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Chapter Sixty-Three
Strange Turn
Ethel and her family sat nervously in the gallery waiting, Ethel had a bad feeling he was going to be let off and shook slightly.
"In the case of rape of a minor, how do you find the defendant?" the judge asked the head jury
"Guilty" the man said.
Ethel heard the words and then let out a sob of relief and happiness, she could hear the rest of her family do the same and they all hugged each other in relief.
"What you did to that young girl was sick and evil, it is lucky she had enough support to get her through this, you will serve a fifteen year sentence with no parole available until that time" the judge said.
Ethel cried more. She wasn't sure she was happy with the amount of time he received but she had known he would never receive a life sentence as they were always for murder. When the time came she would appeal and make sure he was not released, but for the next fifteen years she didn't have to worry. She kissed Prudence's cheek with tears falling down her face. She had been believed and received justice finally.
"Come on you lot" Julie told the girls wiping the own tears from her eyes as she led them out the courtroom. Once they were outside they all just held each other, the relief they felt overwhelming them in that moment. Prue scowled as she was squished.
"What is the matter pretty girl?" Esmerelda said taking her niece and spinning her around making the little girl giggle in delight. She pressed kisses to her cheek even though Esmie herself was still crying.
"Girls" Mrs Hallow said from behind them again. Everyone had forgotten she was there because they had being caught up with the verdict but everyone fell quiet and still as they turned to look at Mr and Mrs Hallow.
"We don't want any trouble" Julie told knowing they brought trouble wherever they went.
"We are not here to cause trouble" Mr Hallow said and the three blonde girls looked at each other in disbelief.
"Then what do you want?" Esmerelda asked, not trusting them.
"To say we are sorry" Mrs Hallow said and the three blondes shared another confused look with each other, had they being given opposite potion or something?
"For what exactly? Abandoning me? Telling me to get rid of my baby? Breaking my heart into pieces at every opportunity you get?" Ethel asked as her parents looked at her as if they had never realised they had made her so upset before but everyone had seen the girl heartbroken more than once before.
"For everything" Mr Hallow said with a sigh
"We believe you about what happened Ethel" her mother said confusing the middle daughter.
"Why would you believe me over your precious friend?" Ethel asked confused what they meant.
"You had being beaten up, it was clear you had being attacked, we never didn't believe you.." Mr Hallow said.
"Then why did you abandon her?" Sybil asked feeling braver than she used to be and wanting to stick up for her sister.
"We didn't think it was a sensible idea for her to have the baby...we didn't think she would cope with it" Mr Hallow said
"That is my decision to make and not yours, and you think you can just say sorry and we can be a big happy family? You tried to take Esmerelda and Sybil away and leave me and Prue, you didn't want us you never did" Ethel told them glaring harshly at them. "You have always hated me, when I got pregnant you finally had an excuse to get rid of me, I don't know what you expect but I don't forgive you" Ethel told them. How could she? They had damaged her so much in the short time she lived with them, they had never wanted Prue and tried to make her give them away, she would never be able to forgive them for that. She didn't trust them at all.
"We don't expect you to forgive us, we just want you to know we are sorry" Mrs Hallow said and Esmerelda cuddled Prue tighter before replying.
"Yes well to little, to late, we don't want to come back and live with you, you blew it" Esmerelda told them not feeling any love for them anymore. They had brought everything on themselves.
"Oh well we don't expect you to, we have decided to tell the social worker we are the ones who drugged Esmerelda so the adoption can go through" Mr Hallow explained.
Ethel was scared. She knew this must be part of a bigger plan, they were pretending to be nice to win them over. She didn't want to play their games anymore.
"And let me guess there is a catch?" Ethel asked knowing there always was.
"No...when we found out Norman was the one had attacked you we realised we had been in the wrong all this time, it made us realise what we had done" Mrs Hallow explained.
"It made us see the reality, it opened our eyes" Mr Hallow went on looking at the floor.
"Good, I am glad something did because you two are disgusting" Mildred said glaring at them.
"MILDRED" Julie scolded not pleased at her rudeness even if they did deserve it and she agreed.
"Well it is true!" Mildred said fed up of having to deal with these people.
"It is alright, we deserve that, we are going to do the right thing for once and give the girls the family they deserve" Triton told them and everyone looked at each other not sure what their game was but not talking them out of it.
"Thank you" Julie told them as no-one else was saying anything.
"Alright well we better be off, maybe we will see you later" Ursula said
"Don't get your hopes up" Sybil said. She had become so bitter towards her parents since they had abandoned Ethel and she was not afraid to show that anymore. They turned to leave and disappeared from view without another word.
"Well that was strange" Esmerelda said once they had gone.
"I can't forgive them, I still hate them!" Ethel said upset after them making an appearance.
"Now Ethel, hate is such a strong word, I know they did some awful things but we don't know the future, maybe one day you will forgive them" Julie told Ethel not exactly thrilled at the thought but not wanting the sisters to spent their whole lives hating people.
"They are not our family anymore, you are" Sybil replied and Julie nodded with a sigh. Maybe when they were older they would change their views, she didn't know but right now she hugged them as she would support them no matter what.
"Let's not think about them now, we should be celebrating, who wants ice-cream?" Esmerelda asked as Julie gave her a look. She was doing it again, stepping in as their mother when she had not agreed to get them ice-cream. Some habits never died for Esmerelda.
"Oh come on mum, ice-cream once in a while won't kill us" Ethel said with a smile. Julie heard what Ethel said and felt herself choking up. She had just called her mum for the first time. She took Ethel and her sisters into her arms and hugged them tightly as she cried to herself.
"Is that a yes then?" Mildred asked and Julie pulled away and saw all four girls giving her a pleading look, how could she possibly resist?
"Alright, ice-cream it is!" she said and Sybil cheered and ran ahead desperate for her frozen treat.
"Not to fast, stay in sight Sybs" Mildred said worried as she ran after her. Julie rushed after them as Esmerelda and Ethel walked slowly behind.
"Well done Ethie" Esmerelda said and Ethel looked at her confused.
"What for?" Ethel asked as she hadn't done anything.
"Getting that sick man put away, your testimony was solid which is why it happened, I was broken whey you told me you had had raped...but you have got through it so well" Esmerelda admitted remembering how crushing it had being when it was first revealed.
"Yes well, I have an awesome big sister that helped me didn't I? Ethel said with a smile as she put her arm around Esmie and stroked Prue's hand. "I am lucky to have you" Ethel said sweetly.
"No Ethie, we are the lucky ones" Esmerelda said smiling at Ethel and her niece happily. And Esmie meant it, she and everyone else was lucky to have Ethel even if at times she could be a nightmare. They both smiled and kept walking linking arms in their sisterly way.