Chapter 21 - Judgement day
Cesca woke up as the sun poured in, she rolled over longing for Jonah to hold her, but nothing happened, she had forgotten the fact she was in Spain, alone, without Jonah. Her absent minded face turned slightly saddened as there was a calm knock at the door, “Morning sweetheart”. Her mum entered the room, she had a plate of tortilla in one hand and a crouch in the other, Cesca sat up she hadn’t had breakfast in bed since living at home. “Eat up you’ve got a big day ahead of you”, her mum handed her over the plate before kissing Cesca on the forehead giving her a loving smile. Cesca smiled back, she loved being looked after by her mum, and she’d missed the old days. Her mum left the room as Cesca plumped her pillow so that she was able to lean against it and balance her breakfast on her lap, before checking to see what the time was. The clock read 7.38, Cesca was surprised but also felt rushed, she wasn’t a morning person but she didn’t feel like she wanted to go back to bed this morning, something was pumping through Cesca, maybe it was just the sheer determination to get through this day from hell. Cesca finished her breakfast, it was delicious, there is nothing better than some good hearty home cooked food, something Cesca had also missed, she wasn’t exactly the world’s greatest Chef, though luckily for her Jonah was a bit of a dab hand. Cesca threw back the covers, feeling the cool stone beneath her feet before picking up her plate and walking down stairs to wash it up. She approached the kitchen and caught up with Eva. “Morning, you. How’d you sleep?”, “Pretty good considering”, Eva smiled before drying her hand on the towel, her hands were soapy after beginning the washing up, she reached out her hand before saying, “Look you go get ready, I’ll clean that up”, Cesca smiled but as stubborn as she was she insisted on doing it herself, “Eva, it’s fine, you have all been too good to me, let me do this one thing”. Eva knew Cesca to well and wasn’t going to let her please everyone. “Your our guest now go get ready”, Eva smiled as she watched Cesca leave the room to have a shower and begin the long process of getting ready. She finished in the shower, wrapping a towel tightly around her, she returned to her room opening her wardrobe to find the most dreaded outfit in there. Her purple dress, hung on the rail. Surrounded by a plastic bag, it had newly been dry cleaned especially for today. Cesca reached up and pulled it off the rail, Cesca loved this dress and clothes, but for once she was dreading to put this on, once it was on it meant that the court case was definitely going ahead. There was no turning back now. Cesca sat on the chair in front of her old dressing table and began to dry her hair and do her makeup, she looked lovely and smart. You wouldn’t mess with her, her looks were striking. At this point Cesca was scarily composed; she unzipped her dress and began to put it on. It was a nice thought to finally wear it and not have any resemblance to a beached whale. After all the last time Cesca had warned this was when she was pregnant with Mia. She brushed the dress down, admiring it in the mirror; something about this dress was giving her some kind of self confidence. She sat down on the bed as the clock approached half past 8, she slipped on her black patent peep toe heels, before standing up and heading down stairs. She got half way out the door before realising she had forgotten her phone so headed back for it. She needed Jonah’s words of encouragement. She began to tap away at her phone: Today’s the day. The text read, she pressed send before beginning to walk down the stairs gracefully; Cesca had definitely been born with the art of walking in heels. Cesca couldn’t help but think about the court case and Jonah’s reply; she didn’t know what was worse being away from Jonah or facing her father in court. She reached the bottom and headed into the lounge where everyone seemed to be watching TV, it was one of Cesca’s favourite films, women on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She instantly sat down, chilled on the sofa her feet on Anna, who couldn’t help but admire her shoes. “Ces, you look lovely”, her mum called out, Cesca blushed, she wasn’t very good at taking compliments despite hearing them a lot more than most people. The film was halfway through and had just got to the part where Pepa had filled the gazpacho with sleeping pills because of her mental state and ends up seeing house hunters who then end up drinking the gazpacho, Cesca laughs as her mum turns it off “It’s time to go”, Cesca composed herself they were words she had been dreading, she felt like a kid who had been at their friends all day and didn’t want to leave so had gone to hide in her friends wardrobe. She carefully lifted her feet on Anna before following her mum out the door, the girls followed after, despite only Cesca and her mum being witnesses in the case, they were all going to support each other. Each of them were as smartly dressed and as pretty as the other, though Cesca particularly stood out, her hair was perfectly curly and her makeup was faultless. Her mum couldn’t drive with her broken leg so Eva and Isabel offered their cars to haul everyone up to the pit of doom. Cesca and Anna went in one car with Isabe, l and Eva took her mum. “We’ll meet you there”, Eva called out sensitively. The all set off, Cesca’s hands were becoming moist and sticky. Anna could see she was beginning to panic so leant out her hand, Cesca held it tightly smiling in Anna’s direction as she did so, until she heard the muttered bleep of her phone. She rushed to look at it, letting go of Anna’s hand. The screen on her phone read Jonah and a smile and rush of happiness swamped her as she clicked the view button, his reply read: I know Ces, remember we’re with you in your heart, we are both behind you, we love you mummy xx. The text made Cesca stronger but weaker at the same time. The whole she felt when she left her house a few days ago was slowly getting bigger, she could feel her throat becoming dryer and her stomach twist as a new found sickness crept up on her. Anna instantly fitted her tiny hand in Cesca’s “It’s going to be okay Ces”, Anna looked towards Cesca as she took a breath and stroked her sisters face, before saying “Your right”, they piled out of the car, brushing themselves down.
