Page 28 of Happily Never After

Okay, the end of her speech was approaching. She could do this. Just a few more minutes of baring her soul to the world, and then she could hide at home with a plate of enchiladas and a glass of sangria. Or maybe she would just run away. What was it Dr. Goulding had said? Her homework was to do something very un-Claire. Shirking her responsibilities and running away was about as un-Claire as could be.

“I carry the weight of what Barney did to me every single day. Even now, I’m trying to rescue an animal shelter he funded and abandoned. Twelve dogs—well, eleven, since I adopted a blind pug named Winston—and seven cats are destined for the euthanasia list in a catch-all shelter because of him.”

There was a gasp from the court. Maybe she should have put out an empty guitar case for donations.

“Despite his best efforts, Barney didn’t succeed in killing me. And because I’m standing here today instead of buried six feet underground, his expected sentence is dangerously, almost laughably light. Your Honor, this is a dangerous man.”

She pointed at the putz in the jumpsuit before turning her attention back to the judge. “I implore you to impose the maximum sentence allowed for his charges. He’s not capable of reform. The minute he gets out, he’ll go straight back to stalking and killing. He’s dangerous, and he’s not alone.”

Oops. Her dad was not going to be pleased that she just hinted at ESA. Oh well.

“Please do what you can to protect this community, Your Honor. Don’t let the Widowmaker off easy. Thank you.”

She stood and the chair made a farting noise as she scooted it backward. Please god don’t let the entire court think she had too many beans at dinner last night. She hurriedly shuffled off the stand and through the swinging doors. Her eyes stayed locked on the clock in the back of the room as she passed by the man who had tried to kill her, but even without eye contact her skin crawled. How had she ever missed this stench of evil during their dress rehearsals? She tripped over Kyle’s shoe and collapsed breathlessly back into her row.

Alice immediately threw her arms around her and rocked her like she was a child who had a bad dream. Luke squeezed her hand so hard it almost hurt. He kissed her on the cheek when Alice released her.

The judge banged her gavel, and Claire jumped. “The court will recess for fifteen minutes, after which time I will sentence the defendant.”

Most of the crowd got to their feet. Claire stood, too jittery to be this close to Barney. Before anyone could follow, she stalked up the aisle, out the doors, and marched down the marbled hallway to the seating area where she had spent the first hearing. She pressed herself against the wall and took deep breaths. Her legs were Jell-O. The wall was the only thing keeping her upright.

A squirrel dangled from a bird feeder in the dreary courtyard. His mouth was full of seed. What she would give to be that squirrel. No one would ever make him relive his worst day in front of a hundred people.

There were footsteps in the hallway.

“Hey,” a low, growly voice said. Luke appeared at her shoulder. “You did great.”

“Thanks,” Claire said flatly and closed her eyes on a sigh. “It was only the most humiliating thing I’ve ever done. And that includes the time I streaked in front of my entire apartment complex. And the time I flashed my blood-drenched boobs at every first responder in the tri-county area. And the time I flashed your mom. Let’s just include all nudity-related humiliations.”

Luke’s hand snaked around her shoulders. She opened her eyes. His rough thumb rubbed the side of her neck. She ducked her head and nestled into his shoulder, breathing in his familiar woodsy scent.

“Clairebear?” Alice’s musical voice drifted down the hallway. Claire groaned.

“There she is. My darling, you were enchanting.” Alice gripped her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes before pulling her into a suffocating hug. Then she moved back and cupped her chin in her hand. “So much pain. So much grace.”

Nicole and Mindy appeared out of nowhere and surrounded her in a best friend hug. “I have tequila,” Mindy whispered in Claire’s ear. Aha. So the mystery thermos had been booze. Thank god she hadn’t stumbled up to the witness stand smelling like Mardi Gras.

Claire shuddered. “Maybe after the sentencing. Come on.”

She squared her shoulders and pulled away from the wall. Flanked by her friends and family, she had all the support she needed.

CHAPTER TEN

To Do:

- Breathe

- Pray

“Will the defendant please rise?”The judge slid her glasses up the bridge of her nose and glanced at a paper in front of her.

Chains clanked as Barney climbed to his feet. He swiveled his head in Claire’s direction. A cold, brutal smile cracked the unbothered marble of his face. There was no fear in his eyes.

Claire dragged her gaze from his and squared her shoulders. Her knees squeezed together like she was trying to hold a penny between them. Alice clutched her left hand. Luke held the other gently, running his thumb over her wrist in soothing circles in spite of the death glares he was shooting at Barney. Mindy had moved to sit behind her, and both of her hands were on Claire’s shoulders. She was home base in an awkward, stressful game of tag.

The courtroom was quieter than a public library ruled by an iron-fisted librarian. Nicole unrolled a ginger lozenge and tossed it into her mouth, and the crinkle of the wrapper was near deafening.

This was it. The moment everything had been leading up to since Barney stabbed her in that parking garage. Was he about to pay for the hell he had inflicted on her? Or, like so many rich white men before him, was he about to get off with a slap on the wrist? She had all but bled on that stand. She had done everything she could. Was it going to make a difference?

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