Page 17 of Ardently Yours

Sincerely, Charlotte

October 8, 1996

Dear Charlotte,

Your emails are never a bother. They’re a welcome bit of sunshine.

I’m proud to know you too, Charlotte Miller.

You’re right that this career can be taxing, not just on me, but my entire family.

My current case is wrapping up soon. After the verdict and sentencing, the boys and I are taking a long and much needed vacation on the Amalfi Coast to recharge.

When I’m in the middle of a big trial, I spend more time away from home than I’d like. In the evenings, I do as much as I can from the home office, but I’m distracted. Last night the boys built a blanket fort next to my desk and fell asleep in it while I was working. I thought the photo I took of their feet poking out the bottom might make you smile.

Never wonder if you “should” contact me. The answer is always yes. You could email me every day if you wanted to, and I would smile each and every time I saw your name in my inbox.

Arden

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Sixty-Two Emails Later

November 9, 1996

Dear Arden,

Or should I say “Dear Mr. McRae” because this time, I’m writing for your professional advice?

Basically, I need to know how much criminal activity is too much before I’d end up in jail.

We have a community theater here that’s slated to be demolished. I’m usually really good about keeping my cool, but it’s going to happen next week, and nothing we’ve tried has made an impact.

Rochelle organized a meeting. I thought we would be discussing petitions, but when I got there, Rochelle riled everyone up to chain themselves to the building on demo day.

What kind of SOULLESS, town-devouring MONSTER destroys a beautiful landmark and replaces it with a hotel?

RealFreedom, that’s who. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because they’re the ones who gave me my scholarship. :(

I told our theater group that chaining ourselves to the building wouldn’t work. They’d have us arrested, and then tear it down anyway. The only thing that would slow them down at all was if the equipment wasn’t working. To which Rochelle said, “You’re right. We need to go bigger.”

And, yes, I was angry when I suggested it, and I meant it IN THAT SECOND. But I immediately changed my mind and told them it was a terrible idea. It won’t work long-term, and we’d get caught. We haven’t exactly been quiet about our objections.

One of the guys wrote down what I said about sabotaging the equipment in the minutes of the meeting, and he didn’t include my retraction, even though I specifically told everyone we have to find another way.

My name is on the petition. I not only attended the meeting where we planned criminal activity, it was my idea. I realize I sound dramatic, but I can’t let them tear that building down.

How do you determine the difference between a normal, legal protest, and straight-up trespassing and vandalizing property? We have to find a way to save the theater that doesn’t involve anyone getting put in handcuffs.

Honestly, I don’t know what my next steps should be. I sent them all a STRONGLY WORDED EMAIL telling them not to do this, and we needed to explore legal options. Maybe we could file some kind of injunction or something to put it on the historical registry?

I got nowhere when I stopped by RealFreedom’s local office and asked for contact information for someone who could override their decision. They wouldn’t even talk to me.

We’re getting desperate because, even though they won’t start construction until spring, they plan to tear it down now. When I say that I CAN’T let them do it, I mean it. There has to be a way to stop them. I’d put sugar in all their gas tanks if I thought it would work. That’s how serious I am, but in the long run it would make things worse.

I can’t go to prison. Bronnie needs me.

Don’t even think about telling me to turn in my friends. Over my dead body.

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