Snodgrass, Catherine

by Another Chance AnotherTime (lit)

  "All rise."

  The Honorable Sandra Lockley waddled to the bench. Her black robes did an excellent job of hiding her pregnancy. If Chuck hadn't mentioned it, Dani wouldn't have guessed.

  According to Chuck, she was testy. Dani didn't blame her. Finding yourself expecting a baby just when the others have been kicked out of the nest was always a surprise, sometimes good, sometimes bad. But to be pregnant in her late-forties-Dani was surprised her doctor still allowed her to work.

  She settled on the bench with a sigh as heavy as she was, and then smacked her gavel. "Be seated. Time for a little house-cleaning." She laced her fingers before her and stared at the assembly. "I want every camera, still and video, every recorder, every microphone out of my courtroom now. This will not turn into a media circus. If I hear any complaints, every reporter will be next."

  They shuffled to the door. "I want everyone under the age of eighteen who is not testifying out of my courtroom. Check that...even if you're testifying, I want you out. The bailiff will call you when it's your turn on the stand."

  This time a couple of groans filtered through the room. Judge Lockley ignored it and went on. "Every pager, cell phone, watch alarm will be turned off. Not put on buzz or vibrate or whatever charming little ditty you want to call it. Off. If it isn't, it's mine."

  More fumbling followed. When it was quiet once more, Lockley leaned back and smiled. "Thank you. Now, one more piece of business. Counselors, let's get this over with quickly. If you think it's hot outside, you ought to be eight months pregnant and under these robes. My patience level expired in my first trimester. Don't screw with me. No theatrics. Present your case and let's be done with it. Understood?"

  They replied in unison.

  Lockley's gaze settled on Dani. "You're looking a little pale. I understand you fainted outside. Are you all right to continue?"

  "Yes, your honor."

  "Very well. Bailiff, bring in the jury."

  Six men and six women of varying ages, race, and occupations filed in. Chuck said it was a good mix. Looking at them now, Dani prayed they were open-minded as well. Of course, if they had an ounce of prejudice against her in the first place, Chuck would have picked that out during jury selection.

  The attorneys gave opening remarks. Mr. Dresler repeated the charges, pushing the point that she had damaged the life of this boy, and he would provide proof of the charges. Chuck countered that she was the victim, innocent of a wrongdoing, and that he too would provide evidence on her behalf.

  Dani clutched her hands in her lap. The easy part was over-now came the testimony.

  The prosecution's main witness was T.J. Anyone else called would only verify that T.J. had spent a lot of time in Dani's company.

  T.J. shuffled to the stand. If Dani hadn't known it was him, she never would have recognized him. His shaggy hair was trimmed, combed back. The baggy pants, three sizes too big, were gone. A pair of gray knit slacks in their place. He wore a light blue shirt and a gray tie. All of which made him look more like an altar boy than the street kid Dani tutored.

  His testimony was vivid, scathing. He painted a picture of Dani that turned her stomach. He spelled out in graphic detail acts of perversion she couldn't begin to imagine. Things she and Alec hadn't even whispered, much less considered doing. At one point his voice quavered. He recovered quickly.

  Chuck's response to all this? "No questions at this time, your honor."

  Dani knew to expect that. Chuck's plan was to present his witnesses, and then use their testimony to refute everything T.J. said.

  He began with the principal, school counselor, and other pictures of T.J. Each person testified to his poor grades and lack of social interaction-until Dani added him to the growing list of students she took under her wing. Dani was a model teacher who always put the interest of her students at the forefront.

  The kids were next. She was caring, an adult they could talk to about whatever was on their minds. Sure, they saw T.J. at her place. Who wasn't at her house? But never did their friendship with her exceed what was appropriate, nor was anything inappropriate suggested. If anything, she discouraged them from becoming sexually active.

  Then it was Dani's turn. Her voice shook as she took the oath, so did her hands. Seated, she folded them together once more and tried to look no further than Chuck.

  "Miss Morgan, how did you become acquainted with T.J. Costas?"

  "I met him in September of last year. He was a student in my World History class."

