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I glanced across the bed at Mrs. Gardener. “This is about Abby, isn’t it?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“We had to write a fairy tale for English class. I’ve read it several times. I read a lot of her things,” I replied. “I didn’t realize until today Abby is the brave girl.”
“She’s the girl that Abby wants to be,” Mrs. Gardener corrected me. “You’ve been good for her, Cal. She’s becoming that girl.”
I hesitated unsure of whether Abby would want them knowing where she had been posting her work. “Abby writes a lot. She has a small following on this website where she posts her stories,” I finally admitted.
Mrs. Gardener teared up with the knowledge that her daughter was fulfilling her dream of becoming a creative writer. Using her own words, I hoped that Abby could hear me.
At noon, Mr. Gardener had to go work. He had a problem at the plant. He took Tyson with him to pick up his car at Johnny’s house. He also wanted to check in at the police station to see if there was any word on the investigation.
When Mom and Rhonda got off the elevators I sat up. Mom sat beside me while Rhonda took a seat across from us. Mrs. Gardener was in ICU with Abby alone right now. I thought Abby’s mom needed that time just the two of them.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head no and like the morning Dad left for overseas again, I burst out crying. Mom held me in her arms and stroked my hair. “Cal have faith. Abby will be okay.”
I couldn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say because right now nothing made sense. “They hurt her so badly, Mom.” My mother hadn’t seen Abby yet.
“I know honey. It was on the news. All the girls who watched are being held pending charges. Delia went before a judge already this morning. She’s been charged with aggravated assault, which is the worst offense they could have charged her with. Then they tacked on a bunch of other just in case charges. She’s seventeen. The prosecutor is even discussing trying her as an adult.”
“What did she plea?” Mrs. Gardener asked. We hadn’t heard her approach the lounge chairs where we were sitting.
“Not guilty of course.” Mom rose from her seat. She walked around to Kat Gardener and hugged her. “Dana Cooper,” she said to Abby’s mother. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“My mother called. She’s flying in early because of this. She and Abby are so close. I just wanted to step away for a minute so I could talk to her. I need to plan on who is picking her up. I don’t know. I’m so lost.”
“Kat let us help you. We are a big family. One of us will pick up your mother so you don’t have to leave the hospital.”
“Thank you. That is so kind.” I could see the relief on Mrs. Gardener’s face.
“Come sit down for a minute.”
“Will she get off?” Kat asked my mother as they sat in chairs side by side.
“No, she won’t. I know one of the arresting officers.” She looked at me. “Jessie thought he was going to have to cuff you Cal to keep you from going after the girl who hurt Abby.”
I snorted. “I wanted to, but he stopped me. I wanted to hurt her,” I admitted.
“He said even with her Dad’s money and her uncle’s lawyer friends, the case is cut and dry. The prosecutor thinks she’ll deal eventually but they won’t settle for less than felony assault. They might drop the aggravated. Drop the degree but they want felony charges to stick. These girls have done this before but not to this extent.”
I frowned at Mom. “Who?” I couldn’t remember them ever terrorizing anyone the way they had Abby.
“Ashley Courts,” she said.
“The girl younger than us by a year. Left after my eighth-grade year?” I asked.
“Yes, her parents moved to another city to get Ashley away from these girls. They’re vicious. Ashley wasn’t the first. Several other girls reported them to the school for harassment, but the school ignored their complaints because of who her father is.”
“I don’t understand,” I declared. “What’s so important about her dad?”
Maybe being seventeen made me naïve to the ways of the world. How life and politics went hand in hand with businessmen like Mr. Art who had donated a lot of money to the town to rebuild and grow. He led the revitalization project that brought more businesses to White Oak Creek. Being grateful was one thing but Delia couldn’t get away with this again.
“She won’t get away with it will she?” I asked needing reassurance from Mom.
“No Cal. Jessie told me the prosecutor is just as upset about this the police department was.” She rubbed my back trying to comfort me.
