“You do?”
“We were friends.”
Claire stared at the girl, trying to recognize her, “You’re not now?”
“I moved here when I was 15. I was new, and didn’t know anyone. I ate lunch alone in the courtyard for weeks, until one day Clay asked if he could sit with me.”
Claire’s eyes went wide, “You’re Alison.”
“Yes.” She smiled.
“Clay told me about you.”
“He did?” She set her hand on the foot of the bed. “He was a good friend to me.”
“He was more than that to you. He was your first kiss.”
She cocked her head, “He told you about that?”
“He did. He warned me against loving him. He told me that a kiss changes things. That’s when he told me about you.”
“He didn’t feel the same about me. When I kissed him, it changed everything. I distanced myself after. I felt stupid, but it was years ago. I’m glad he found someone like you.”
“Someone like me?”
Alison took a deep breath, “You weren’t awake when he brought you into the ER. So, you don’t remember. I’d never seen him in more pain. I’ve never seen him cry, but as he held you, he had tears in his eyes. He loves you.”
Claire’s heart ached for Clay, “Does he know that I’m ok?”
Alison shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Can you find out?”
“His attorney will tell him, I’m sure. But, yes. I will find out.”
“Thank you.” Claire forced a smile. “You’re the first kind person I’ve talked to today.”
Alison smiled, walking toward the door, “I will arrange for you to speak to an officer.”
Claire leaned back into the pillow, “Can you tell my parents I need to be alone for a while? Make some excuse up, that I need rest?”
“Sure.” Alison laughed.
*
Claire’s parents didn’t return to her room until the next day. She didn’t dare speak a word to them. Her father sat down in one of the chairs, leaning on his arm, as he ran his thumb over his bottom lip with his other hand. She could tell he was in deep thought, but about what? Her mother busied herself by ordering food, and folding Claire’s clothes that she had brought from home.
It suddenly hit Claire that they didn’t know that she was leaving home that night. Had they found her car with her bag in it? Did they not have questions?
“Where’s my car?” Claire finally asked.
Her father looked up at her, surprised.
Her mother spoke first, “Where it was left. It’s a crime scene.”
“Oh,” Claire sank back into her pillow.
“Where were you going?” Her father asked. “Why were you on that road?”
“I was driving to Clay’s house. Jason swerved, forcing me to turn down that street.”
“He was driving you?” Her mom asked.
Claire looked at her mom, still confused at how they could be so blind, “No. He was chasing me, in his own car.”
“That sounds preposterous.” She turned to Claire’s father. “Something is wrong with her, she doesn’t remember what happened.”
“I’m right here!” Claire yelled. “Stop acting like I’m not.”
Her mom stared at her in shock. Her father still had his stone facial expression.
“I’m telling the truth.” Claire said breathlessly, she was getting tired. “The bruises on my face and arm are from Jason. The gunshot wound in my stomach is from Jason. The pain that has taken over my life is from Jason. Why won’t you believe me?”
Her father didn’t speak, he remained quiet still. It was driving Claire crazy. Her mother was quick to respond, “Because, Jason is the only one in his right mind right now. You are protecting a boy who has hurt you, because he has mind warped you into believing that he does nothing wrong. Jason has the proof on his own face that Clay Williams is an aggressive person. He has a history. I’d believe Jason any day over that boy.”
Claire closed her eyes, as tears formed, “I don’t want you here.”
“Excuse me?” Her mom said.
“You heard me.” She opened her eyes. “I don’t want you here. I’m 21, I’m an adult. I don’t want you here.”
Her mom’s mouth dropped open, “And how do you think you will pay all these medical bills since you want to be so self sufficient?”
“I’ll get a job. I’ll figure it out.” Claire quoted Clay’s words. “I don’t need parents who don’t believe their own daughter.”
Her mother froze in shock. Her father stood from his chair, “Come, Dianne. She needs space.” He led her mother toward the door.
“Daddy,” Claire pleaded. “Believe me, please.”
Her mother was in the hall, but he stopped at the door. He looked at Claire for a few seconds, and then walked into the hall, closing the door behind him.
*
It was close to ten at night when her door opened again. Claire was curled up in a ball, her back facing the door. She assumed it was her parents. “Go away.” She snapped. “I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Claire, it’s me.” Alison’s quiet voice said, with a click of the door closing behind her.
Claire sat up quickly, “What are you doing here? You got off hours ago.” She looked down at Alison’s plain clothes.
“I wanted to tell you what I found out.”
“About Clay? Is he ok?”
Alison smiled, “He’s fine; in jail, but fine.”
“Then what is it?”
Alison wrinkled her face with her next words, “Someone in the station told Clay that you had passed away.”
“What?!” Claire shrieked.
“Shh.” Alison said. “I spoke to his father; Clay knows you're alive now.”
Claire started to get out of bed, “I need to go to him. I need to see him.” She tried to remove the wires from her body.
Alison rushed around the bed, “Claire, get back in bed. They wouldn’t let you see him even if you made it to the police station. The best thing you can do for him right now is to get better.”
