Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 78 Set Me Free

"Yeah, but will th-that be a strong enough case?" I stutter.

"No, Mr. Gallo. It will not. Which is why I am then going to highlight your disability from the crash. You are already paying your time. A lifetime being disabled. Colton will most likely say, that's not enough. Because you can no longer drive, taking away your license wouldn't be a punishment. Nadine will want more. But I will fight. I will bring up how if you were to go to prison the cost to the state to accommodate you medically and meet your requirements will be above and beyond anything the state of California can afford. Best case scenario, you'll have a hefty lump sum of financial compensation go to Nadine to pay for her emotional stress of losing a loved one. Maybe be on home confinement and have to wear an ankle monitoring device or something."

"And the worst case?" 

"Time in prison along with financial compensation."

My stomach ties in a knot. Home confinement doesn't bother me so long as I have a nurse to care for me, but prison? I can't survive prison. I can't even survive living on my own without help. How the hell do they expect me to survive in prison? Can't they see this was all an accident? I never meant to hurt anyone!

I bow my head and cry. 

This is a nightmare.

"Hey, we're going to figure this out, ok James?" Nate sits down next to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. "I will do whatever it takes to keep your out of jail."

"Unfortunately, this one is out of your hands, Mr. Hollan. Nadine Jones wants more than money. She wants justice to be served."

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*Trisha*

It's rare for Paul to need to vent but when he does, he seems to call me. I don't mind. I never do. But one thing I can't fix is Julia Moretti and I think Paul realizes he's got his work cut out for him here.

James wants nothing to do with my help today, so I go down to the gym and walk on the treadmill while Paul talks.

"They had to sedate her. Again."

Oh brother.

"What did she do now?" I slow down the treadmill so I can talk easily.

"It all stems from the trial. She feels useless. She can't be there for James, and she doesn't think it's fair he's having to fight for his freedom. Then it triggered something with her son's car accident and how he died and shit."

"She's got a lot of triggers, that one."

"Trish..." Paul says in a reprimanding tone.

"Sorry. I'm being insensitive. But there is just so much going on around here we can't be worrying about Moretti like this."

"I have a feeling you don't worry about her enough." Paul snaps and puts me in my place over the phone. I feel heat rise to my cheeks. "She worked really hard to get sober."

"Is Nate aware of this news?" I turn the conversation over, fumble with the buttons on the treadmill and pull the plug on my workout.

"Yeah, he's going to need a new phone."

"God damn that man-child." I huff. Good thing I already have a new one for him on the charger for times like these. "That kid needs to grow up or start throwing pillows instead of cell phones."

"He must have talked to Jonah at some point because he showed up and calmed him down."

So THAT'S why Jonah was in such a rush to leave the apartment a little while ago. I knew he was talking to Nate but didn't know he was going to the Avalon.

"So where is Nate now??"

"Visiting his sister."

"Jesus. He's going to have a heart attack before he leaves the building."

"How's James?" Paul asks and I hear the concern in his voice. James is a friend to him. James is a friend to everyone.

"He had a tough time with eating. Casey was the one he finally let help him. He wants nothing to do with me. Then after he went to bed to take a nap." I frown.

"He's just frustrated, Trish. That's all it is." Paul can tell I'm overthinking things, but it doesn't stop me from feeling hurt by how James is pushing me away. "Ok, I gotta go. Just wanted to give you the latest update."

"Thanks Paulie." I hang up with a sigh and head upstairs. Casey is baking...cupcakes? I have a feeling when she gets stressed, she bakes. It's like that blonde girl Izzy from Greys Anatomy who baked a shitload of desserts whenever she was stressed out.

"You tryna fatten us all up?" I steal the cupcake she is frosting right out of her hand and take a bite. She laughs at that.

"How the heck do you stay so thin? God, you're just like Jonah." Casey picks up another vanilla cupcake and begins covering it with pink frosting.

"Did you hear about Julia?" I ask with a mouthful of food. Casey's eyes widen and she looks over towards the couch. 

Shit. 

James is awake. He's sitting on the couch with the dog and his head whips around when he hears Julia's name.

"What about Julia?"

Casey drops her shoulders and gives me a "Seriously?" look.

"Sorry. I didn't know." I whisper and walk over to the couch.

"Her bipolar got the best of her. They had to sedate her again." I sit down next to James and he stares ahead at nothing. "Nothing you need to worry about, ok? She's in good hands."

"She's in the hands of her rapist, Trisha. How can you not  be worried for her?"

God, today is NOT my day.

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