In Times of Trouble

by Yolonda Tonette Sanders

  Twelve jurors lined the wall looking intently as the prosecuting attorney, Richard Griggs, instructed Chanelle to tell the ladies and gentlemen about the night Justin had raped her.

  It was the second time Lisa had heard her daughter repeat the story, but it was still as painful as the first. She couldn’t help but feel responsible for allowing the Scotts into their lives—for hand delivering her daughter to a rapist! Tears welled in her eyes as Chanelle, who appeared confident and strong, recounted the events.

  Holding her hand, RJ whispered in her ear, “Are you okay?” His breath was warm and his lips lightly touched her ear, causing a slight sensation.

  She nodded. It was just the two of them there. Initially, Lisa’s parents had attended, but her mother would get so emotional that neither Lisa nor her father thought it would be good for her to sit through the entire trial. Several times Stacie, Kyle, and Chanelle’s best friend, Gericka, had accompanied them, but she and RJ had been the only ones there daily.

  “It’s not your, fault,” he said.

  She wanted to scream, “Yes, it is!” but instead silently turned and looked at him. Her stomach tickled with his lips inches from hers and she was once again aware of the temptation she’d been fighting for quite a while to allow their lips to reunite. Though the timing to respond to the urge was all wrong, she was encouraged by his comfort and smiled and said, “I love you.”

  That didn’t quite come out right! What she meant to say was “I love having you here.” Here, like in Columbus, so she didn’t have to experience this alone. Here, like in the courtroom holding her hand. Having made no secret how he felt about her, RJ looked pleasantly surprised. He smiled, then quickly refocused on their daughter.

  “Chanelle, is it fair to say that you didn’t come forth with charges against Mr. Scott because you felt your credibility wouldn’t hold up against that of an Ohio State football player?”

  “Objection!” yelled Isaac before Chanelle got a chance to answer. “Prosecution is leading the witness.”

  “Sustained. . .” ruled the judge.

  “Sorry, Your Honor, I’ll rephrase the question. . .Chanelle, please tell the court why you waited several weeks to make these accusations against the defendant.”

  “Because I was scared that no one would believe me.”

  “Just for the record, other than the allegations of rape, do you have any personal vendettas against Justin Scott that would prompt you to falsify your testimony as a way to get back at him?”

  “No, sir, not at all. . .”

  “Thank you; no further questions. . .”

  Isaac looked at Chanelle like a hungry bear ready to tear her apart. He took his time rising up from his seat, obviously a theatrical performance. “Ms. Hampton, how many intimate relationships have you been in prior to meeting Justin Scott?”

  “Objection!” Attorney Griggs jumped out of his seat. “The question is irrelevant and has no bearing on the current case.”

  “Your Honor, I’m not trying to violate any confidentiality laws. I’m simply attempting to establish a motive as to why this young lady would claim she was raped. If I can be permitted to continue, I will quickly get to the point.”

  “Overruled,” the judged ordered. “The witness may answer the question.”

  “Again, Ms. Hampton, how many intimate relationships have you been in prior to meeting Justin Scott?” Isaac seemed even smugger now that the judge had ruled in his favor.

  “I had never had sex before, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “How many boyfriends did you have?”

  “One.”

  “Were your parents, particularly your mother, supportive of this relationship?”

  “Not at first.”

  “Please just answer yes or no from now on,” Isaac instructed. “Did you ever lie in order to spend time with this other individual?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “So it’s safe to say that you have a history of lying when it suits your purpose.”

  “Objection! Defense is being argumentative!” Mr. Griggs shouted.

  “Sustained. The jury is instructed to disregard counsel’s last statement.”

  “Ms. Hampton, is it true that you and your ex-boyfriend are back together now?”

  “Yes.”

  Isaac continued grilling Chanelle, asking questions suggesting that she accused Justin of rape because he broke up with her. He even went so far as to say that Chanelle made up the rape allegation because she had cheated on her ex-boyfriend and didn’t want him to be upset.

