Chapter 22:
As the days went by turning into week and then months Andrea watched as Lexxi returned to the normal happy child she was before the kidnapping took place. The first few weeks had been trying but Andrea stood by her daughter and refused to let Nate or Christian have any control over their lives.
Around the start of the fourth week after everything had happened Lexxi started to really open up about everything that went on while she was kept in the cabin. Andrea learned that after the first few days of Lexxi fighting with him to prevent him from furthering his goals, Christian gave up and disappeared which was why they didn't find him at the cabin originally. It wasn't until the police went back two days later that he was apprehended.
Once arrested Nate was charged with Kidnapping in the first degree, Unlawful Imprisonment, Child Endangerment, and child abuse in involvement with Lexxi. He also received charges for Stalking in the second degree, Unlawful Surveillance in the first degree, Harassment in the first degree, and Dissemination of an unlawful surveillance image in the first degree. If convicted he was facing a long time in prison and Andrea was hoping for the max on all eight charges.
Jo had informed Andrea early on that Nate could face up to a life sentence for the kidnapping charge alone and she was praying for it. She had quickly done the math and if he received the maximum on all charges not including the kidnapping he was still facing 60 years in prison and she was happy with that. As for Christian, he too was looking at Kidnapping in the first, unlawful imprisonment, and child abuse along with sexual misconduct, sexual abuse in the first, forcible touching, criminal sexual act in the first degree, and predatory sexual assault against a child.
When Andrea talked to her lawyer after learning all of the charges and asking questions she learned that predatory sexual assault against a child would earn Christian Thompson no less than 25 years for the class A felony. She immediately informed Lexxi who in turn smiled and a few days later the nightmares stopped much to Andrea's relief.
Presently Andy found herself being hounded by two overly excited brunettes and an extremely enthusiastic redhead.
"Come on Andy... please?" Cassidy asked in a whiney voice.
"Mommy we'll behave and Kat promised! The mean men are all locked away and can't get out and we'll have Joe and Leo with us!" Lexxi said pouting slightly.
Andrea stared down into her daughter's soft, smiling, brown eyes and sighed in defeat, "Fine, off you go. Don't forget jackets." she said.
The three girls squealed in delight and ran from the room to grab their things and head out with Katora for the day. With a shake of her head Andrea began cleaning the paint brushes and counter top where the girls had been working softly humming to herself. So caught up in the music she missed Miranda's entry and jumped visibly when the older woman tapped her.
"Miranda! Christ, make noise when you enter a room. You nearly gave me a heart attack." Andrea said her hand over her chest as if to hold her racing heart within.
Miranda smiled and lightly kissed her drawing a matching smile from her. Sighing and leaning into the older woman Andrea relaxed and swayed slightly to the melody she hummed.
"The girls are leaving with Katora and Isabella at the moment and said we're on our own for dinner, so I was thinking about that place with the duck that I like."
Andrea nodded slightly then scrunched her nose slightly, "Mira, sweetie, you don't like that place since the new owners took over." she reminded lightly.
"Mm... perhaps you are correct." Miranda murmured.
Andy laughed and shook her head knowing that her love would never remember these things, "How about I make us dinner and we just enjoy a night in without the girls running around." she suggested.
After receiving a nod she smiled and led the way from the art studio and towards the stairs, "Alright, I have to shower quickly and then I'll get started on dinner. Why don't you finish up the Book and I'll be down shortly."
20 minutes later Andrea found herself chopping vegetables and waiting for the water on the stove to come to a boil. As she finished the vegetables and moved on to the chicken breast she chatted easily with her fiancée and found herself laughing and relaxed. The conversation was pleasant and they avoided any heavy topics in favor of a great carefree night together. As she was turning the heat down on the stove the door bell sounded and a sly grin formed on Miranda's lips.
"That would be the dinner guests. I will see them in." she said laughing at the annoyed look Andrea shot her way.
Miranda had informed her that they would have some adult fun while the girls were out but she refused to tell her who she had invited over just that she would need food for eight. Turning back to the stove Andrea added the chicken to a pan before checking on the vegetables and pasta. Taking a sauce pan from the pan rack she placed it over a medium heat with some butter in it for melting. As she watched the butter melt she could hear voices floating in from the next room and instantly recognized Emily and Aubrey's.
"Is Andy in the kitchen?" another somewhat familiar voice called followed by Miranda's confirmation.
A moment later the kitchen door swung to reveal Jo and her wife Blair along with Aubrey and Emily. Andy smiled at the women as she added cream to the butter before turning off the heat beneath the pasta, "Hi ladies. Wine is on the breakfast bar and there are other drinks in the refrigerator, help yourselves. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." she said with a smile.
"Smells wonderful Andy. How are you?" Jo asked pressing a quick kiss to her old friend's cheek.
