Chapter 8 - THE PARTY VIDEO
One of the parents had filmed the cake incident.
Her name was Lauren Price.
She sent me the video after seeing family gossip online.
Ashley had posted:
Some people can dish out criticism but apparently not take a child’s joke.
No mention of my slaps.
Her friends filled that in.
Lauren’s video showed everything.
Emma lifting the cake.
Not slipping.
Ashley clapping.
My mother smiling.
Me hitting Ashley.
Ashley trying to strike me.
Me blocking.
Then hitting her again.
I watched three times.
The first slap made me ashamed.
The second more.
I had been provoked.
I had still chosen.
I called an attorney.
Not Martin.
Criminal attorney.
Just in case.
Ashley had filed a police report for assault.
Of course.
I gave the video.
Did not lie.
Did not claim self-defense for the first slap.
The second involved blocking her raised hand, but the return slap was still arguably more than necessary.
My lawyer said:
“We’ll handle the facts.”
Good.
I told Noah:
“There may be consequences because I hit Aunt Ashley.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Will Emma get consequences?”
“That’s for her parents.”
He made a face.
May you like
“She won’t.”
Children can be brutally observant.
