. I kind of need him."
"One day... when he ain't a gimp anymore... I will get even," Jasper says as he tries to fix his hair and straighten his clothes.
"Hey, guys," I say interrupting the revelry, "I think that Bella and I are going to use the back exit. Where should we meet you?"
"How does Steller sound? I'm having a pizza craving," Rosalie says as she looks over at Emmett.
I notice an interesting non-verbal exchange occur between my best guy friend and his wife that I don't quite understand.
"If Baby wants pizza, then Baby gets pizza," Emmett says and it's decided.
I glance at Cynthia to see her eyebrows raise and lower as she falls in with the rest of the group walking towards the front elevators. "Cynt," I call out and motion for her to come over to me. "What's going on?"
"We're going to dinner. Hello, you were there when we decided," she says sarcastically.
I roll my eyes. "No, what's going on with Rosalie and Emmett?"
"I don't understand the question," she says as she looks back to where the others are waiting for the elevators.
"Stop that," I say with irritation. "You know exactly what I mean. What's going on?" Cynthia turns to look at Bella. She gives her a look that I can't decipher. "And what was that?"
"Let it go, Edward," Bella says as she pulls me toward the back elevators.
"Yeah, Edward, let it go," Cynthia says as she lowers her gaze and gives me 'a look.'
I glance between the two women. I know that something is up and that I am purposely being kept out of a loop that I should be in. "I want to know," I whine as Bella drags me away.
Cynthia throws up a hand and turns away from us. "You know the old saying, Edward. Want in one hand; shit in the other..."
Charlie pats me on the back as we enter the elevator. "There are things in the 'woman world' that we mere men are not supposed to be privy to, Edward. I think this is one of those things."
"You'll find out when the time is right," my mother says as she pats my arm. I frown. I hate not knowing.
"You all know, don't you?" I mutter.
"Actually, I have no idea what, if anything is going on with Rosalie and Emmett. All I do know is that if Cynthia could tell you, she would. I don't think that it's information that's hers to share," Bella explains.
I look around the elevator to see Charlie and my mother nodding in agreement. "I still don't like being in the dark."
We're barely in the front door when the landline telephone begins to ring. I look around the room in confusion. That number has been changed and is unlisted. We just left the group of people with access to the number. Who could be calling us? Bella shrugs as she picks up the receiver. "Hello? Who is this? How did you get this number?" She's glaring at the phone as she hands it to me. "It's for you," she says before she turns and stomps up the stairs.
"Ex-girlfriend?" Charlie says with a smirk.
That's a thought. It could be. Now I'm afraid to find out. I slowly raise the receiver to my ear. "Hello?"
"Edward, it's Aro."
I place my hand over the mouthpiece and say to Charlie, "It's Aro." Charlie's brow furrows in confusion. I shrug and say, "Can you check on Bella?" Charlie nods and goes upstairs. "How did you get this number?"
"I got it from Eleazar. I really need to talk to you, Edward."
I make a mental note to kill Eleazar as soon as we get the verdict. "About what?"
"Not on the phone. Can you meet me?"
"I don't..." I start as I turn to look at the stairs. "I don't think that's a good idea. Just spit it out, Aro."
"I can't over the phone. I really need to meet with you, Edward... tonight. Please."
I see Bella and her father descending the stairs. Bella is glaring at me and I don't know if she's angry at me or at Aro. I hope it's Aro. "Hold on a second." I place my hand over the mouthpiece again and say to Bella, "He wants to meet with me tonight."
"About what?" she snaps. "Why is he calling here? How is he calling here?"
"Eleazar gave him the number." Bella's eyes narrow in anger. "I know, love, I'm pissed too. Regardless, he's insisting on a meeting. Do you mind?"
"I don't trust him," she says, folding her arms across her chest. "If you go, you aren't going alone. Dad, go with him."
"Bella's right; he's not trustworthy. If you go, I go too. Tell him that's the only way that a meeting will happen."
I nod. There's no use arguing with the Swan United. "I'll meet you, but I'm not coming alone."
Aro pauses for a long while before he replies. "Fine. I'll be at the Starbucks on Northgate." I hear the phone disconnect so I replace the receiver in the cradle.
I turn back to see the glaring Swans. "What?" I say defensively. "I didn't give him the number... Eleazar did. I don't want to talk to him." Bella rolls her eyes. "I don't."
"You aren't curious?" she asks.
She's got me there. "Kind of," I say slowly. "Aren't you?"
She bites her lip and finally says, "Kind of. I don't know. I just don't trust him. Call Ted and have him send someone to watch you from outside."
