Chapter 4: Reckless

The hearing was Tuesday morning at the courthouse on Benefit Street, and I went because the victim gets a chair.

My aunt came with me in her good black coat.

She sat in the second row with her purse on her knees and glared at every person who walked in.

Carina came in last.

She wore a plain black dress and no jewelry, and her hair hung in one long braid over her shoulder.

Dominic walked on her left and Emilio on her right.

Paolo and the youngest followed close behind with their heads down.

A reporter from the neighborhood paper raised a camera in the aisle, and Carina lowered her face and wiped under one eye.

I had known her for ten years.

She had cried at my engagement party when I showed her the ring.

She was small, with big dark eyes and a soft voice, and she had been the first person I met in Dominic's life.

The judge took about ten minutes.

Carina's lawyer stood and said his client had agreed to plead to reckless driving.

The prosecutor said the state would not oppose.

I felt my aunt's hand close around my arm.

The judge looked down at his papers and then over his glasses at me.

"I understand the injured party and the defendant have resolved the civil matter," he said. "Is that correct, Ms. Santangelo?"

I stood.

My knees weren't steady, and I put a hand on the rail.

"I signed a paper about money, Your Honor."

"And is the matter resolved, in your view?"

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