  Of course, Mr. Griggs objected to many of his questions and the judge ruled in the prosecution’s favor in most cases. Detective Evans assured the family that Richard Griggs was the best prosecuting attorney in the state. “I’ve worked with Richard for a long time. If anyone can hold up in court against Isaac Scott, it’s him,” the detective had said. Mr. Griggs was doing fine, but Lisa had watched enough reruns of Matlock to know that Isaac was trying to plant reasonable doubt with his questioning and that worried her.

  Isaac tried his best to break Chanelle down or trip her up with trick questions, but she really held her own. She appeared fearless, speaking clearly and not hesitating to make eye contact.

  “Prosecution, do you have another witness?”

  “No, Your Honor, the State rests its case.”

  It was now the defense’s turn to present and Isaac called Lisa as a hostile witness. He badgered her about all the problems with misbehavior she’d previously had with Chanelle. Every single thing that Lisa had told Olivia in confidence was being used to build Justin’s defense.

  Lisa was embarrassed by all the damaging remarks about Chanelle being thrown up in her face. She wondered how hurt Chanelle felt listening to them, and in the midst of her interrogation issued a tearful apology to her daughter. Isaac, in turn, said something to the judge, which caused him to order Lisa to keep her comments directed to the court. Once the grueling process was over, Lisa again apologized to her daughter, who amazed her by being so carefree.

  “Mama, chill out. We both said some things about each other. It’s over now, so I’m not taking anything you said to heart.”

  Lisa smiled. Chanelle seemed so much more mature than she had given her credit for being. Though the circumstances of her pregnancy were not ideal, she was confident that her daughter would make a wonderful and loving mother.

  It wasn’t a surprise to Lisa that Justin took the Fifth Amendment and refused to testify in his own defense. She would have loved to see him try to explain to the jury why he’d changed his initial statement to the police of not having any sexual contact with Chanelle to having consensual sex. Isaac had tried to get that information suppressed, but the judge ruled in favor of the prosecution. In his closing argument, Richard Griggs reminded the jury of Justin’s discrepancy.

  He also brought back to their attention the evidence supporting the fact that Chanelle had been wearing the torn clothing the night she accused Justin of raping her and the result of the sexual assault examination. As far as Lisa was concerned, Mr. Griggs had done a wonderful job trying the case and giving a convincing closing, but Isaac proved that he was a force to be reckoned with.

  When it was his turn to speak, Isaac glossed over Justin’s conflicting statements, arguing that Justin did what many young boys full of potential with a bright future would do. “He lied because he feared the damage that these false accusations would do to his reputation.” Isaac also claimed that the scar tissue reported in the doctor’s analysis was the result of Chanelle, a virgin, agreeing to have “rough sex.” To discredit the pictures proving that Chanelle had worn the clothes, he suggested that perhaps she had torn them herself. He proposed the ridiculous theory that Chanelle was a vindictive teenager who became angry when Justin wasn’t interested in pursuing their relationship any further. “She conjured up this story of rape as a way to get back at my client,” he had said. “Chanelle Hampton did not say that Justin raped her until after he
broke up with her. It is only then that she regretted becoming sexually involved with him. The last time I studied the law, regret did not equal rape. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you not to punish my client because this young lady changed her mind weeks after the consensual act of sex occurred. Justin’s only mistake was believing that yes meant yes.”

  As much as Lisa loathed the fact that Isaac knew his son was guilty, part of her had to admit that the man was good at what he did. It’s no wonder that he’d gotten high-profile clients acquitted of some pretty tough charges. Lisa just hoped that this jury didn’t buy into all of his antics.

  Court was dismissed so the jury could deliberate. On the way out of the courtroom, she noticed a young Caucasian woman slip out quickly. Lisa had seen the woman once before and wondered what her interest was in the case.