"I think we can handle him, Bells."
"What about you?" Bella looks at me with confusion. "What if this is just a ploy to separate us... make us vulnerable? I don't trust him."
"We shouldn't trust him. Maybe Alice could come over and stay with Bella. What do you think, Bells?"
Bella bites her lower lip as she contemplates her father's suggestion. "It's so late," she says with uncertainty. "I don't know."
"Well, you aren't staying here alone." I go to the phone in the kitchen and dial a familiar number. "Hey, Cynt?"
"Do you know what time it is? Do you even own a clock?"
"Yeah, I'm aware of the time."
"What do you want, Edward?"
"I need a favor."
"What's new?"
"Bite me."
"Good bye, Edward."
"Don't hang up! Don't hang up! I'm sorry."
"What do you want?"
"Aro called me..."
"Okay... why?"
"He says that he needs to talk to me."
"Not a good idea. Tell him no. See you tomorrow."
"No, wait! I wasn't calling for advice; that isn't the favor."
"So you're going to talk to him?"
"Well... yeah."
"Is Bella there?"
"Yes."
"May I speak with her?"
"Sure." I shrug and hand the phone to Bella. She listens to Cynthia for a moment, nods and then hands the phone back to me. Before I can put the receiver back to my ear, Bella smacks me with the palm of her hand on the forehead. "Hey!"
"Just following orders," she says, laughing.
"What the hell?" I yell into the phone.
"Someone has to knock some sense back into your head. Have you lost your mind? He's the defense. He is not on our side. He is the enemy. You can't meet with him."
"Cynt, you didn't see the way he looked at me in the courtroom today. I think something is up. I want to find out."
"You are too damn stubborn. I don't think I like you sober. You're easier to control when you're drunk."
"You don't mean that."
"You're right; I don't. So we're back to the original question. What do you want?"
"Charlie is going to go with me..."
"That's the first sane thing I've heard in this entire conversation."
"Would you please let me finish a sentence?"
"Fine. Finish one."
"Like I was saying, Charlie is going with me and we don't want to leave Bella here alone." I hear a rustle on the other end of the line.
"Hey, Ted, I'm going over to Edward and Bella's for a little while." I hear more rustling and then she says, "Let me put my clothes back on and I'll be right over."
"Thanks, Cynt."
"Yeah, yeah, you owe me."
"More than I'll ever be able to repay."
"I'm keeping a list. Don't leave until I get there. Give me twenty minutes." I place the receiver back in the cradle and turn back to Charlie and Bella.
"She'll be here in twenty minutes."
"Do you mind explaining to me why Cynthia is a better choice over Alice?" Bella asks as she puts her hands on her hips.
"I don't know whether Alice is armed or not. I know for a fact that Cynthia is. I just feel like she's more equipped to handle a situation should it arise," I explain.
"He has a point," Charlie agrees with me. "I'm going to go put on something more comfortable." As we all go upstairs to change, I can't help but wonder what Aro has up his sleeve. The image of his expression as he left the courtroom today is at the forefront of my mind. He looked... dare I say... remorseful.
"What are you thinking about?" Bella asks as she pulls on a pink t-shirt.
"Hmm? Oh, just wondering what Aro wants."
"I know. Do you have any idea at all?'
"No." It's not exactly a lie. I really don't know, but I have a strange feeling. Aro looked like I did right after James more or less confessed to me. The difference is that I pushed my remorse and guilt into the deepest recesses of my mind until the day Angela Webber walked into my office. I was such a prick before.
I can see Bella in the bathroom as she runs a brush through her beautiful brown hair. She didn't have to suffer like she has. I could have stopped it. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her. She's done so much for me. She saved me. The least I can do is make sure that she's safe and happy for the rest of our lives together.
The doorbell rings announcing Cynthia's arrival. I go downstairs to let her in. "Hi. Thanks for coming over." I look past her shoulder and see Sam and Paul in their cars. "Why are they here?"
Cynthia breezes past me and says, "One of them is staying here to watch out for Bella and me. The other is following you and Charlie. Ted thinks that it would be best to have some 'protection' for all of us tonight."
"Don't you have your 'protection' in your purse?"
She turns and looks at me like I'm insane. "Of course. You know that Matilda goes everywhere with me. But Ted is right. Paul would probably keep me from even having to wake her tonight. I'd rather not have to shoot anyone." I raise one eyebrow at this last comment. "Really, I'm not itching to put a bullet in another human being. Why do you think that I would want to shoot someone?"
"I know you," I mutter as I go to the closet to get my jacket.
She glares at me but changes the subject. "What do you think Aro wants?"
