Callie POV
Lena looked like she was about to cry. I saw tears in her eye. Her free hand went up to her face, to cover her mouth as she tried to hide the shock. This was one of the rare times, that Lena was left speechless.
"After I visited you at the hospital, mom took me to the precinct to talk to one of the detectives," I continued as I held her hand in mine, while with my other hand, I was still gently tracing the welt on her arm
"Why?" Lena finally spoke up
"I gave Allen my statement. When I visited you and saw the bruises on your arms, I instantly thought back to Malloc" I spoke slowly and I kept my eyes on her arm "I couldn't help but to think back to the incident at school and how he threatened you..." I look up to Lena and see that she was gazing right back at me "I didn't know if I was right, but mom thought that I should at least talk to the detectives"
"You were right," Lena said quietly when I had paused
"Yeah," I nodded back and averted my look back to her arm "Next day mom informed me that you had remembered the attack and that you name him as your attacker."
After taking a deep breath in, I suddenly feel the need to explain. Instantly look back to Lena "I didn't want to be right! I didn't want him to hurt you, I never wanted that...I never wanted for you to be...dragged into my mess," As I kept talking the more emotional and worked up I got "I never wanted for anyone to know and to live through the stuff, that I had to go through" I took in a shaky breath, my lower lip whimpered as one tear fell down my cheek, I saw tears in Lena's eyes as well "I never wanted for you to know my pain!"
"Come here, love!" Lena held her hands out, waiting for me to lean closer to her for a hug or a cuddle.
I moved closer to her and snuggled to her right side. When I pressed my head gently to her chest, she wrapped her hands around me. Silent tears were streaming down my cheeks.
I stayed strong when I was talking to Stef, but I simply couldn't do that now, when I was talking to Lena. The emotions I felt right now, were much more raw and stronger. The bruises on Lena's arms reminded me of my own suffering. I kept hearing the sound the belt made in the air and when it collided with my skin. I remember the stinging, burning sensation and pulsing pain after each belt whip. It was like it happened yesterday, still fresh in my memory.
"You are safe now, honey" Lena's whisper brought me out of the horrible memory "Shhh. It's okay. Shhh..." Lena was moving her hand over my back in circle motions. It was a very soothing and calming motion. She kissed the top of my head and after that, I felt her chin to my top of the head.
Neither one of us said anything for the next couple of minutes. We just held each other. I was snuggled up to her side. Time by time, Lena whispered sweet nothing in my ear and kissed the top of my head. The silent tears stopped streaming down my cheeks shortly after I snuggled up to Lena. Even thought I didn't see Lena's face right now, I know that few silent tears fell down her cheeks as well, because few tears fell on me as well, on my hair.
"Am I hurting you?" I blur out when I remember that she was the one that was actually injured, but I was leaning against her. I stirred a little, ready to lean out of the hug. The last thing I wanted right now was to hurt her even more than she has already been hurt. I know how those welts hurt, they sting and pulse. It's not a nice feeling.
Nights were especially hard for me, because I could never sleep on my back or sides after I had received a punishment. Whenever my back or side had touched the bed, it caused me to wake up in pain. The first two nights were the hardest.
"No, no you are not," Lena replied in a whisper as she tightened the grip on me a little, to make sure I don't move away from her
"Marci gave me this Aloe cream...it helped to sooth the irritated skin. I could go buy it for you"
"Marci?" Lena asked back, I felt her move slightly. She moved her head a bit to side, to try and see my face
"His wife," I clarified
"His wife knew but didn't do anything?" Lean sounded upset all of a sudden "Wait, didn't your mom mention that the cops had been to his house to investigate?"
"It was before I was placed there. I have no idea what happened when the cops arrive. The one thing I do know, is that his son and his wife are terrified of him. And by the way Marci and his son Jeremy, talked to me, I can only assume, that the four of us have something in common" I said quietly, gazing to the bed spread
Lena didn't respond. She took in a deep breath and tightened the grip on me.
"Everything is going to be all right, love" Lena said in a hushed voice before she kissed the top of my head again. I should be the one telling her that. But instead of saying that, I snuggled closer to her chest.
Lena POV
November 30th
I was outside on our porch, sitting in one of the benches, looking over the backyard. I had a cup of tea in my hand. A soft, warm breeze was moving my hair. For a moment, I closed my eye and enjoyed the feeling. It was a warm day, the sun was shining bright.
I opened my eye, the moment the back doors opened and Stef walked back out. She was still holding her phone in her hand.
