Chapter 21 - GRANT’S APPEAL
Grant appealed parts of his criminal case.
One financial count was vacated because jury? He pleaded, so appeal limited. Better his assault conviction appealed sentencing? We can say one enhancement reversed due statutory interpretation.
The appellate court ruled one sentencing enhancement had been applied too broadly because the evidence did not support a separate aggravator beyond the pregnant-victim element already accounted for.
Sentence reduced modestly.
Central assault conviction remained.
Financial plea remained.
Headlines:
GRANT MERCER WINS APPEAL.
I rolled my eyes.
Allison called.
“Do not read headlines.”
“You lawyers coordinate?”
“Yes.”
Legal correction mattered.
Even for Grant.
I told Sophie only when age-appropriate.
At seven:
“Grandpa Grant hurt Mommy before you were born and broke serious rules.”
“Is that why he’s away?”
“Yes.”
“Did he hurt me?”
“He hurt me while I was pregnant with you. Doctors checked you carefully.”
“Was I scared?”
“You weren’t born yet.”
She thought.
“Then maybe I kicked him.”
I laughed.
“Not how it works.”
At eleven, more detail.
At fifteen, trust context.
No one revealed everything at once.
Children deserve information scaled to development.
Vivian eventually completed custody and supervision first.
She requested contact.
I said no initially.
Ethan said he wanted Sophie to decide later.
Good.
At twelve, Sophie read Vivian’s apology letter.
Her reaction:
“She sounds like she’s explaining too much.”
Accurate.
At fourteen, one supervised meeting.
Vivian looked older.
No pearls.
Not because pearls were evil.
Because prison and age had changed habits.
Sophie asked:
“Why did you tell Grandpa to hit Mom again?”
Vivian cried immediately.
Sophie waited.
No rescue.
“I was angry and afraid the family was losing control.”
“Of what?”
“The company. Trust. Everything.”
“Mom was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“With me.”
“Yes.”
“Did that matter?”
“It should have mattered more than everything.”
Sophie nodded.
Then:
“Okay.”
Meeting over.
No hug.
Later she told me:
“I thought I’d feel something huge.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“That’s allowed.”
She saw Vivian again eventually.
May you like
Rarely.
By her choice.
