Chương 13
“I don’t want to answer like that.”
“What would be easier?”
“Can I say where I don’t want to live?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to go back to Dad’s house right now.”
Richard lowered his head.
Naomi asked, “Why?”
“Because everything there knows what happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“The garage. My room. The kitchen. Even the stairs.”
Toby rubbed his thumb against the table.
“At Ms. Carter’s house, I can sleep because nothing there remembers me lying.”
Ms. Carter was the respite caregiver.
Naomi said, “Do you want to remain with her?”
“She has two little kids. One of them licks the television.”
A few people smiled.
Toby did not.
“She’s nice. But it’s not my house.”
“What about Evelyn’s home?”
He glanced at her.
“She labels food.”
“It’s a known condition,” Evelyn said before she could stop herself.
Judge Henderson looked over her glasses.
“Sorry,” Evelyn said.
Toby’s mouth twitched.
Naomi asked, “Do you feel safe with her?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe she will hurt you?”
“No.”
“Do you worry she will leave?”
Toby’s expression changed.
“Yes.”
Evelyn felt every person in the room avoid looking at her.
Naomi asked, “Has she talked with you about that?”
“She said she took a job where she’s home more.”
“Does that help?”
“I don’t know.”
“What else worries you?”
Toby looked at Richard.
“My dad says she’ll get tired of me.”
Richard raised his head. “I never said—”
His attorney gripped his sleeve.
Judge Henderson said, “Mr. Sterling.”
He fell silent.
Toby continued. “He said she likes rescuing people but doesn’t like when they stay rescued.”
Evelyn’s face warmed.
The sentence sounded like Richard because it contained an observation only someone close to her could make.
Naomi asked, “Do you believe him?”
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
Toby shrugged. “She gets quiet when I’m annoying.”
“Many adults do.”
“She makes lists instead of talking.”
“That may also describe many adults.”
“She doesn’t tell me things unless I ask exactly right.”
Naomi looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn kept her hands flat on the table.
“What would you need from her?” Naomi asked.
Toby’s eyes filled, but his voice remained steady.
“To say when she’s mad. To not disappear because she thinks she’s protecting me. To tell me before the Navy does something. To not call Chief Bell every time I’m difficult.”
Chief Bell was not present, but Evelyn could imagine his offense.
Naomi asked, “Anything else?”
Toby glanced at the judge. “I want to see my mom without Dad calling her afterward.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“And your father?”
Toby stared at him.
Richard’s face had lost its courtroom confidence. He looked like a man seated at the wrong table, waiting for someone to correct the mistake.
“I want him to stop explaining,” Toby said.
Richard flinched.
Naomi ended her questions.
Richard’s attorney, Ellen March, stood.
“Toby, your father has said he is sorry for frightening you.”
“He says he’s sorry I got frightened.”
“Do you see a difference?”
“Yes.”
“What would you want him to say?”
Bradley might have objected to the question. Ellen did not.
Toby looked at Richard.
“I want him to say he did it.”
Richard’s jaw worked.
Ellen asked, “Did what?”
“The garage. Grabbing me. Turning off the phone. Making Mom leave.”
Richard whispered, “I was trying to bring you home.”
Toby’s shoulders pulled inward.
Judge Henderson said, “Mr. Sterling, you will remain silent.”
Ellen paused.
“Do you love your father?” she asked.
Toby looked confused.
“Yes.”
“Do you believe he loves you?”
The answer took longer.
“Yes.”
“Does that make your decision harder?”
“Yes.”
Ellen nodded. “No further questions.”
Victoria’s attorney declined to question him.
Karen Liu stood for Evelyn.
She approached slowly.
“Toby, do you remember the first night you called Evelyn from the gas station?”
“Yes.”
“Did she tell you to return home?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you she would come immediately?”
“No.”
“What did she tell you?”
“To call 911 and stay near the cashier.”
“Were you angry?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still?”
Toby looked at Evelyn.
“A little.”
Karen nodded. “Do you believe she could have done more?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn felt the answer like pressure against a bruise.
Karen continued. “Has Evelyn ever asked you to forgive her?”
“No.”
“Has she explained why she did not reach you that night?”
“She said she was far away and thought emergency services were faster.”
“Do you believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Does believing it make you less angry?”
“No.”
Karen smiled slightly. “That was clear. One more question. Do you believe you are responsible for Evelyn’s reprimand?”
Toby’s eyes shifted.
“I don’t know.”
“Did Evelyn tell you that you were?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
Toby looked at Richard.
Richard’s attorney whispered to him.
Toby said, “Dad said none of it would have happened if I hadn’t called her.”
Richard rose halfway from his chair.
“I said the situation began—”
The gavel struck.
Toby jerked.
Richard sat.
Judge Henderson’s voice sharpened. “Counsel, control your client.”
Ellen put both hands on Richard’s forearm.
Karen returned to her table.
The judge asked whether Toby needed a break.
He shook his head.
Then Richard said, “I need to speak.”
His attorney closed her eyes.
Judge Henderson replied, “You will have an opportunity through sworn testimony.”
“No. Now.”
“Mr. Sterling—”
“I did it.”
The room became still.
Ellen whispered, “Richard, stop.”
He stood.
“I made him hold the buckets. I grabbed him. I shut off the phone. I told Victoria to leave him there.”
Toby stared at him.
Richard’s voice roughened. “I thought if he learned that running didn’t work, he would stop running.”
Judge Henderson said, “You are represented by counsel. Sit down.”
“I’m tired of counsel.”
“You may be exposing yourself to criminal consequences.”
“Then let me.”
Ellen stood beside him. “My client is emotional. I request a recess.”
Richard shook his head.
For months, Evelyn had imagined a confession. In those versions, it brought relief. Truth entered the room and arranged everyone correctly.
May you like
The real thing was uglier.
Richard looked at Toby as if the boy had forced the words out of him.
