“But Mom. . .” Tanesha started.
“Don’t worry, Tannie,” Yvonne said with a bright smile. “She’s not as mean to me when she’s stoned.”
Tanesha grinned. Yvonne winked at Tanesha and went to get the lemonade and brownies.
“She’s incredible,” the modern Goddess said. “So beautiful, smart, kind. . . I don’t think I would be able to. . .”
The woman nodded after Yvonne. Tanesha watched her mom for a moment and smiled.
“Some people are simply special,” Tanesha said.
The woman smiled.
“Are you hungry?” Jeraine asked. “We waited dinner on you. Fin and Abi said they’d be here in. . .”
The door opened. Fin and a very pregnant Abi walked in. The modern Goddess and the rapper’s attention was distracted by the fairies’ giving Tanesha and Jeraine a quiet moment.
“Oh, great — everyone’s here,” Jeraine said. He kissed Tanesha’s lips. On a quiet inhale, he said, “I love you.”
Feeling more like herself, Tanesha watched him head into the kitchen. The visiting couple’s daughter ran up and introduced herself. Jabari wiggled out of Tanesha’s arms, and the children ran off to play with Toto. Yvonne came into the house from dropping off the snack to Gran and Aunt Phy. As she passed Tanesha, she muttered, “That woman is crazy.”
Tanesha laughed and followed her mother into the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday evening — 10:12 p.m.
Denver, Colorado
“Ready?” Aden asked.
“I think so,” Sissy said.
Aden swooped Sissy off her feet. Sissy yelped with pain. He stood still for a moment to give her a chance to adjust. MJ set Sissy’s oxygen tank on her lap.
“I’ll come up to check on you after I get Ivan settled,” MJ said.
“Thanks,” Sissy said. She tried to grin, but it was clear that she was in pain.
“Fast or slow?” Aden asked the age-old question: Did Sissy want to get through the pain quickly or slowly?
“Um. . . fast,” Sissy said. “But I might need a break.”
“Say the word,” Aden said. “Here we go.”
Aden started up the stairs to the second floor. They made the landing.
“Break!” Sissy said.
Aden stopped on the landing. Sissy panted.
“I wanted to talk to you about something,” Aden said. “I don’t know if now is a good time.”
“Sure,” Sissy said. Her face was pal,e and she looked like she was going to throw up. “Is it anything distracting? I could really use something distracting.”
“Maybe,” Aden said.
“Go ahead,” Sissy said.
“You know Sandy and I are doing these marriage classes, right?” Aden asked.
Sissy nodded.
“One of our assignments is to make agreements with you kids around being married,” Aden said.
“That sounds kind of lame,” Sissy said.
“I’m not saying it right,” Aden said.
“Try again,” Sissy said.
“When I marry Sandy in the church, I am marrying you and Charlie, too,” Aden said. “Sandy is marrying Nash and Noelle.”
“What about Rachel?” Sissy asked.
“Rachel is our biological child, so we’re already married to her,” Aden said.
“Oh,” Sissy said. “Do you still have that bag?”
Aden nodded. He wiggled his right hand. Sissy looked down and took a grocery bag from his hand. She threw up all of the welcome-home cake she’d just consumed into the bag. She took a deep breath after throwing up and yelped with pain. Her color worsened.
“Maybe I should set you down,” Aden said.
“Not on your life,” Sissy said. “I made it half way there. I’m not losing the half.”
Aden grinned.
“Why’s that funny?” Sissy asked.
“It’s something Sandy would say,” Aden said.
Sissy smiled at the idea.
“Tie up the bag,” Aden said.
“What if I need it again?” Sissy asked.
“I have another bag,” Aden said.
“Ok,” Sissy tied up the bag and rested it next to her oxygen tank. “What’s it mean to be married to you?”
“Well,” Aden said. “The first thing is that I commit to you to be your father.”
Sissy’s eyebrows dropped with concern.
“I don’t want to take Mitch’s place,” Aden said. “I will just be your ‘now father,’ a kind of second father, here to help you through the challenges of your life.”
