“I know, but the best way you can help me is by letting me do this alone. Please?”
Mum nodded, agreeing as I thought she would. Jasper frowned, but I knew he had given in. Running away was easier, and I wanted nothing more than to be back in Australia but that would solve nothing.
The doorbell ringing broke me from my thoughts.
“I got it,” Jasper shouted, even though we were all in the same room.
Jasper soon returned to the kitchen followed by Cole. I immediately felt a little better.
“Call me if you need anything. Jasper, you can come and help me at the supermarket.”
“What?” Jasper said. Mum ushered him out of the room.
“Ah, you’re giving them time alone.”
I sighed.
“Love you. Call if you need me,” Mum said and kissed my forehead.
“Shouldn’t you be working?”
He took a half-day holiday to view the house, but he was supposed to go back in the afternoon.
“So you’ve given up on the hello thing altogether,” he teased, leaning on the breakfast bar.
I smiled. “Only with you! Seriously, why aren’t you at work? Did they finally realise what they’d done hiring you in the first place?”
“Ha ha. I’ve actually come to take you to your appointment.”
He held his hand up as I was about to argue. Did my mother ask him to?
“Shh, no arguing. I’m taking you. I’ll wait outside if you want me too, but I’m going. If I have to, I’ll just stalk you there.”
“Creeper.”
“Shut up and get in the car.” He tried to sound stern but a little smile let him down.
I grinned. “Fine.”
We drove in silence, and I was fairly relaxed for what I was about to be discussing. However, when we parked outside Linda’s office, I felt sick.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Cole said, rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. “If you want me to come in I will.”
“Thanks.” My throat was dry, making my voice hoarse. I could do this though. It was just about what was going to happen. I wasn’t actually going to see either of them in my lawyers office! “Okay, let’s just get this over with.”
I got out and followed Cole inside, sticking to him like glue. He was safety, and I didn’t want to let him go.
Linda stood by the reception desk putting blue files in a wooden tray. She looked up.
“Hello, Oakley. Come on through.”
She was a petite lady with long, prematurely greying hair. She looked like more of a teacher than a lawyer, but her looks were very deceiving, the woman was like a shark in court, apparently. I had every faith that she would get them sent down.
“Thank you.” I looked up to Cole, biting on my lip nervously. “Come with me?”
He squeezed my hand. “Course I will.”
Cole and I sat opposite Linda. My stomach felt like it was tipping upside down. I was being stupid! I was only here to talk about what was going to happen when the trial started; that was it. Reaching out, I grabbed Cole’s hand, holding it in a death grip.
I took a deep breath. “So what’s going to happen then?”
“Well, as you know the trial is starting in just under two weeks. I’m not exactly sure when you’ll be giving evidence yet though.” She frowned. “This is a very complex case, but I predict it’ll be in roughly three or four weeks; it just depends on how cooperative Mr Farrell is. His lawyer also has a long list of witnesses to call.”
“They’re still pleading not guilty, aren’t they?”
Linda waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about that. Their plea is a joke; there’s too much evidence against them. The jury can’t ignore the evidence. There are five girls, including you, giving evidence against your father. This trial will be a long one, but you have the truth on your side, and a lot of people willing to back it up.”
Linda was so positive. I suppose she would have to be, but we all knew guilty people walked free occasionally.
“So you have complete confidence then? They won’t get away with it?” I didn’t know what I would do if they got away with it. If they were free to carry on with their lives. I don’t think I would ever be able to come back to England if they did. I couldn’t face the possibility of running into them.
“I have confidence, yes.” She leant forwards. “I believe you, Oakley, and I believe justice will be served, but I can’t promise.”
“How close will they be to me?” I whispered. A shudder ran through my body. The same room was too close, but there was no way around that.
“They won’t be close to you, I can promise you that. There is no way they can get near you. You’ll be safe, but if at any point it becomes too much I can ask for a break.”
“Okay. Thank you. What if they try talking to me?”
“They won’t be allowed to. If they attempt to, there will be consequences. It will look incredibly bad on their part if they try anything like that. They would have been severely warned not to.”
I let out a deep breath. Thank God.
“How long are we looking at them getting?” Cole asked, frowning angrily.