Chapter Twelve
His worst fears were realized when no reply came from the other end.
"Linda, is that what you want to do? Are you really sure?" he asked again.
"Yes. Something wrong happened. He did something wrong. If he hadn’t, my Katherine would still be here."
she told him.
Her words played over in his head "If he hadn’t, my Katherine would still be here."
"Linda, if you really want to do this, it’s going to get ugly. It’s not going to bring Katherine back. You
know that, don’t you? No matter how much we both want that to happen, it’s not going to make her walk through the
door again." his voice choked at the thought of it.
"I have to do this, Spencer. I have to. My daughter is dead, at least with this we’ll get some resolution."
Linda explained.
Spencer shook his head. "Even if we do this, serve papers, there’s going to be an investigation, trial, you
may be called to testify. Even then who knows what will happen. There’s no guarantee that it’ll turn out in our
favor."
"Spencer, I have to." she said quietly, but with such a firmness he knew she had made up her mind. He
predicted that she had made up her mind prior to calling him, but felt she needed to ask another’s opinion. She
finally seemed like the mother Katherine always talked about.
"Okay, Linda. Why don’t we meet later to discuss it further?" he suggested.
They made plans to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. They couldn’t go to Spencer and Katherine’s favorite spot,
it held too many memories.
He was jolted from his thoughts as the judge hammered his gavel down upon the stand.It had been weeks already.
The trial seemed to drag on, the media thankful for this proceeding that provided them with weeks full of programming.
Spencer, Linda, Annie and Lisa had been there faithfully. Alistair made occasional appearances.
The child, Katherine’s girl - Spencer saddened every time he thought of her. Initially Al showed little if any
interest in the child, and when he didn’t Spencer leapt to the forefront, but wasn’t granted custody because he
wasn’t family. Thankfully, they came to an agreement and Linda was able to keep her. Having temporarily moved to
Los Angeles for the trial Linda provided a stable environment for the child. He visited her daily, the bond growing
stronger every day.
"Order! Order in the court!" boomed the judge’s voice again.
Today was the day. The day that the doctor would testify in his own defense. Spencer watched as the dark haired
man made his way towards the witness stand. He took note as the man kissed his wife. Spencer recalled Katherine
telling him that her doctor had two young boys, and now it appeared, another one on the way.
Spencer watched as the man squirmed in the seat. He could sense the doctor was uncomfortable. The lawyer continued
to ask questions surrounding ‘that night’. It was almost as if it were some event. Nobody understood. Katherine
was gone. It wasn’t just the night that Katherine was gone. It was that night, the day after and every day since.
It never ended. Nobody understood.
As the questions intensified the doctor became quiet and then Spencer realized that he was crying. He was apologizing
for the events surrounding her death, but he wasn’t drunk or under the influence of anything. There were extreme
circumstances. Katherine’s celebrity among them. He was under pressure, the birth wasn’t going well. He was crying
openly now.
He glanced over at Linda and said out loud for all to hear "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."
Linda nodded, but it only seemed to strengthen her resolve. Spencer didn’t want to do this anymore. He wanted to
remember Katherine, play with her daughter. He didn’t want to rip this man’s life apart anymore. One night he tried
talking to Linda and hoped to convince of the same.
"Linda, please. This can’t go on any longer. It’s not accomplishing anything. Let’s stop." he suggested.
"There is no way I’m stopping now! That man took my daughter from me! He is going to pay." she promised. |