  Chuck nodded. "A good student?"

  "An average student in history. His real problem was in his English and mathematical skills. He had trouble getting along with the other students, although he tried hard to fit in."

  "How so?"

  "By dressing in a way he thought would gain him friends. He saw many of the kids spent a lot of time at my house and started hanging out. When the kids are with me in their free hours, we get into some hard tutoring. Me with them. Them with each other. At some point he got caught up in it and I just started teaching him like all the others."

  "In history?"

  Dani glanced toward Mr. Ferguson. She was doomed to teaching math now...if she got out of this. "And mathematics. The English fell into place from hanging around the other kids."

  Chuck's face wrinkled in puzzlement. "Why? Why spend your free time tutoring kids you've been with all day?"

  She shrugged. "Why not? What else was I going to do with my time? A lot of times their parents and my friends were there too. It's no secret that I cared. My parents raised me to care, to give something back to the world if I could. I guess what I have to give back is educating others to make a better place for themselves."

  "Were you ever alone with T.J. Costas?"

  Dani laughed. "I'm hardly alone with anyone."

  Mr. Dresler stood. "Your honor, please instruct the witness to answer the question."

  "Answer, Miss Morgan," Judge Lockley said.

  "No...I've never been alone with T.J. Costas."

  Chuck pressed his index fingers to his lips and stared at the ground. "Miss Morgan, from the testimony given today, you appear to be a stellar teacher. The kind every parent hopes their child will have. You've gone above and beyond to help a poor student excel, to bring him into social alignment, for lack of a better word, with his peers. Why in the world would T.J. Costas accuse you of such heinous acts?"

  She looked directly at the jurors. "I've asked myself that dozens of times. None of it makes any sense. The only incident that comes to mind is when I was in the hospital."

  "Explain." Chuck folded his hands behind his back, turned to the jury, and stared at the wall over their heads.

  "The kids were visiting. They had a map of Europe spread over my bed. We were discussing the Roman Empire and had taken a break so T.J. and I were talking over a math problem." She shrugged. "I wasn't paying much attention. Next thing I know Alec's dragging him out of the room."

  "Who is Alec?"

  "He was my doctor. He's my fiancé now."

  He spun around. "Why did Dr. Edwards drag T. J. out of your room?"

  She sighed. A headache built behind her eyes. They'd rehearsed this so many times. Why was the real thing taking so long?

  "Alec felt-"

  "Go on."

  "Alec wasn't too pleased with all the visitors in the room. He felt I needed rest, but he didn't press the issue because he knew I was just trying to help the kids. Then he saw T.J. staring down my pajama top."

  "And he asked him to leave."

  "More like threw him out. T.J. was belligerent and disrespectful. Alec wouldn't tolerate it. Less than a week later, the charges came down."

  "No further questions."

  Mr. Dresler snapped forward. "Miss Morgan, you've been teaching for how long?"

  "Six years. All at the same school."

  "And your desire to help, to tutor your students began right away?"

  "Yes."

  He gave a slow nod. "With all that ac
tivity at your house, I would imagine it would be difficult to have a social life."

  What was he getting at? That wasn't even a question.

  Dani kept her mouth closed.

  "Did you date much?"

  "Objection, your honor."

  "Sustained."

  Dresler sucked his lips in. "Miss Morgan, prior to the relationship you now have, when was your last long term relationship?"

  Chuck pushed himself to his feet. "Objection. Your honor, this line of questioning has no relevance."

  Lockley heaved a sigh. "I would have to agree. Mr. Dresler, please get back on track."

  "Your honor, I'm trying to prove-"

  "Whatever you're trying to prove, do it without wandering."

  He zeroed in on Dani. "To the point, Miss Morgan. Is your sudden engagement to Dr. Alec Edwards a cover to hide the fact that you're pregnant with T.J. Costas's child?"

  A collective gasp echoed through the room. Dani's was among them.

  She fanned her fingers against her throat. "What?"

  "Are you pregnant with T.J. Costas's child?"