"Who was that?" I ask her about the phone call that had made my wife to leave my side for what felt like 5 minutes
"Allen," Stef said as she placed her phone down on the small table. She joined me back on the bench.
"What did he want?" I ask tightening the grip on my cup
"Um...well," Stef placed her hand on my leg and rubbed it gently "They talked to his family."
"And?" I held my breath as I waited for her answer
"It seems that," Stef says, but then takes pause to ready herself to say whatever she needed to say "Marci and Jeremy, will testify against him as well." This was good news. That means the case against him will be even more stronger. I was told that the evidence found in the home and my testimony, was enough to put him away. But Callie's testimony and now his wife and his son as well, will only make this case even stronger. There was no doubt in my mind, that we will win this trial.
"Apparently, once he was fired from his job, his life went down a spiral. He started abusing them on regular basis without no real reason. They have welts and bruises on their bodies to prove it," Stef said careful. This no longer was good news. The last thing I wanted, was for more people to get hurt by him. And it appears, that what had happened on the school yard 9 months ago has set off events in life that caused people to get hurt. I can't help but to blame myself for Marci and Jeremy for getting hurt.
"Lena, it's not your fault!" Stef said firmly "He did this on his own, you are not to blame. You hear me!"
Stiffly, I nodded my head back. Deep down I know Stef is right. But right now, it was still hard to wrap my head around the news. Stef's fingers moved gently over my cheek "Not your fault, love." She reminded me again and placed a small kiss on my cheek.
December 5th
Being in court house brought different kind of feelings today. The few times I have been here was for happy events, for the adoption of the twins and Jude. Stef of course has been here more often. Mostly these visits were connected to her work, testify for cases and stuff like that. Today, when I walked in the court house, I was anxious, slightly scared and worried. All because I was about to see the man that attacked me again.
Holding hands, Stef and I walked through the hallways to the court room, where Matthew Malloc's trial was going to be held. Out of precautions, we had arrived here 10 minutes sooner than the the trial is about to start.
"Should we go in?" I ask Stef when we stop few steps from the doors
"If you want to. But if you don't, we can go sit right here and wait. It's your choice, my love" Stef says to me softly. She has been taking such great care about me. Somehow she had made the kids not to cause or get into any trouble. I don't know how she had done that. I can only assume that some bribing took place. Bribing them with pizza could be one way.
"I need to go to bathroom," I tell her looking around, to see which way is the bathroom
"Do you want me to go with?"
"No, you don't have to" I reply with a small smile
"Okay. The bathroom is that way, at the end of the hall, turn left," Stef says pointing down the hallway
"I will be back in 5," I kiss Stef on lips before I walk pass her
I found the bathroom with no problem. Once I walked in, I headed straight to the sinks. I placed my purse next to the sink and press my palms at the counter. Looking up in my reflection in the mirror, I examine my eye and nose.
I hadn't even tried yo cover the bruises up with makeup when I was at home. When I left home, I simply had put my sunglasses on. And right about now, I started to feel as if I should have tried to hide the bruises. They looked quite horrible. The bruises had now gained the color or yellow and purplish. The swell on my eye had gone down and I was finally starting to see a little with my injured eye as well.
I opened the tap to let the water flow. When I had put my hands under the water, one of the stall doors opened and a woman walked out. She was very thin and petite looking woman. Shorter than me. The woman had short, straight hair.
When the woman walked up to the sinks, she smiled at me and placed the her purse by the sinks. She pulled her sleeves up a little before she started to wash her hands. My eyes got stuck on the bruises that I saw on her wrists. Welts - from belt. The woman, felt that I was staring at her and looked up to me as she washed her hands.
"These were given to me by my husband. Finally, after 20 years I am trying to put a stop to it," the woman said and glanced down to her arms "Did yours did that to you?" She looked up to me and nodded to me
I suck in a breath and turn off the tap "No," I shook my head "Don't have one." I reply and reach for the paper towels that were on my left "But I am pretty sure it was your husband who did this to me."
The woman closed the tap. I handed her two paper towels. We stood in silence for few seconds.
"You are Marci Malloc?" I ask drying my hands in the paper towel
The woman smiled sadly "You must be the woman he hurt – Lena Adams Foster?" She couldn't even say his name
I nodded back "I'm sorry for what he did to you. He mentioned your name a lot after he got fired. I should have know he was up to something. I should have know..." She shook her head as she spoke
"Not your fault," I reassured her and tossed away the now wet paper towel
"Do you know Callie Jacob?" She asks me once she had gotten rid of the wet paper towel
For a moment I got confused, because I have always know her by different name "She goes by Callie Scott now"
"She got adopted?" the woman's face suddenly light up
"Yes, 3 years ago," I confirm with a smile
"That's...that's really good. I'm happy for her. She needed a family, she deserves a good family. She was very sweet girl" Marci says slowly nodding her head. It seemed to me, that in her mind, she was thinking about the girl.
