Chapter 14 - The Last Chance to Make It Smaller
Dana changed her position before the scheduled preliminary hearing.
She did not suddenly confess to everything.
She did not collapse into remorse.
Through her attorney, she acknowledged fastening the cuff around Colleen’s ankle, securing the chain, shoving her back down when she tried to rise, and slapping her.
She still insisted she had been overwhelmed and enraged.
Colleen disliked the phrasing.
But accountability did not require Colleen to approve every sentence Dana used to reach it.
The prosecutor informed Colleen that discussions about resolving the case were ongoing.
There would be conditions.
Counseling.
No-contact restrictions.
Potential probation or other consequences depending on the final charge and court approval.
Nothing was guaranteed yet.
Colleen appreciated being told that plainly.
Dana also agreed through the family-law process to stop using joint funds for her personal legal expenses beyond what the court or written agreement allowed.
Brett and Dana began sorting marital finances through attorneys and a mediator.
The house would eventually have to be addressed.
Not that week.
Maybe not for months.
Life moved at the speed of forms and deadlines now.
The last direct choice belonged to Brett.
Dana’s lawyer offered a proposed temporary financial arrangement that would be easier and cheaper if Brett agreed not to include the earlier household incidents in the marital filings.
Not the assault on Colleen.
The bowl.
The shove.
The lockout.
Brett read the proposal twice.
A year earlier, he would have accepted.
Not because the events were untrue.
Because he would have been ashamed to put them on paper.
He called his attorney.
“No.”
The attorney asked whether he was sure.
“Yes.”
That evening Brett came to Colleen’s condo.
She spoke to him through the partially opened door.
“I told the truth,” he said.
“Good.”
“I should’ve done it sooner.”
“Yes.”
He gave a tired nod.
Then he surprised her.
He didn’t ask to come inside.
He didn’t ask whether she forgave him.
He simply said, “I’m trying to stop making other people responsible for keeping me safe.”
Colleen looked at her son for a long moment.
“That sounds expensive.”
A small smile touched his face.
“It is.”
For the first time since the chain came off her ankle, Colleen almost smiled back.
Almost.
May you like
The next morning, the prosecutor filed the amended charging documents.
Whatever Dana hoped to keep private could no longer be made small again.
