The Trial of an Ordinary Truth
Chapter 12 - The Trial of an Ordinary Truth
The hearing concerning Nicholas's immediate safety took place in a plain courtroom with fluorescent lights. There were no chandeliers and no reporters allowed to turn the boy into a spectacle. Salvatore wore a dark blue suit. Vanessa wore cream and carried a handkerchief.
She testified that Nicholas was impulsive and that she reached for him because she feared he might fall. Salvatore testified about what he had seen from the foyer. Medical records documented the injuries. Other witnesses spoke only to matters they had personally observed. Professionals reported their findings without pretending to know more than they did.
The judge did not settle every contested fact that day. Temporary protective arrangements were maintained while the investigation and related proceedings continued. Nicholas's safety and well-being governed the schedule for any contact.
Outside, Salvatore avoided the reporters. He had learned that protecting his son did not mean exposing the child's pain to strangers for public sympathy.
At home, Nicholas asked whether Vanessa had told the judge he was bad. Salvatore sat on the rug beside him.
“She told her version. Other people told what they saw. The court is working out what should happen next.”
“Do I have to go to court?”
“Not unless the people responsible for your safety decide it's necessary, and they will explain everything carefully.”
Nicholas looked relieved. Then he asked whether Salvatore believed him.
May you like
“Yes,” his father said. “And you don't have to earn that by remembering every detail perfectly.”
The boy curled into his arms. For the first time since the fall, he slept through the night.
