Chapter 12 - The FalloutThe aftermath was swift and uncompromising.
Because of the gunshots, the break-in, and the history of harassment, the District Attorney pressed felony charges against both Lauren and Marcus. Breaking and entering, aggravated assault, felony harassment, and discharge of a firearm within city limits.
There would be no bail this time.
Three days after the incident, my phone rang. It was my father.
I stared at the screen for a long time before finally pressing accept.
"Sarah?" Dad's voice was broken, sounding ten years older than he had on Christmas Eve.
"Dad," I said coldly.
"We... we heard what happened," he choked out. "The police called us. Lauren's in county jail facing five to ten years..."
"She brought an armed felon to my home to kill us, Dad," I said, my voice empty of sympathy. "She almost got your granddaughter killed."
Silence hung heavy on the line. I could hear my mother sobbing in the background.
"We were so wrong, Sarah," Dad whispered, tears cracking his voice. "We thought... we thought we could keep the peace. We were trying to protect her because she was always so broken, but... we enabled a monster. We failed you. We failed Emma."
"Yes," I agreed softly. "You did."
"Can we see you?" Dad begged. "Can we come see Emma? Please, Sarah..."
I took a deep breath, looking across the room at James, who was holding Emma as she giggled, pulling gently at his military dog tags.
"No," I said firmly. "You made your choice on Christmas night when you watched her hit my child and said nothing. You chose Lauren. Live with that choice."
"Sarah, please—"
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"Goodbye, Dad."
I hung up the phone, walked over to my mobile account settings, and blocked both of my parents' numbers permanently.
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