I kept looking at my watch, wondering how long it was going to take for everyone to gather in the courtroom for the verdict and could not contain myself when we were called. The moment we entered the courtroom, my eyes started searching for Miss Poland, and for the first time, she refused to look in my direction. It might be because she had greater concerns like spending a huge portion of her life being locked away from the outside world.
I knew what the verdict was, yet I felt so sorry for her, just watching her fall apart for everyone to see.
"All rise!" the bailiff said, and Miss Poland could hardly get to her feet.
Her lawyer held her up and she kept her eyes closed and her head down. I saw tears run down her face, and I wondered why she had such little faith in the justice system working in her favor. She might be fully aware of the fact that many people were sent to prison for crimes they did not commit and were found guilty based on circumstantial evidence. I understood why she would never feel certain, despite her innocence, until the judge read the verdict.
I was so used to Miss Poland making little glances at me that I was disappointed that she hadn’t done that since I walked in. It was clear that she was focused on what her fate would be and was not in my position where I already knew what it was. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts about her that I was not paying attention to what was happening around me until I heard Geoffrey said:
“Yes, your honor, we have.”
I assumed that the judge asked if we had reached a verdict because Geoffrey handed the judgment to the bailiff. He brought it to the judge, and she put her glasses on to read what the decisions were. The defendants, their attorneys, and the prosecution stood for the reading of the verdict, but I kept my eyes on Miss Poland and realized that she had not opened her eyes.
The judge thanked us for our time and for a job well before sending the verdict back to us to be read. Geoffrey stood and read it aloud at the instructions of the judge.
“...In the case of the assault of Mrs. Barbara Livingston, we, the jury, find Miss Kathy Mae Poland, not guilty.”
She covered her face with her hands and fell into the celebrating arms of her lawyer, and he hugged her to him. The judge demanded order in the court as the other not guilty charge was read out. I paid no attention to Mr. Chamberlain as my full focus was on Miss Poland. She looked over at me, and I could read the gratitude in her eyes. She made no expressions, but she didn’t need to because I could imagine what was going through her mind. She was free to move on with her life, and I was free to move on with mine. I prayed that Mrs. Livingston would get justice soon, but I was sure that she would not want innocent people to go to prison and the real perpetrators walk free.
This case was a very emotional one on every level, and I was all too happy to put it behind me. I felt a sense of deep joy as I returned to my hotel room and put my things together. Miss Poland would definitely sleep well tonight, and I would finally lay in my bed and sleep peacefully. I was so upset when I was called for jury duty, but now I was extremely happy that I did, and I felt so fulfilled, like I achieved something major by being there. I made the difference between those innocent people going home to their families and spending most of their adult lives in prison. I took one last look around the hotel room with a smile on my face then left to continue my life, and it felt great. I was happy to give that same feeling to Miss Poland, and I was unable to get the smile off my face.
Chapter 2
My family would be furious if I missed Thanksgiving. I had missed my flight because of an impromptu meeting that my boss deemed necessary enough for me to ruin Thanksgiving for everybody. While he ensured that my new ticket was at no cost to me, I did not appreciate the fact that I might not be at my grandmother’s in time for the pre-dinner question and answer session, which had been a tradition for generations.
All my family members were there from the day before because they knew it would be doomsday if anything happened and they were not able to make it in time. I was my grandmother's favorite, and there was no one she was more interested in than me, so I was getting really nervous about this delayed flight that I was waiting on. I wished I had known it would be delayed before I actually got to the gate because I would have spent the money to get another ticket that would take me to Fort Lauderdale on time. It would take about three hours from New York to get there, and I prayed that someone would just stand behind the counter at the gate, just to show that something was about to happen.
My phone started vibrating. It was my mother.
"Hi, Mom," I greeted and closed my eyes in anticipation of the guilt trip she was about to send me on.
"What’s happening, Riv? Are you not coming to Thanksgiving?" she asked anxiously.
"I have been sitting for over an hour waiting on my flight. It's delayed, and I can't get any information about when…"
"This is why you shouldn't wait until the last minute to make your plans," my mother interrupted.
"I did not wait until the last minute, Mom. I had a late meeting and missed my flight.”
“You should have insisted that you would not be able to attend the meeting because you have to travel to be with your eighty-eight-year-old grandmother for Thanksgiving,” she said and it sounded worse when she said it.
“Yesterday was not a holiday. I was still required to work. Anyway, someone is at the desk and about to make an announcement. Let me call you back, please,” I begged and thanked my lucky stars that I was spared from what was to come.
“OK. Call me back and let me know what’s happening.”
“I will,” I said and disconnected the call.
They announced that the flight was ready to start boarding, and I was happy that I was among the first group because my boss had booked a first-class ticket, instead of the coach that I could afford. I just wanted to be in my seat so that I was sure that the plane would actually be taking off this time. Someone was in first-class ready to take my carry-on, and I smiled inside at my first experience of flying in style. I took my seat and the pleasant flight attendant asked if she could get me anything. I was not used to this onboard treatment and was afraid to say yes.
