After Anna(51)

‘Isn’t it true that you put your hand on her thigh?’

‘No, that’s not what happened.’

‘Dr Alderman, please answer yes or no. Did you or did you not put your hand on Anna’s thigh?’

‘It’s not susceptible to a yes or no answer, and I can explain.’ Noah spotted Thomas looking at him in disapproval, but it couldn’t be helped. ‘What happened was I put my hand on her leg, maybe on her thigh but certainly not under her dress, because her phone dropped from the console and fell in her lap. She said, “Oops, my phone fell,” and I went to get it. My hand may have been in her lap, but I was reaching for the phone and I didn’t get it, so I stopped.’

‘So even though Anna told the truth about Caleb, she was lying when she said you put your hand under her dress?’

‘Yes.’

‘And even though Anna told the truth about Caleb, she was lying when she said that you told her that you could teach her for her first time?’

‘Yes.’

‘Dr Alderman, weren’t you referring to her virginity?’

‘I didn’t say anything like it.’

‘But you know if Anna was a virgin?’

Noah wondered if Maggie remembered their conversation. None of this had come out at the PFA hearing. It had been more broadbrush. He didn’t know whether to lie or tell the truth. The truth would get him in worse trouble, so he lied. ‘I believe she was.’

‘How did you know?’

‘My wife told me.’

‘Dr Alderman, didn’t you proposition her sexually during the driving lesson?’

‘No.’

‘Your testimony is that you put your hand in Anna’s lap to get her phone?’

‘Yes, I thought she wanted me to.’

‘But she didn’t ask you to get her phone, did she, even according to your version of the incident?’

‘No, but I thought it was implied. She said, “Oops, my phone fell.” ’ Noah realized they hadn’t asked this at the PFA hearing, either.

Linda frowned. ‘Dr Alderman, your testimony is that you think it’s implied that when a young girl’s phone drops into her lap, you are entitled to plunge your hand between her legs to retrieve it?’

‘Objection, Your Honor.’ Thomas jumped up. ‘That mischaracterizes my client’s testimony.’

Linda faced Judge Gardner. ‘Your Honor, that’s the substance of what Dr Alderman just testified to.’

Judge Gardner shook his head. ‘Sustained. Ms Swain-Pettit, I’m going to ask you to rephrase.’

‘Thank you, Your Honor,’ Thomas said, sitting down.

‘Your Honor, I’ll strike the question and ask another.’ Linda turned to Noah. ‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that you used the dropped phone as an excuse to put your hand into Anna’s lap?’

‘No.’

‘Isn’t it true that you had growing lustful urges toward Anna?’

‘No.’

‘Let’s explore that further,’ Linda said, motioning to her paralegal.





Chapter Thirty-two


Maggie, Before

Maggie drove home from the dealership with Anna, glancing in the rearview mirror to see Simon in the black Range Rover, followed by another black Range Rover, like a caravan of Bulgarian diplomats.

‘Are you mad at me?’ Anna asked, shaky. ‘Please, don’t be mad.’

‘I’m not mad, but I wish you hadn’t done it.’ Maggie chose her words carefully. She was trying to build their relationship and she didn’t want to hurt their new closeness.

‘I thought I was doing a good thing.’

‘Why?’ Maggie kept her tone even. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘Because it was a surprise.’

‘But not a good one.’

‘Why not? I’m being responsible. I needed a car, did the research, and bought one. And I looked into the insurance and if I didn’t have my own insurance, you’d have to put me on yours.’

‘So you called James and got the money?’ Maggie remembered that James had told her Anna wanted a car and barely used funds from the trust.

‘No, I texted him.’

Maggie hid her reaction. She lived in a world where teenagers texted for eighty-thousand-dollar cars. ‘Did you tell him what it was for?’

‘Sure.’

‘Did you tell him that I didn’t know about it?’

‘No, he didn’t ask.’ Anna pursed her lips. ‘Please don’t fire him. It’s not his fault. It’s my fault. I didn’t want to burden you guys.’

‘It’s not a burden, it’s our job as your parents.’ Maggie felt more confounded than angry. ‘We talked about this. We were supposed to make that decision as a family.’

‘Maybe that’s the problem,’ Anna said, after a moment. ‘I never had a family before. I’ve been on my own all my life. I don’t consult with anybody. If I need something, I get it.’

‘Maybe that’s true.’ Maggie felt sympathy, and guilt. Anna had learned to be on her own because she’d been abandoned, by both parents.

‘I never spend money. But I wanted the car, I told you. I’m not a brat.’