“What do you mean if there is a trial? He will be going to jail for what he did to Gia,” Marin says, interrupting him. Everything she did can’t have been for nothing.
“His lawyers may advise him to plead it out. If it’s a first offense, he could get some community service and a fine,” Greg cautions.
“So he won’t go to jail?” The relief on Gia’s face is palpable. “He’ll come back to school?”
“From my experience, he won’t be allowed to return to the school you were attending together. The DA will likely request a restraining order,” Greg explains. “It’s standard procedure when there’s a domestic violence situation.”
“So he wouldn’t be allowed near our daughter again?” Raj asks.
“That would be the intention.” The detective watches Gia carefully. “No matter what, this will stay on his record forever. His life will never be the same.” Greg looks to Marin, trying to reassure her.
“What if he violates the order?” Gia asks.
“He goes to jail.”
Gia drops her head in her hands. “But he didn’t do anything.” She starts to beg anyone who will listen. “He didn’t mean to hurt me. It wasn’t his fault.”
I am doing this for your own good. Brent standing above Marin. He was so large and she felt so small. She would nod; she had no choice. It was her fault; he made sure she knew that. If only she were smarter, prettier, a better student. Straight As weren’t good enough. Where were the A-pluses? Why did another student get two awards when she only got one? It’s your fault. It’s your fault. A mantra in her head, beating her harder than his fists.
“He did it before,” Marin bites out, shocking all of them into silence. “He beat the girl before you. Made her his own personal punching bag. Was it her fault too? Was it?”
“How do you know this?” Raj asks quietly, staring at her.
Marin lifts her chin, refusing to apologize or hide from the fact that she saved her daughter’s life. “I hired the private investigator. He researched Adam’s past and provided me with the information.”
Raj nods, disappointment weighing him down. “Without telling me.” He rubs his neck with the palm of his hand. “This was a public record?”
“No,” Marin says. “It was a sealed juvenile record.”
Gia glances between her father and mother. “You did this?” she asks, picking up the stacked pictures. “You had me followed?” She stands, dropping the pictures onto the floor, allowing them to scatter everywhere. “Do you know what you did?” Tears start to flow down her face. “I was a nobody until Adam liked me. The perfect school, the perfect life you created for me? I hate it. Adam . . .” She swallows, trying to get the words out. “He made me popular. He made people like me. He made me important! And now . . .” Gia wipes at the tears. “Everyone hates me. They hate me, Mom. Are you happy? You got what you wanted.”
“That is never what I wanted,” Marin says, standing to face her daughter. “I did what was best for you. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? You were ruining your life. I saved you.”
“No, you didn’t. You left me with nothing and I hate you. I hate you so much.” Not waiting for anything more, she leaves them, running up the stairs and into her room.
Marin stares at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror, not recognizing the woman who stares back. Tired from the events of the day, she grasps the counter, yearning for support from the only thing that will offer it. Gia disappeared to her room. When Marin started to enter, Raj came out and quietly told her to leave their child alone. Saying nothing else, he left her standing there, staring after him.
Marin can hear him getting ready for bed. Rubbing lotion into her dry hands, she walks out, tired of the silence. “We need to discuss Gia returning to school on Monday,” Marin says, slipping off her robe to reveal her satin pajamas.