Family Ties (26 page)

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

I walk in the house with Arissa and Jason after school on Monday to find Shannon Marshall sitting in the front room with Mom and Dad. I halt, then give Shannon a curt nod. “Hello, Shannon.” 

“Hi, Sara,” she returns, her saccharine smile on full display.

I tense and shift my weight around uneasily then drop my backpack at my feet. “I’ll meet you guys in the TV room for homework,” I tell Jason and Arissa, keeping my wary eyes on Shannon.

“Have a seat.” Shannon gestures to the sofa.

“No, thanks,” I respond, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m good right here.” 

Her fake smile disappears and she appeals to Mom and Dad with a pleading look.

“They don’t control me, Shannon. I’m perfectly capable of making my own choices. So, if you want to talk to me, get to the point.” 

“Very well,” she says, pursing her lips. “Victoria says you were belittling her Friday night at a football game.”

“She lies to get what she wants. She came after
me
. I simply answered her question about being happy. I can’t help that she didn’t like my answer that I’m happier without her, Simon, or Tibby in my life.”

“Sara saw her before the game started and stayed out of Victoria’s sight. We were on the opposite end of the bleachers from her. She’s the one who spotted Sara and tried to come after her,” Dad adds. “Victoria shouldn’t have been there at all.”

Shannon doesn’t acknowledge Dad at all. “Victoria says you and another man were pushing her around,” she says to me.

I snort derisively and Shannon glares at me. “No one touched her other than her cheerleader friends who were dragging her away. No one even moved from where they stood in the stands. I’m sure my parents already told you what happened. Arissa and Jason will tell you the same thing.

“You might want to talk to her about why she was there. She
knows
that’s my school and that I would likely be at the game. She had to know she would be violating the restraining order by being there.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t do that.” 

“You need to take the wool off your eyes,” I say, my voice holding a terse edge.

“Now that’s quite enough,” she says haughtily.

“Well, I’m done. Are you?”

“Sara,” Dad says in a warning tone.

“Sorry, but I can’t stand her condescension. After the ordeal with Mr. Croft last week and everything since my birthday, I’m tired of adults who think they can run me over.” I pick up my backpack. “Goodbye, Shannon.”

I head straight for Jason and curl up in his lap. He folds his arms around me and settles into the sofa.

“She is so infuriating,” I say.

“What did she do this time?” Arissa asks.

“The same as last time. Can you believe Victoria told her that me and Dad were pushing her?”

“She’s pretty gullible for a social worker.” 

“
That’s
Victoria’s social worker?” Jason asks.

“Yeah.” 

Mom pokes her head in the room. “She’s gone.”

My muscles relax in an instant. “Sorry if I overstepped with what I said. I don’t mean to make you and Dad look bad.”

“You don’t make us look bad. Quite the contrary. I’m always proud of you when you stand up for yourself.” 

“Thanks, Mom.” I beam.

“Snacks and drinks?” 

“Yes, please!” Arissa answers.

“I don’t even feel like doing homework now,” I state. “Part of me just wants to blow it all off.” 

“What do you have for homework?” Jason asks.

“Hamlet. Pre-calc. Euro history questions. And some other stuff I can’t think of right now.”

“You’ve already read Hamlet. That should be easy for you to work on until we take a break and play a game or something.”

“No.” I snake my arms around him tight. “I’m staying right here.”  

Arissa pretends to stifle a laugh, then makes a gagging sound with her finger in her mouth.

“You’re just jealous because Damian is at practice,” I say

“Don’t worry your pretty little head, Jericho,” he says. “I start practices soon.” 

I push out my bottom lip at him. Half teasing. Half serious. I like having him over after school to do homework together. 

“I can’t have my Parker unhappy.”

He darts in and plants a swift, chaste kiss on the lips. He breaks away as I attempt to return it.

“Get a room!” Arissa teases.

“Great idea. I know just the place,” I jest.

“Seriously?” Jason asks, playing along and pushing to his feet to carry me off in his arms. “Where?”

“Food!” Mom announces, stepping in the room. Dad follows with a tray of drinks.

“Foiled again!” Jason declares, plopping back down on the sofa.

“What’s going on in here?” Dad asks, laughing.

“Goofing off because I lost my motivation to do homework,” I admit.

“I’d say we all earned some goofing off. Shall we pop in a movie?”

“You don’t have to go back to work?” Arissa asks.

He grins and rubs his hands together like he does when we’re about to play a game. “I took the rest of the afternoon off.”

“Yes!” we chorus.

Sometimes distractions are necessary to regain focus. I would call Shannon a complete derailment. Family time, even if it is spent watching a movie, will get me back on track.

And I need to be on track. Manny’s trial starts soon and Len is calling me to the stand first.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

I sit on the stand in front of the courtroom. They all look the same to me now, just different faces populating the crowd.

Manny sits behind the defendant’s table in a blue suit too long in the arms. Gary Prescott, Simon’s former lawyer, is seated next to him. Erica sits behind them in the first row, stoicism is painted on her face.

She’s a good foster mother compared to Terry. She genuinely cares and I know how much she wants a child of her own. I’m sad that she’ll never be able to have one as long as she’s married to Manny. I think she knows that fact.