They all arrived at the same time, so all crowded together as Cesca looked up at the building that held the big heavy letters COURT. This was all too familiar; she was beginning to think she couldn’t do this, she felt like she was the one in the wrong. What if they didn’t believe what she was saying? A new wave of sickness came over her as her mum put an arm round her, “Come on”, she said calmly before they all walked in together as a unit. Cesca dug down deep to find the self confidence within but it just wasn’t working, she was shaking and tetchy. But she had her family, though that still wasn’t right, the two most important people were missing, she needed them. She finally had a chance to reply to Jonah, his texts containing his love for Cesca were helping her get through this, her text read: You two will always have a place in my heart I just wish you could be here in person. It’s hard, seeing everything again, too many memories. It’s all about to start; I don’t know if I can do this Jonah, I love you so much! Cesca sent the text before turning her phone to silent and placing it in the rather funky pocket that was hidden in her dress. She was escorted away to the stand without any of her family, her mum was taken to a room, as they felt this might be too much for her to face the man that abused her, so allowed her to give her statements through video link. Cesca on the other hand was to face the jury, this time she was the one influencing their views and opinions. She was told to be seated just outside the stand, she listened to the courts evidence “Lorenzo Montoya, case 22897, accused of domestic violence towards his wife and second youngest daughter, case open”, Cesca breathed a sigh that didn’t say relief but panic, her hands were jittery and the sickness kept looming over her head, a hand rested on her shoulder before pulling out a plastic bag, they must often get this. “I wouldn’t worry Mrs. Kirby, there is a pretty god case, they aren’t going to let this one go”, The policeman’s words were almost satisfying, someone that was involved thought that her dad had done the wrong thing, there was a tiny part in Cesca that was worried this had all been blown out of proportion, maybe what her dad did to her was normal or right? Cesca couldn’t think straight and then she was called to the stand.
“Cesca Kirby, the man in question is your father, is that right?” “yes, your honour” the questions began to build Cesca was clearly distressed talking in great detail as to what had happened to her, her sisters hadn’t heard the full details, they were shocked, almost terrified, the man they loved, trusted and grew up had destroyed one of them, ruined her life. Cesca’s time on the stand had almost finished until Cesca had to explain what had happened at her house the night it all came out. This meant explaining to a court all over again her relationship with Jonah, but before they allowed her to begin the judge interrupted saying, “this isn’t your case, we need to know the facts though Mrs Kirby”, Cesca felt relieved she felt like she was to be judged all over again, but now she knew that wasn’t to be the case, she began her role in the whole thing. “My family had come down to England to visit me, I had just had my daughter and got married, my mum was thrilled and so were my sisters, they were all excited and so was I. But I knew my dad wouldn’t be this wasn’t a dad being over protective, this was my dad trying to make the rest of my life hard to. He was the main reason I left Spain, to start a fresh, try and forget about the secrets, move on with my life. But Jonah noticed that I wasn’t right, he wanted the answers but I couldn’t give them to him, but it wasn’t long before he would find out for himself the childhood I had had”. Cesca had finished her statement; she just hoped that this had given her mum her life back, got that man out there lives for good. Cesca felt relieved, the secret was to finally be out of her life, there was no more hiding from the past or keeping lies from people, this was her and her future and nothing was going to stop this determined young woman. They were all asked to leave the courtroom whilst the jury came to their decision, she was greeted by her sisters with a large coffee, they also knew her to well, she sat next to them in silence as they fussed over her and commented on what they had just heard, but their comments just washed over Cesca, she didn’t take any of it in, There was one word that as stuck in her head.... GUILTY! She just wished that this was going to be the end of everything. She had finished her coffee and was chewing on the rim of the polystyrene cup staring into space when they ordered everyone back in again. This time Cesca was able to sit with her family, minus her mum who was still in the room she had been assigned. They all held hands, hoping that the verdict was what they wanted to hear.” Order, Order” A stern, firm voice called out. “Jury have you come to you decision”, there was a slight pause before a lanky man stood up from the group of men and women. “We have come to the verdict that Lorenzo Montoya is... Guilty”, Cesca could have screamed, this really was the start of her future until the judge butted in “Lorenzo Montoya, you will spend a total sentence of 1 year imprisonment, Case closed”, 1 Year, this had hardly been worth it, was the proof not enough, was the fact the Cesca had poured her heart out and nearly her guts standing up their talking to all those people. It may have been guilty but the sentence was not long enough. How was he supposed to pay for what he had done? Cesca once again became fidgety but this time it was the anger that was building up inside, her sisters calmed her down as Isabel said “Cesca, at least he’s been sent down”, Cesca smiled reaching out to hold Isabel’s hand. It was the truth, at least he was going to be out of their lives, and they were going to be able to live the rest of their lives without the input of their father. Cesca’s thoughts slowly turned to Jonah and Mia, Mia was safe, she never had to see her Grandfather again, she never had to know the truth behind Cesca’s tears the night the Montoya’s came to stay.
