Aftermath

by Tracy Brown

  Misa was shaken by the prosecutor’s closing argument. He had made her sound so completely guilty that she wondered if the plea deal was still on the table.

  Teresa rose from her seat and walked slowly toward the center of the jury pool.

  “Sometimes the justice system insults our intelligence,” she said. “Sometimes, when lawyers get caught up in filing motions and objections, the process of finding out the truth gets clouded by a whole bunch of rhetoric. You can almost miss the bottom line.

  “The facts of this case are simple. Shane Crowley, three years old, was molested. We heard grueling testimony about the anal lacerations he suffered, the sure signs that he had been violated by an adult entrusted with his care. Misa Atkinson, perhaps not the most attentive mother, but without question a mother who loves her son, was tormented by the suspicion that Steven Bingham was the predator who assaulted her son. She was almost certain that it was him, but she wasn’t sure. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. My client testified that she was suicidal that night. She was so overwrought with grief over what had been done to Shane that she wasn’t thinking straight. She was angry, confused, desperate for answers, and afraid when she went over to her sister’s house that night.

  “Misa Atkinson wasn’t a woman hell-bent on revenge. She was a mother frantically searching for answers about what had been done to her only child. She told Steven Bingham what she suspected and he laughed at her. Put yourself in her shoes. Upon hearing that three-year-old Shane Crowley had been sodomized, Steven Bingham didn’t show concern. He didn’t act in any way compassionate. We heard testimony that he was abused himself as a child, and yet he showed no sympathy towards Shane. When Misa Atkinson told Steven Bingham what had been done to her son, he laughed at her. ‘The little muthafucka is lying!’ he said. And he laughed at her, laughed at her son, and at the pain that he had caused them.

  “Faced with the reality of the situation—that Misa was certain to share her suspicions with her sister, with his brother, Frankie, Steven charged at Misa. She was grateful in that moment that she had brought the gun with her for protection. Her hands trembling in fear, she testified that she hoped the sight of the gun would be enough to stop him in his tracks. She was praying the entire time that he wouldn’t make her pull the trigger.”

  Teresa paused and looked at the jury seriously. She deserved an Oscar for best summation. “But Steven Bingham didn’t stop. He didn’t possess the self-control necessary to stop that night. He certainly wouldn’t have stopped with Shane. He would have gone on to abuse other children and to try and intimidate other mothers, but Misa Atkinson didn’t let him win that night. As he charged at her, prepared to take the gun out of her very hands, she reacted in self-defense, firing. This single mother born and raised in the Stapleton projects is not a card-carrying member of the NRA. She was never trained to shoot a gun, had never been to target practice. When that gun went off, she wasn’t even sure she had hit her mark. She testified that even after being struck by the first bullet, Steven kept advancing on her. Misa Atkinson—seeing the man who she believed had assaulted her son barreling down on her with a sinister smile on his face—she snapped! In that moment, she lost all ability to reason. The gun in her hands kept firing, her finger kept squeezing the trigger. But she was a mother blinded by thoughts of what had been done to her son. Her ears were filled with a pedophile’s laughter, taunting her and daring her to defend herself.

  “Throughout this trial, some of the testimony may have made it hard for you to remember the bottom line. The bottom line is Shane Crowley was molested. His mother knew who did it and she went to confront him. Steven Bingham—the man who Shane himself has pointed to as his molester—charged at Misa Atkinson, causing her to fire her weapon in self-defense. When that first shot didn’t stop him, she kept firing until he stopped moving. That’s a case of self-defense, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. And self-defense is not first-degree murder. That’s the bottom line.”

  Teresa went back to her seat and prayed she had said enough to get her client the acquittal she deserved.

  Judge Felder gave the jury instructions on their deliberations, reminding them that to find Misa guilty, they must agree beyond a reasonable doubt that she had intentionally set out to kill Steven that night. When the jury had been dismissed to deliberate, court was adjourned and everyone began to leave in order to await their decision.

  Gillian was right by Frankie’s side as usual, and she watched him staring at Camille across the courtroom. Camille was standing in a semicircle of women, all of whom were admiring her pregnant belly. Frankie’s face spread into an involuntary smile as he watched them all admiring the child he had helped create—the child he hadn’t even wanted until now. He wasn’t sure when his mind had changed, but suddenly he had been filled with a deep desire for fatherhood. He couldn’t help wondering if it was some subconscious attempt to right so many of the wrongs in his life.

  Camille looked up and caught him staring at her, his facial expression so proud. She smiled back at him and noticed Gillian standing close by, looking furious.

  Dominique noticed, too, and she discreetly whispered to her friend. “Looks like the tables are turned. Gillian wants to scratch your eyes out.”

  Camille nodded and strolled right on over toward Frankie and Gillian. Shocked, Toya and Dominique followed at a safe distance.

  Gillian noticed Camille heading in their direction and frowned. “Frankie,” she said, to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. “What’s all this about?” She was referring to the way he was smiling at his supposed ex-wife.

  He looked at Gillian and shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. He really didn’t know what had changed in him. But suddenly, all he wanted was the baby Camille had been begging him for years to give her.