"Thank you and I am doing great. Things are going well, I can't thank you enough for helping Olivia with Lexxi's case." she replied stirring the sauce after adding garlic and cheese to the pan.
"Excellent and think nothing more of it. I was on retainer for the department and I hate to see a child go missing. Olivia and Alex are out in the dining room with Miranda talking about something or another. They should be in soon to say hello." Jo said taking a sip from her beer.
Andrea nodded and removed the sauce from the heat before adding the chicken and vegetables to the pasta and pouring the sauce over it. Just as she started mixing everything together Miranda, Olivia, and Alex entered the kitchen smiling and talking with one another.
"Something smells amazing in here Andrea." Alex said with a smile.
"If I have to remind you one more time to call me Andy I am going to put you across my knee." Andy chuckled hugging the tall blue eyed blonde.
"She might like that Andy." Emily said with a chuckle.
Andrea shook her head laughing as she carried the Alfredo dish into the dining room and placed it on the table. The others followed behind her with the salad, bread, plates, and wine saving her a few trips. The women all set the table and grabbed seats chatting amicably; sharing laughs and jokes amongst one another. Andrea served everyone a helping of Alfredo and then took her seat sipping the wine Miranda had chosen to go along with dinner.
"Great choice as usual, my love." Andy said looking to Miranda with smiling eyes.
"Did you expect anything less Andrea?" Miranda asked with a smirk her eyes dancing with laughter.
"Mm... I know better." Andy replied shaking her head.
Conversation started flowing again with compliments on dinner and beverage choice and flowing easily into wedding plans, fashion week, new designs, cases that Alex and Blair were taking to court, cases that Jo and Olivia were working on, and a few tales about co-workers the women found entertaining. The conversation took a more serious turn when Alex informed Andrea of a situation that was brought to her attention before she had arrived to the DeMarzio residence.
"So Christian was attacked?" Andy said twirling the wine in her glass, "When? How bad?"
"Are you worried about him Andy?" Aubrey asked as if scandalized.
Andrea sighed and shook her head, "Not in the least actually, I just want to make sure he's able to stand trial. He will pay for hurting my baby." she said softly.
Olivia reached over and gently squeezed her hand earning a slight smile, "He will stand trial, he just got a taste of his own medicine and a few bruises." she informed.
Andrea nodded and looked over at Alex, "Thanks for letting me know. When will you need Lexxi in court? I know she's going to be one of the last to testify but do you know for sure what day yet?"
Alex shook her head as she sipped her drink and sighed, "Not yet. Donnelly is trying to get this done swiftly but the defense is trying to do everything they can to lessen the charges. They know with the evidence against them they don't stand a chance. They are grasping at straws and coming up short."
Andrea nodded then and the conversation moved on away from the upcoming days they would face in court. Listening intently she learned that someone found out what Nate and Christian had done and took it upon themselves to hand out justice. Nate was found in his cell barely conscious after a few of the prisoners attacked him in the showers. The guards turned a blind eye and allowed it to happen and finally moved Nate to the infirmary. Christian wasn't as lucky. He was beaten and raped multiple times before being left in the bathroom for someone to find. None of the prisoners knew what happened and could only assume that the guards were involved. He was kept awake for it all but was too afraid to say who attacked him. After he was attacked a second time he was moved to solitary and is slowly recovering.
Once dinner was finished they moved into the library for drinks and more conversation. As Blair told the story of her and Jo finally moving from the "I hate you" to the "I can tolerate you" to denial about what they were feeling, and finally to declaring their love for one another, Andrea curled up on the sofa leaning into Miranda's side her head resting on the editor's shoulder. Sharing laughter and tales from high school and college days, Alex took over the conversation and left the others gasping for air. As time passed, conversations slowed to easy pointless talks about television and music. Before they realized it time had slipped away and it was approaching 1AM.
Isabella came into the library to let them know the girls were all sleeping and that Katora had left for the night before she herself went off to bed. Andrea stretched and sighed happily smiling at her closest friends both new and old, "Ladies it was fabulous as always but I should head to bed, early morning. New lines and what not." she said running a hand through her hair.
Alex smiled and stood pulling Olivia with her, "We should be going as well, I have arraignment at 9."
They walked to the front door together and Andrea and Miranda wished their friends, new and old, a good night before locking up and heading up to their bedroom. Changing swiftly and running through their nightly ablutions the two women climbed into bed together and switched off the lights.
"I had fun tonight." Andrea said after a few moments her head resting on Miranda's chest listening to the steady beating of her heart.
"As did I, my love. We should really have them over more often." Miranda said in reply.
"Mm... I think so." Andy said kissing Miranda's chest softly, "I love you Mira."
"I love you too Andrea." Miranda replied the smile evident in her voice.
Andrea smiled and kissed her lover softly before settling down again letting Miranda's soft steady breathing lull her into sleep.