Here is the next chapter only one more to go I'm afraid. Thanks for the reviews! Amber

Chapter 27

Callie was once again on the witness stand. She was wearing a simple royal blue pants suit. Callie felt calm, which surprised her. She looked at the defense table and saw her father smirking. That pissed her off. 'You bastard! All I have to do is tell the truth!'

The defense attorney stood up. "Mrs. Hardy, why did you record your interactions with your father?"

Callie answered. "I was scared of him."

The defense attorney sneered. "Was it your idea to make the recordings."

Callie answered. "No. My mother acquired the services of Hardy and Radley investigations to follow my father to see if he was being faithful to her. She asked them to protect me."

"Who suggested you record your conversations Mrs. Hardy?"

Callie answered. "Fenton."

"Isn't it true that you didn't think to record these conversations until Fenton mentioned it."

Callie wasn't going to lie. "Yes that's true. But he…"

"Isn't it also true that you were treated at Bayport Psychiatric Center for two weeks in July?"

The prosecutor stood up. "Objection! This isn't valid to the case at hand. It is also a violation of HIPPA."

"Your honor this witness's mental state is very relevant to this case."

"Sustained. The jury will disregard the last question."

The defense attorney scowled but continued with a vengeance. "Callie have you ever lied to your father?"

"What child hasn't lied to a parent counselor? Of course I have."

"You said in your sworn deposition that your father started hitting you two years ago...isn't this a lie?"

"No." Callie answered.

"How would we know? There is no evidence. Nothing further."

Callie answered. "Actually I do have evidence."

"I said nothing further." The defense attorney growled.

The prosecutor stood up. "Redirect your honor. Callie, what evidence are you referring too?"

"I wrote it down in my journals. I've kept them."

The prosecutor's eyes brightened. "Your honor I'd like to request a hearing in your chambers to submit these journals into evidence."

"I object she could write in them when she gets home."

Callie interrupted. "I write in them front and back and fill every line. It would be hard for me to write in them after the fact."

The judge said. "In my chambers councilors. Mrs. Hardy you may step down until we get back."

"All rise."

Callie whispered. "Fenton they are in my closet at the house. It's a whole box of journals plus my current on my nightstand."

Fenton pulled out his phone and quickly called Sam to retrieve the journals and bring them to the court.

"The judge will allow the journals. It's common. I just wish I had thought to ask you if you had any."

Callie smiled. "I just thought of them myself."

Sam came in with the box.

Callie bit her lip. "December 18, 2018 that was the first time my dad hit me. So I'll get that journal and all the ones after it."

She pulled six journals. Sam took the rest back to his car. It was just in time. Because the judge came out. The defense attorney looked pissed. "Mrs. Hardy please return to the witness stand."

Callie gave the journals to Frank and quickly returned. She sat.

The prosecutor smiled. "Callie I will need the relevant journals that you mentioned."

Callie said. "I had a friend retrieve them while you were in chambers." She gestured to her husband.

Ms. Salisbury turned and took the journals from Frank. "I have nothing further."

The judge said. " You may step down. Mrs. Hardy."

Callie was glad it was over. They quietly left. Callie wanted to go home to her baby. Joe and Fenton stayed to watch the trial progress.

Frank opened the front door. Laura was in the kitchen baking. Brooke was in her bouncer on the table. Callie went over to her. She smiled and reached for her. Callie picked her up. "Hi baby girl."

Laura finished putting her brownies in the oven then asked. "How'd it go?"

Callie shrugged. "The defense tried to bring up my stay at the hospital but it was overruled. He asked me if I ever lied to my parents. Knowing that answer would be yes. Then he tried to make me look like a liar. It didn't work."

Laura patted her shoulder with sympathy. "I know it was hard."

"Not as hard as yesterday. I stayed mad so that helped."

Frank was so proud of his wife. He put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "You were so brave. What made you mad?"

Callie swayed from side to side then put Brooke back down. "My dad smirked at me. That's when I realized all I had to do was tell the truth. He's going to prison for life Frank. I can feel it. George and Joanne will both testify tomorrow. They're retiring and I'm giving them 500,000 so they can be comfortable."

Laura was at the table opening her bills. She gasped. "How can this be?"

Frank raised an eyebrow. "What is it mom?"