  • • •

  In what seemed like the six longest hours of her life, Lisa was relieved when the prosecution called to tell them that the jury had reached a verdict. She, Chanelle and RJ made all the necessary calls for family and friends to meet them at the courthouse. On their way, Lisa also called her sister in California to give her an update.

  “No matter what happens, we know that God is in control. Call me as soon as you get out of court,” Callie ordered. “I love you guys and I’m praying for you.”

  Chanelle’s supporters were deep in numbers at the courthouse, comparing well to friends and family of Justin’s. Among Chanelle’s advocates were Lisa’s parents, Kyle, Stacie, Gericka and dozens of spectators anxious to hear the conclusion. Both Detective Evans and Attorney Griggs had even brought their wives, Natalie and Sylvia.

  “Has the jury reached a verdict?”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” answered the foreman.

  Lisa clutched one of Chanelle’s hands while RJ held on to her other one. The paper with the jury’s decision was handed to the judge who asked that everyone control their reactions until after the verdict was read. Lisa had never been more nervous in her life. Her chest caved in and out heavily. She wasn’t sure if such a quick decision meant good or bad news.

  “We, the jury, find the defendant, Justin Scott. . .guilty. . .”

  “Nooooo!” Olivia wailed, zoning out the foreman as he gave the specifics of the guilty charge. “That slut ruined my son’s life!” It didn’t take long for her to be removed from the courtroom.

  “Bailiff, take the defendant into custody. Sentencing will be pronounced in twenty-one days. Court is adjourned.”

  Tears of relief fell over Lisa, Chanelle, and many who came to support them. RJ first held Chanelle into his arms and then grabbed for Lisa to join them. For the first time since the news of Chanelle’s rape had come out, Lisa witnessed tears fall from her ex-husband’s eyes. “I promise to do whatever I can to protect you both from now on,” he pledged.

  They thanked Richard Griggs for successfully prosecuting the case.

  “No, thank you, Chanelle, for having the courage to come forth. A lot of victims are too afraid to face their assailants, but you did great.”

  “He’s right. . .” came the voice of the young Caucasian lady that Lisa had seen earlier. “Justin raped me well over a year ago and I’ve been tormenting myself ever since because I didn’t go to the police. I admire your courage. I may not be able to get justice for myself, but I’m glad you did.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and she walked away before anyone could give a response or learn her identity.

  Outside the courthouse, reporters swarmed to Mr. Griggs who was poised in giving very diplomatic responses. Chanelle was asked how she felt and the eighteen-year-old smiled. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

  CHAPTER 35

  All Too Familiar

  Justin was sentenced to six years in prison for his crime. In Lisa’s opinion, he should rot in jail for the rest of his life, but the law was the law and serving six years was better than him getting off scot-free.

  Now, the first week of March, Chanelle was only about six weeks shy from her due date, which was in mid-April. Lisa, her mother, and Stacie were planning to throw Chanelle a baby shower in a couple of weeks.

  Lisa had come to grips with the fact that she was going to be a grandmother and was even looking forward to the birth of the baby. Chanelle had learned the baby’s sex and had already picked out a name. Kyle had continued to stand by Chanelle’s side. He was stepping up and filling the role of the baby’s father. He’d accompanied them to several doctor appointments, carried a picture of the sonogram in his wallet and even helped RJ paint the nursery.

  Chanelle told Lisa that Kyle wanted to adopt the baby after it was born. What surprised Lisa more than Kyle’s willingness to take on such a large responsibility was her daughter’s mature response. Chanelle had actually rejected his offer. She said that though things were great between the two of them, she realized that he was still young and may eventually have a change of heart. She didn’t want to burden him with such a long-term commitment until she knew for sure how things would work out between them.

  Lisa was in the kitchen making bowls of ice cream for RJ and herself when Chanelle walked in and kissed her on the check. “Bye, Mama,” she said.

  “Bye, sweetie. You be careful; I know it’s warmed up a bit, but there may still be some ice out there on the road.”

