Chapter 21 - Pierce Testifies
Pierce looked at Lenora.
She looked back like he was eight.
I could see it.
His lawyer? He was witness, not defendant.
Prosecutor:
“Did you ask your mother to take Cade to beach?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was embarrassed after he cried in front of clients.”
“Did clients criticize?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Lenora not to bring him back until he stopped crying?”
“Yes.”
“Did she send a plan?”
“Yes.”
“Did you understand it included removing his vest?”
Long silence.
“Yes.”
There.
“Did you read every detail?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wanted outcome without thinking about what she might do to get it.”
The courtroom went quiet.
Then defense.
“You trusted your mother.”
“Yes.”
“She raised you.”
“Yes.”
“You are a strong swimmer.”
“Yes.”
“You had discussed helping Cade become comfortable.”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe she would shove him?”
“No.”
“Did you believe she would take him into dangerous depth?”
“No.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Did you believe he was physically unsafe?”
“No.”
“Then why are you blaming her now?”
Pierce looked at his mother.
“I’m not blaming her for what I chose.”
Then:
“I’m saying I authorized a bad plan and she made additional choices inside it.”
Good.
Defense:
“Would this have happened without your request?”
“Probably not.”
Lenora’s face changed.
Pierce continued:
“That does not mean she lost her own judgment.”
Done.
May you like
He stepped down.
For first time in his life, he had disagreed with his mother publicly without needing her to be entirely wrong about him.