"I have no idea," I reply, not looking in her eyes.
"Oh, you have an idea. You can't lie to me, Edward. Spill it."
I shake my head as I debate trying to evade her question or maybe trying to lie to her again. I can hear Charlie talking to Bella upstairs. If I'm going to tell her, I'd better make it quick. I lean in and whisper, "I think he knows something. I think that James has said something. He looked remorseful... maybe even guilty." Cynthia's eyes get wide and she opens her mouth to say something as I see Bella start down the stairs. "Well, you two have fun. We shouldn't be long." I give Cynthia a look that I hope says 'keep your mouth shut.' I don't want to upset Bella if I'm wrong. Cynthia nods and starts for the couch.
"Hey, Bella. I brought a DVD with me. Have you seen Letters to Juliet?" "No, I haven't, but I've wanted to see it." Bella crosses the room to me. I pull her into an embrace as Charlie puts on his coat. "Be careful," she whispers and then kisses me lightly on the lips.
"Always," I tell her.
"Well," Charlie starts, "have fun watching your girl movie. Let's go." He opens the door and stops. "What the hell?"
"Yeah, apparently we'll have an escort."
Charlie shrugs. "Alright, I guess. Let's go get some coffee."
Charlie and I get into my Audi and start for Northgate Street. I can see Sam in my rearview mirror. He's following us at a distance. "So," Charlie says suddenly breaking the silence, "what do you think we're walking into?"
"I'm not sure. If I had to guess, he knows something and wants to get it off his chest, although that would be completely uncharacteristic of him."
"Something about the trial?"
"Probably," I mumble.
"Is something bothering you, Edward?"
"I've seen Aro in action numerous times. He's not one to admit defeat. He's also not prone to remorse. He looked remorseful in court today. It's not like him. I'm kind of happy that Sam is following us. I think that Aro may be up to something, but I don't know what."
"Didn't you feel remorseful after the first trial... the one you were involved in?"
I pause for a moment before I answer. I don't like the man I was and I hate to admit to my future father-in-law what a prick I used to be. I sigh and answer him, "Not really. I'm sure that Bella has explained the situation to you."
"She didn't tell me much. I know about the suicide, but that's about it."
I glance over a Charlie and say, "Really? I just thought..."
"I think she might have thought that it wasn't her story to tell. That's how Bella is."
"Oh," I say noncommittally. When I don't hear anything else from Charlie, I venture a glance in his direction. He's looking at me expectantly. "You want me to tell you everything, don't you?" He nods; I shake my head. I'd prefer to have him remain in the dark, but if he's anything like his daughter I doubt I'll have that option.
I sigh again and begin. "Connor Cavanaugh came into the firm a little over three years ago and demanded the best. His son... James... had been arrested for rape. Connor insisted that James was innocent, but it really didn't matter to me. At the time, I was the best... at least in our firm. I had a track record of getting acquittals." I turned to look into Charlie's eyes. "I was very good."
I looked back at the road in front of me. "I was assigned the case. I was more than thrilled. The Cavanaughs are a wealthy, influential family. Connor was paying the firm a fortune and I was guaranteed a considerable bonus if James was acquitted. I was so confident that I would get him off that I went to the Volvo dealership that afternoon and ordered my dream car.
"I devoted most of my time to the case. I interviewed almost everyone that had been at the club that night. When we got to trial I obliterated poor Angela Webber. I did everything short of actually calling her a lying whore in the courtroom." I grit my teeth at the memory of my former self.
"When the jury came back with a verdict of 'not guilty' I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to get out of the building and to the Volvo dealership. My car had arrived three days before and I was itching to get behind the wheel. James had already admitted his guilt to me and I still didn't care. I had done my job and I wanted my 'reward.' I remember sliding into that car with its new car smell and supple leather seat... I felt joy. I knew that he was guilty, but I had what I wanted so who cared about his guilt.
"Three days later when Angela Webber showed up in my office I didn't even recognize her; that's how insignificant she was to me. Even when she started yelling at me, I still only saw her as an inconvenience... an interruption to my busy schedule. When she pulled out the gun, I thought that she was going to kill me and I was afraid. I went into shock after she shot herself. I didn't feel anything right away.
"Carlisle insisted that I take a few days off. I spent the rest of the week and the weekend sitting in my townhouse drinking vodka and listening to the silence. During that 'alone' time, the full measure of what had happened and my role in the whole thing weighed on me. It was only then that I felt remorse.