  Camille arrived at Frankie’s side and she pretended not to see Gillian leering at her nearby. “Hey,” she said to Frankie. “Just wanted to come and tell you that my sonogram is next week. Thursday. If you want to come—”

  “I definitely want to come,” he said, cutting her off.

  Gillian looked at Frankie like he was an alien.

  “All right,” Camille said, nodding. “I’ll text you the information.” She smiled at Frankie, happy that he was coming back around. “I enjoyed breakfast this morning,” she said, aware that Gillian was listening to every word. “Let’s do it again soon.”

  Camille walked off with Dominique and Toya exchanging confused looks. They trotted out after her, anxious to hear about this morning’s breakfast.

  Gillian was, too. She watched as Frankie looked at her, his expression showing that he knew he was busted.

  “Let’s go somewhere and talk,” he said.

  And just like that, Gillian knew that her love affair with Frankie Bingham was over.

  The Verdict

  Everyone had poured into Celia’s New Jersey home. She had insisted that everyone come back to her New Jersey estate to await word of the jury’s decision. It was only two o’clock in the afternoon and it was possible that they could render a decision that day. Gathering at this house would ensure that they were all close enough to Staten Island to get back there immediately in case there was breaking news.

  Toya and Dominique were floored by the splendor of the opulent home. Baron had lived here after Celia had moved to North Carolina, so Misa was very familiar with this house. She had spent many nights being ravaged by him within the confines of these four walls and she marveled now at the different circumstances under which she was there today.

  Camille’s house was being sold and Misa had relinquished her Staten Island apartment. Both of them had been living with their mother out on Long Island. Misa and Baron had bonded under their recent circumstances, talking on the phone often, and Misa believed he had become a different man. Since the trial started, though, she hadn’t had the time to visit with him.

  Aware of that, Celia had arranged to have Baron brought to the New Jersey home. Misa was e
cstatic when she entered the huge living room and found Baron seated in his wheelchair smiling at her.

  She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He smiled and returned the embrace, flattered that she was so clearly happy to see him.

  “You act like you missed me or something,” Baron joked.

  Misa climbed into his lap as he sat in his wheelchair. “Thank you, Baron,” she said. “Thank you so much for everything you did.”

  He looked away, shyly, as she heaped him with praise.

  “You didn’t have to help me out the way you did—paying my bail, paying my lawyer, giving Camille money … I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”

  Baron loved the way her eyes danced when she spoke. “I wasn’t always good to you,” he said. “Helping you out this time was the least I could do.”

  The smile on her face as she looked at him now made up for all the times he had made her cry and Baron realized she made him feel like such a man, even as he sat there crippled. He hugged her, grateful he had been given a second chance at life. He planned to make the most of it this time.

  Celia smiled from the doorway and left the two of them alone together. She saw that Camille and her crew had gathered out on the patio, enjoying the warm sunny day. So, Celia joined Lily in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She poured a steaming cup and then sat across from Lily as she watched Camille, Toya, and Dominique chatting outside.

  “Looks like Baron and Misa are getting close,” Lily said, smiling at Celia.

  “I noticed that,” Celia agreed. “I like Misa. I think she’s a smart young lady with a lot of courage and just the right amount of diva.”

  Lily laughed. She did think her youngest child was the stronger of the two.

  “Baron has done a lot of soul-searching lately,” Celia shared. She thought back to the conversation she’d had with him about the things he’d done in his past. “He has a lot of blood on his hands,” Celia said, locking eyes with Lily. “And it’s going to be a long road to redemption for him. But, he has acknowledged his mistakes, and that’s half the battle. The other half is forgiving himself.” She smiled at Lily. “And he’s getting there,” she said.

  The two of them gazed out the window for a few moments, watching Camille enjoying some down time with her friends.

  “Camille is absolutely glowing,” Celia observed.

  Lily smiled and nodded. “Yes, she is.” She glanced knowingly at Celia. “And I think Frankie sees it, too.”

  Celia raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “I noticed Frankie watching Camille over the past few days, when he thinks that nobody’s looking at him.” She peeked toward the window to make sure that Camille wasn’t listening. Confident that her daughter was occupied with her friends, Lily spoke freely. “He’s looking like he’s having second thoughts about leaving his wife. But it’s too late now. The paperwork is already filed, the ink is dry, and Camille should keep on moving if you ask me.”

  Celia sipped from her mug. “You know it’s never that simple when you love a man, Lily.”

  Lily rolled her eyes and stirred her coffee briskly. “Love, my ass! Frankie left her with nothing—”

  “I know what he did,” Celia said, crossing her legs and looking at Camille’s mother. “Frankie made a lot of mistakes and I will not sit here and defend him.”

  Lily slanted her eyes at Celia. “I know you love that boy like he’s your son.”

  Celia nodded. “I do. Frankie’s not a bad person. He just handled this situation very badly. And hearing about his childhood makes me understand him just a little bit more.” Celia fanned her hand dismissively. “Anyway, like I said, I’m not here to make excuses for him. And I happen to agree with you. Camille should leave him. She should raise her baby and be as happy as she can without him. But…” Celia leaned forward toward Lily as if she were a teenager telling a secret to her girlfriend. Lily had to chuckle despite herself. “She loves him!” Celia whispered. She smiled and thought back to how that felt. “You remember what it was like when you were a young girl and you just loved a young man.”

