Chapter Two Hundred and Forty Four - Daddy's Testimony

"What?" I whispered to myself.

Why?

Why would he make such a decision that kept him from me?

Turning to Adian, "did you know he refuse a trial?" I asked a stunned Adian.

Shaking his head, his forehead creased the way it does when he is deeply concerned about something.

Without answering me, Adian simply held my hand but he is staring intently at Mr. Gussippie's back, as if willing him to turn around but he cannot because the Judge is still speaking to my father in a scolding tone.

"Yes sir!" Daddy responded to the Judge's question, his eyes fixated on the Judge.

Nodding, "Mr. Sullivan, you may have your seat," Judge Roberts instructed him before turning to the lawyers present, "councils please approach the bench." He addresses the lawyers, who glance at each other before approaching the Judge.

Daddy turned to smile at us, before taking a seat but when he turned his eyes was on Adian's and not me, as they apparently communicate silently.

Adian shook his head and focuses his eyes to the front where the two councils stood listening intently to what the Judge was saying to them.

"Hailey," Adian squeezed my hand, "I'm not sure what is going on," he leans in front of my face and nod for his father who was sitting beside me to lean in to. "But if you have to take the stand and describe what took place on the afternoon of your mother's death," Adian was saying slowly, his eyes, never leaving mines.

Staring at my husband and then my father-in-law before lifting my eyes in front of me, where my father sat a few feet away from with the possibility of just me separating him from his freedom.

Daddy was smiling back at me with the same worried expression Adain bore.

Without looking away, "you think I would fall apart again?" I asked Adian softly but instead of answering me, he put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me sideways against his shoulder.

I look again and saw daddy's head still turned in my direction, realizing he, like Adian was concern about me breaking down if I have to testify for his freedom.

Smiling, brightly I nod with my head against Adian's shoulder. "I can do it," I tell Adian, my eyes never leaving daddy's. "I will do it so daddy can come home again." I said softly and by the tight squeeze of my shoulders, I knew Adian heard me.

"Yeah you can," Adian assured me, as the councils returned to their separate positions.

"Mr. Sullivan, you may take the stand," the Judge instructed daddy, who stood up, looked back but this time his eyes rested on Ryan, with a sad smile, before he walks to take a seat on the witness stand that's located to the right of Judge Roberts.

I heard Adian take a deep intake of breath, reassuring myself, it will be over soon.

With tears in my tears I listen to Mr. Gussippie question daddy and it's simple, "what happened on the day, your wife died?" Gussippie had asked and I watch the Judge who took notes, kept his head bent as he listens to daddy's testimony.

It was simple according to daddy, "I was in bed" daddy paused, looking uncomfortable, "with someone," daddy said but no name was mentioned and one asked. "My wife walked into our bedroom unexpectedly and" daddy paused, his sad eyes met mines.

I already knew it all so I smiled to encourage him. As much as it pains me to actually hear the words coming out of his mouth, it must be heard, before he can obtain freedom, which is all I want, to have my daddy home with me.

"She walked in, shocked and approached my 'friend' and without saying a word, she dragged the woman by her hair pulling her off the bed," daddy continued but his eyes were downcast as he said things no daughter should ever hear from a father.

"I got of the bed to pick up clothes as my wife dragged the screaming woman by her hair, without any clothes on, even though I saw a bed sheet flowing behind them, as my wife dragged her outside the bedroom." Daddy describe the scene as remember it occurring in front of him.

"By the time I got out of the bedroom, still putting my clothes on, my wife and the woman were standing in the corridor, on top the stairs, while the woman tried wrapping the sheet around her, I saw my wife pull it and threw it to the side on the floor." Daddy continued but I didn't take my eyes off him because I was afraid to look at Adian and Ryan because this must be hurting them so much.

"As I ran towards where they were standing, I was still trying to dress and then I heard my Hailey Bear screaming and calling her mother, I saw the woman taking the sheet of the floor, with a smile on her face calling my daughter who started running after her mother, who had already rolled past her down the stairs." Daddy was crying, his chest heaving, even though he tried but couldn't stop crying while he remembers the last moments of mummy's life.

"So you didn't see how she fell?" Mr. Gussippie asked, which is the first time he interrupted daddy's testimony.

Finally lifting his head, "NO" daddy said in a firm voice. Turning to look at the Judge, whose eyes was now fixated on daddy. "I ran down, passed my daughter who was still making her way down, crying hysterically." Daddy added, his voice was low but loud and clear enough for the few of us in the courtroom to hear his every word. "I looked up" daddy was saying between tears, "and I begged her to call 911," he shook his head as he remembered she didn't move to make the call, that could've safe mummy.