"So, if you want to know if I felt remorse after the trial was over... I can honestly say that I did not. I didn't think that I had done anything wrong. I had done my job and I was proud of myself. If Aro is feeling remorse, then I would have to say that he's a better man than I am."
I swallow the horrible taste that has formed in my mouth and venture a glance at Charlie. He's staring at his hands that are folded in his lap. I look out the windshield again with the knowledge that a man I had hoped to one day call 'Dad' will never respect me enough to allow it.
Charlie finally speaks. "You aren't that man anymore, Edward. I've seen how you struggle with your past. You've made mistakes; we all have. You've learned from those mistakes and you've tried to make amends. You're a good man, Edward."
"Not yet, but I'm trying. I was on a bad path for a while. If Carlisle hadn't forced Cynthia to take the job as my assistant, I would probably have died of alcohol poisoning by now. She pulled me back from the edge and showed me the right path. Bella gave me a reason to walk that path. Without those two remarkable women I wouldn't be alive today." I pull into a parking space near the Northgate Starbuck's.
"Bella's lucky to have you in her life. I'm glad that she found you. I'm proud of you and that you're going to be my son-in-law." Charlie reaches over and pats my shoulder. I nod as I fight to hold back my tears. "Let's get in there and get this over with," he says and opens his door.
I see Aro immediately when we enter the coffee shop. He's sitting at a table in the corner with his head in his hands. As we approach the table I see a cup of coffee sitting in front of him. I wonder to myself if he's spiked it. "Aro?" I say to get his attention.
He raises his head and I am shocked by what I see. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would see Arostotle Anastas with tears in his eyes. I take a step back. Charlie looks at me with confusion. "Aro, are you alright?"
He motions for us to sit. Charlie and I pull out chairs and sit facing Aro. "Hello, Mr. Swan."
"Mr. Anastas."
"When you said that you weren't coming alone, I thought that you might bring Emmett. I never imagined that I would have to say all of this to Mr. Swan."
"What is 'this,' Aro? Why are we here?"
"He's guilty... they're all guilty."
"We're well aware of that," Charlie says. I can hear the anger in his voice. "What do you care?"
"He's sick. He needs help. He honestly thinks that he's done nothing wrong. He thinks that it's normal behavior."
"What are you talking about?" I ask with my stomach in my throat. "Why would he think that?"
"It's all he's ever known," Aro says as he looks me in the eyes. "The whole family is insane. He told me that his father used to take him with him when he had 'dates' and that's how you have to treat women. 'They don't know what they want so you have to show them.' He learned this from Connor.
"I don't know what to do. I know that Connor is behind that victim harassment. He wants me to defend him. I... I can't. I can't do this anymore. I have to get away from this family."
I turn to see the rage building in Charlie. "You mean to tell me that we have two serial rapists in one family and you don't know what to do? Are you stupid?" Charlie screams causing the other people in the shop to turn and look at us. "You tell the judge that James confessed to you. You tell him everything that you know. You make this right."
I put on hand on Charlie's arm in an attempt to calm him. "He can't," I say. "If he tells the judge, then there will be a mistrial. We'll have to start over."
"I'm telling you, they're insane," Aro says as a tear rolls down his cheek. I don't know what to do. How did you live with this, Edward?"
I shake my head. "I don't know. I... I just did."
"I have an idea," Charlie says.
Charlie and I return to the townhouse. When we left Aro, he was feeling a little better. We had a plan and I had to admit that it is a great plan. It gives Aro a way out without causing a mistrial. Cynthia and Bella are both asleep in front of the television. I gently shake Cynthia until she opens her eyes.
"Hey," she says groggily. "What happened?"
I motion for her to follow me to the kitchen. "James confessed to Aro and, unlike me, he feels sorry for defending him." I shake my head and rub the bridge of my nose. "He's upset."
"Aro Anastas?" Cynthia asks. I nod. "Cross dressing, prostitute hiring, no moral fiber in his being, Aro Anastas?" I nod again. "Who knew?" she says as she throws up her hands. "So, what is he going to do?"
"We have a plan," Charlie says with a smile.
Cynthia shrugs and says, "Care to share."
"Not yet," Charlie says. "I'm pooped. I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning."
Cynthia turns to look at me expectantly. "Not a chance," I tell her. "That's my future father-in-law and if he says no, then not even you can get it out of me."
"Fine, be an ass. I'm going home." She grabs her jacket and says, "This was very anti-climatic."
"You'd rather it have ended in a shoot-out?"
"There's still tomorrow," she says with a smile. "I'll be there at nine."
I close the door behind her and go to the couch to wake Bella. She never fully awakens so I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to the bedroom. I carefully remove her clothes and dress her in her pajamas before I tuck her into our bed. I feel dirty after meeting with Aro. I need a shower.
