When I put down the phone, she asked whether Evan was going to prison.
“I don’t know,” I replied.
“He has a right to defend himself, and the court will decide what the evidence proves.”
She thought about that.
“Does Lena get to decide anything?”
“She gets to decide how much she participates, with advice and support,” I said.
“She also gets to live her own life while the case moves.”
The news reported Evan’s arrest that afternoon.
Gwen’s attorney released a statement asking the public not to judge her family before trial.
There was no mention of the damage to my house.
Neighbors sent messages expressing shock and sympathy.
Several apologized for believing Gwen’s insinuations about Maya.
I accepted the apologies without turning them into a celebration.
Maya said she felt embarrassed by all the attention.
The next morning I drove her to school and watched her walk inside beside two friends.
She did not look back.
For the first time in weeks, I felt that could be a good sign.
At work I completed a complicated reconciliation for a local repair business and submitted it before the deadline.
The owner sent a brief thank-you note.
It was the first ordinary professional success I had allowed myself to enjoy in a month.
I printed the email and tucked it into the front of my planner.
Then I visited Lena at home with a basket of groceries Sofia had requested.
Lena asked whether Evan had been charged.
I said yes.
She looked toward the window and remained silent for a long time.
“I thought I’d feel different,” she said at last.
“Maybe that feeling will come later,” I answered.
She shrugged.
“Maybe it won’t.”
We talked about a book she was reading until her physical therapist arrived.
I left without asking her to perform relief for my benefit.
The first court appearance took place in a room that smelled faintly of disinfectant and old paper.
I attended only the portion open to the public and sat with Sofia near the back.
Evan wore a plain shirt and looked smaller than he had across our shared driveway.
His lawyer spoke clearly about the presumption of innocence and the need for the state to disclose evidence.
The judge addressed bail conditions and future scheduling rather than deciding what happened on the road.
I appreciated the distinction, although part of me wished the hearing could answer every question immediately.
