EMBRACE YOU Lone(liness Book Two)(34)

We enter the alleyway to the back entrance of our house. Spotting nothing, Marcus enters the key code and the gate opens. After we enter the gate, it immediately begins to close. We unlock the back door and enter the house quietly. Even little Lizzie senses the need for quiet and she says nothing. She doesn't even engage us in her usual babble as we move quietly from room to room, making sure the home is empty of everyone but us. Once we assure ourselves that nobody is in the home, we let out huge sighs. I set Lizzie on her feet and take her jacket and hat off.

I make dinner for the three of us and we eat.

"Marcus, would you mind bathing Lizzie tonight? I want to get her packing done," I say.

"Sure. I'd already planned on that, because I knew you'd need to do that," he says. After the packing is done and we put Lizzie to bed, we spend a quiet evening downstairs. As we stare into the fire, I see several flashes just beyond the front wall.

"Marcus..."

"I saw them too. Stay here," he says. He walks to the front window, avoiding walking straight at it. Once he's next to the window, he peeks out, keeping himself hidden. "Ahh! Looks like camera flashes. They can't get over the wall, so they're satisfying themselves with snaps of that."

"Oh, thank God you thought of putting up a high wall!" I say.



The next morning, mum shows up early and rings me when she's about a block away.

Marcus slips his jacket on and goes out to the back yard, where he enters the code for the gate. Mum drives in and stops so Marcus can jump into the front seat.

In the house, I have made flapjacks with potatoes. Mum sniffs appreciatively as she removes her coat, scarf and gloves.

"Gamma!" Lizzie holds her arms up to my mum, who lifts her out of her high chair.

After a few minutes, mum tells Lizzie she'll help her finish her breakfast.

"Brekky, gamma! Brekky!" Lizzie screams.

After Marcus and I try to eat, I give up. My stomach feels as though a tight metal band is encircling it.

"Let's go, luv. Mum, Lizzie, we'll be back as soon as everything's over," Marcus says.

In the car, I sip tentatively at my travel mug of coffee. I can only force down small sips.

"Luv, I know you're nervous. I am, too. All we can do is try to relax and wait for what he's going to say.

I nod, taking deep breaths to contain my nerves.

In the court room, we take our seats. The press and public crane their necks to get a look at us. I grip Marcus' hand firmly in mine and feel my heart trying to jump out of my throat and mouth.

I turn as I see Tim, Laslow and Linny join us. Five minutes later, Nigel shows up. He gives us a smile that tries to reassure us and he winks at me.

My mind flits back to the beginning of this ordeal - my first sight of Cara and Melanie at our concert, nearly one year ago. Seeing the police talking to an angry Cara. Taking the rubbish outside to toss it and seeing Cara with a vacant look on her face as she stands across the street. Spotting her as Lizzie and I leave the shop after finishing our grocery shopping. Fleeing our old flat and hiding out in one of Marcus' dad's houses. Seeing Lizzie kidnapped.

Cara Wells is brought in first. She is wearing ankle shackles and handcuffs. Large, muscular guards stand behind her.

The magistrate comes in and we all stand respectfully.

"Miss Wells, please stand."

Cara and her barrister both stand.

"Miss Wells, you were arrested for stalking Marcus Hadley, after you had been warned more than once that what you were doing constitutes stalking behavior. You followed the Hadley family all round Saint Albans. You attempted to kidnap an innocent infant. When you were questioned, you professed not to be sorry for your actions. You attempted to rationalize them. When I ordered a psychological evaluation, the psychologist identified, not one, but three diagnoses based on your testing, one of which is a true mental illness.

"I have here a pre-sentencing report that reveals that, if you have any other opportunity to inflict harm on any of the Hadley family, you will do so. Because of all of this, I have decided you are much too dangerous to be allowed to walk free -"

"NO! YOU CAN'T LOCK ME UP FOR ACTING ON MY LOVE! LOCK THAT LITTLE BITCH UP! SHE STOLE 'IM FROM ME!"

The guards jump on Cara and force her to stand, walking her out of the court room forcefully. We can still hear her screams from another room.

"Take her to a cell right now!" the magistrate orders. "You -" here, he points to the defense barrister. "You will inform Miss Wells of the sentence I am imposing on her..."

"Yes, sir," the defense barrister nods.

"As I was saying, Miss Wells cannot be allowed to walk free..."

THUMP! The wall reverberates as something big hits it from the other side.

"Gerroff me!"

Cara's wails become quieter and fainter.

"Cannot be allowed to walk free. She will go after Mrs. Hadley and her child. When she doesn't get Mr. Hadley, she'll attempt to harm him. I am sentencing her to life behind bars. She will not have the opportunity to get out early. She will die behind bars. Period."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," says the defense barrister. He swallows, as if the sentence is being imposed on him.

I look at Marcus and the boys.

"She's in prison for life! Thank God!" I gasp and wipe tears from my cheeks. I see the press writing feverishly.