Chapter 10 - The Aftermath
Two years later, the sun shone brightly on the patio of our new home in Oregon.
My daughter was painting a picture at the outdoor table, while my son chased a butterfly across the grass.
I watched them from the porch, holding a steaming cup of coffee, feeling completely at peace.
The trial had been a media circus, broadcasting the horrific betrayal of my family to the entire nation.
Kevin was sentenced to twenty-five years for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit fraud.
My father received a life sentence, facing charges not only for my accident but for a string of other insurance scams.
My mother testified against them for a reduced sentence, but she was still serving ten years in a federal facility.
I never visited her.
I had legally changed our last names, moved across the country, and started completely over.
The multi-million dollar life insurance policy had been canceled, but the state awarded me restitution from their seized assets.
My leg had healed completely, leaving only a faint scar as a reminder of the night I almost died.
Dana had left the private investigation business and moved nearby, becoming a close friend and an aunt figure to my children.
I took a deep breath of the fresh pine air, smiling as my daughter ran up to show me her painting.
It was a picture of the three of us, holding hands under a bright yellow sun.
They no longer asked about their father or their grandparents.
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They knew the truth, and they knew they were safe now.
The past was finally buried, and this time, it was going to stay dead.
