Junior Year Box Set

“Today, David Dawson is 100 percent innocent in the eyes of the law, and that will never change. He should be afforded the same treatment anyone else has, and not looked at differently simply because he is in the public eye and this makes for good copy. I think after their latest stunt, and the strongly worded rebuke from the judge, you can see how ridiculous and unreasonable they are being,” Ms. Dixon said, and we walked back into the courthouse.

◊◊◊

After the court hearing and interview session on the courthouse steps, we were ushered into Mr. Mason’s office. Detective Kitchens was also there. Mr. Mason wasn’t happy. I started to get worried. Everyone was introduced, and we then sat down.

“David, I want to personally apologize for what you have gone through this week. I hope you understand that we had to go through the whole process and keep it aboveboard. Quite frankly, I’m considering filing charges for a false police report in this matter. There is not a shred of evidence that shows you even had access to Miss Bell when the incident was supposed to have happened,” Mr. Mason said.

“Thank you,” my mom said. “Will you be making a public announcement to that effect?”

“That’s one of the reasons I asked you here. Normally we would just put out a press release, but I’ve been asked to make this more public. It also didn’t sit well with me what was said on TV last night. We may not be a big city, but we do follow the rules. Would you be willing to attend the press conference with me and Detective Kitchens?” Mr. Mason asked.

“Yes, sir, and thank you,” I said.

It would seem my friends in high places had come through for me. I owed the governor my support in the upcoming election.

◊◊◊

I think the hotel was happy we didn’t have our press conference there today. We had it at the state’s attorney’s office. Everyone got a chance to say their piece, and the press went away happy. They would be onto another scandal tomorrow, or so I hoped.

Thirty minutes after the press conference, we were in front of the same judge to get the restraining order removed. Ms. Dixon was in contact with Mr. Fox to schedule a meeting about the civil side of this issue. I was warned that this wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

◊◊◊

When I got home, I found Mom seated in the kitchen with the lights turned off. She looked dazed.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked.

“He’s with Vickie, talking to your half brother,” Mom said.

“So, they decided to tell him?”

“They decided they’d better before he finds out on his own.”

“How are you doing?” I asked.

She gave me a tight smile and sighed. Not good, so I changed the subject.

“They cleared me on the criminal side. Now I have to deal with Cal about support for the baby. I wish he would just get out of it and let Pam and me deal with this. I have a bad feeling he isn’t done with his bullshit,” I said.

“David, we need to get Lacy home to help clean up this mess. I want to call her and get her back from Utah,” Mom said.

Lacy was with Cora right now to help plan the wedding. I thought about it for a moment and had a different take on whether we needed Lacy.

“While Lacy would help restrain Cal, I think we need to see what he’s really up to. If Lacy gets involved, it might delay what he’s planned, and frankly, I want him to get it over with,” I said.

“As mad as he is now, please don’t give him a reason to be mad ten years from now. I hate to say this, but you need to be the better man,” Mom coached.

“Do you seriously think Cal will ever calm down? I’ve taken just about all I can handle from him and his creepy little sidekick. Cal isn’t thinking clearly, and his actions so far have shown he has little regard for how we feel about this. Cal’s a bully, and the only thing he’ll respect is if we stand up to him. I just want to see him make a serious misstep and then I’ll have no mercy on him. Let’s let this play out some more,” I said.

“Okay, but if this gets out of hand, I’ll step in, and Lacy and I will settle this. I will not allow some jackass to mess with my family, and you know that at some point Cal will cross a line with me. So don’t act all pouty when I go off on him,” Mom said.

I just nodded. Mom was on the verge of going biblical on Cal and Mr. Fox’s ass. I would kick back and enjoy the show when that happened.

“Will you be able to go with me to the meeting that’s scheduled for tomorrow morning?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Thanks, Mom, that means a lot to me,” I said, and then had to tell her about Angie. “I have another problem I need your help with.”

Mom just shook her head.

“Bring it on. I’m in a mood to solve the world’s problems today.”

“When I spent the summer with Uncle John, he talked to me about being a man of my word. A lot of what he said made sense, and I try to make my word my bond. The problem is, I gave my word to someone, and they told me something in confidence that would really hurt someone else if they found out,” I said.

“I swear, you sound like all the lawyers we’ve had to talk to this week,” Mom said.