Chapter 17
The next few weeks were a blur.
Margaret was arraigned on charges of embezzlement, murder, attempted kidnapping, and assault. She pleaded not guilty to everything. Her lawyer tried to get her released on bail, but the judge denied it. She was a flight risk, he said. And a danger to the community.
She would stay in jail until her trial.
David said the case against her was strong. Very strong. The embezzlement evidence was ironclad. And her confession on the day of her arrest? That would be hard to explain away to a jury.
"It could take a year or more for the trial to happen," David said. "But she's not getting out. Not before then. And probably not ever again."
I tried to get back to normal.
Poppy went back to school. She asked about Grandma sometimes. Why she had been so mean. Why she wasn't coming around anymore.
I told her the truth. As much as she could understand.
"Grandma made some very bad choices," I said. "And she has to be punished for them. She can't hurt us anymore."
Poppy thought about this.
"Is she sad?"
I sighed.
"I think so, baby. But she made her choices. And now she has to live with them."
Lena's pregnancy progressed. She was seven months now. Big and uncomfortable. She had started going to doctor's appointments. We went together.
It was strange. Sitting in the waiting room with her. Listening to the baby's heartbeat.
This baby that my husband had fathered.
But I didn't hate him. How could I? He was innocent. Just a baby.
And Poppy adored him already. She would talk to Lena's stomach every night before bed. Tell him stories. Sing him songs.
"He's going to be my best friend," she would say.
I started to believe it.
Lena and I had found a rhythm. We cooked together. Watched TV together. Took care of Poppy together.
She was like a little sister now. Or a very close friend.
We had both been hurt by the same man. And we had both been threatened by the same woman. And somehow, that had brought us together.
One night, after Poppy was asleep, we sat on the couch drinking tea.
"Have you thought about names?" I asked.
Lena smiled and rubbed her stomach.
"I was thinking... Matthew. After Grant's middle name."
I felt a pang in my heart. But I nodded.
"Matthew. That's a good name."
She looked at me.
"And his middle name? I was thinking... James. But if you have a better idea..."
I thought for a moment.
"What about Poppy? As a middle name?"
Lena stared at me.
"Really?"
"Really," I said. "She loves that baby so much already. And I think... I think Grant would have wanted them to be connected. Always."
Lena's eyes filled with tears.
"Matthew Poppy Bennett," she said softly. "I love it."
She reached over and took my hand.
"Thank you," she said. "For everything. For giving us a home. For loving my baby. For... for being my friend."
I squeezed her hand.
"Thank you for being brave," I said. "For helping me take Margaret down. For giving Poppy someone else to love."
May you like
We sat there in silence for a while, drinking our tea.
For the first time in a long time, I felt peaceful.
