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Cam’s gaze meets mine, and the bags under his eyes tell me all I need to know about what he’s been through. My grip on Hayes’s hand tightens as my brother nods at him, and then he masks all emotions and smiles at Mali. I glance over at her and see the look on her face.
“Stop doing that,” I whisper.
“Doing what?”
Exhaling slowly, I pull her into my side. “Blaming yourself. This wasn’t your doing.”
My parents come to sit on the other side of her, and you can tell my mom is struggling with seeing her son this way. My dad has always been a hard man to read, but not Mom. She wears her emotions like an outfit.
We all stand as the judge is brought into the room, only sitting after he does.
“Okay, let’s see what we have here,” he says as he reads over the case in front of him. “Mr. Cameron Blanchard viciously and violently assaulted Mr. Isaac Morrison, causing extensive injury, and thus violating the terms of his probation. What is the state’s position on bail?”
The prosecutor stands. “We request that the defendant be held without bail, your honor. This is his second offense within the last year, and only a few months after he was put on probation to begin with. There’s no way to guarantee that he is not a risk to others or a flight risk, given the severity of violating his probation.”
The judge nods in understanding. “Does the defense object to that stance?”
Brent rises to his feet. “We do, your honor. My client is a good person who shouldn’t even be on probation in the first place. The first offense was unreasonable nonsense, and if I had been his representation at the time, I would have gotten it thrown out. It came down to subpar counsel and an ex-girlfriend who was never subpoenaed.”
“Not saying I disagree with you, councilman,” the judge says. “But that is not the case we’re discussing here.”
“Correct, but it speaks to the violation of probation. Inthiscase, this is someone who wants revenge on my client for having him removed from their shared hockey team after the victim assaulted one of his teammates.”
“Your honor, we have a video of the assault taken by the victim’s brother,” the prosecution adds.
Brent hums. “Well, you make sure to have that sent to my office.”
The judge keeps his eyes focused on his desk for a moment while he reads Cam’s casefile. We wait with bated breath for his decision, until he sighs.
“While I understand the state’s view on this, I agree with Mr. Waldorf in that the first offense was not properly tried. Mr. Blanchard, if you would like to appeal the decision in that case, that is your right, and you are free to do so. As for this one, I am hereby granting bail for Mr. Blanchard in the amount of fifty thousand dollars.”
There’s an audible sigh from this entire side of the courtroom, and I watch Cam’s shoulders relax as Brent thanks the judge for his decision. We all stand, and Brent shakes Cam’s hand before the bailiff takes him away again.
“So, what happens now?” Mali asks.
Brent straightens his suit jacket. “Now, we bring the bail money to the court and then Cam will be released from the county jail.”
“But we don’t have—” my mom starts, but Hayes interrupts.
“That’s me,” he tells Brent. “I’ve got it.”
Brent nods. “Great. Come with me and we’ll get this taken care of. Get him out of there as soon as possible.”
As Hayes walks past my mom, she wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly. “Thank you.”
My dad pats his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Hayes. My son is lucky to have you. As is my daughter.”
It’s the first time my dad has outright acknowledged our relationship, and I watch the way Hayes’s eyes light up because of it. He was always worried about Cam, but I think a part of him secretly stressed over my parents’ views on us dating. After all, they’ve known him since he was an unruly teenager—acting like his second family at times.
Hayes glances at me, and we share a smile before he leaves with Brent. Meanwhile, I turn to Monty with the utmost appreciation and gratitude.
“Thank you so much,” I tell him, going in for a hug.
He wraps his arms around me for a short moment. “You’re welcome. He’s not out of the woods yet, but I have a few people working on something. We’re hoping to get the whole case thrown out.”
“What would that mean for his probation?” my mother asks.
“You would have to ask Brent,” he answers. “But I believe he would go back to abiding by the original terms of his probation, as if this arrest never happened. Unless, of course, he appeals that decision.”
