Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
He released me, but only long enough to fold his hand around mine. “You see, I was already a broken man the day I walked into that mall. I was struggling with trusting myself after I’d lost my team overseas. I had considered taking my own life—planned it, even. But then, this little girl—” He brought our intertwined hands up to rest over his chest. “Our little girl reminded me why I needed to live. Why I needed to get better. I worked hard to be the father she deserved, all of it culminating in that day when we were at the mall as part of my exposure therapy. I walked in broken, but I walked out demolished. It’s a hard pill to swallow to be called a hero, because I failed the only person I was supposed to protect.”
Tears spilled from my eyes, and I brought our joined hands to my mouth to kiss the back of his palm, knowing that, if his words were shredding me, they had to be wrecking him.
He continued. “It’s been confusing for me over the last few days, as I’ve thought about how I chose to live my life after I lost my daughter. I shut myself off from the world because of the things I thought I did and did not deserve. I tried to keep her memory alive, albeit not in the healthiest of ways, but I wasn’t ready to let go.” His lips curled into a warm smile. “And then I met Nate.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Jeff scoffed. “Your Honor, is this really necessary? The only part of his story that is pertinent to this case is when he made the choice to viciously attack me in my place of business.”
Judge Clavet never tore his eyes off Truett as he barked, “Sit down, Weaver.”
Lucille laughed and I leveled her with a glare, silencing her immediately.
“Carry on, Mr. West.”
Truett gave my hand a tight squeeze. “Seeing him, my daughter’s brother, got me thinking about all the lives that were affected that day. As I sat in that mall, frozen and lost, bombarded by the chaos, while trying to process that my daughter was gone…” His voice got thick, and he used his free hand to grip the partition as if he were having trouble keeping his knees from buckling. “I saw Gwen pounding on the glass doors. I was engulfed by the fear that she could be next. It was only then that my mind thawed enough for me to act.”
I slapped my hand over my mouth, a sob escaping my throat. When I’d seen him through the doors, I’d had no idea that Kaitlyn was already gone. But I, too, had been engulfed in fear when I saw him rise to his feet. A piece of my soul withered as he mouthed the words, “I’m sorry,” before taking off after the gunman.
If she had still been alive, he never would have left her side.
And if she hadn’t been alive, he wouldn’t care to be, either.
I’d thought I was going to lose them both.
Truett paused, offering me a reassuring smile. “I have no idea what would have happened that day had I not gone after that monster, but I can now clearly see what happened because I did. Nate happened.”
“Truett,” I whispered, warmth blooming in my chest.
He looked back up at the judge. “My brother survived that day, later making me an uncle to two incredible boys. I found out recently that Officer Don Hutching’s sister survived and went on to become a driving force in New Jersey’s senate. There are doctors and architects, children and grandchildren, husbands and wives, who are here, in the present, because of my actions that day. It’s been eighteen years and the domino effect of the most heartbreaking day of my life is still happening. I believe one of those dominos is exactly why we are all here today. I don’t think that Mr. Weaver’s claims have anything to do with Nate’s safety.”
Truett once again brought our joined hands to rest over his heart. “I’ve made a lot of poor choices in my life. One of which was being stupid enough to let this woman slip through my fingers. Jeff Weaver reaped the benefits of that mistake and is now unable to accept that Gwen and I are back together. This is an act of jealousy, not concern.”
Jeff let out a loud laugh. “Your Honor, you can’t be seriously entertaining this nonsense.”
Judge Clavet’s bushy eyebrows drew together menacingly. “The only nonsense I hear right now is your outburst. One more and I will hold you in contempt.”
The pure joy I felt watching Jeff get his ass handed to him momentarily dried my tears.
“Okay, Mr. West. Let’s get to the point.”
Truett nodded. “Yes, sir. As many regrets as I have about losing Gwen, I’ve seen the way she looks at her son, and Nate could never be one of them. Gwen is an incredible mother. I got to witness that firsthand for six years with our daughter and only one night with Nate. But I can confidently say she would never knowingly put her child at risk. I admit that I let my emotions dictate my actions when I went to Mr. Weaver’s office, but I assure you, I have no criminal record and have never and will never be a danger to society. My mental health has been a difficult journey over the years, but violence has never been a part of that. My doctor, Lieutenant Colonel Nunnery, and my therapist, Major Wright, have been with me for years and were gracious enough to come here today to speak on my behalf should you have any concerns about that. I assure you I am not a violent man.”