Chapter 12 - Lorelai’s Plea
Lorelai appeared in court wearing navy instead of cream.
Maybe lawyer advice.
The state charged:
Intentional destruction of property.
Misdemeanor assault/harassment based shoving me during incident.
Northstar's insurer documented loss.
She pleaded.
Factual basis:
She intentionally seized employer-owned laptop.
Threw it.
Stomped display.
Shoved me when I attempted to recover device.
No injury beyond minor bruise.
No claim she tried to hurt me seriously.
Sentence:
Eighteen months probation.
One hundred twenty hours community service.
Anger-management course.
Restitution of $18,700 to insurer/Northstar.
No contact with me except through attorneys for six months.
No prison.
Then judge asked:
“Why did you destroy it?”
Lorelai hesitated.
“Because I was angry.”
“At?”
“She refused to help.”
“Help with what?”
“Dog mess.”
The absurdity hung.
Then:
“And because I thought her work was taking her from family.”
There.
Judge:
“Did destroying property solve that?”
Lorelai looked at me.
“No.”
Then judge:
“It appears to have accelerated it.”
Yes.
Outside courthouse, she tried to speak.
Her lawyer stopped due no-contact.
Good.
Boundaries enforced by process.
Then Northstar’s insurer collected restitution over payment plan.
Lorelai did not have to liquidate house.
She could afford.
She hated writing checks.
Consequence.
Then community service at municipal senior center.
She later told Brandon it was humiliating.
He answered:
“Mom, people there didn’t know why you were there until you told them.”
Good.
She wanted humiliation narrative.
Then anger-management.
She resisted.
Later admitted useful.
No instant personality conversion.
Then probation violation?
No.
She complied.
Then Thatcher and Brandon testified no further.
Case closed.
Then my promotion.
Senior Director.
I moved into a small office with glass wall.
New company laptop.
Same sticker from IT:
PROPERTY OF NORTHSTAR SYSTEMS.
I laughed.
Then Maya Sullivan said:
“Please keep this one away from footwear.”
Dark humor.
I laughed harder than expected.
Healing.
Then London rotation.
I accepted twelve weeks.
Naomi said divorce proceedings okay remote.
I went.
For first time in years, I spent salary without someone asking what family needed.
I paid rent company-subsidized.
Saved.
Bought one ridiculous coat.
No guilt.
Then Thatcher texted:
Hope London is good.
I answered:
It is.
Nothing else.
He had been afraid London would take me.
May you like
It didn't.
His choices did.
