Chapter 14 - Restitution, Handcuffs, and Bitter Regrets
Six months later, the criminal trial for the midnight workshop break-in concluded in Morrow County Common Pleas Court.
Arthur Sterling stood before the criminal judge wearing a plain orange county jumpsuit. Having failed to raise the necessary funds to satisfy the full civil restitution order in time, his plea deal had fallen apart.
Wendy sat on the back bench of the courtroom, dressed in a faded thrift-store dress, weeping into a paper tissue. None of their former country club friends or wealthy investors were anywhere to be found.
Judge Thomas Reynolds looked down from the bench at Arthur.
“Arthur Sterling, you violated the sacred bond between parent and child,” Judge Reynolds stated with cold gravity. “You attempted to dispose of your own mother like unwanted baggage to satisfy your personal greed. This community will not tolerate elder abuse in any form.”
“For the charges of felony breaking and entering and attempted grand larceny, I sentence you to four years in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, with eligibility for parole only after thirty-six months.”
Bang!
As the bailiffs stepped forward to lead Arthur away in handcuffs, Wendy suddenly leaped from the gallery bench, rushing toward Eleanor who sat in the front row.
“Eleanor, please!” Wendy begged, dropping to her knees on the courtroom carpet, clawing at Eleanor’s skirt. “Please tell the judge to drop the charges! We have lost everything! We have no money, our friends won't speak to us, Arthur can’t survive in prison! Please, Eleanor, have mercy on us!”
Eleanor gently pulled the fabric of her skirt from Wendy’s trembling hands. She stood up, looking down at her daughter-in-law with an expression of serene, unshakable dignity.
“Mercy, Wendy, is a virtue reserved for those who show repentance,” Eleanor said softly, her voice carrying across the silent courtroom. “When you drove away from that nursing home lobby six months ago, you showed no mercy. You didn't care if I spent my final days locked in a room, forgotten by the world, as long as you could spend my husband’s money.”
Eleanor turned toward the courtroom exit.
May you like
“You reap what you sow, Wendy. You wanted a life without me. Now, you have it.”
Eleanor took my arm, and together we walked out of the courtroom into the bright afternoon sunshine, leaving the ruins of their greed behind us forever.
