Chapter 8 - Christine Loses The Right To Decide For Jake
Child protection filed an emergency petition.
Not because Christine had once known Nightglass.
Because she witnessed Jake’s assault, failed to protect him, helped conceal evidence afterward, and did not seek medical help.
I received temporary sole physical custody.
Christine’s contact became supervised only after Jake’s therapist approved.
She did not fight initial order.
That surprised me.
Her attorney said:
“She will consent for sixty days.”
Jake said:
“I don’t want her.”
The therapist, Dr. Naomi Ellis, told me not to turn that into forever.
“He can refuse today.”
“Good.”
“He may feel different.”
“Then we listen.”
Then criminal charges.
Christine was indicted on obstruction of justice for transporting the Walker box after learning it contained evidence.
She also faced child neglect/endangerment for failing to protect and obtain medical care.
No assault charge.
She did not physically strike Jake.
No conspiracy in Caleb’s death.
No evidence she knew enough before Sunday.
Then prosecutors offered plea.
Christine would plead guilty to obstruction and child neglect.
She would testify truthfully regarding Harold, the hidden room, and her knowledge of my history.
Recommendation:
Fourteen months in county and community based custody arrangement? Better state custody maybe twelve months plus probation. Let's say eleven months county jail followed by three years supervised probation, given no prior record and cooperation. Obstruction felony can be more, but fictional. Could be eighteen months. We'll choose eighteen months with possible release after 12.
She accepted.
Before sentencing, she asked to speak.
Not to Jake.
To court.
“I loved my son while protecting the people who hurt him.”
The courtroom became silent.
“I thought love meant I could explain my failures by saying I was scared.”
She looked down.
“I was scared. I still made choices.”
Then:
“I watched my father hit Jake. I told Jake to stop fighting instead of telling three adults to stop hurting him.”
Then:
“I helped move papers before I knew whether my child was safe.”
Specific.
Then marriage:
“I also began my relationship with Ethan while keeping information from him because my father asked me to learn about his past.”
I stared.
“I stopped reporting to my father after a few months. I married Ethan because I loved him. But I never told Ethan how we met from my side.”
She looked at me.
“I built our marriage on an omission.”
Then:
“I am sorry.”
The judge imposed eighteen months, with eligibility for transition after twelve depending rules, plus three years probation.
No contact with Jake except court and therapist approved.
No contact with Harold, Brian, Scott except legal.
She was taken into custody.
Jake did not attend.
I told him that night.
“Mom is going to jail?”
“For a while.”
“Because Grandpa?”
“For what she did.”
“Did I make?”
“No.”
“If I didn’t go room?”
“No.”
“Dad.”
I leaned.
“Jake, adults are responsible for how they respond when something goes wrong. You finding a room did not make anyone hit you, hold you, hide evidence, or leave you without medical care.”
He stared.
Then:
“Does Mom still love me?”
“Yes.”
“How know?”
“Because people can love badly.”
He hated that answer.
So did I.
Then:
“Can I hate her?”
“You can feel whatever.”
“Do you?”
“I’m angry.”
“Same.”
No pressure to forgive.
Then our marriage.
I filed for divorce.
Christine did not contest.
There was no believable path back.
Not because she went to jail.
Because she had hidden the truth of our beginning for years and then failed Jake when it mattered most.
We divided property.
House mine before marriage? Actually we bought together. We sold.
I rented near Jake’s school.
No victory mansion.
Christine received her share after legal fees.
No alimony due both incomes.
Jake stayed with me.
Our family photographs came too.
I did not destroy them.
Jake wanted one from Yellowstone.
Christine was smiling.
He kept it.
The person who failed him was also the mother who taught him to swim.
Both memories existed.
Then Brian and Scott entered pleas.
Brian received six years for child abuse participation, obstruction, evidence tampering, and his historical role in Nightglass diversion.
Scott received four years for restraining Jake, obstruction, and evidence movement, with less historical involvement.
Both testified against Harold.
They did not become heroes because they cooperated.
They served.
That left Harold and Gray.
May you like
And the question that had haunted me for a decade.
Did Caleb die because those men chose evidence over his life?
