CLAIRE
"I'm fine," I told Detective Rodriguez.
Julian stood beside me, his hand on my lower back.
"The preliminary hearing is in three weeks," Detective Rodriguez said. "We'll contact you before then with details."
"Okay," I replied.
We walked toward the courtroom exit and immediately reporters started shouting from the hallway. Marcus appeared, creating a path through the crowd.
"Ms. Cross, will you reconsider the charges?"
"Do you feel any sympathy for Vanessa's situation?"
"What about the baby?"
I kept walking, my head high, my face calm. Julian stayed close, his presence steady and grounding.
We made it outside where more cameras waited on the courthouse steps. Flash after flash, questions shouted over each other. I didn't answer any of them.
Marcus opened the car door and I
