Chapter 14 - THE VERDICT
Amy testified the next day.
I had never seen her more nervous.
I had also never seen her stronger.
The prosecutor asked, “Why didn’t you leave the kitchen during the birthday party?”
Amy looked at the jury.
“Because Teresa had spent months convincing me that my husband didn’t trust me.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She had information only Connor should’ve known.”
The prosecutor held up the fake texts.
“And these?”
“I thought Connor wrote them.”
“What did Teresa tell you would happen if you disobeyed her?”
Amy took a breath.
“She said she would make sure I lost my husband and my son.”
My mother rolled her eyes.
The jury saw it.
That mattered.
Then the prosecutor asked, “What happened when Connor arrived?”
Amy looked at me.
“He took our son from my arms.”
“And?”
“He said, ‘We’re leaving.’”
Her voice cracked.
“That was the first time in months I felt safe in my own house.”
I couldn’t look at anyone.
I stared at my hands.
Teresa testified against her lawyer’s advice.
It was a disaster.
The prosecutor asked, “Did you call Amy lazy?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her she didn’t deserve household money?”
“Yes.”
“Did you take her keys?”
“I prevented her from making a foolish decision.”
“Taking a sick baby to urgent care?”
“He wasn’t dying.”
“Did you say you made the rules in Connor’s house?”
“I practically ran the place.”
“Did Connor ask you to?”
“He didn’t need to.”
“Did you forge his signature?”
“No.”
“Did you direct Mason to interfere with Connor’s brakes?”
“No.”
The prosecutor played Mason’s recording.
Accidents happen every day.
Teresa’s face changed.
The prosecutor waited.
“Is that your voice?”
My mother looked at the jury.
“It was taken out of context.”
“What context makes that sentence appropriate?”
No answer.
After closing arguments, the jury deliberated for eleven hours.
Then we were called back.
I held Amy’s hand.
The foreperson stood.
Fraud.
Guilty.
Forgery.
Guilty.
Identity theft.
Guilty.
Conspiracy.
Guilty.
Attempted financial exploitation.
Guilty.
Tampering.
Guilty.
On the most serious conspiracy charge connected to the brake line…
Guilty.
My mother didn’t move.
Not until the judge ordered her taken into custody.
Then she twisted toward me.
“Connor!”
I stood still.
“You’re really going to let them do this?”
I didn’t answer.
“I’m your mother!”
The deputy grabbed her arm.
She screamed louder.
“I gave you everything!”
I finally looked at her.
“No.”
She froze.
“You gave me fear and called it love.”
Her face turned red.
“Connor—”
“You hurt my wife.”
“That woman—”
“You endangered my son.”
“He’s my grandson!”
“You tried to steal my home.”
“I was protecting you!”
“And you almost got me killed.”
She stopped.
For the first time, Teresa Bradley had nothing to say.
The deputy pulled her toward the door.
Then she turned back.
“You’ll regret this.”
I looked at Amy.
Then at the courtroom.
Then back at the woman who had controlled me for most of my life.
“No.”
I said it quietly.
“I already regret waiting this long.”
The door closed.
But our story wasn’t over.
May you like
Because two days later…
I received one final letter from my mother.