“Don’t you do that already?” Sissy asked.
Aden was so overcome by her question that he welled up with tears. She looked at his face.
“You’ve been the best. . . I don’t know what you’d call it,” Sissy said. “You helped Charlie stop being such a dick. You’ve stood by me through all of this stupid stuff. You even made friends with Ivan, which is no easy task.”
“I like him,” Aden said. “He has a good heart.”
“So do you,” Sissy said. “You’re already my . . . whatever you want to call it.”
“Legally, I’m your guardian,” Aden said.
Sissy mouthed the word for a few minutes before shaking her head.
“Do I have to call you ‘Dad’?” Sissy asked.
“Not if you don’t want to,” Aden said. They were silent for a moment while Sissy weighed her options. “Do you want to?”
“Not really,” Sissy said. “But I want to be able to say to other people, ‘That’s my dad’ or ‘My dad’s coming’ or. . . stuff like that.”
“I can be that guy,” Aden said. “I want to be that guy.”
“You already are,” Sissy said with a smile. “I mean, look at you. You’re up here trying to get me to the apartment so I can sleep in my own bed with Buster. And you’re doing it just because I want to. I could stay down there with Honey and MJ, like Ivan is doing.”
“You wanted to come home,” Aden said.
“That’s what a dad does,” Sissy said. She leaned forward with a grunt to kiss his cheek. “Thanks Aden. I want to be married to you or . . . oh, that sounds gross. . . what do we say?”
“‘I want to be a family,’” Aden said.
Sissy nodded.
“Ready for the next flight?” Aden asked.
“Onward,” Sissy said.
Aden raced up the stairs. When they reached the top, tears were streaming down Sissy’s face. Buster bounded down the hallway from the other way. Noelle and Nash weren’t far behind.
“Say something,” Aden said in a low voice.
“Ow,” Sissy said.
Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-two
Sissy testifies
Wednesday morning — 9:10 a.m.
“Yes, your honor,” the Defense Attorney said. “We agreed to the scheduling change. We also agreed to allow Ms. Delgado assistance to the witness stand.”
“I appreciate your change in attitude,” the Judge said in a wry voice. The Defense Attorney opened his mouth but decided against it. Noting the Defense Attorney’s restraint, the Judge said, “Good thinking.”
He nodded to Samantha Hargreaves.
“Go ahead,” the Judge said.
Samantha got up from the District Attorney’s table and went to the door to the courtroom. The Judge had sealed the courtroom today. Sissy could have only one family member with her. They’d decided on Aden because he could help Sissy get in and out of there. Samantha held the door open. Leaning on Aden’s arm, Sissy made her way into the courtroom. With each painful step, the mood in the courtroom shifted. The jury’s eyes were riveted on her. Even the Defense Attorney gawked.
Sissy was, very simply, stunning. Her long hair was loose and lightly curled at the bottom. Her long neck and trim figure were accentuated by a simple ankle-length dress. Her beauty and her pain gave her the look of a fragile Ophelia on the verge of full womanhood with all the innocence and strength of a child.
While Aden helped Sissy onto the stand, the Defense team mumbled back and forth. Samantha stood in front of the witness stand to help Sissy into the seat. Aden set her small oxygen tank onto Sissy’s lap. He kissed her cheek and went to sit in the back. When Sissy was situated, Samantha moved aside. The Defense team stopped talking.
For a moment, the courtroom was completely silent.
“I want to be clear,” the Judge said. “I will not accept any harassment of this witness. None. If any member of your team even attempts it, the entire team will spend the night in my jail. Got it?”
He pointed to the defense team and then the prosecuting table. No one dared to blink.
“Ms. Delgado, if you have any questions, you just ask me,” the Judge said. “Ms. Hargreaves will be here as well. But if you have any problems or trouble, you let me know. I’m good friends with your Uncle, Judge Howard Alberts. He’d never forgive me if anything happened to you on my watch.”
“Yes, sir,” Sissy said.