“No, thank you,” I said with a smile.
“Well, just let us know if there is anything you would like us to do for you,” she smiled back.
“Thank you.”
I looked out the window at the midday sun, which was a deception to make you think it was warm. It was very cold outside, and I expected it to start snowing soon. It was my favorite time of year because there was nothing better than being cozy inside while it snowed outside.
Most people had taken their seats, and I didn’t even notice the woman sitting beside me because I was so far off in thoughts. No way could I have missed it if I were in economy. The woman turned her head to glance at me, and I almost fainted. She did a double-take and was also in shock when she obviously recognized who I was. I was sitting in first-class next to Kathy Mae Poland.
We did not know what to say to each other, but we had a hard time looking away. From the jury box, her eyes were so distinct that there was no way I could forget them, but now they were staring back at me and they were mesmerizing. Her black, silky waves were pulled back behind her ears, but still, some escaped and framed the sides of her face. She was beautiful and her lips were perfect. I started to feel embarrassed that I was just staring at her without saying a word, so I decided to be the first to speak.
"Hi," I said, not wanting to call her name.
"Hi," she replied with a smile, an act I never saw before because she was on trial for a very serious crime.
"Good to see you under better circumstances, Miss Poland," I replied then immediately regretted that I brought it up.
"The pleasure is mine," she chuckled. "Sorry. I don't know your name."
"Forgive me. My name is River Callaway," I replied and waited for the familiar response.
"River," she smiled and looked at the diamond ring on her finger before looking b
ack at me. "I've never heard anyone by that name before."
"You and most people," I said as the plane started to pull away from the gate and the emergency procedures played on the screen before us.
"Are we allowed to communicate?" she asked.
"I hope so. Your case is over, and I didn't meet you before so I'm sure we're allowed."
I was so caught up with Kathy that I didn't remember to send a message to my mother. I turned off the phone without letting her know I was on my way because she would have to reply, and I needed to wait to reply to her, then it would never end. I was more interested in talking to Kathy than to be fighting with my mother through texts.
"Today is Thanksgiving," she said, and I wondered if she remembered how often she used to look at me in court.
"So I’ve heard."
"So what are we doing on a plane?"
"I'm going to my grandmother's for Thanksgiving, which will start in two hours," I said, absolutely mesmerized by her.
I actually felt intimidated because she had such a powerful aura, which was quite different from the terrified woman who was on trial.
"And getting there on time is crucial?"
"Extremely. My grandmother has this mandatory request that we all discuss the significant things that happened to us throughout the year. It starts exactly on time...because it’s a traditional thing...in the family for generations," I explained, as I rolled my eyes because nothing annoyed me more, but it was for Grams. "My whole year will be ruined if I miss it."
"Something significant," she sat back in her seat as the plane took off. "I guess being a juror would be one of them?"
"Yup."
"So I would definitely come up?"
"Absolutely."
"Did they think I was innocent?" she asked but was not smiling like she was before. She seemed worried about my answer.
"Not everyone in my family knows about the case. The ones who do, believe you are innocent."
The smile returned to her lips.
“It would be hilarious if I was sitting there when you get to that part of your ‘significant events’.”
I burst into laughter and had to cover my mouth because I was so loud.
“Oh my God! I would pay for that,” I said as I laughed because I could just see their faces and the awkward silence that would follow. “You can’t see the image of them I have in my head.”
“Is your family one of those that fight, have arguments, discuss politics that lead to a shouting match?”
“Sure is,” I said and hoped she didn’t think I was creepy for looking at her without blinking. “Is that how your family is?”
“I wish. Everything is always choreographed.”
“I would trade places with you any day.”
“That’s because you don’t know what you’re wishing for,” she smiled as the flight attendant came to ask us if we would like some champagne.
“Yes, thank you,” we both said.
As we sipped our champagne, I could see her looking at me from the corner of my eyes. She did this during the trial, but not so intensely, and I wondered if it was just a habit or if she was actually looking at me. My mouth went against my gut feeling and asked.
“I noticed you looking at me a lot during the trial,” I said and she narrowed her eyes as if she had no idea what I was talking about. “Or...or it wasn’t me?”
“It was you,” was all she said and I wondered if she would supply any further information.
“Why? There were eleven other jurors.”
“Wasn't interested in looking at them. I was only hoping they would find me innocent,” she said and played with the ring again. “You, I liked looking at.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the most beautiful sitting up there. Actually, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, so despite the fact that I could have gone to prison for a very long time, I couldn’t help wondering about who you were,” she said as she twisted her ring.
“I see,” I said, and if I didn’t know better, I would think she was hitting on me, but I did not possess a gaydar because I was not gay, nor was I even inclined.
