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Chapter 115
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The Bound Collection Chapter 116: Past
It hadn't taken long to figure out how to find an attorney. My cell phone started ringing day in and day out with calls from people wanting to take my case. Oddly, they all wanted to do it pro-bono, which I thought was strange. Initially, I had taken names and phone numbers and tried to make notes about my conversation with each, but until I was formally charged by the District Attorney, I wasn't making a commitment to anyone. I had no idea why anyone would even be willing to represent me, much less want to, but I continued my list just the same. I had thought charges would come faster than they had. The case was cut and dry, I had killed Joshua. There was no way around that, and no jury would see that any differently. But as I prepared for his funeral, I still hadn't heard from anyone at the police station. Matt remained adamant about my not attending the memorial service or the graveside, but I'd refused. I loved Joshua as much as everyone else had, my mistake didn't change that,
The Bound Collection Chapter 117
The next morning, I received the call. The District Attorney formally charged me with manslaughter. The state of Texas didn't differentiate between that and involuntary. They'd graciously waited until after the funeral since I hadn't been considered a flight risk, but the autopsy had revealed exactly what I knew it would. Matt had been there when I got the call and stood waiting for me to hang up."What did they say?" The man who'd loved me enough to propose to me made a brief appearance, concerned with my future, or maybe just how it would affect his.I twirled the ring on my left finger. "Manslaughter.""Have you chosen an attorney?""No. I've only been able to deal with one thing at a time. Guess that just moved to the top of the list. I'll have to notify the University as well.""Do you think they'll let you continue teaching?""Doubtful. They don't want the negativity associated with the school."The doorbell rang, and Matt walked away to answer it. I gathered my notes on t
The Bound Collection Chapter 118
Dan and I met Annie and Brett at our favorite pizza place downtown. It was still fairly early in the evening, and families scurried around with their children. Brett and Dan regaled us with stories of their youth and college days that didn't seem to fit either of their personalities now. Every detail of Dan's past piqued my curiosity; I soaked it up like a sponge. As we approached the one-year mark, I wondered if he was as serious about the relationship as I was. We weren't getting any younger, and in my opinion, either he knew I was it, or I wasn't. Annie and I had discussed it at length, but she didn't have any more insight into his plans than I did. She'd badgered Brett trying to get the scoop, but he'd been close-lipped about the whole thing knowing Annie would tell me whatever he told her. Now, we both waited. We had compared time frames, hoping Dan might mimic Annie and Brett's, but that still put me a couple of months out for any confirmed commitment.I watched as Annie's att
The Bound Collection Chapter 119
I made it longer than I had anticipated before Dan started questioning me about my offer to carry someone else's child. There had been no mention of it the following week, and even when he finally brought it up, the topic was casual. I'd been talking to Annie about the possibility but didn't want to be a nuisance, so I hadn't pressured her. While she hadn't agreed, she hadn't asked me to stop questioning her about it, nor had she said no. I was patient. I could wait. Dan arrived on my doorstep promptly at six. I heard him call out from the front of the house. "Penny, I'm here whenever you're ready." I fastened my earring and slipped on my heels. With one final glance in the mirror, I set out to find my boyfriend. He'd chosen my dress from those in my closet but hadn't seen it on me. I had been excited to see him in a suit; I was awestruck when he showed up in a tux. The crisp tailored feel of the tuxedo accentuated his build. Standing at my door, he was the man my imagination conju
The Bound Collection Chapter 120
Our pictures had been featured in the arts section of the local paper the next morning. I'd stayed with Dan, and he'd gone out to get two physical copies, the online version wasn't good enough. I sat in his kitchen drinking coffee in his shirt that was far too big for me when he'd come back. It was cute. I watched as he got out the scissors, cut out his favorite shot, and then pulled two simple black frames from the Wal-Mart bag at his feet. Walking into my office, I held one of those two frames in my hand prepared to put it on my desk. Just as I'd found a permanent home for the picture, Rob walked in. I hadn't seen him much since I'd turned him down and outwardly said I was seeing someone. There hadn't been any coffee or muffins, no last-minute lunches, or even hellos. I hadn't seen him, and he hadn't stopped by. Until now."Saw the paper. Glad you got to go." The way he said the words didn't make me believe his sincerity, but I refused to come off this high."Rob, it was...it jus
The Bound Collection Chapter 121
Things started at a whirlwind pace with Annie. Somehow, she scheduled three doctor's appointments within the week, and she and Brett met with their attorney within days of making the decision to look further into having a surrogate. After our final appointment today, Annie and I decided on one of the specialists, but choosing the doctor was the easy part. And the legalities were a breeze compared to what all I would have to go through to get my body ready to carry a child. My uterus wouldn't naturally take fertilized embryos and incubate them, the doctor would have to create the perfect environment. I was committed, and Annie promised to be there every step of the way. We parted ways to both return to work after, and Annie promised to have the paperwork from her lawyer in the next day or two. I wasn't concerned about any of it. I'd sign whatever they wanted me to, but she didn't know that. I knew they needed this to protect themselves and the child I would carry. I didn't begrudge th
The Bound Collection Chapter 122: Past
We had moments of greatness after Joshua's death, but they were few and far between. Matt was stuck in a purgatory of indecision, or maybe it wasn't indecision so much as his reluctance to let go. We'd been together half of our lives and had known each other the other half. Generations of our families had lived in this same small town, and everyone we knew was thrilled when we'd announced our engagement. The ring still sat on my left finger, and I still twirled it without thought, but it no longer represented our future. It now signified the burden of our past. I wanted to believe we could get through this, that's what marriage would have been. Had this happened months later, we would have been legally bound, but now there was an option. He had a choice to make, and with each day that passed, it appeared he was going to let the government make it for him by taking him away from the problem. I knew he couldn't ignore deployment, or tell them he was struggling personally and ask if he
The Bound Collection Chapter 123
"What do you want me to do, Lissa? I didn't choose my deployment date any more than you chose the date for the trial to start.""I don't have anyone else, Matt. If you're not there, I will be alone.""What is your suggestion? Would you like my Sargent's phone number to see if you can get me an excused absence?" His callous words did nothing to help the situation, and the sarcasm was uncalled for. I sat down hunched over in the kitchen chair with my elbows rested on my knees and my head in my hands. My long hair created a curtain to shield my face, but I didn't bother crying. It wouldn't change the circumstances. "There's no one left." The statement was more an acknowledgment to myself than an invitation for Matt's response."Actions have consequences, Lissa. Yours were the gravest. You think being alone is worse than being dead?"I stood slowly and stared him in the eye. "I think being dead would be the easy way out for me, and I contemplate that route daily. But I'm aware I have
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