Samantha returned to the prosecution table while Sissy was sworn in. The District Attorney stood up.
“Please state your name,” the Defense Attorney said.
“Mitzi Delgado,” Sissy said. “But everyone calls me ‘Sissy.’”
“We have agreed that Ms. Delgado can be identified by ‘Sissy Delgado,’” said the Defense Attorney, standing.
“So noted,” the Judge said.
“Ms. Delgado,” the District Attorney said. “Have you ever seen the defendant before?”
“Which one is he?” Sissy asked.
“The defendant will rise,” the Judge said.
A young man in an expensive suit and cowboy boots stood from the defense table.
“No, sir,” Sissy said. “I’ve never seen him before.”
“What if he was wearing a beard or his hair was longer or shorter?” the District Attorney asked.
“No, sir. I’ve never seen him before,” Sissy said. “Plus, that stuff wouldn’t matter.”
“Why is that, Ms. Delgado?” the District Attorney asked.
“I study ballet,” Sissy said. “I look at people by body type and how he moves. The other stuff doesn’t matter.”
“You study ballet?” the District Attorney asked.
“The defendant may be seated,” the Judge said.
“My sister says that I came out wanting to be a ballerina,” Sissy said. “I’ve been dancing ballet since I was four.”
“You mean you took lessons at the recreation center?” the District Attorney asked. “Kiddy ballet?”
“Oh, no, sir,” Sissy said. “I’ve had individual lessons every day after school. My teacher was the youngest soloist in the Bolshoi Ballet. He is on contract with the New York Ballet Federation and has taught here in Denver for the Denver Ballet.”
“Sounds like an expensive indulgence,” the District Attorney said.
“Probably,” Sissy said. “My Godfather pays for everything.”
“Your Godfather?” the District Attorney asked.
“He was my dad’s partner at the Denver Police Department,” Sissy said. “Seth O’Malley? He and my dad were the ‘Magic team’ — detectives who cleared more cases than anyone ever in the Denver Police Department.”
“Your father is. . .”
“Was. He’s dead,” Sissy said.
“I’m sorry,” the District Attorney said. “Who was your father?”
“Mitch Delgado,” Sissy said. “He and Seth had been friends since they met at East High School.”
“We acknowledge the tremendous accomplishments of Mitch Delgado.” The Defense Attorney stood. “And everyone knows Seth O’Malley.”
“So noted,” the Judge said. “Get on with it.”
“We were talking about ballet,” the District Attorney said.
“What would you like to know?” Sissy asked. “Ballet is my entire life. I’ve spent every moment that I wasn’t in school dancing. All summer, every summer. I’ve been in many professional shows. At the beginning of this year, I moved to New York City to apprentice to a large ballet company in New York City. I live there now.”
“I’d like to submit into evidence this article from the New York Post concerning Ms. Delgado’s apprenticeship,” the District Attorney said. “Attached is an article regarding the extraordinary talent of Ms. Delgado’s teacher.”
The Judge looked at the Defense table. When no objection came, he banged his gavel and the District Attorney gave the articles to the bailiff.
“So you didn’t do so well in school,” the District Attorney said.
“That’s right, sir,” Sissy said. “I had only a 3.8. I’m not great at math. But now that I’m getting tutored, I’m starting to get the hang of it. Maybe. It’s not natural for me.”
The District Attorney let the silence linger.
“Why are you here?” the District Attorney asked.
“Because you asked my sister Sandy if I could come,” Sissy said.
The jury and audience chuckled. The Judge banged his gavel, and the courtroom became silent again.
“Rephrase the question,” the Judge said.
“Ms. Delgado, this is a trial regarding the guilt or innocence of the defendant,” the District Attorney said. “You’ve never seen him before. So I’m sure the court is wondering why you’re here.”
“Oh,” Sissy said.
She stopped talking and looked down at her hands.
“Please answer the question, Ms. Delgado,” the Judge said.
“What if I start crying?” Sissy whispered to the Judge.
The sound was picked up by the Judge’s microphone, and everyone became very silent. The Judge put his hand over the microphone.
