Page 78 of Feel It All

Chapter 23

Winry

WepullbackintoWaverley’s place late Thursday night. My sisters took me to Savannah, Georgia, for the past few days to take my mind off the breakup, but it did little to no good. I mostly sat and moped on the beach the whole time. I still can’t bear to go to my apartment, and I am dreading tomorrow. I feel like when I see him I will just burst into tears.

I borrow some nice clothes from Waverley for my court date. I stand in the mirror looking at myself. I look like a train wreck. My eyes have been puffy for days, and I am mentally exhausted.

“Everything will be okay, Win. Wyla and I will be there the whole time.” Waverley comes in behind me and wraps me in a hug.

Tears threaten again, but I pull them back and let out a deep breath. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

We all pile into Wyla’s car and head to the courthouse. Dad told me to be there an hour earlier than the court time. I don’t know why though. We get out of the car and my parents are waiting for us with a man who I am assuming is the lawyer he has told me he was getting.

“Hey, Winry,” my dad pulls me into a hug. “This is Nathan Williams; he is the city’s lawyer and yours for today.”

“Hi,” I hold out my hand. “Thank you for helping.”

He shakes my hand. “It’s no problem, really. This shouldn’t be too bad. I got a call from Mr. Martin’s lawyer last night. They want to try to mediate before court.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I look between my dad and Mr. Williams.

“I don’t know yet, but it gives us an opportunity to settle it outside of a trial.” Mr. Williams replies.

“A trial?” My face pales and I feel nauseous.

“I don’t think it will come to that, Winry, but let’s head in.” My dad holds out his arm to escort me inside. We follow Mr. Williams to a side room with a table and some chairs.

I scan the room and thankfully Graham is nowhere to be seen, but Flynn and his lawyer sit on one side of the table.

Breath. In. Out.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Mr. Williams says as we take our seats.

I must look like I am about to fall apart because my dad holds my hand under the table. Mom, Wyla, and Waverley had to wait outside, but I insisted Dad come in with me. I give him a thankful smile and squeeze his hand.

“Let’s get to the point, shall we? We would like the aggravated burglary dropped completely and the aggravated assault down to assault in the third degree,” Flynn’s lawyer says bluntly.

“Goodness, Charles. Well, we are not dropping all of the charges down that much, so let’s go ahead and establish that now,” my lawyer counters.

“I don’t think you want to take this to court; your client did break my client’s nose,” Charles stares at me and I feel like sinking in my chair.

“Yours broke into her home, attacked her, and gave her a concussion. So, I think you don’t want to take this to trial. Look, we would be willing to drop the aggravated burglary. If he pleads guilty to aggravated assault, we will do a reduced sentence and allow him good faith to turn himself in the following weekend.”

Charles looks like he is contemplating the offer and Flynn looks pissed. He has been staring daggers at me the entire time. “How about assault in the second degree, no jail time and he will pay the full fine?”

“No, at least a year sentence,” Mr. Williams retorts.

Charles leans over and whispers something to Flynn. He doesn’t look happy but nods. “Six-month sentence, a year of probation, and pays the full fine. That’s our final offer or else we will take this to trial.”

Mr. Williams looks at me then my dad. Dad nods and I do too, unsure but trusting him that this is the right choice.

“Okay, but he turns himself in tomorrow before midnight, and the restraining order stays in place for the full probation,” Mr. William lays out our final terms.

“Deal,” both lawyers stand and shake hands.

Flynn just sits there, his face now unreadable, but he is still staring. Charles pats Flynn on the back and they exit the room.

I let out a deep breath, relaxing for a moment.

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