Page 29 of Happily Never After

Claire stared unblinkingly at the judge. Her expression was as unreadable as a blank legal pad. Seconds crept by. Was there a mandatory class in law school on how to create dramatic suspense?

The judge set her papers down and folded her hands. She stared at Barney. “Mr. Windsor, in all of my years serving this community as a judge, I’ve encountered a lot of criminals. I’ve seen things that would churn the stomachs of most people in this courtroom. I’ve heard accounts that would give almost anyone nightmares. But not, I suspect, you. Your cruelty and your cold, calculating nature are evident even though you didn’t testify. I get chills when you walk into my courtroom.”

Claire’s mouth fell open. Mindy squeezed her shoulders. Could this be the wheels of justice grinding away?

“What you did to Miss Hartley is inexcusable. There was no emotional component to your crime, despite what your lawyer argued. What you did was what a hunter does to its prey. You stalked and tried to kill your victim. One failed date in college does not give you permission to take that woman’s life. You’re a dangerous man, Mr. Windsor. And because of that, I have no choice but to sentence you to ten years in prison with credit for one year of time served. I expect I’ll see you again someday.”

The judge banged her gavel and stood. The courtroom erupted in chatter.

Shockwaves coursed through Claire’s body. Had she really heard the judge correctly? Mindy climbed over the back of the bench in her pencil skirt and stilettos and threw herself on Claire. Alice began sobbing. Tanya rushed from the back of the courtroom with a joyful shout. Jack offered a solemn nod with the ghost of a smile. Throughout the fray, Luke’s hand stayed warm and secure around hers.

It had really happened. Against all odds, Barney was about to pay for his crimes. Although it was still bullshit that he was only getting ten years for almost killing her, he would be rotting in a prison cell. And now the FBI had time to build a case against him. Justice may yet be served for the other victims. Money could buy a lot of things, but for today at least, freedom wasn’t one of them.

Barney’s mother tearfully gripped a used tissue. She reached for Barney as he was led away, but he only had eyes for Claire. His steely gray eyes burned into hers. She raised a single eyebrow as he disappeared through the door. Stupid murderous asshole. Good riddance.

A breath she had been holding for what felt like a year whooshed out. “So, what should we do with the rest of our day?” she whispered to Luke over a mouthful of her mother’s hair. The front of her blouse was damp from everyone crying on her.

“Drink?” he suggested. But then he glanced at his phone and furrowed his brow.

Before she had a chance to ask what was wrong, everyone was pulling her toward the front door. It was just as well. Even after the sentencing was read, the sensation of the yellowed walls closing in hadn’t left her. Shit. The press was presumably still outside. She wound the high contrast scarf around her neckand drew her shoulders back like she was about to dropkick her way out of here.

When Luke and Kyle pushed open the double doors, the sun shone through the clouds like spotlights. Warmth rushed into her cheeks. The rain had stopped, and a brilliant rainbow hovered over the dry cleaning shop across the street. If that wasn’t a good sign, she didn’t know what was.

Several steps down, a crowd of reporters surrounded Barney’s lawyer. Her fingers curled into fists. Kyle had recommended she make a statement if she felt up to it, but the thought of speaking to the people who had hounded her for months made her skin crawl.

“Miss Hartley!” One shout was all it took for the press to abandon Barney’s lawyer. They scrambled over each other like children on a jungle gym. Microphones hovered in front of her face as they jostled for positions.

“Miss Hartley, how do you feel about the verdict?” a man with a handlebar mustache asked.

A woman in a lime-green power suit elbowed her way in front of Claire. “Do you think the punishment fit the offense?”

Claire paused, and the caravan of people behind her bumped into each other as they lurched to a stop. If a few words now could stop the press from accosting her as she fetched the mail while wearing corgi pajama pants, it would be worth it.

She took a deep breath and looked into one of the cameras. “I’m relieved that justice was served today. It’s the first step in gaining justice for the rest of Mr. Windsor’s victims.”

She turned on her heel and strode into the crowd without another word. Her heart was lighter than it had been in months, maybe even a year. She could have skipped all the way back to the car even with the handful of reporters shouting after her. The door handle was cool in her hand as she yanked on it.

Locked. All that worrying in the middle of her statement for nothing.

Luke unlocked the door and swung it open. She climbed inside and happily buckled herself in. A couple of members of the press stalked around the car trying to take her picture, but the horde had thinned. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe things would finally go back to normal. Maybe the next time someone Googled her name, the autocomplete suggestion would be “Claire Hartley Happily Ever Afters” instead of “Claire Hartley Widowmaker.”

The mental and physical scars Barney had inflicted would last a lifetime. But for the first time in months, their sting wasn’t so sharp.

Alice slid into the back seat behind her, already jabbering about a family vacation they should take to celebrate the verdict.

Claire’s eyes snapped open. “Mom, the last time we went to the beach you were arrested for performing a moon ritual.”

Alice scoffed. “It was my own fault. I shouldn’t have expected the Rehoboth Beach Police Department to understand the nuances of charging crystals. Maybe a mountain retreat instead. As long as there’s running water nearby.”

Luke paused in front of the car, frowning at something on his phone. Rachel was nowhere to be found. Perhaps that was the source of his frownyness. He slid into the driver’s seat and fired up the engine.

“Home?” he asked.

Claire nodded. “Your mom’s not joining us?”

Luke shook his head. So much for the maybe-future in-laws getting along. But there had never been much hope for that anyway.

“What’s wrong?” Claire whispered over her mother, who had switched to expounding on the benefits of fresh maritime pine bark.

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