Chapter 18 - GREG’S APPEAL
Greg appealed.
Of course.
One fraud count involved jury instructions that improperly combined two reimbursement theories.
The appellate court vacated that count and returned it for further proceedings.
Headlines:
FATHER IN PURPLE BOOT CASE WINS APPEAL.
Lily was twenty.
She called Nora furious.
“Wins?”
Nora sent her the opinion.
Lily read.
The child-cruelty conviction remained.
Core fraud convictions remained.
Sentence decreased modestly after resentencing.
No exoneration.
No declaration the boots were accidental.
Legal correction.
Lily later told Maya:
“I hate that courts can help him.”
Maya answered:
“Courts correcting errors protect everyone.”
“I know.”
“Hating it is allowed.”
Good.
Greg eventually accepted resentencing without retrial on the vacated count.
Restitution remained.
No contact with Lily unless she initiated after adulthood.
She did not.
He wrote one letter when she turned twenty-one.
Nora no longer controlled access.
Lily decided.
She opened it.
Greg wrote:
I thought if I could prove you needed me, nobody could take you away.
Lily stopped.
Then:
After your mother died, I was terrified the trust and your aunt would leave me with nothing.
Not:
Without you.
With nothing.
He continued.
I convinced myself the money was compensation for giving up my life.
Lily whispered:
“You didn’t give it up.”
The next paragraph:
What I did to make you look sick was abuse. I knew you were hurting.
No euphemism.
That mattered.
Then:
I am sorry.
Lily did not answer.
She kept the letter for two years.
Then shredded it.
Not ritualistically.
During apartment cleaning.
Nora asked:
“You sure?”
May you like
“Yes.”
Paper became paper.