  Lily had to admit that she did know that feeling. Young love had resulted in her bearing two children and struggling to raise them alone in the projects. She didn’t want that or anything close to that for her daughters.

  “Camille is probably very emotional right now, pregnant and going through a divorce. I’m sure that her hormones are wreaking havoc on her. Let her do what feels right to her right now. When the baby comes and Frankie has to figure out how to juggle fatherhood and Gillian’s spoiled ass, things will change. Camille will be in a better position to decide what’s best for her.”

  Lily looked like she wanted to agree but was still not convinced. “Frankie thinks he can bounce in and out of her life and Camille deserves more than that.”

  “She sure does,” Celia agreed. She glanced out the window and watched Camille looking lovely as ever in a pastel green maternity dress swaying back and forth on the swing. “She deserves a whole lot more than that.”

  * * *

  “I’m in love.”

  Toya said those three words and stunned both Camille and Dominique speechless.

  She looked at her friends and at their shocked expressions and shook her head. “Don’t act like that. It’s not that surprising.”

  “Wait,” Camille said, clutching her belly in mock labor pain. “You’re in love with whom?”

  Dominique was on the edge of her seat. “Please don’t tell me…”

  Toya smiled at her friends, shook her hair in the breeze, and said proudly, “I’m in love with Russell.”

  Camille burst out laughing, her eyes filling with tears of hysteria. Dominique threw her hands up in the air as if surrendering.

  “The gremlin?” she demanded.

  Toya shook her head in shame. She had called him so many horrible names before she stopped fighting what she was feeling.

  “Wait,” Dominique said again. “You’re sitting here telling us that you’re in love with Russell?”

  “Yes,” Toya answered.

  “The same Russell that you said was a beast?”

  “She called him Shrek so many times I thought it was his real name,” Camille chimed in.

  “She said he had teeth like Chiclets!”

  “All right!” Toya exclaimed, laughing along with her friends at some of the things she had said as she described Russell. “Yes! That’s him.” She fluttered her eyelashes and shrugged. “I love him.”

  “Whew!” Dominique exclaimed, trying to catch her breath after laughing for so long. She took a deep breath and blew it out as Camille fanned herself in the warm spring sunshine.

  “When did you realize that you love him?” Camille asked, happy to hear her usually crusty friend being soft and pink.

  Toya smiled again. “The entire time my mother was here, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Jameson was calling me. Alvin, too. I had plenty of opportunities to go out and I chose not to. I sat home night after night with Sweets and I watched his car come and go out my living room window.”

  Dominique was amazed. “You watched him?”

  Toya nodded. “I watched him leave for work in the morning, watched him come home with groceries. All I could think about was how he made me laugh and how intelligent he was. He didn’t judge me when I had a little too much to drink. He fed me. I had such a good time with him.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Camille said, teasingly. “And he grabbed you by the throat and fucked you when you got home. That has a lot to do with how you feel about him!”

  Dominique and Toya cracked up.

  “True,” Toya admitted. Her eyes drifted skyward whimsically. “The way he fucks me!”

  “Shhh!” Camille hissed. “My mother and Miss Celia are in there!”

  The ladies giggled and chastised Toya for her loud mouth.

  “I’m happy for you,” Dominique said. “Finally, you found somebody who can handle you!”


  “Amen!” Camille said.

  “So what if he’s not too cute? I know a whole bunch of cute guys with ugly ways.” Dominique winked knowingly.

  “Thanks,” Toya said. She wasn’t sure whether Russell would stand the test of time. But, for now, she was willing to try to turn a new page and stop judging a book by its cover.

  “How about you, miss?” Dominique asked, nudging Camille playfully. “What was all that at court today about?” Dominique put on a sultry face and lowered her voice seductively as she imitated Camille. “ ‘I enjoyed our breakfast together…’ ”

  Toya laughed but Camille blushed slightly, punching Dominique playfully in her arm.

  “Frankie surprised me and came by the house this morning with breakfast. It was early. The sun hadn’t even come up yet.”

  “How did he know you’d be up?” Dominique asked.

  “They were married forever. I’m sure he knows her habits,” Toya reminded her.

  “He just showed up,” Camille said. “He seemed like he needed to talk about the baby, about what his brother did.” Camille briefly filled her friends in on what Frankie had said. She braced herself for their remarks and said, “He kissed me before he left.”

  Toya stared at Camille in silence and Dominique’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

  “Camille…” Toya started.

  “I know,” Camille said, holding her hands up defensively. “I know.” She sighed. “But I would be lying if I said that I didn’t love him.”

  Toya rolled her eyes and Dominique shook her head. “Just because you love him doesn’t mean you have to be with him,” Dominique said. “Frankie really hurt you.”

  “He did,” Camille admitted. “And I’m still angry. But when he kissed me, I just…” Searching for the words, she shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

  “Let me ask you this,” Toya said. “If he came crawling back tonight, bags in hand, and tore up the divorce papers … would you take him back?”