  “Okay; I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  She headed out to meet one of her friends.

  Lisa heard the same type of exchange between Chanelle and RJ, who waited in the living room as Lisa got their treats. It could probably be said that Lisa and RJ were dating. They continued to spend a lot of time together and had even shared a few passionate kisses since her Freudian slip of confessing her love at the courthouse.

  Long ago, Lisa had originally fell in love with the idea of being a “preacher’s wife.” She loved the VIP treatment she had received from people who recognized her as “First Lady Hampton.” She got special attention at beauty salons, reserved seating at special events, and gifts and letters of appreciation from different members of the congregation. Though she would never assume responsibility for RJ’s actions because he did have a choice in the matter, she did acknowledge her own prideful and materialistic behavior. Thus, her First Lady charm necklace that she’d taken off the night Eric proposed to her stayed buried in her jewelry box, replaced by the heart locket RJ had given her last month for Valentine’s Day.

  Lisa continued to help RJ at the center when he needed her and she still struggled at times to make ends meet, but she had obtained pure joy. The kind of joy that having high-profile friends couldn’t buy. The kind of joy that allowed her to love RJ for his character rather than his position. RJ helped her out financially, but it wasn’t like he had loads of money to spare. He paid bills at the Burlingtons’ and was also still paying off some of the debt that he’d accumulated while they were living in Maryland. The one thing that he did have for her was true, unconditional love, and despite the mistakes he had made, she knew that for sure. It was the fear of learning to trust again that she still needed to overcome. The drug addiction was one thing, but the adultery seemed much harder for her to overcome.

  Cold now after having eaten her ice cream, Lisa nestled into RJ’s arms as they watched a DVD that he had rented. The movie, a suspense-thriller, was long, boring and predictable! Lisa was disappointed that she was able to figure out the storyline about thirty minutes into it and tried to get RJ to turn it off, but he was a die-hard let’s-see-the-movie-through-to-the-end type of person so she suffered through it. When it was finally over, she went into the kitchen to microwave some popcorn while RJ put the second movie in.

  “This one better be good or else you’re going to be banned from picking the movies from now on,” she playfully warned him. “You should have gotten a comedy or something because that was awful!”

  “Oh, don’t give me that. When I asked you what you wanted me to get, you said, and I quote, ‘It doesn’t matter. . .get whatever.’”

 
; She threw a kernel his way as he reached in the bowl for a handful. “Well, clearly ‘whatever’ meant a comedy, duh?”

  RJ laughed. “Next time I’ll try and do a better job of reading your mind.” He leaned in confidently for a kiss. He released her mouth long enough to whisper the words, “I love you. . .” and then embraced her lips again with his tender ones. She could taste the salt of the popcorn on his mouth as she allowed herself to get deeper into the act.

  Though they spent a lot of time together, they didn’t engage in kisses like this too often. Lisa wanted to “take things slow” and every time his lips met with hers, she was reminded of their times together. RJ had always been a great kisser. Right now, he was dangerously great, because her mind played reruns of how his lips had often explored her from head to toe during their previous relationship.

  Lisa didn’t allow her thoughts to run away. When they finally came up for air, she deflected the moment by saying, “I hope you don’t think that lets you off the hook for picking a crappy movie.”

  RJ smiled, warmly. “I’m sure that had to count for something.” He grabbed the remote and started the movie. He definitely exhibited patience with her. He seemed to know when to quit and she appreciated that.

  The second movie was much better than the first. It was full of action and held Lisa’s attention with every scene. They were about halfway through it when flashing blue and red lights soared through the living room window. The scene had been all too familiar to Lisa and she panicked, recalling how fearful she’d been the first time she’d seen these lights nearly a year ago when Chanelle had skipped curfew. RJ was the first to the door with Lisa at his heels.

  “Officer, what can I do for you? I’m Robert Hampton and this is my wife, Lisa.”