"She still is. Callie is quite amazing young woman" I reply back keeping my eyes on her
"You have talked to her?" Marci says very curiously, it seemed as is she wanted to talk to Callie herself
"Yes, we talked yesterday, when she stopped at our place. Callie, is actually going to be here today as well. I'm sure you could talk to her today, if you want to" Marci looked quite confused about what I had just said "My wife and I adopted Callie's brother. Callie is very often guest at our home, as is Jude at their home. Our families are very close."
"S-She has a brother? Callie had never mentioned a brother..." Marci says mostly to herself. She looks down remorsefully "I was a bad foster parent to her"
"No, you weren't. Callie never said one bad thing about you" I tried to reassure her, it seemed like she was blaming herself for what had happened
"I didn't help her, when he was…." she closed her eyes and shook her head "I did nothing to stop him from hurting her. I was and still am scared of him. My husband scares me" she admits with tears in her eyes "I am terrified of him. My son was the one who started to stand up against him...not me" The bathroom doors suddenly open. The noise startled Marci and she looked over her shoulder scared. With her hand she wiped away the tear had fell down her cheek.
Some woman walks in and heads straight to the stall. She doesn't even look at us. But this woman walking in was enough to stop Marci from talking.
"We should...probably go...the trial is about to start" Marci says reaching for her purse
"Yeah, yes...you are right" I nod back and takes my purse. Marci walks out first. When I walk out of the bathroom, a tall young man walked up to Marci and they started talking. That must be her son. He looks like his father, wide shoulders, tall, same facial structure. It was for sure Jeremy.
I look down and continue my way down the hall. As I walk away, I feel eyes on me. Looking over my shoulder, I see Marci and Jeremy both watching me.
When I turn the hallway, I see that Amy and Callie had both arrived and they were talking to Stef.
"You okay, honey?" Stef asks taking my hand, when I walk up to them "You were gone quite some time."
"Yes, I'm okay" I smile back to her "I met his wife, Marci."
"Marci is here?" Callie asks surprised as she looks pass me to the hallway
"Yes, and I think her son as well," I said and look over my shoulder to the hallway. They were walking very slowly, side by side, towards the court room.
"We should go in. The trail is about to start" Stef says to us and nods to the court room. Her hand squeezes mine gently. Callie was still looking at Jeremy and Marci down the hall.
Amy, Stef and I stood still, because Callie wasn't moving. She was watching Marci and Jeremy, as they walked towards us. Amy puts her hand on Callie's lower back.
"Callie...it's nice to see you again. You have grown up a lot..." Marci said as she and Jeremy stopped two steps away from us
Callie glances to Jeremy. he was at least head length taller than her "I heard you are going to testify as well"
"Yeah," Jeremy replied and glanced down to his mom, her put his arm on her shoulder blade "It's about time we put a stop to it. We have been suffering long enough"
"Good for you" Callie replied
"I'm sorry!" Marci blurred out the next moment
"You don't have to apologize. You weren't the one hurting me"
"We should have helped. We should have done more"
"You are doing it right now," Callie replied to Marci and smiled up to Jeremy. The six of us walk in the court room and take our seats. Judge walked in a minute later and the trial started.
Guilty – I think that is my favorite word of today. It brought me such a huge relief and happiness. I had let out the breath that I was holding as I was waiting for the verdict. Watching how Matthew Malloc was taken out in handcuffs, to jail was very satisfying. He got what he had coming. He got what he deserved for hurting me, Callie, his own son and wife. Jail will be his home for the next few years.
I hugged my wife, she kissed my cheek as we embraced "It's over now" Stef whispered and kissed my cheek again "It's over, my love!"
Once Stef let go of me, Amy hugged me next "He got what he had coming," Amy said as she leaned out of he hug. I nod and smile back at her.
Turning to Callie next, I saw the tears in her eyes. They were happy tears. She was relieved as well. Callie threw her arms around me. We embraced.
"We won!" I whisper to her and kiss the top of her head
AN: I have no idea how long it takes for a case to go to court. So forgive me if the timeline was off. If the show would be set in my country, it would take about 2-3 years :D That's how shitty my countries Justice system is :D I hope you enjoyed :)
On another note - I am starting to think about ending this story after I finish the story lines that are open/given to me and after I write the story lines that I have planned.