Chapter 17 - Daniel's Sentence
The judge asked Daniel several questions before accepting his plea to the reduced assault charge. He answered each plainly. He had seen Claire on the ground. He had been overwhelmed by rage. He had taken up another heavy planter and struck Mallory when she was no longer threatening anyone.
"I thought I was defending my family," he said. "But that was not what I did in that second. I hurt another person."
The judge considered the footage, the injury report and Daniel's lack of prior convictions. His sentence included probation, counseling and supervised community service. He would also remain barred from contacting Mallory under the existing conditions.
At rehabilitation, he sat beside Claire while she practiced fastening the buttons on her cardigan. It took almost fifteen minutes. When he reached to help, she raised one finger.
"Let me try."
He put his hands in his lap. She got the final button through and grinned at him, fierce and exhausted.
That evening Emma insisted they make pancakes for dinner. Daniel dropped one on the floor. She laughed so hard she had to sit down.
"Grandma would've told you to use less butter," she said.
He looked at her. "You remember Grandma saying that?"
"She said it when Mommy cooked."
For the first time since the funeral, Daniel could remember his mother without seeing blood on stone.
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Then the phone rang. Claire's rehabilitation doctor had called about a new complication. During a balance test, Claire had developed intense dizziness and a severe headache. The team wanted to reassess her before deciding whether she could safely come home.
Daniel looked at Emma still laughing beside the stove. He steadied himself before answering.
