Page 172 of Unraveling Rain
She rises, eyes shining with unshed tears as she clenches her jaw.
“This is it, Dennis. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer. I don’t want our daughter to grow up under the same roof as a sexual predator.”
She storms out. Dennis starts to follow, but his lawyer stops him.
“All I wanted was to talk to you, Rain,” Dennis yells, eyes wide. “And now you’ve destroyed my life!”
“That’s enough,” the judge says. His voice cuts clean through the chaos. “Silence.”
“If you want to avoid a full trial, Mr. Johnson, where a jury will weigh this evidence, I advise you to accept a fifteen-year incarceration sentence without possibility of parole, and restitution in the amount of one million dollars.”
“I don’t have that kind of money, Your Honor,” Dennis mutters. “And fifteen years seems a little too harsh for something that happened so long ago.”
“You just admitted to the crime, Mr. Johnson. According to your financial disclosures, your net worth is two million dollars. I’m only suggesting, one since the other will go toyour wife in the divorce settlement. Believe me, this is the best deal you’ll get.”
Dennis crumbles, burying his face in his hands.
“My client accepts the terms, Your Honor. Thank you so much for your time,” his lawyer says.
“Very well,” the judge replies, standing. “I’ll have my secretary write this up. When it’s ready, we’ll call you to sign it, Ms. MacAllister. Mr. Johnson, you’ll remain in Raleigh PD custody until you’re transferred.”
The judge exits, and two officers step in to escort Dennis out.
Cunningham shakes hands with the other lawyer. Xander and I rise.
I lift my arms, and he picks me up.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Cherry,” he whispers into my hair. “You killedit.”
I hug him tighter as the room fades.
“Now what, Hotshot?” I ask as we walk out of the conference room, leaving my past behind.
He smiles, warm and sure. “Now the rest of our life begins.”
And I believe him.
Because the best is yet to come.
Chapter 43
Rain
Six Months Later
Xander did the damn thing.
The Carolina Red Wolves lead the series 3-1. If they win tonight—like I think they will—they’ll become national hockey champions.
Our entire family is at the Lenovo Center, all decked out in Red Wolves colors as the team plays Game Five inthe Cup Final.
I know today isn’t about me, but I can barely contain my excitement waiting for the puck to drop.
We’re at a suite Xander arranged so the family could sit comfortably, and my heart melts at the sight of my niece and nephew wearing tiny jerseys with “#37 Uncle Xander” printed on the back.
They’re crawling everywhere, and I bet they’ll start walking any day now.
“How are you feeling?” Kristine asks, appearing beside me with a cocktail.