  From the corner of her eye, Dani saw Alec lean forward. What in the world must he be thinking? The unprotected sex they'd had two months ago, coupled with her fainting and nausea had to be racking up suspicions with him right now.

  Dani glanced at Renee. She nodded ever so slightly and then whispered in Kevin's ear. His jaw dropped. Renee smiled and folded his hand into both of hers.

  "No, I'm not." Dani glared at Dresler. "I'm not pregnant at all. And, Mr. Dresler, I suggest you get your facts straight in the future before you snoop through someone's garbage. The test kit belongs to my friend, Renee. She's the one who's pregnant."

  A flush built under his cheeks. "No further questions."

  Dani returned to her seat, and Chuck recalled T.J.

  Casting sidelong glances at the spectators, T.J. shuffled to the witness stand. He was a kid and Chuck was determined to use that to his advantage.

  Chuck strolled forward, smiling, putting the boy at ease before his attack. Dani's nerves quivered. This was her last chance.

  "T.J., I was reviewing your school record. You went from below average to above in nine months. In math alone, you were failing and you passed your grade as the most improved. Why is that?"

  He hiked a shoulder. "I don't know. Miss Morgan just made it easy to understand."

  "Did she give you more special tutoring than other students? Devote more time to you?"

  "No...sometimes the other kids did the teaching."

  "You spent a lot of time at Miss Morgan's. Why is that?"

  "Everyone else did. Everyone was there."

  "But not every day like you seemed to be." Chuck paced before the witness stand. "Things have been a little rough at home the last year, haven't they? You're sister was sick. You're dad lost his job. You're having trouble in school. Must have been nice to go some place where problems didn't exist."

  T.J. smiled. "Miss Morgan, she'd make you work. It wasn't fun and games. If you went to her place, you did it to study. She cares. Someone was always there. Some of the guys had problems, just like me. We could talk."

  "Then it's fair to say you're grateful to Miss Morgan for providing you with a safe haven."

  "Yeah. All of us are."

  "All of you?"

  "Yeah...the other kids."

  Dani saw the look in Chuck's eyes. He was going for the throat. "You haven't seen much of the other kids lately, have you?"

  "No...they're pissed off because they think I lied."

  "And did you?"

  Dresler leaped to his feet. "Objection."

  Judge Lockley tapped her pen on the arm of her chair. "Overruled. Answer the question, young man, and remember...you are under oath."

  T.J. squirmed and looked to his parents for help. Chuck stepped before him, blocking the view. He scanned the crowd for a friendly face until his gaze settled on Dani. She held the moment, though she wanted to look away. Tears puddled in his eyes and then drifted down his cheeks.

  "Tell us, T.J. Tell us what really happened. Did Miss Morgan really do all the horrible things you've said she did?" Chuck's soft entreaty put the boy over the edge.

  "I didn't want to." A sob broke his throat. "They took our car. They were gonna take the house. It was a chance to help my family."

  "How could something like this help your family?"

  "A woman came by. Offered money. A job for my dad. All I had to do was..." He broke down, bawling into his hands.

  "Miss Morgan never did any of the things you accused her of, did she?"

  "No." The answer was muffled but clear.

  "Is the woman who hired you in court today?"

  T.J. peeked above his fingers, and then shook his head.

  "No further questions. Your honor, with the prosecution's permission I request that the charges against Danielle Morgan be dismissed."

  Dresler's chair scooted across the floor. "No objection, your honor."

  Judge Lockley smacked the gavel. "Charges dismissed. Mr. and Mrs. Costas, I'm sure the DA is going to want a word with you. The jury is excused. Thank you for your time. Courtroom... dismissed." With a final smack, the courtroom erupted in a cheer.

  Laughing, Alec swung Dani up and into his arms. "I told you everything would work out. Now can we get married?"

  She caught his face in her hands. "I'll race you to the altar."

  He kissed her hard, uncaring of who saw.

  Leaving the courtroom was just as hard as entering had been. Hugs, congratulations, more reporters. Dani let Chuck deal with the press. Her mind refused to function beyond the knowledge that it was over. Still, she smiled for the cameras and held onto Alec's arm as they picked their way down the steps.

