Chapter 16 - Patricia’s Appeal
Patricia appealed convictions.
The appeal challenged jury instructions on second-degree murder, admission of certain locket evidence, and use of child-abuse evidence to establish obstruction/motive.
Court upheld major convictions.
One obstruction count merged for sentencing technical reason, reducing aggregate term by eighteen months.
Not exoneration.
Not new trial.
Final effective term:
Thirty years and six months.
Ava was eleven when decision became final.
She asked:
“Does that mean Patricia gets out?”
“Not now.”
“When?”
“Much later, depending law and credits.”
“Will I be grown?”
“Yes.”
She looked relieved.
Then Patricia’s prison behavior.
Not our business.
Victim services later notified:
She completed behavioral programs.
No disciplinary problems for years.
She wrote no unauthorized letters.
No media interviews.
That mattered some.
Not enough for contact.
Then she filed civil challenge over property settlement? No, finalized.
No hidden assets.
Her remaining savings depleted by legal fees, restitution, support obligations? Child support none; not her kids. Her $21k marital settlement applied partially to restitution and fees under lawful orders.
Then wrongful-death judgment.
Largely uncollectible.
No revenge.
Then Grace asked if I wanted to remarry someday.
“No.”
At forty-five? Maybe not.
I dated twice.
One woman, Laura Mitchell, met kids when Ava twelve.
Ava hated.
Not because Laura bad.
Too soon emotionally.
I ended after six months.
Later Ava apologized.
“You didn't have to.”
“I was mean.”
“Yes.”
“Sorry.”
Then at forty-eight, I met Nora Bennett, a divorced school counselor with teenage son.
Slow.
Very slow.
She knew public case.
Never tried mother.
We dated three years.
Ava eighteen, Lucas fourteen when we married.
No pressure.
Ava helped choose flowers.
Lucas asked:
“Is she replacing Mommy?”
I said:
“No one can.”
“Is she replacing Patricia?”
I laughed.
“No one wants that job.”
He laughed too.
Then Nora said:
“I’m just Nora.”
Good.
No need new wife to prove healing, but life can continue.
Then Ava college.
She chose environmental science.
Not social work.
Not law.
She liked rivers and soil.
Lucas loved cooking.
At fifteen, he worked in bakery.
The boy once deprived food became baker could be too symbolic, but maybe fine if natural. He loved food. Could avoid overemphasize. He became mechanical engineering? Let's choose culinary maybe meaningful but not forced. He genuinely enjoyed. At eighteen, culinary school.
I worried trauma.
Therapist said:
“People can choose interests related to history without being trapped by it.”
Okay.
Lucas said:
“I just like bread.”
Perfect.
Then Ava found Patricia's sealed adult letter.
She was twenty-one.
The one held since sentencing.
She asked.
I gave.
Patricia wrote years earlier:
Ava,
I hurt you because you reminded me that Emily still existed in the family I wanted.
Direct.
Then:
I wanted you to call me Mom, stop asking for Emily, and give me the locket.
Then:
When you refused, I treated a six-year-old as an enemy.
Then:
You protected Lucas when I should have protected both of you.
Then:
That does not make it your job to forgive me.
Ava cried.
Then burned? No.
She returned to attorney.
“Keep or destroy?”
“Destroy.”
They shredded.
Her choice.
Then Patricia later requested direct contact as Ava adult.
Ava said no.
Lucas no.
I no.
May you like
And because she had finally spent years learning no, she stopped asking.
Even before release possibility, that mattered.