“Then you cry,” the Judge said. “We can handle it.”
Sissy nodded.
“Ms. Hargreaves?” the Judge asked into the microphone. “We need tissues.”
Samantha hopped to her feet. She brought a box of tissues to Sissy. She squeezed Sissy’s hand and went back to her seat.
“District Attorney?” the Judge asked. “Can you repeat the question?”
“It’s okay,” Sissy said. “I know what he’s asking.”
Sissy tried to take a breath. Her chest rattled, and she began to cough. Aden ran from the back of the court. He vaulted the wooden gate and was confronted by the bailiff. The Judge nodded, and Aden came to Sissy’s side. He helped her slow her breathing.
“Sir, my client is simply too fragile for. . .” Samantha started.
“No,” Sissy roared. “I can do it.”
Aden returned to the audience.
“Sorry,” Sissy said. “I just got out of the hospital. I’m not breathing very good.”
She gestured to the oxygen tank.
“Please continue,” the Judge said.
“I was shot,” Sissy said. “The shooter came for my step-sister Noelle and me. We were just getting home from dinner, and he. . .”
Sissy looked up for the first time. All of the adults were standing at the tables. The District Attorney’s mouth was open. The Defense Attorney seemed stunned. Unwilling to look at her, the defendant looked down.
“I was shot twice in the ribs,” Sissy said. “I died on the sidewalk, but they got me going again. Then last Friday, a piece of bone got loose, and I hemorrhaged. My family came to New York because they thought I was going to die. I fooled them.”
She gave a slight smile.
“I’ve been really sick,” Sissy said.
“What does this incident have to do with this trial?” the District Attorney asked.
“The shooter tried to kill us to keep Noelle from testifying in this trial,” Sissy said. “He tried to kill me so my brother Charlie wouldn’t testify in this trial.”
“Objection,” the Defense Attorney said. “Assumption on the part of the witness.”
“No, sir,” Sissy said. “That’s what the shooter said. Ms. Behur’s guards caught him right after he shot at us. He confessed right away.”
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“I’d like to enter into evidence the confession of the man who attempted to murder the two children — Ms. Sissy Delgado and Ms. Noelle Norsen,” the District Attorney said.
The District Attorney gave a packet of papers to the bailiff. The bailiff gave the testimony to the Judge and another copy to the defense.
“We apologize for the delay in admitting this evidence,” the District Attorney said. “We received this testimony only at seven this morning. It was faxed to us from the New York Police at their start of business.”
The court was silent while the Judge and the Defense Attorney flipped through the testimony. When the Judge looked up at the District Attorney, he nodded.
“The New York Police were holding this testimony as part of a larger trial,” the District Attorney said. “They agreed to release the testimony to us only when they were sure that the courtroom was closed and everyone was sworn to not to divulge what happens here.”
The Judge nodded.
“Defense?” the Judge asked. “May we proceed?”
The Defense Attorney looked up. He looked at Sissy and then at the jury. He nodded.
“Why would anyone want to keep your brother from testifying?” the District Attorney asked.
“I don’t know, sir,” Sissy said. “The shooter is a paid assassin. It’s only for the grace of God that I’m not dead, but. . .”
Tears fell down Sissy’s cheeks.
“I. . .” Sissy said.
“Ms. Delgado?” the District Attorney asked.
“I’ll probably never dance again,” Sissy said. “I. . .”
She stared at the defendant until he lifted his head.
“You should have just killed me,” Sissy said in a ragged voice. “You’ve done it just the same.”
The Defense Attorney was on his feet. Samantha Hargreaves was yelling at him. The District Attorney gave Sissy an amused look and went back to his table to sit down. The Judge banged his gavel. The whole time Sissy stared down the defendant. After a few minutes, everyone stopped yelling.
“Do you have any more questions, for this witness?” the Judge asked the District Attorney.
“We’d like to be able to recall her if we need to,” the District Attorney said.
“So ordered,” the Judge said. “Defense?”
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