I go into the bathroom and start the water flowing. I'm testing the temperature when Bella touches my shoulder. I nearly jump through the back of the shower.
"Jesus Christ, Bella, you scared the shit out of me," I exclaim.
"I'm sorry," she says with a giggle. "I suppose you're to blame for my being upstairs in my pajamas."
"I tried to wake you, but you weren't having it."
"Well, what happened?"
I debate lying to her, but I remember the promise I made to her months ago. "James confessed to his attorney... again. Aro is a better person than I was about it. He actually feels bad for defending him. He apologized."
"What's he going to do about it?"
"He can't say anything before the verdict."
"Why not?" she asks, clearly appalled.
"It could cause a mistrial, love, and we'd have to start over. Don't worry; the jury will find him guilty and we have a plan."
"A plan?"
"Yes."
"What's the plan?"
"Will I get away with telling you that it's a great plan and that your dad came up with it and that he's asked me to not tell you?"
"No," she says, flatly.
"He'll be angry with me if I tell you."
"I'll be angry with you if you don't. Who do you plan on living with for the rest of your life... me or him?"
She has a point. "Take a shower with me and I'll tell you."
Bella, Charlie, and I arrive at the courthouse at nine this morning. The rest of the gang trickles in not long after. The jury is still out. This causes Bella to begin to nervously bite on her bottom lip. I find myself rubbing her shoulders in an attempt to calm her. The entire prosecution team is milling around the courtroom, but Aro is nowhere in sight.
"Is this normal," Liam asks.
"Sometimes." I don't want Maggie and Bella, or anyone else for that matter, to know just how nervous I'm beginning to get. I didn't exactly lie to Liam. It isn't abnormal for a jury to take awhile to reach a verdict. What has me nervous is that when they take this long it usually means that there is dissention in the ranks. In other words, someone wasn't convinced of his guilt.
I look over Bella's head at Rosalie and see the concern in her eyes. She understands the process and she's just as nervous as I am. I feel the warmth of a body approach my left side so I turn to see Jasper standing next to me.
"It's gonna be alright," he says.
"I know," I mumble.
"No, really... it's gonna be fine. No matter what the verdict is, everythin' will be fine."
I look him in the eye. He seems so sure of himself.
"I just know," he says with a smile. "Calm down. Your makin' 'er more nervous," he whispers as he points at Bella.
I nod. He's right. I think Bella and I are feeding off of each other. She's nervous and it's making me more nervous which is making her more nervous. It's a vicious cycle.
"Love, why don't you and Maggie step outside and get some air?"
"No, we might miss the verdict. We can't leave," she says quickly.
"Just step out onto the smoking deck. The clerk will come out and tell us when they reach a verdict and I'll come get you."
Bella looks at Maggie and shrugs.
"I think that's a great idea. I could use some air too," Liam says. "Let's step out for a bit, okay?" He takes Maggie's hand and pulls her gently toward the door.
Bella gives me another very worried look. "Go," I tell her. "I'll get you when the clerk says that the jury is ready." She furrows her brow and then turns to follow Maggie and Liam out the door.
I walk over to the rail behind the prosecution table. "Rose," I call out. She turns from Eleazar and walks to the rail. "This isn't good, is it?"
"No, it isn't. I can't for the life of me figure out what's taking them so long."
Emmett walks over to stand beside me. "Maybe they can't decide on the sentencing," he says.
"Or maybe they can't agree on the verdict. We have to be realistic about this. We could lose."
"Aren't we the little pessimist? I never would have pegged you as a naysayer, Ed," Emmett says as he reaches up to ruffle my hair.
I frown and swat at his hand. "Stop that!" I try to smooth my hair back down with the knowledge that I'm going to have to find a mirror to get it just right. "I'm not a pessimist; I'm a realist. The reality is that we could lose this."
"We ain't gonna lose," Jasper says joining the group. "I told ya that it was gonna be fine. Why don't ya believe me?"
"Years of experience," I reply.
"Maybe Emmett is right," Rosalie says. "We presented a very good case and Aro didn't really rebut anything we said. The theories that he presented were far-fetched. Maybe it's just the sentencing that's tripping them up."
The door to Judge Verine's chambers opens and one of his clerks, Kathryn, steps out. She walks to the bench and says, "Sorry. I know that you are all waiting to hear that the jury is ready, but they aren't. It's almost time for lunch so they're taking a break to eat. I suggest that you all do the same. Again, I'm sorry." She retreats back into the judge's chambers.