Mom sits behind Len’s table with Hunter. Everyone took enough time away from their lives over the summer. I wanted them to go on as if this trial wasn’t happening. It is nothing compared to my biological parents’ trials. But Hunter insisted on skipping classes. The disadvantage to him being in community college is no one can force him to go to class if he doesn’t want to.

Len approaches me with his warming smile. He asks questions related to my time in the Valdez’s home, my last day in particular. I answer them effortlessly. I’ve been here before.

He shows the jury pictures of the table, chairs, my textbooks, and my notes in disarray. He finishes and Gary approaches.

“Miss Jericho, how long were you in Mr. and Mrs. Valdez’s home?”

“Three weeks.”

“In that time, did Mr. Valdez ever indicate any interest in you?”

“Not until the night he attempted to rape me.”

“How long had it been since you last saw your boyfriend?”

Gary Prescott, Master of Insinuation. I bet that’s what his business cards say. I’m thankful Jason is in school.

“Three months,” I answer.

“So it’s possible you made this whole thing up because you missed your boyfriend and decided to take advantage of a young virile man who was caring for you.”

If he said that at Simon’s trial, I would’ve reacted emotionally. I can’t and won’t take his tainted bait.

Mom presses her lips into a thin line and Hunter covers her hand with his. I think if she could, she’d pop Gary in the mouth. It’s not often I witness her ire.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Prescott. Was that a question?” I ask, keeping my voice calm.

A ripple of titters spreads through the courtroom.

“Your Honor,” he says, addressing the judge.

“Her question is valid. Either phrase your statement as a question or ask another question.”

“Miss Jericho,” he says, returning his attention to me. “Did you falsify your statement to the deputies in order to be removed from your foster home, knowing sexual abuse allegations would be taken seriously?”

“No.”

“Did he remove any of your clothing?”

“No.

“Did he attempt to before you ran next door?”

“I didn’t give him an opportunity.”

“Then it’s just your word against his?”

“Yes.”

“I have nothing further.”

Len stands. “Re-direct, Your Honor?”

“Proceed.”

“Miss Jericho, please explain to the jury why you feared Manny would rape you.”

I retell my story, leaving out the fluff and giving only the important details. Namely, I feared for my safety if someone won’t leave me alone when asked to due to Simon’s abuse.

“Did the deputies give any indication that they felt you were giving them a false statement?”

“No.”

“I ask this next question with all due respect, Miss Jericho. Are you and your boyfriend sexually active?”

I grin internally at Len using Gary’s own question against him.

“Never.”

Mom takes me to the DMV for my driver’s test when we leave court. After passing the test, she informs me Shannon’s supervisor wants to meet with us.

“Why?” I ask, wondering why I’m still forced to deal with social workers.

“About Victoria’s case for violating the restraining order.”

I blow out a breath of air, hard. “Shannon won’t be involved?”

She shakes her head.

“Okay.”

“Good. He’s meeting us at home this afternoon.”

I gape at her. “You already scheduled it?”

Mom smiles slyly. “I knew you’d say yes if Shannon wasn’t coming.”

“You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” I quip.

“Only when I have to be.” 

A tall, lanky man in a chambray shirt and khaki pants sits at the end of one of the sofas when Mom calls for me to join them. He stands and smiles at me.

“Hi, Sara. I’m Jeff Collins, Shannon’s supervisor.” He holds out his hand.

I accept his hand for a brief shake. “Hi,” I say tentatively, sitting opposite him.

“I understand you like to get to the point. Victoria is in juvenile detention right now, if you didn’t already know that.”

“I didn’t, but that’s good to know.”

“She violated the restraining order, so her case will be transferred to a social worker in the juvenile justice department. If your sister’s behavior continues as it has up until now, I foresee her staying in a juvenile justice facility for a long time. Friday night wasn’t the first time she’s acted out.”

I scoot up on the sofa. “You mean she’s been acting out and she was allowed to join the cheer squad?”

“I’m sorry, Sara. I didn’t know about it. Shannon did not share it with me if she knew. I only know as much as my social workers tell me about their cases and what comes to me on paper. Her foster parents must have paid for everything, because I never received a payment request. And they are not the same ones she was with the last time you saw her.”

That Victoria worked the system to get what she wanted is not a surprise. That she’s done it unchecked until now is. Blake kept the reins tight on me while I was in Foster Hell and Shannon seems to have let Victoria run unbridled.

“I know Shannon gets a bit over involved,” he continues. “It’s not always a bad thing. In your sister’s case, it wasn’t helpful to you or your sister. Vicoria isn’t getting the help she needs, and it wasn’t fair to you for Shannon to lay blame at your feet. That’s not her job.” 

“Do you think Victoria will get help in the custody of juvenile justice?” 

“She’ll get a good reality check, at the very least.”

I chuckle at his candor and the thought of someone giving Victoria a reality check. “You get it. She’s too much like our mother to accept help.” 

He nods in agreement and cracks a smile. “So I’ve heard.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

“How do you feel about Manny going to prison?” Sam asks.

