Chapter 14
The plea hearing was three days later.
We went to court.
This time, Rosie wasn't with us.
She was with Dr. Lopez.
Happy.
Safe.
The courtroom was different this time.
My family wasn't there.
My father was in jail.
My mother was... I didn't know where.
And I didn't care.
Bethany was brought in.
She was wearing an orange jumpsuit.
Her hair was messy.
Her face was pale.
She looked small.
Defeated.
She didn't look at me.
She didn't look at Sarah.
She kept her eyes on the floor.
The judge asked her how she pleaded.
"Guilty," she said.
Her voice was small.
Almost a whisper.
The judge accepted the plea.
Then he asked if anyone wanted to make a victim impact statement.
I stood up.
I had written something.
But when I looked at Bethany...
I didn't need it.
I spoke from the heart.
"Your Honor," I said. "On the night of October 14th, I left my four-year-old daughter with people I trusted. My own family. I thought she would be safe. I thought she would be loved. Instead, she was hurt. Abused. By the woman who was supposed to be her aunt."
I looked at Bethany.
She still wouldn't meet my eyes.
"My daughter came home with bruises on her arms and a black eye," I said. "She asked me if she had been bad. If she deserved it. That's what this woman did to her. She made a four-year-old girl believe she was bad. That she deserved to be hurt."
My voice cracked.
I took a breath.
"Rosie is strong," I said. "She's healing. With therapy. With love. She's going to be okay. But she will never forget what happened. And neither will I."
I looked at the judge.
"I'm not here for revenge," I said. "I'm here for justice. For my daughter. For every child who has ever been hurt by someone who was supposed to love them. I ask that you accept this plea deal. Not because it's enough. But because it's something. Because it means my daughter never has to see this woman again. Never has to be afraid of her again."
I sat down.
Sarah squeezed my hand.
The judge looked at Bethany.
"Ms. Carter," he said. "Do you have anything to say?"
Bethany looked up.
Her eyes were red.
She had been crying.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt her. I was angry. I was stressed. I... I don't know what came over me."
She looked at me.
"I'm sorry, Mark," she said. "I'm sorry to Rosie. I'll never forgive myself."
The judge considered her words.
Then he spoke.
"Ms. Carter," he said. "You hurt a defenseless child. A child who trusted you. A child who loved you. And then you tried to cover it up. You let your family threaten and intimidate the victims. You let them try to burn them out of their home. You showed no remorse. Not until you were caught."
He banged his gavel.
"I accept the plea deal," he said. "Two years in state prison. Five years probation. No contact with the victim or her family ever again. You will complete 500 hours of community service with at-risk youth. And you will register as a child abuser in this state."
Bethany's face crumpled.
Bailiffs led her away.
May you like
She didn't look back.
It was over.
