Page 31 of Twisted Betrayal

Rick sighed but nodded and gave her the dates.

“How many days should I take off?”she asked.

“I’d say three.It might only take one, but if it goes on for a long time, your classroom will be taken care of.”

She nodded.“I’ll go now and start dinner.”

“Don’t worry about that.I started to make spaghetti.”

She had such a great husband.How Gloria thought she’d ever be able to tear them apart was beyond her, and she learned a lesson about messing with people’s relationships.“Yum.That sounds wonderful.I’ll make a salad and garlic bread.”

“Sounds good to me,” Rick said.He kissed her and walked over to the stove to stir the sauce.

She watched him for a moment and sighed.God, she loved this man.

****

Aweek and a half later, Riley walked into the courthouse with Rick’s arm around her waist.She couldn’t believe how nervous she was, and she didn’t really know why.Gloria couldn’t do anything else to her, especially with Rick at her side.He’d never let anything happen to her.

They sat a few rows behind the prosecutor.While Rick talked to the man, she looked around at the dark, intricate woodwork and the people loitering.She’d never been in a courthouse before.It was intimidating and exciting at the same time.

A guard walked out from a side room and called for everyone to stand.

People hustled to their places and stood to wait for the judge.Within a minute, the judge walked in and took his seat on the bench.The bailiff called for everyone to be seated.

Riley’s heartbeat rose as two deputies brought Gloria into the room and over to a chair next to an older man Riley assumed was her lawyer.

She couldn’t believe how bad the other woman looked.Riley had never seen her dressed in such a bland outfit or without makeup.She also seemed smaller somehow, but Riley couldn’t figure out why.

The first witness went to the stand.

One after another sat in the chair by the judge and talked about the horrible things she had done.Riley hadn’t realized how truly awful the woman was.They testified about her stealing several thousand dollars from her employers and the drugs she took and sold.

Riley had never seen any evidence of drugs when she was with her in the past.But then, Gloria knew how Riley felt about them.How much she hated them.

This went on until lunchtime when the judge called for an hour’s break.Rick led her out to the hallway.

“Are you hungry, Sweetheart?”

She shook her head.“No.But you can eat.”

He smiled gently.“No.I’ll wait for you.How about we take a walk outside?It’s so nice out, and the fresh air will do us good.”

She felt her mood instantly lighten.“That sounds wonderful.”

They made it back just in time and sat in the seats they were in before.Rick tucked her tighter against his side.

“That walk we just took helped me relax,” she whispered.

He kissed her forehead.“Good.I had hoped it would.”

She watched as Gloria was brought back.Riley would have felt some pity for the woman, but she deserved everything she was getting.

The bailiff called for everyone to stand.

The first person on the stand after lunch was one of Gloria’s friends, who looked vaguely familiar.She told the judge about the things Gloria had stolen from her.

The next few hours seemed to last forever, and Riley just wanted to go home and soak in a hot tub.Sitting on the cold, hard bench made her anxiety rise, but she wasn’t going to leave.Not until she heard Gloria’s conviction and how long she’d be behind bars.

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