“What if he gets convicted?” Claire said, staring Alison in the eyes.
“You have to get better first. We can worry about that later.” She forced Claire to lay down.
“It’s all I worry about. I was the only one there, and they think I’ve lost my mind. My parents won’t believe a word I say, how am I going to make a jury believe me?”
“Who knows if it will come to that, stop worrying. It’s not helping your recovery.”
“It’s going to come to that.” Claire said firmly. “It’s attempted manslaughter.”
Alison sat down on the side of her bed, “You have to be strong for Clay.”
Claire stared at the ceiling, “I keep replaying it over and over in my head. I can hear the leaves crunching under my feet when I ran through the woods. His eyes; Jason’s eyes are all I see when I try to sleep. When I saw Clay, I thought everything was going to be ok. Until…”
Alison took Claire’s hand, “You don’t have to talk about it.”
“I need to talk about it.” She looked at Alison. “I need to talk to an officer.”
Alison squeezed Claire’s hand, “Ok, good. I’m glad I didn’t waste her time.”
“Who’s time?”
“Officer Stephens. She’s right outside.”
Claire glanced at the door, “Really? I can talk to her?”
Alison nodded, “I’ll go get her.”
Chapter Thirty Six
Clay
Clay woke up the morning after he had been arrested on the hard bench that acted as a “bed”. He was only able to get about two hours of sleep. The first reason was that he spent all night awake, thinking of Claire, the second he knew his nightmares would return, but this time they would be warped from the stormy night that his mother left, and the night he just lived through.
His first official day of being detained, he was brough
t before a judge. They asked if he was able to afford an attorney; he had thought about the question all morning, knowing that he would have to answer. It would take everything his father has to afford an attorney for a case like this.
He was later returned to his cell; dinner time came, and he was provided their version of a healthy balanced meal. He stared at the tray wondering if they skimmed on the portions to make inmates weak, or to save money. Either reason was a sorry excuse.
Nothing mattered to Clay at the moment. Claire was gone. He felt numb from the pain that had settled deep inside of him. It was a pain he never knew existed. There was nothing more that he could do, except await what was to come. He did worry about his father, and what would happen to him if he was convicted. He thought it was ironic that his father always worried about Clay ending up alone, but now it was his father that could possibly be alone. All Clay could do was stare at the wall, and be lost in his dark thoughts.
*
It was the next day; Clay had continued his repetitive carousel of thoughts. His feet propped up on the bars while he laid on the bench. The door to the jail cells opened up. “Up boy,” An officer said, entering the room. “Looks like your old man was able to get you an attorney.”
The officer led him to a table where a grey suited man sat. Clay sat in the chair across from him, but didn’t introduce himself. Something he was getting used to was not speaking first. He preferred to study the person.
“My name is Andrew Thompson,” He folded his hands in front of him on the table. “Your father has hired me to represent you.”
“Ok.” Clay answered.
Andrew proceeded to ask Clay questions, he answered the best he could. He had little effort in each answer, as if he had given up. He did want to take care of his father, but he didn’t see a way out of this.
“What’s the point?” Clay finally snapped, interrupting Andrew speaking.
“What do you mean?”
Clay leaned back in his chair, “Claire’s dead.” When he said it, he felt a ping of pain shoot through him. It was the first time he had said it out loud. He had thought it every single minute since he had found out, but actually hearing it come out of his mouth was a different feeling.
Andrew narrowed his eyes at Clay, “She didn’t die. Did your father not tell you?”
Clay thought he was hearing things, “But, the officer said…” Clay kept staring at Andrew. “He said she didn’t make it to the table.” Then Clay started to play it through his mind; it was Jason’s friend who told Clay that she passed away. He said it to mess with him; some sort of fucked up pay back.
“Your father must have assumed you knew she was alive, or maybe he didn’t know when you spoke to him. She’s awake.”
“She’s alive?” Clay said again, still not believing.
Andrew nodded, “Yes. Your charges are still the same, nothing more.”
After Clay learned that Claire was ok, that was all he could think about. He listened to Andrew more intently now; he was determined to get out. He told Andrew everything about his relationship from the start regarding Jason.
*
Two days had passed; Andrew arrived again around the same time. Clay was led to the table; this time Clay welcomed seeing Andrew. He was hell bent on getting out of this. Somehow he was going to make Jason pay for what he did to her.
Andrew spoke, “I think you have a good case; especially with the witness.”
“Witness?” Clay looked at him like he had three heads. “No one was there, but the three of us.”
Andrew looked down at his paper, “Jennifer Tate.”
“Jenny?” Clay said, still looking at Andrew like he had three heads.
“No, you wouldn’t have known she was there.” Andrew looked further down the paper, and then handed Clay a copy, “She saw the whole thing.”
Clay looked at Jenny’s name on the paper. He couldn’t believe what he was reading. Jenny didn’t owe Clay anything, but he knew she still loved Claire.
After reading what Jenny had said, he looked up at Andrew, “She saw the whole thing.”