"I have a check from the bank that is the equal amount of our mortgage payment for the last six months."

Frank took the check. "That's weird. Is it payed off?"

"Frank we have eighteen years to go."

Callie was making a bottle. "Actually you don't."

Laura's eyes widened. "Callie! Sweetheart you didn't have to do that!"

"I didn't mom did. My mom loved and trusted you. She ordered in her will for this to happen. You and Fenton along with Frank and Joe have changed my life. Ever since I moved to Bayport you guys have been a constant, good influence in my life. When I fell in love with Frank you became family."

Brooke started bouncing in her seat. Frank picked her up and took the bottle from Callie and started feeding her.

Laura was speechless. "Your mother was a wonderful lady. Always giving, she supplied the food pantry when it was short. She volunteered at the hospital. We would sometimes meet for lunch. We'd joke that we were stuck with each other. I have a small confession. Sit down sweetie."

Callie immediately complied.

"There was a reason why Fenton put those transmitters on you. The recording devices. You have the right to know why. You see a month before your mother was killed we met for lunch. It started out like normal but her scarf around her neck fell to the floor and I saw some bruises. When I asked her about it she told me what her husband did to her, that she was filing for divorce. To not say anything to anyone because she was fixing the beneficiaries for the trust and changing her will. I confided in Fenton the day your mother died. The rest you know. Honey if I'd known your father was also abusing you I'd."

Callie took both of Laura's hands. "Laura any guilt you have over remaining silent due to my mom's wishes let it go. You did what you thought was right. You told Fenton at the right time. I love you."

"Love you too sweetie."

Frank had stayed silent during this talk. He was amazed at Callie's ability to sense others feelings. He quietly left the room and went down with Brooke to his father's office. Sam was coming from his office. "Let me hold that sweet baby!"

Frank handed her over.

Sam cooed at her. "Hello Brookie!"

Brooke smiled at him and reached for his tie. Frank decided to go talk to his dad. He knocked. "Mom just told Callie about the lunch with her mom the month before she died."

Fenton stopped typing. He swiveled in his chair to face his son. "The guilt was getting to her. I tried to tell her she had nothing to be sorry for that Callie would understand but it ate at her."

Frank took a handful of almonds. "I'm sorry to hear that. Callie's mom in her will paid off your mortgage."

Fenton sputtered. "What? She didn't have to do that."

"It's what she did." Frank said. "Something has been eating at me too."

Fenton leaned forward. "What is it?"

"Callie hasn't brought it up. But when you're in the process of getting married. You discuss certain topics."

Fenton nodded. "You do, it's smart and completely normal. What topic is eating at you?"

Frank sighed. "Dr. Mark at the psychiatric center said that if Callie has another child she would most likely develop the psychosis again and the symptoms would most likely be stronger. We had discussed children plural. Callie feels guilty about the psychosis to start with. When she realizes this it's."

Fenton reached for his son's hand. "It will hit her hard son. But you have time and options."

"She's just been through so much. I want us to be happy."

Fenton soothed. "You will. Talk to her Frank. Yes she's been through a lot but she can tell that something is bothering you. You both want more children plural correct?"

Frank nodded. "I do very much."

Before Fenton could speak another voice was heard. "Then we'll find a way."

Frank turned around surprised to see his wife standing there holding their little girl. She handed the baby to Fenton. A silent message passed between them and he left the room with Brooke. Callie hugged her husband. "I'm glad you finally opened up about what was bothering you. I was worried." She caressed his cheeks and kissed him. "Honey we have time like your dad said as well as options."

"You've."

Callie interrupted. "We've been through so much. But we have each other. Yes, I want at least one more baby. I wish I could carry it myself but we can't risk it. This time I didn't try to hurt myself or Brooke, but next time might be different."

"Sweetie I know. I don't want to risk that either. It would be devastating. But I...I'm a planner."

Callie laughed. "So am I. Let's just throw this word out there surrogacy."

Frank's eyes widened. "I didn't think about surrogacy."

Callie kissed him again. "So research to your hearts content. We can aim for baby two a year from now."

"I can do that. We'll be in Cambridge by then. So I'll research Boston surrogacy agencies. It will be expensive."

Callie laughed. "We can afford it and we'll have room."