“I’m sad for Erica mostly. She had dreams centered around children and their futures that are gone now. And she depended on Manny for most of their income. If the jury didn’t convict him, I’m not sure I would’ve cared at all. Chances are I wouldn’t see him again or at least for a long time.”

“What about your future? Are you still worried?”

I shrug with some indifference. I still have no idea what I want to do after high school.

“But you took the SATs last month and did well, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You have excellent grades and a good SAT score. You’re ahead of the curve, Sara. Most kids in your situation have problems with academics. That is the one place you never seemed to have a problem.”

“I didn’t have anything else to do at home after chores were done, so it was homework and reading.”

“And because of that, no matter what you decide to do, you have a foundation. If you choose to wait on college, then wait. I think no matter what you choose to do, you’ll excel.” She pauses a beat. When I don’t respond, she continues. “We haven’t talked about Jason in a while. How’s your relationship with him?”

“I feel like we’re on fuzzy ground.”

“How so?”

“We’ve had a few times where we got carried away while kissing. He insists he’s okay with waiting. Sometimes I think he shouldn’t have to, but I’m still not ready. I don’t know how to make it right for Jason. At the same time, my body does all these weird things.” I spit it out all so fast, I’m not sure if I understand it myself.

“I know you and Jason talk about you not being ready. Do you talk to Arissa or your mom about how your body is reacting?”

I shake my head. It never occurred to me. There was the talk Mom had with us years ago and telling her about being on the pill. Arissa and I don’t talk about sex often. When we do, she does all the talking.

“Would it hurt to talk to them? Or even to Jason?”

“No.”

“I have one last question for you. What do you think about making this our last session?”

“Seriously?” I ask, pleasantly shocked.

“Can you think of a reason why you would need to come back again?”

I think for a moment before answering, “No.” I manage my anxiety better than I did a year ago,and everything going on in my life now is mundane. I’m enjoying the mundane.

“You have everything under control, Sara. Or at least as much as any of us do. You can always call to make an appointment if you feel you need to later on.”

She walks me to the door and I stop her before she opens it for me. “Thanks, Sam. I don’t know where I’d be without your help.”

“You’re welcome, Sara. I’m proud of you and all you’ve done in the last year.”

I wrap my arms around her without thinking and squeeze her tight.

“Mom!” I call, shutting the door to the garage.

“Kitchen, sweetie!”

“Is it okay if Jason comes over later or takes me out?” I ask, entering the kitchen and tossing my keys on the island.

“I thought we were all going to the football game,” she replies, bread slices and sandwich fixings laid out in front of her on the counter. “We’re meeting Damian’s parents there.”

How did I forget it was Friday? “I forgot. Sorry.”

“Are you okay? How was your session?”

Maybe my session has my brain frazzled. “It was my last one. Sam felt I was ready and I couldn’t give her a reason why I would need to go back. But she said I could call to see her again if I needed to.”

“Sara, that’s wonderful!” She pulls me into a warm hug.

A slow smile forms as I realize that it
is
wonderful. I didn’t see it in session or driving home. My thoughts were stuck on other things. Namely, sex.

And Jason.

We watch the game with our families, then go to Joe’s with Arissa and Damian. Then, it’s just me and Jason, cozy in a secluded spot at Cardiff.

Tiny waves lap the shore teasingly. I’m here, come and get me. Come on. Come get me. I dare you.

I’m nestled between his legs, leaning against his torso with his arms around me.

“I need to talk about something,” I say, just above a whisper.

“What about?”

“Us. Sex.”

“I’m intrigued. Tell me more.” His cheek tightens against the side of my head.

“What’s it like for you when we get carried away?”

“I feel like I’m on fire and the only way to put it out is to let it burn hotter until it burns out. What about you?” he asks in return.

“Like a violent storm and I need every inch of me connected to you to ride it out.”

His warmth leaves my back and he scoots in front of me. “What was it like with your father?”

I inhale sharply.

He slips his fingers between mine. “You’ve talked about what he did and how you felt emotionally, but not physically.”

It’s true. I never talked about how it felt, thinking it was a foregone conclusion. “It was painful. Every touch was rough. He squeezed my nipples hard. If he restrained me, it was tight. His penis was like a battering ram.”

He slides in closer. “I will never be like that.”

“I know. You’re so unlike him. It’s just hard to drive him out of my head because he was in there for so long. When Mom had the talk with me and Riss, the day he raped me the first time, she told us what it’s like between for who love each other. I know my view is skewed, but I want she talked about. I want that with you.”

His half-cocked grin appears and he plays with the charms on my bracelet. “I do too. When you’re ready, I want it all with you.”

“All?”

“I think about us having a life together. A house. Kids-”

“Kids?” I never thought about having kids because I never thought, or dreamed, of a future.

“Yeah. You know, little rugrats running around who grow into sullen teenagers hating our guts.”

I laugh. “You think they would hate our guts?”

“Total stereotype.” The left corner of his mouth quirks up. 

I run my fingers into his hair. “I love you, J. I still don’t think I deserve you sometimes, but I’m grateful you love me back.”

“Always and forever,” he murmurs, drawing me in and leisurely exploring my mouth with his tongue.

Yes, always and forever.