"Shit," I say through gritted teeth. "How much longer are they going to drag this out? This is ridiculous."
"There ain't any sense in gettin' all mad about it. It is what it is. Let's go eat and get back here. Maybe they'll be ready after lunch," Jasper says as he pats me on the back. Strangely enough, his presence calms me.
I go out and tell Bella, Maggie, and Liam what Kathryn said. We all gather in the hall and decide to go to the deli around the corner for lunch. I eat, but I don't really taste the food. I can tell that Bella is worried, but putting on a happy and relaxed front for everyone else. I can feel her knee bouncing against mine under the table.
We finish eating quickly and walk back to the courthouse. Bella leans back into my chest as we ride the elevator up to the third floor. I wrap my arms around her and lean down to kiss the top of her head. She's come a long way from when we first met. She's so much stronger now. I'm proud of her.
We exit the elevator and almost run into Aro. Bella backs into me. I nod at him as our eyes meet. He nods back and continues down the hallway. Bella turns around and gives me a pointed look.
As we enter the courtroom we all break into groups. Bella, Alice, and my mother retreat to a far corner to discuss party planning. Through all of this, Alice is still determined to have a party. It's now a wedding reception slash engagement party slash celebration of a guilty verdict party. Alice is extremely optimistic. Charlie, Jasper, and Liam begin a rock-paper-scissors battle. Maggie is the unofficial judge. Emmett and I go to the front to wait with the other attorneys.
I keep looking to the doors of the courtroom; waiting for Aro to enter. He doesn't show. I half listen to Rosalie, Eleazar, and Emmett throw out theories and speculation on why the jury could be taking so long. I know why they're taking so long... someone believed Aro. It's the only explanation. I think that the others know my opinion because they never ask me to share it.
I make eye contact with Bella. She rolls her eyes and smiles. I chuckle to myself. She thinks all this fuss about our engagement is ridiculous. I guess it's because I know her so well that I can see the worry behind her smile. As we lay in the bed last night, she told me her fears. She's afraid that James will be acquitted and released to rape again. She's afraid that if he is released he'll come for us... for her. She's afraid that I believed the convoluted theory that Aro presented to the court.
I tried to reassure her that he would not be acquitted of all the charges. Even if the jury finds him not guilty of Maggie's attack, there is no way that they could ever believe that he's innocent of the other attacks... I hope. I told her that I would never let anyone hurt her ever again. I told her that I would end him myself before I let James Cavanaugh within a foot of her.
She cried when she told me her last fear and my heart broke. How could she ever think that I would believe such nonsense? I held her and kissed her hair and professed my undying, never-ending love for her. I asked her if she understood my feelings for her. She whispered that she knew I loved her. I told her that it went beyond love. There's no word for what I feel for her. Love is the closest description, but it's so much more. She is my life, my soul, my reason... my everything. She is my missing piece. I can't live without her and I refuse to try.
We made love and she fell asleep in my arms. I lay awake for hours praying and bargaining with God. I finally drifted off to sleep. When the alarm sounded I felt like I had just closed my eyes.
Now we're here... waiting. It's killing me. I always hated this part. With this case it's especially frustrating. Not just because I'm personally involved, but because they should know what to do. It's an open and shut case. It shouldn't be taking this long.
The judge's chamber door opens and Kathryn comes out again. She walks to the bench and says, "They're ready."
Rosalie, Emmett, Eleazar, and I look at each other. It's time. The jury has reached a verdict. I turn quickly and go to Bella. She's standing by my mother. She's wringing her hands and biting her lip. I take her hands to make her stop.
"They have a verdict," I say to her. She nods.
We all quickly take our seats. Maggie sits next to Bella. They hold each other's hand. The bailiff brings in James. He looks around for Aro and frowns. Then he turns and smirks at us. To Bella's credit, her expression never wavers.
A few minutes later Aro enters the courtroom. He's alone, which is unusual. For the entire trial he's had a paralegal and an associate with him. They aren't here today. He pauses at the door and stares at James. I hear him clear his throat before he walks to the defense table.
The jury enters and takes their seats. Three of the women look over at us and smile. My stomach does a turn. I don't know what that means but I hope it's good. We rise as Judge Verine enters the courtroom. He motions for us to be seated.
"Jury Foreman, have you reached a verdict?"
An older gentleman stands and says, "We have, your honor." He hands a sheet of paper to the bailiff. Judge Verine takes the paper, opens it, and begins to read it.
Several minutes later he folds the paper and hands it back to the bailiff. "Please read your verdict to the court."