“I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable.”
“Of course not! I was wondering about you too,” I said and could have slapped myself in the face for saying that.
“Yeah? Wondering what? If I was guilty?” she smiled.
“If that were the case, then you got your answer,” I said then took a deep breath because she suddenly seemed too large for the cabin and was suffocating me.
I took a sip of my champagne and was happy when she changed the subject from the uncomfortable one we were on.
“Unlike you, I have decided to go as far away as possible from my family for Thanksgiving.”
“Why?”
“Since the trail, everyone has been treating me like I’m an egg that was about to break if they took their eyes off me. I guess they felt like I was too traumatized to survive on my own.”
“So where are you heading?”
“I’m staying at one of my dad’s hotels in Coral Springs,” she said, and for a moment, I had forgotten how filthy rich she was.
“Why would anyone want to be alone for the holidays? I wouldn’t care if my family is annoying, but I would want to be where they are.”
“That’s how I felt before, but this year is different. It has been almost a year since the trail and still they can’t just get over it and leave me alone,” she said as she played with the ring that looked like a wedding band.
Maybe she was married before and she divorced...no, she wouldn’t still be wearing the ring. Maybe they are together, but she was trying to get away from him too.
“You play with that ring a lot,” I said, hoping for some answers to the questions in my head.
“Yeah. My grandmother bought it for me before she died and told me whenever I felt sad, lonely, uncomfortable, nervous, or anxious, I should look at it and remember that everything will be OK,” she explained.
"Which one of those are you feeling now?"
"Nervous," she said and returned her eyes to her ring.
"Why?"
"Because I'm sitting next to you...and talking to you," she replied.
"And why does that make you nervous?"
"You had my life in your hands, and you saw me in my most vulnerable moments. It's very humbling, and it matters what you think of me," she said softly but loud enough for me to hear over the sound of the engines.
"You already know what I think. You are here beside me," I said and might have used the wrong words because her head flew up. "I found you not guilty."
She took a deep breath, smiled, then looked at me for such a long time that it began to feel uncomfortable.
"I would love to have dinner...or lunch with you," she said, and when I didn't reply immediately, she continued. "Like if you want to get away from your family for a while...we could do something together. It doesn't matter where you are, I'll find you."
"Thanks for the offer because I'm bound to take you up on it. I will definitely be late for the most important part of Thanksgiving…"
"For most people, it's the food."
"For my family, it's the question and answer segment," I said, and she chuckled.
I took that moment to take in her beauty because I saw it at a glance but never took the time to separate each distinctive part. Her eyes were big and blue with lashes that looked too full and long to be real. She had perfect brows that were full and dark against her flawless skin. Her hair was black and appeared so silky smooth that my fingers twitched to examine just how smooth it was. Her lips were full and perfect, and I wondered which lucky bastard was able to land her as his wife. No, she wasn't married. Whatever. She had to have a man in her life. Women like that weren't really walking around unattached. Well, I was unattached, although I wasn't really like Kathy Mae Poland in any way, but even in my humble position in life, I shouldn't be alone.
It was a conscio
us decision anyway because I had had it with guys. Everything was just so difficult and emotionally taxing that I decided to just enjoy my own company for a while. A while turned out to be two years, but I was happy. I didn't have to deal with all the drama, and sex with myself had been going great. It turned out that masturbation was a guaranteed orgasm that came without the ex-girlfriend drama, the inconsideration of a partner, the cheating, the lies, you name it. I had had it and was living my best life, despite the constant complaints of my family and friends.
My friends had run out of guys to set me up with, so they no longer even try. They learned that it was a complete waste of everyone's time and had given up on me in every way. It seemed as if marriage and children was the only way to remain in their club. As I allowed my mind to race while I stared at Kathy, I noticed that she kept glancing away shyly and that was when I realized that I was making her uncomfortable.
"So you'll be spending Thanksgiving alone?" I asked.
"Seems that way."
"I would invite you to join me…and my family, but I don't think you should go through two ordeals of the same nature in one year," I said, and she laughed.
"Having Thanksgiving with your family is like being on trial?"
"If you're lucky."
"In that case, I'll pass," she smiled. "However, if it gets too much for you, I'm only a phone call away."
"Be careful how you throw that offer around because there is a great chance it will be taken up," I warned.
"I wish it would be, then I wouldn't spend Thanksgiving alone."
"You know that was your choice, right?"
"Yes," she replied and reclined her seat.
She closed her eyes and I was disappointed that our conversation ended, although we were talking for most of the flight. I used the opportunity to rest and think about my apology to my grandmother for missing Thanksgiving. It was clear that I would not make it on time but was hopeful she would delay it for me. That was just wishful thinking because my grandmother had never broken the rule for anyone, and as much as she loved me the most, it was too much to expect from her.
The Juror Page 2