Andrew nodded, “Yep. Again, I say you have a good case. They won’t know what hit them.”
“Will Claire have to testify?” Clay asked.
“It will only help you if she does. Her parents are trying to get her classified as manic, but I don’t think it will work. She spoke to an officer, making her own statement. It’s likely that Jason and her will not be in the same room at the same time, if that’s what you’re worried about. The judge will probably keep her from the courtroom until it’s her turn.”
“She’s been through a lot. I just want this to be over for her.”
Andrew gave Clay a flat smile, “It will be over soon.”
Chapter Thirty Seven
Claire
It was the day Claire was set to testify. A day Claire had been anticipating for three long months. She would lay awake during those months worrying about the outcome; worrying about Clay. Her parents tried to push for her not to be able to testify, but Claire won in the end. She was dressed in a simple white shirt, and black pants. Her stomach was in knots, knowing she was going to see Clay today for the first time. She still felt sick that he thought she hadn’t made it.
Her parents drove her to the courthouse. They stood outside the courtroom in the hall waiting until they had to go in. Her mother kept trying to talk to her, but Claire kept ignoring her. They kept trying to get out of her what she was going to say to the questions she was going to be asked.
The hallway suddenly went silent. Claire looked over her shoulder to see Clay’s father walking through the doors. Claire smiled at the sight of him. There was something about the presence of Roy Williams. Roy kept to himself most of the time, but he had helped every single person in town at one time or another. He had earned a form of respect. It didn’t stop the rumors of what happened to Clay’s Mom, but no one dared speak poorly of Roy.
Roy stopped in front of Claire, taking her hand, “I’m sorry that this happened to you.”
“Don’t speak to my daughter, please.” Her father tried to turn her away from Roy, but she pulled back.
Roy looked her father in the eyes, “My son was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. He was protecting the girl that he loves.” Roy pointed to her father. “That girl is your daughter. You sent the wolves after him without even a second thought. What kind of father does that?”
“You don’t know what you're talking about.” Her father said firmly.
Roy started to walk away, but stopped, and turned one more time to face her father, “I’m not much older than you, but I might have a little more experience in loving someone for who they are, and not trying to force them to change. Just because you ignored Claire’s love for my son, never made it less real, and still doesn’t. I’ve seen them together, what they have is rare. Have you?”
“Have I what?”
“Seen them together?”
Her father’s eyes glanced over to her, and then back to Roy. “No. I haven’t.”
Roy looked her father up and down, “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” He looked at Claire, before he walked away, “I will see you soon, my dear.”
Claire smiled, “Soon.”
Her father didn’t say anything after Roy had walked away. Her mother talked into her father’s ear, while he stared at Claire. She wanted to get away from them, even if it were only for a few seconds. She saw a water fountain in the distance, and walked over to it. She sipped the water, and went to wipe her mouth; her eyes caught sight of the lanky brunette she had known since she was little. The girl that she used to play tea time with and tag. The girl who loves sweet tea more than air; If she could be hooked up to an IV of sweet tea, she probably would. Jenny was dressed in a black skirt, and tan silk top. She walked beside her mom toward the courtroom. Jenny’s eyes caught Claire’s, it was a moment of confusion for Claire, but Jenny’s face was blank. She couldn’t read her. What was she doing here?
“What is Jenny doing here?” Claire’s mother appeared behind her.
Claire shook her head, “I don’t know.”
It was time for the proceedings to begin. Claire remained outside with her mother, while everyone including her father filed into the courtroom. Her heart was racing, knowing Clay was in the same building.
When Claire was summoned, she suddenly felt sick again. When she entered the room, she knew all eyes were on her, but the only ones she found were Clay’s. She wanted to break down and cry right there, seeing him like that. She felt as if he were telling her with his eyes that everything was going to be ok. So, she walked to the stand, said her oath, and the questioning began.
At one point during the questioning, she felt her anger build up, but she got her emotions under control. She had been begging for someone to listen for so long, now she had the entire town in front of her.
When they were done with her, she was asked to step down, and exit the courtroom. Her eyes found Clay’s again; she wanted to rush up to him, and have him take her in his arms, but she couldn’t. He was so close, but out of reach.
She knew the trial could take a few days at least; she didn’t want to wait that long to find out the verdict. Her mom was waiting for her in the hall. For once her mom was silent.
*
Her mother took her home that afternoon, while her father stayed for the rest. Her father arrived home around dinner time. Claire was up in her room, when she heard the front door open. She rushed to the top of the stairs, wanting to know what happened. He looked up at Claire with pain in his eyes.
Her mother appeared in the foyer, “What’s wrong?” she asked him.
Claire walked down the stairs slowly, waiting on him to answer her mom’s question. She stopped at the bottom step; he walked up to Claire, taking her in his arms, “My little girl. I’m sorry.” He held her close to his chest. She was confused by his sudden affection.
“What’s wrong?” She said into his chest.
He released his tight grip, looking down at her, “Jennifer Tate will always have a place at our dining table.”
Under the Oak Tree Page 27