CHAPTER 26
The jury reached a verdict Tuesday shortly after lunch. Tara took the day off to wait with me. The two of us sat at a table in the courthouse cafeteria, playing poker for five cents a hand. Neither of us kept a tally.
I didn’t realize how tense I’d been until Meili sent a text informing me they’d come to a decision. My shoulders sagged, and panic rose in my chest. I’d been waiting for this for so long, wanted it to be over, but such a quick verdict—how could it be good for me?
“I can’t do it, Tara. I can’t go back in there.”
“Of course you can.” She took my hand and pulled me to my feet before wrapping me in a hug. “The only thing better than the verdict will be the expression on Eric’s face when they read it. There’s no way in hell, I’m missing that, and neither are you.”