The older man takes the paper and begins to read. "On count one of the indictment, sexual assault in the first degree, we find the defendant not guilty."
I hear Maggie draw in a breath. She knows that the first two counts are about her.
"On count two, rape in the first degree, we find the defendant..." He pauses and wipes his forehead. "Not guilty," he whispers. James turns to Aro and smiles.
Maggie collapses into Liam and begins to sob. Bella hugs her and tries to comfort her. I have no idea what to do. The jury foreman looks up at Maggie. I see his jaw tense as he continues on to Charlotte.
"On count three, sexual assault in the first degree we find the defendant guilty. On count four, rape in the first degree, we find the defendant guilty." He stops again to look at us. Maggie is still sobbing in Liam's arms. I see the foreman's eyes shift to Bella.
My eyes leave the foreman and see that James is no longer smiling. He's glaring at Aro and trying to get his attention. Aro refuses to look at him. I can almost see his neck muscles tightening as he forces himself to stare straight ahead.
"On count five of the indictment, sexual assault in the first degree, we find the defendant guilty. On count six, rape in the first degree, we find the defendant guilty."
It must have been more than James could take, because he suddenly leaps to his feet and screams, "What is wrong with you people? I haven't done anything wrong. I'm innocent!"
Aro tries to make him sit. He shrugs off Aro and continues to scream his innocence.
"Get him out of here," Judge Verine says to the bailiff.
The officer approaches James and attempts to handcuff him. James slaps the cuffs out of his hands. "You're not putting those on me. I'm not going anywhere." He turns and points a finger at me. "You're a dead man. Do you hear me... a dead man."
"That's enough, Mr. Cavanaugh!" Judge Verine yells as he pounds his gavel. "Get him out of here now!"
Another officer steps forward to help the bailiff subdue James. He screams threats at us as they drag him back to a holding cell. Judge Verine turns to the obviously shaken foreman and tells him to continue.
"Um, on the, uh, seventh count of the indictment, attempted murder, we the jury find the, um, defendant... guilty."
The breath I had been holding is released and I slump over with relief. I look at Bella and see the tears welling in her eyes. With the rape and sexual assault charges, James would go to prison for a long time, but the attempted murder conviction will send him away for life. It's what we wanted. I feel bad for Maggie, but in the end...
"We won," Bella whispers.
"Yes," I reply. I want to jump from my seat and cheer.
"Do you have a sentencing recommendation?" Judge Verine asks the foreman.
"Yes, your honor." He looks up and smiles at us. "We recommend life in prison."
This time we can't control our excitement. The whole left side of the courtroom erupts in applause and cheers. Emmett leans over and grabs Bella and me in a bear hug. Charlie and my mother are hugging and jumping up and down. Maggie has dried her tears and is clapping along with her father and Liam. Alice pulls Bella from Emmett and hugs her. Both of them are crying tears of happiness. Jasper is watching the whole scene with a look of amusement on his face. I finally see Cynthia through all the celebration. She's sitting on the end of the bench smiling with satisfaction. I reach out a hand to her and she takes it.
"Justice," she says.
"For everyone," I say before I turn and open my arms to her.
She rolls her eyes and says, "You and the hugs."
"I promise it's totally platonic."
She rolls her eyes and lets me hug her.
Three Months Later
"Good to see that she kept it tasteful," I say to Bella as we enter the Grand Ballroom at the Club. Alice has, as usual, gone not just overboard, but nuts. I've never seen so many candles and flowers in one place in my life.
"I had no idea that there were that many different shades of green," Bella whispers.
Since Bella kept insisting to Alice and Rosalie that she didn't care about 'theme colors,' Alice went with Rosalie's favorite color... green. The further we get into the room, the more we are accosted by green. Green table cloths, green chair covers, green tulle, green candles, all accented with peach roses and white lilies.
"You have to admit that it is beautiful," Bella says.
"Yep... beautiful," I say as I look at my beautiful wife-to-be. Bella woke me the morning after the verdict and told me that she had a wedding date... August 13th. Alice asked for at least nine months to plan the wedding. Bella gave her ten. I wanted to give her two months and get married on New Year's Day, but I was vetoed... and called a moron by Alice.
As I think about that morning, I can hardly believe that it's been three months since James Cavanaugh went to prison for life. The sentencing hearing was a month after the verdict and Judge Verine upheld the jury's recommendation. Bella and I didn't go to the sentencing hearing. Bella didn't want to be in a room with James again. Rosalie called us with the good news.
Speaking of Rosalie and good news, Rose and Emmett are pregnant. I've never seen Emmett so happy. Conversely, hormones are not Rosalie's friend. She was bitchy before, now she's almost unbearable most of the time... or maybe it's just me.
