Chapter 20 - My Testimony
I wore a plain navy dress.
Not armor.
The prosecutor asked about mortgage first.
“How much?”
“Two thousand three hundred fifty dollars monthly.”
“For how long?”
“Thirty-four months.”
“Legal obligation?”
“No.”
“Why stop?”
“I had planned to reduce it. After Christmas I ended it entirely.”
“Was anger a factor?”
“Yes.”
Good.
Then Christmas.
Lucy refused ham.
Grandmother locked her in room.
I kicked door.
Overturned table.
“Was overturning table appropriate?”
“No.”
“Did you complete diversion?”
“In progress.”
“Did you reimburse damage?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you ever deny Lucy meals as punishment?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize Evelyn to?”
“No.”
Then defense.
“You describe your mother as financially controlling, yet you controlled the mortgage.”
“I controlled my money.”
“So when she angered you, money stopped.”
“Yes.”
“Within twelve hours.”
“Yes.”
“Punishment?”
“Boundary made in anger.”
The attorney paused.
That was fair.
Then:
“You have a demanding job.”
“Yes.”
“You sometimes work late.”
“Yes.”
“Your mother provided childcare.”
“Yes.”
“You depended on her.”
“Sometimes.”
“She saw Lucy arrive hungry.”
“Children get hungry.”
“Is it impossible Lucy missed meals at your home?”
“Anything is possible. I did not intentionally withhold them.”
Good.
Then table.
“You violently overturned a table full of food in front of your daughter.”
“Yes.”
“You want jury to believe you are stable?”
“I want the jury to decide my mother’s conduct. My conduct was handled separately.”
The judge asked me to keep answer responsive.
Fair.
Then:
“You canceled mortgage and refused settlement unless Evelyn stopped trying to see Lucy.”
“No.”
“Did your attorney offer money after child litigation?”
“She said I might consider assistance only if not exchanged for custody positions.”
“So money was leverage for you too.”
“No. We explicitly separated it.”
The lawyer moved on.
Then:
“Do you hate your mother?”
I looked at Evelyn.
“No.”
“Do you want her in jail?”
“No.”
“Do you want her punished?”
“I want Lucy safe and the report called what it was.”
That was the truth.
May you like
I stepped down.
Mom did not look at me.
