Page 53 of The Sweet Spot
He listens for quite a while, his expression turning darker by the minute. “All right,” he finally says. “Thanks for the update.” He ends the call and looks at me. “Braggart’s hearing is scheduled for this afternoon at three. His attorney is going to request a personal bond.”
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“It means he can walk right out of jail without having to pay any bail. He’d be out on his own recognizance. The DA is going to ask that a personal bond be denied due to the nature of the offenses and the number of charges he’s facing.”
My chest tightens. “What do you think will happen?”
“I hate to say it, but I think he’ll get what he’s asking for.”
“After what he did yesterday?”
Chris nods. “Afraid so. His parents have a lot of clout. I’m sure they know about Braggart’s arrest by now, and they’ve been busy making phone calls. We need to plan for the worst, and that means going to the courthouse today to request a restraining order. If he violates it, I can arrest him again. And if he gets arrested again, it’ll be harder for him to get bail.”
I call Dawn and ask her if she can stay with Granny while we go to the courthouse in Estes Park. She says yes.
After I help Granny get cleaned up and dressed for the day, I sit her on her favorite recliner in the living room and give her a skein of yellow yarn to wind into a ball. This is one of her favorite activities, and it keeps her happily occupied for a good while. I also put more episodes ofLittle House on the Prairieon the TV.
“I really need a shower,” Chris tells me when I return to the kitchen. He has already cleared off the kitchen table and is now rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. He makes a show of lifting his good arm and sniffing his armpit. He makes a face, which makes me laugh.
“You smell perfectly fine,” I assure him. “I should know.”
He grins, probably blushing beneath his trim beard. “Seriously, though, I do need a shower.” He raises an eyebrow. “Wanna help me?” He nods to his sling. “Cause I’m injured?”
“Yes, I’ll help you. We can shower together.”
That certainly piques his interest. He whispers, as if he’s afraid Granny will overhear us from the other room. “That reminds me—we need to stop at Maggie’s today to get condoms.”
“We can stop on our way home from the courthouse.”
* * *
Dawn comes over at noon, and Chris and I leave shortly after for the courthouse in Estes Park. I drive since Chris is partly out of commission. We arrive half an hour later.
Once we’re in the courthouse, Chris directs me to where I need to go and shows me what papers I need to fill out. I admit my mind is doing its best to dissociate from the process. I did this once. I never dreamed I’d have to go through it again.
“She’d like to request a temporary restraining order,” Chris tells the staffer. “Her ex-husband is likely to be released from jail today, and she needs protection now. I think she’s in immediate danger.”
I submit the paperwork to the courthouse staff who will send it on to a judge for a prompt review.
We sit and wait over two hours before we get a reply.
“Judge Connelly has issued a temporary restraining order in effect until your court hearing,” the staffer says. “The hearing is scheduled for two weeks from today.” She hands Chris a reminder of the hearing date. “Do you have someone who can serve this temporary order to the object of the RO?”
“I’ll do it,” Chris says. He flashes her his badge.
“Well, I guess you can.” She hands him a copy of the order. “Serve this to the recipient and then file proof of service with the court.”
Once we’re back in my car heading home, Chris watches me as I watch the road.
“Are you doing okay?” he asks.
I nod.
He lays his left hand on my thigh. “You’re awfully quiet.”
“I don’t think a piece of paper is going to stop David from harassing me.”
“Maybe not, butIwill stop him. As soon as I get word he’s been released, I’ll track him down and serve him with this temporary protection order.”
