Chapter 20 - The Last Appeal
Judith appealed conviction twice.
First appeal challenged admission of Victor’s recording.
Denied.
Second challenged sufficiency of conspiracy evidence and prejudicial financial evidence.
Convictions affirmed.
Higher review declined.
Final.
Years later, at eighty two, Judith petitioned for geriatric conditional release under available state process.
The board reviewed.
Victim notice sent.
I could submit statement.
Lily could.
I declined.
Not because support.
Because I did not want prison board to be another family stage.
Lily wrote:
I do not oppose or support. I ask that any decision prioritize law and public safety, not my relationship.
Good.
Release denied due seriousness and risk assessment.
Two years later, new petition after health decline.
Again denied.
Then at eighty six, Judith developed advanced heart failure and metastatic cancer.
Compassionate release process considered.
This time I had reaction.
If released, where?
No Parker home.
No Victor.
Sister Margaret had died.
A niece offered hospice.
Would I object?
No.
Lily:
“Would you see her?”
“I don’t know.”
Court/board approved medically supervised compassionate release to hospice after she had served more than twenty years and was terminal.
Judith left prison at eighty six.
No freedom narrative.
Hospice.
Lily visited once.
I did not.
Then Judith asked if I would accept phone call.
I said yes.
Her voice weak.
“Emily.”
“Judith.”
“I’m dying.”
“I know.”
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Then silence.
She did not ask forgiveness.
Good.
I surprised myself.
“I forgive you.”
Her breath caught.
Then:
“This does not change Nathan.”
“I know.”
“Or Victor.”
“I know.”
“Or anything.”
“I know.”
Then:
“Why now?”
I thought.
“Because I don’t need not forgiving you anymore.”
She cried.
Then:
“Thank you.”
“No. It’s not gift you earned.”
“I know.”
That was last conversation.
Judith died nine days later.
Lily attended small burial.
I did not.
No guilt.
Her estate.
Very little.
Remaining retirement.
Some personal jewelry held storage.
Will named Lily for family jewelry and remainder after expenses to charity? She revised years earlier.
Lily accepted two items:
Nathan’s childhood watch.
Robert’s company fountain pen.
She declined rest.
No money of consequence.
No hidden account.
No final poison letter.
Then Parker family cemetery placed Judith near Robert and Nathan? She could be buried in family plot. Lily struggled.
“Is that okay?”
“Graves aren’t relationships.”
She chose not to contest.
Stone simply:
Judith Parker Brooks.
No “devoted mother.”
Family decided.
Then I visited Nathan months later.
Judith’s stone visible.
I felt weird.
Then nothing.
The dead can occupy land without controlling living.
Then Nora asked at age six:
“Who is Judith?”
Lily answered:
“My grandmother. She did something very bad and went to prison.”
“Did she love you?”
“She said she did.”
“Did you love?”
“Some.”
Kids accept.
May you like
Then I realized no one in next generation used phrase bloodline.
Good.