"Bella!" Rosalie exclaims when she sees us. She pulls Bella into a hug and sees me over her shoulder. "Edward," she says curtly.
"So happy to see you too, Rosalie," I say.
"Eat shit and die. Isn't it wonderful? Alice did such a good job. She's doing my baby shower in March."
"I know, Rosalie. I'm co-hosting, remember."
"Hey, Ed, how's it hanging," Emmett says as he drapes an arm over Rosalie's shoulders. "This is a gas, right?"
I just shake my head and smile. The whole last year and a half has been a gas. I met the love of my life; I found out that I almost killed her; I tried to kill myself; I regain the love of my life; I help send a serial rapist and his insane family to prison. That's right... Connor is in prison too. James went to Victorville in Adelanto, California. It's a high security federal prison. Connor was convicted of witness tampering, witness intimidation and harassment, and conspiracy to commit murder. Since he wasn't tried in the federal court system, Connor is incarcerated in the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. His cronies all turned state's evidence on him and received either immunity or reduced sentences. Most of them will be out of jail by Christmas.
Cavanaugh Enterprises was taken over by Connor's cousin, Declan Cavanaugh. He closed all the facilities in Washington and moved the whole operation to Canada. I guess he's trying to distance himself and the company from James, Connor, and Tanya. Probably not a bad idea considering the horrible press that was released in regards to the Cavanaugh family in Seattle, Washington.
Aro left the courtroom right after the jury announced their sentencing recommendations. He had something to do. I watched him leave with a smile. I knew that he was going to have a letter delivered to Judge Verine's office and to the office of Judge Kind, who was hearing Connor's case. He was anonymously recounting all of James crimes to Judge Verine. He had met with James the night before and had appealed to his vanity. James told him about every single attack... or as James called them 'dates.' The letter to Judge Kind was not anonymous. In that letter he recused himself as counsel on the grounds that he had knowledge that made him unfit to represent Connor. Aro closed his practice in Seattle and moved to Arizona. The last I heard from him, he was no longer taking any criminal cases. I have no doubt that in a few years we'll be hearing about this amazing plaintiff's attorney in Arizona named Arostotle Anastas.
I look around the room and see all of our favorite people; our family and our friends. The music starts and people begin to dance. I notice that Charlie and my mother are cutting a rug. I've had to get used to the idea of my mother and Bella's father dating. Charlie comes to Seattle every couple of weeks; not to see Bella and me, but to see my mom. Bella says that she's okay with it; I'm getting there.
Alice invited Maggie and Charlotte. I made sure that Jacob received an invitation much to my mother's chagrin. I see him on the dance floor with a very cute young girl. I nudge Bella and point to them. "That's my brother," I whisper.
"I know," she says with a grin.
"I just like saying it," I shrug. "Want to dance?"
"I can't dance."
"You always say that and I always make you."
"Yes, in the privacy of our home, where I can't embarrass myself. This is in public... not happening."
"Whatever," I say as I take her hand and drag her onto the dance floor. "Just follow my lead." I pull her into my arms and we begin swaying to the music.
"Hmm, I like this song," Bella whispers in my ear.
"It's a nice song."
"Are you really listening to it?"
"Why?"
"Listen to the lyrics."
"Let's take a better look
Beyond a story book
And learn our souls are all we own
Before we turn to stone.
Let's go to sleep with clearer heads
And hearts too big to fit our beds
And maybe we won't feel so alone
Before we turn to stone.
And if you wait for someone else's hand
You will surely fall down
If you wait for someone else's hand
You'll fall, you'll fall.
I know that I am nothing new
My words might not seem much to you
But brother how we must atone
Before we turn to stone."
I listen to the words and then I pull back to look into Bella's eyes. I see the tears welling in them. "What's wrong?"
"It's like she wrote it for us... about us. Listen. 'Take a better look beyond a story book.' When you found me I was a horror novel; you looked beyond that. You saw my soul."
"You were already on your way back, Bella. I didn't have anything to do with it."
"But you did. You saved me. I don't feel alone anymore. She's right. If I had waited for someone else's hand I would have continued to fall. It was you. It was always you." Her tears are flowing and I feel moisture on my own face.
"No, you saved me. I was lost until I met you. If anyone has to 'atone' it's me. I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm so sorry for you ever having to feel any pain."
"Don't, Edward. Don't apologize. Because of you I didn't turn to stone. I thank God everyday that you found me."
"I thank God that you found me. I love you, Bella. I'll love you forever."
The End
