Chapter 12 - Jessica’s Testimony
Jessica wore a simple navy dress.
No bandage.
Her wrist had healed with a faint mark.
I sat behind prosecutors? As witness maybe separated until testimony. After I testified? Could attend later. Fine.
She told jury about the first month Carmen lived with us.
It had been good.
Carmen cooked.
Read to Olivia.
Helped when Jessica had deadlines.
Then small comments.
“You should be grateful Zayden lets you work from home.”
Then:
“A real wife doesn’t order dinner.”
Then:
“Children need chores.”
Then control.
Carmen began taking over groceries.
Then debit card.
Then mail.
Then parties.
Why didn’t Jessica throw her out?
“Because it was my husband’s mother.”
Then:
“And because every time I tried setting boundary, Carmen told me Zayden agreed with her.”
“Did he?”
“Sometimes I didn’t know.”
That hurt.
Then burn.
The prosecutor did not sensationalize.
Jessica carried a baking pan.
Said she was done serving.
Carmen pushed it back.
Hot edge struck wrist.
Carmen said:
“Then finish.”
No medical care that night.
Jessica treated at home.
Then Olivia.
Jessica’s voice broke.
“She started making Olivia help.”
At first napkins.
Then laundry.
Then bathrooms.
Then dishes.
Food became reward.
“If you finish.”
“If Mommy stops complaining.”
The final Friday was worst because twenty guests increased workload and Carmen was anxious about paperwork.
Then loan.
Jessica denied every authorization.
Then apartment ownership.
“Who bought it?”
“I did.”
“Did Carmen pay?”
“No.”
“Zayden?”
“No toward purchase.”
“Did he contribute household expenses during marriage?”
“Yes.”
Accuracy.
“Did you ever promise Carmen $620,000?”
“No.”
“Condo?”
“No.”
“Did you say you would help her find housing?”
“Yes.”
Then defense.
“Mrs. Ferris, did you dislike living with Carmen?”
“Eventually.”
“Did you argue?”
“Yes.”
“Did you call her controlling?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever yell?”
“Yes.”
Good.
“Did you tell Zayden you wanted Carmen gone?”
“Yes.”
“So this case benefits you.”
Jessica looked at attorney.
“How?”
“You got what you wanted.”
“My mother in law out of my apartment?”
“Yes.”
Jessica paused.
“I asked her to leave months before she opened credit cards in my name.”
Silence.
Then:
“You kept a journal. Why?”
“Because I stopped trusting my memory after being told constantly things had not happened.”
“Convenient evidence.”
“It was private until police asked.”
Then defense showed message:
We’ll figure out something for Carmen when she’s ready to move.
“Could that mean financial assistance?”
“It could mean many things.”
“Did you specify no?”
“I didn’t know she had picked a condo.”
Then:
“Did you voluntarily hand Carmen your debit card?”
“Once, for groceries.”
“Passport?”
“No.”
“Tax documents?”
“No.”
“Olivia’s Social Security card?”
“No.”
Then:
“Did you sign temporary care authorization?”
“Yes.”
The defense smiled.
“So you trusted Carmen with Olivia.”
“I trusted a document I was told was for school pickup.”
Then:
“Did you read it?”
“No.”
“Your choice.”
Jessica nodded.
“Yes.”
The answer was devastating because she did not dodge.
Then:
“Does that make fraud okay?”
Objection.
Sustained.
But point clear.
Then the defense asked:
“Did your husband abuse you?”
“No.”
“Did he financially control you?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you not to work?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you simply tell him everything?”
Jessica looked toward where I sat.
“Because I told him enough times to learn he wanted a smaller version.”
My eyes burned.
That was the line.
Not that I was monster.
That I preferred a story requiring less action.
Then:
“Did Zayden eventually call police?”
“Yes.”
“Protect Olivia?”
“Yes.”
“Support investigation?”
“Yes.”
“So you forgive him?”
The prosecutor objected relevance.
Sustained.
Good.
Court was not marriage therapy.
Jessica left stand.
Outside, I did not approach until she nodded.
Then I hugged her.
For first time since Friday.
She hugged back.
May you like
Not reconciliation.
But not nothing.