They all arrived at the same time, so all crowded together as Cesca looked up at the building that held the big heavy letters COURT. This was all too familiar; she was beginning to think she couldn’t do this, she felt like she was the one in the wrong. What if they didn’t believe what she was saying? A new wave of sickness came over her as her mum put an arm round her, “Come on”, she said calmly before they all walked in together as a unit. Cesca dug down deep to find the self confidence within but it just wasn’t working, she was shaking and tetchy. But she had her family, though that still wasn’t right, the two most important people were missing, she needed them. She finally had a chance to reply to Jonah, his texts containing his love for Cesca were helping her get through this, her text read: You two will always have a place in my heart I just wish you could be here in person. It’s hard, seeing everything again, too many memories. It’s all about to start; I don’t know if I can do this Jonah, I love you so much! Cesca sent the text before turning her phone to silent and placing it in the rather funky pocket that was hidden in her dress. She was escorted away to the stand without any of her family, her mum was taken to a room, as they felt this might be too much for her to face the man that abused her, so allowed her to give her statements through video link. Cesca on the other hand was to face the jury, this time she was the one influencing their views and opinions. She was told to be seated just outside the stand, she listened to the courts evidence “Lorenzo Montoya, case 22897, accused of domestic violence towards his wife and second youngest daughter, case open”, Cesca breathed a sigh that didn’t say relief but panic, her hands were jittery and the sickness kept looming over her head, a hand rested on her shoulder before pulling out a plastic bag, they must often get this. “I wouldn’t worry Mrs. Kirby, there is a pretty god case, they aren’t going to let this one go”, The policeman’s words were almost satisfying, someone that was involved thought that her dad had done the wrong thing, there was a tiny part in Cesca that was worried this had all been blown out of proportion, maybe what her dad did to her was normal or right? Cesca couldn’t think straight and then she was called to the stand.
“Cesca Kirby, the man in question is your father, is that right?” “yes, your honour” the questions began to build Cesca was clearly distressed talking in great detail as to what had happened to her, her sisters hadn’t heard the full details, they were shocked, almost terrified, the man they loved, trusted and grew up had destroyed one of them, ruined her life. Cesca’s time on the stand had almost finished until Cesca had to explain what had happened at her house the night it all came out. This meant explaining to a court all over again her relationship with Jonah, but before they allowed her to begin the judge interrupted saying, “this isn’t your case, we need to know the facts though Mrs Kirby”, Cesca felt relieved she felt like she was to be judged all over again, but now she knew that wasn’t to be the case, she began her role in the whole thing. “My family had come down to England to visit me, I had just had my daughter and got married, my mum was thrilled and so were my sisters, they were all excited and so was I. But I knew my dad wouldn’t be this wasn’t a dad being over protective, this was my dad trying to make the rest of my life hard to. He was the main reason I left Spain, to start a fresh, try and forget about the secrets, move on with my life. But Jonah noticed that I wasn’t right, he wanted the answers but I couldn’t give them to him, but it wasn’t long before he would find out for himself the childhood I had had”. Cesca had finished her statement; she just hoped that this had given her mum her life back, got that man out there lives for good. Cesca felt relieved, the secret was to finally be out of her life, there was no more hiding from the past or keeping lies from people, this was her and her future and nothing was going to stop this determined young woman. They were all asked to leave the courtroom whilst the jury came to their decision, she was greeted by her sisters with a large coffee, they also knew her to well, she sat next to them in silence as they fussed over her and commented on what they had just heard, but their comments just washed over Cesca, she didn’t take any of it in, There was one word that as stuck in her head.... GUILTY! She just wished that this was going to be the end of everything. She had finished her coffee and was chewing on the rim of the polystyrene cup staring into space when they ordered everyone back in again. This time Cesca was able to sit with her family, minus her mum who was still in the room she had been assigned. They all held hands, hoping that the verdict was what they wanted to hear.” Order, Order” A stern, firm voice called out. “Jury have you come to you decision”, there was a slight pause before a lanky man stood up from the group of men and women. “We have come to the verdict that Lorenzo Montoya is... Guilty”, Cesca could have screamed, this really was the start of her future until the judge butted in “Lorenzo Montoya, you will spend a total sentence of 1 year imprisonment, Case closed”, 1 Year, this had hardly been worth it, was the proof not enough, was the fact the Cesca had poured her heart out and nearly her guts standing up their talking to all those people. It may have been guilty but the sentence was not long enough. How was he supposed to pay for what he had done? Cesca once again became fidgety but this time it was the anger that was building up inside, her sisters calmed her down as Isabel said “Cesca, at least he’s been sent down”, Cesca smiled reaching out to hold Isabel’s hand. It was the truth, at least he was going to be out of their lives, and they were going to be able to live the rest of their lives without the input of their father. Cesca’s thoughts slowly turned to Jonah and Mia, Mia was safe, she never had to see her Grandfather again, she never had to know the truth behind Cesca’s tears the night the Montoya’s came to stay.
