Roses Revenge novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: Impact Statement

The courtroom was smaller than I had pictured it, and it was full.

Staff from the old company filled three rows. Reporters took the back two.

Aunt Bea sat beside me on the aisle in her good cardigan, with her handbag on her knees.

Paisley sat on my other side in the gray coat, with her sister's hand in hers.

Colton's mother sat alone behind the defense table, in a black dress, with her eyes on the floor.

They brought him in through a side door in a county jumpsuit, and I had to look twice.

He was thinner after two nights.

His hair had been cut short by someone who did not care, and his face was the color of paper.

He looked at the room, and then for me, and when he found me he tried to smile.

I did not smile back.

"Mr. Brewer," said the judge, a woman in her sixties with a flat voice. "You have agreed to plead guilty to three counts."

"Theft of four hundred and twelve thousand dollars from your company's operating account."

"Forgery of the signature of Rose Haverty on a vehicle approval."

"Fraud, for charging a personal vehicle to a company budget."

"Is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor," said Colton.

His voice had no sparkle in it.

"Do you enter this plea of your own free will?"

"Yes."

"The victim has asked to be heard before sentencing. Ms. Haverty?"

I stood up.

My knees were not steady, and I put one hand on the bench in front of me.

Elliot, two rows behind, said nothing. I could feel him there anyway.

"Thank you, Your Honor."

I did not have notes. I had written them last night and thrown them away.

"For two years I was engaged to the man at that table."

"I ran his operations. I paid his rent. I covered his mistakes before he knew he had made them, and I did it because I loved him."

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