Seated beside her attorney Hector, aka Perry Mason, listening to the swish of the judge’s robes and muffled coughs of spectators behind her, Skylar could have sworn she was on a movie set. The scent of old polished wood reminded her, however, that the situation was for real.
Her parents had opted to visit her the previous evening and skip today’s high-profile public hearing. No big deal.
She sighed to herself. Yes, it was a big deal. Hector had told her it was a big deal. Claire and Max had told her with their expressive eyes that it was a big deal. Her heart told her that it was a big deal.
God, are You here?
She slowed her breathing and imagined Jesus standing behind them, one forearm on Hector’s shoulder, the other on hers, speaking softly about how He had everything under control.
The big deal lay not so much in her mom and dad’s absence, but in her recognition that they had indeed hurt her beyond measure most of her life.
At the jail last night they had been allowed to sit with her for a short while. Their hugs had been stiff, their teasing silly, their sage advice even sillier.
“Annie,” her dad said, “you got a good one. Hector Laredo has a solid reputation. You’re cooperating with the FBI, right?”
“Completely.”
“That’s the sensible thing to do. You understand why we can’t be here tomorrow? I do a lot of work with the city.”
She had nodded. “Maybe I can change my last name before things get started. Again. Officially this time.”
“It’s already in the papers.” That was her mother’s astute observation.
Talk about a disconnect. Their conversation never made it beyond that level of skimming the surface. But then why should it after all these years?
Skylar began to see them as two hurting souls. They had aged. The years of alcohol abuse and pot smoking had caught up to them. A sadness settled into her heart. Indio would probably clap with glee and tell her she might as well start praying for her parents now. It was going to happen eventually.
She didn’t. Not yet. Maybe after the hearing.
In the courtroom now she strained her ears to hear what Jesus was saying. Maybe that He loved her?
She glanced at the profile of the solid man beside her . . . at the wise-looking, silver-haired woman judge . . . at the federal prosecutor’s smooth face . . . at the FBI agent’s teddy-bear appearance . . .
She most definitely was not on a movie set. Too much kindness pervaded the place. Too much tilted in her favor.
Mercy. Yes, that’s what it was. Mercy, sweet and thick as molasses, protecting her soul. No matter what they all decided was her future, nothing could take that away.