Mistaken Justice by Diane Capri

Author:Diane Capri
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AugustBooks
Published: 2012-07-15T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Marie hadn’t left the hospital since she’d found Paul lying broken, near death on the side of the road a week earlier. She slept no more than fifty-five minutes of any hour in the waiting room’s plastic seats each night. She approached Paul’s bedside to hold his hand and whisper to him for the five minutes of every hour she was allowed around the clock. The hospital staff had surrendered their efforts to persuade her to go home and rest. Guilt attached her to her child’s bedside, Darla knew.

Guilt also appended Darla to Marie’s suffering every evening after work. Darla arranged a paid leave of absence for Marie. A substitute teacher handled Marie’s classes. Under the circumstances, this was the least Darla could do. Marie had no savings and wouldn’t be able to pay her bills or for Paul’s medical care if she lost her job.

Each evening a taxi brought Darla to share Marie’s vigil. She bore Marie’s clean clothes and food for dinner. Marie prayed for Paul constantly. Darla prayed for him, too, knowing full well that when he awakened she would then be asked to exchange her life for his. It was a sacrifice she would willingly make, but she was reminded of the admonition to be wary of answered prayers. When Paul woke up, then Darla would call Jennifer Lane; she’d need a good lawyer.

“Kevin Cook was here today,” Marie said as she pretended to chew on the Cuban sandwich Darla had delivered. She sipped a bit of hot coffee and tried to wash the lump of bread and meat past her gullet. Marie had lost at least ten pounds in the past week, weight she couldn’t spare.

Marie said, “It was so hard. Kevin asked me about Paul’s life and I didn’t know what to say.”

The bones in her face were as prominent as an emaciated corpse. Her shiny blonde hair now fell in dirty strands about her shoulders. Gone was the happy, celebratory young woman of a few nights ago.

Darla understood exactly what Marie meant. Paul was not an easy child. Sweet and loving one minute, angry and abusive the next; he still wet the bed at night. Many times, Marie had been reduced to tears of helplessness and frustration. Darla had tried to suggest alternatives for Paul, but Marie had ignored them.

Yet, Marie loved her son, as most mothers love their children, regardless of bad behavior. Darla had seen such misplaced love many, many times in parent conferences. Parental ambivalence was normal.

“Any progress on the investigation?” Darla asked, changing the focus, hoping the answer would be no.

Marie moved her head back and forth. “He says they’ve done all they can. They’re sending the file up to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. But he says it doesn’t look good for finding out who did it.”

A few tears dripped from Marie’s eyes and she ignored them. Darla wondered where the water came from. Marie had cried so much in the past week that she should have been totally dehydrated by now.

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