  She heard her students cheer and raised a wave their way. Light bulbs flashed, capturing the moment.

  A microphone appeared before them. "Miss Morgan, how do you feel right now? Any animosity toward the boy?"

  Dani looked beyond the glare of the camera's light. A woman stared back. She was dressed in black, her now raven hair whisked against her cheeks. But her eyes gave her away.

  "Alec, it's her!" She jerked her arm toward Barbara Rushmore.

  Too late she saw the gun. Someone screamed. Alec yanked Dani back. There was a shot. His body jerked. Blood splattered Dani's cheek.

  "Nooo!" She caught him as he fell, but his weight was too much to bear. Falling with him, Dani heard another shot. Pain burned her stomach. She gasped for breath.

  Alec fumbled for her hand, pulling her to him. "No, honey, not this time. I won't lose you this time."

  Dani longed to reassure him. The pain stole her voice. In the background, Kevin shouted instructions and shoved people out of the way. Then darkness closed in.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Alec smoothed Dani's hair from her forehead. They'd made it. This time they made it. They faced the ultimate danger, the final test and passed. If only she would open her eyes.

  As if sensing his wish, her lids fluttered. "Alec, thank..."

  He swallowed her words with a kiss.

  She cupped his ear and pulled him back. "How bad-"

  "I took it in the shoulder. You've got a gut shot."

  "Did they-"

  "Barbara's been arrested."

  "Are you ever going to let me finish a sentence?"

  He chuckled. "Sorry. I'm just so glad we're alive. Thank God Kevin was there. Although I understand we scared the hell out of him."

  There was a sound behind them. Alec moved to one side to find Walt hovering in the doorway.

  "I just wanted to apologize." He scuffed the floor with the toe of his shoe. "My wife's been sick for a long time. Andrea's not much better. I've always denied it.

  "No, that's not true. I tried to hide it. She loves Andrea to obsession and has always been determined to prove it. A classic case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy when Andrea was a child. You can imagine my panic
when you first suggested it. I exhausted myself trying to hide it and protect her. I hoped it had gone away once Andrea was gone. I was wrong. Nothing was more important to her than Andrea's happiness. I just never realized the extent to which she would go. I hope somehow you can find it in your hearts to forgive me." He walked away without another word.

  Alec crawled into bed beside Dani. "He resigned as chief of staff shortly after Barbara was arrested. In some respects, I think this was a burden he was glad to get off his shoulders."

  "Should we tell him that it goes well beyond what he thinks?"

  "I wouldn't know how to explain and I doubt he'd listen."

  Dani tried to snuggle closer. "You're probably right. So, when's this wedding of ours?"

  "I can have a minister here within the hour. That soon enough?"

  She smiled and gave him a kiss. "No, but it will have to do. Now hurry. I don't want to waste another second of the rest of our lives."

  * * *

  Dani tied off a thread on her needlepoint and smiled. Alec sat in the big orange chair, their son under one arm, their daughter under the other. Point one child was safely nestled within Dani.

  "And they lived happily ever after." Alec closed the storybook and kissed each child on the head.

  "Is that true Mama?" Lizzie asked. "Do they live happily ever after?"

  Dani smiled. "Yes, indeed." She caught Alec's gaze. "For all time."

  * * *

  About the Author

  Anything Is Possible! That's Catherine Snodgrass's motto. Blessed (or cursed) with a vivid imagination, Catherine has learned to turn that "talent" inward. She grew up reading Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and others, and loves to "go places" in her writing. Readers should expect different locales and deep emotions in Catherine's books. She also believes that life is to be lived not watched, and has done some inner exploring of her own-hiking a new path, learning a new skill, and even conquering a life-long fear of singing in public to take a turn or two on the stage of the local community theater. Her work as a paralegal in family and tax law has helped her tune in to the emotions of others and further deepen that aspect of her writing. Having set her children off in the world to explore their own paths, Catherine lives in the beautiful desert of Southern California with her husband (a genealogist) and the animals she loves.